The Literary Consultancy’s popular Writers’ Day returns and for the first time, we are going digital! Join us on 13th March 2021 for a full day of inspiring online talks and workshops to help you write, submit, and publish your work.
Hear from leading experts, and take part in creative challenges alongside fellow writers in a supportive environment. You will also get access to a free video library with insights from key publishing figures and readings from rising stars, as well as entry to the star-studded TLC Pen Factor Writing Competition. Alumni of the competition include award-winning authors and debuts that have sold at auction. All Writers’ Day talks and videos will be captioned.
Tickets are available to book via the Free Word Box Office for the price of £50 + VAT. Bursary tickets for low-income writers will be available in the New Year.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW
TLC Online Writers’ Day Programme
(Full programme leaflet here)
Saturday, 13th March 2021
9.45am-10am
Welcome by TLC Director Aki Schilz
10am-11am
New Digital Frontiers with Leodora Darlington, Commissioning Editor at Canelo
Publishing is changing, with new formats disrupting the way stories are delivered, and the way publishers and authors share risk and reward. Canelo is one of the most digitally forward-thinking publishers currently on the market. Find out how digital publishing offers a new way to reach readers, and a new model for writers working with publishers.
11am-12pm
DIY: Publicity with Maria Garbutt-Lucero, Senior Campaigns Manager at Penguin Random House 11am-12pm
Publicists are often the unsung heroes of books that are the biggest hits with readers, creating connections and building momentum. Hear from an award-winning publicist about how she builds campaigns, and gain insight into how to apply big scale publicity strategy to small scale projects, to help build buzz around your work.
12pm-1pm
Lunch Break
1pm-2pm
Writing Workshops (Breakout Groups)
Group 1: The Science of Writing Characters with Dr Kira-Anne PelicanIn this illuminating workshop, find out why rounded or psychologically-credible characters are the most engaging; place the Big Five dimensions of personality at the core of characterisation; and take part in a creative writing exercise that begins to look at how to create memorable characters that come to life on the page.
Group 2: Writing Place with Amanthi Harris
Making home is an act of creativity. Looking at the places that inspire us, and what we aspire to, can be a starting point for creating vivid engaging environments for our characters. In fiction, as in life, can we draw on memory and impressions of place to create new worlds and new lives? In this workshop, we will consider ways of creating believable engaging worlds and how we might draw from our own experiences and ideals to enrich our writing.
Group 3: Write Your Story, Your Way with Okechukwu Nzelu
As writers, finding your voice is something we often talk about, but it can be a difficult, confusing and lonely process. In this interactiveworkshop, we will practise writing sketches and scenes from different perspectives and different styles, experimenting and playing with writing, to help you on your creative journey.
2.05-3.05pm
Pitch Perfect (Break-out Groups)
Group 1: Fiction (Adult)
Learn how to pitch your work of fiction to agents and publishers, with literary agent Hattie Grünewald (The Blair Partnership)
Group 2: Fiction (Children’s/YA)
Learn how to pitch your children’s, middle grade and YA writing to agents and publishers, with literary agent Alice Sutherland-Hawes (ASH Literary)
Group 3: Non Fiction
Learn how to pitch your non-fiction writing, from memoir and travel to popular science, with non-fiction commissioning editor Joelle Owusu-Sekyere (Coronet).
3.10pm
Round up, thanks, and announcement of the TLC Pen Factor Writing Competition winner
(Details of how to submit to the competition will be emailed to you once you have booked your ticket)
3.30pm End of Event
PLUS…
- Entry to the TLC Pen Factor Writing Competition, judged by industry experts and with a prize bundle worth £2,000. Many of our finalists and winners have gone on to be published, and to win major awards.
- A bonus video library with exclusive insights into the future of publishing from Jeremy Trevathan (Publisher, Pan Macmillan) and Katie Clapham (Storytellers, Inc) and readings from some of the UK’s most exciting debut authors.
- Watch back the sessions you attended for up to 30 days after the event with a unique link.
- Enjoy live captions for each of the speaker sessions for maximum accessibility.
- Read the full programme flyer here.
