Posts Tagged ‘literary’
June 8-9th 2012, TLC offers an up-to-the-minute conference to make sense of the many possibilities open to writers today, with practical sessions, workshops, case studies, working examples, debates and networking.
Speakers include leading authors and industry figures: HARI KUNZRU, KATE MOSSE, NICOLA MORGAN, SIMON TREWIN, MARIA REJT, CATHRYN SUMMERHAYES, LINDA GRANT, DAVID GODWIN, ROBERT KROESE, KAROLINA SUTTON, plus many more!
The discussions will explore the key issues facing writers, such as making and selling ebooks, choosing to self-publish or go via traditional routes, an exploration of the emerging international markets, how technology changes literary forms, social media and other promotional tools.
In addition, the second day will offer a fast-paced presentation hosted by ten of the most exciting and engaged publishers and agents in the country, who will talk about the stories behind the books and what drives their own work in the industry. To top it off, the conference also sees the introduction of our very own “PEN FACTOR”, an open panel critique of six fictional projects, submitted by delegates.
In association with Free Word, Arvon, The Literary Platform and Commonwealth Writers.
Click here for more detailed information about the conference and the full programme. or email TLC at: info@literaryconsultancy.co.uk.
EARLY BIRD OFFER – If you book for The Literary Conference before April 30th, you will be eligible to receive a TLC manuscript assessment at 50% off on 50 page extracts. Click here for more information.
Click here to book for the conference.
Leaf Fielding had his first assessment with TLC reader Alan Wilkinson in April 2009. In mid-2011, Serpent’s Tail will publish his book. It’s not often that TLC experiences such a rapid progression of events, but when Leaf had his work assessed for a second time in October 2009, TLC reader Karl French immediately noted that this was one that we should look out for.
Leaf Fielding’s book is a thrilling personal story, but one which offers remarkable insights into a time, a mindset, a generation and a major chapter in British criminal history. As one of the drug-dealers jailed as a result of 1977’s famous Operation Julie, Leaf was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to deal LSD. The story of how he ended up in such a predicament is a genuine page-turner. Now a completely redeemed character, Leaf has thirty years’ perspective on events, allowing him to tell – in To Live Outside the Law - the untold story of the LSD dealers brought down in the operation, which is thought to have reduced the amount of LSD in the UK by more than 80%. We look forward to seeing the book in print and wish him all the best.
TLC continues to make links in the literary world at a higher rate than ever. Check out our Success Stories page for stories about previous clients or keep an eye out for more updates in our news section.
These days, the task of first sifter generally goes to agents – but even they are feeling overwhelmed. Curtis Brown proclaims on its website, as a point of difference: “We are one of the few agencies who do accept unsolicited manuscripts.” Anyone who begins to feel this publishing business is a closed shop has good reason.
But there are other ways to get a hearing. There is The Literary Consultancy, for example, established by Hannah Griffiths and Rebecca Swift in 1996, at a time when many independent publishers were being gobbled up by conglomerates. They began to see, as Swift puts it, that “bottom lines had become all-important, meaning that writers who were perhaps too literary or too experimental are judged with extreme caution by anyone interested in profits first.”
In the slush pile Swift saw not guilt-inducing dross, but “a great big neglected pile of people’s efforts. Everybody needed and deserved attention.” But at the same time, “what they needed to understand was that that was very highly skilled attention, and that to get a really good response should cost money.” They charge £75 to read stories of up to 3,000 words; £250 for a one-or two-page synopsis up to 100 double-spaced pages; £1.50 per double-spaced page for the first 300 pages of a longer manuscript, and £1 per page thereafter, providing for that a detailed, thoughtful critique of the entire submission. If they consider a work exceptional, they will recommend it to an agent. They are doing well.
On June 3rd the Literary Consultancy held, what is soon becoming a tradition at Free Word, another evening of poetry and music, celebrating and giving life to great literary works.
”The Waste Land’ by T.S.Eliot was read by Roger Lloyd Pack with cello accompaniment by Melissa Phelps & ‘The London Series’ by Jehane Markham with jazz accompaniment from Robin Phillips on piano and Jonny Gee, double bass. His partner, Jehane Markham also performed her work backed by jazz music, The London Series – An evocative and irreverent look back at a life lived in the city by a county girl. Part memoir, part homage, the piece touches on different areas and different perspectives – history, literature and love, included.
We would like to thank everyone who came and our performers who truly captivated us on that warm summer evening.
For extracts from The London Series please click here to listen to or download.