Learn how to take your writing to new frontiers at this evening seminar on fantasy and dystopian fiction. The evening begins with talks from three top authors on the journey from idea to finished book. Speakers include bestselling author Joe Abercrombie, whose fantasy novels include The First Law Trilogy series, American fantasy novelist Peter V. Brett, author of bestselling Demon Cycle series, including the forthcoming The Skull Throne, and debut novelist Francesca Haig whose recently published book The Fire Sermon has sold in 26 territories.
The second half of the evening involves an in-depth panel discussion chaired by leading editor and publisher Jane Johnson, who set up SFF imprint Harper Voyager in 1995. During this session, Jane and the authors will take a deeper look at the fantasy genre and offer invaluable advice on how to get the best out of your writing.
You’ll hear how these authors got started in their writing careers, as well as how to prepare your pitch material to send to an agent or publisher. You’ll also learn what to expect if your novel gets published, including advice on self-promotion and getting involved in the genre community. With plenty of time for Q&A with each author, it’s an unmissable event for anyone who wants to write fantasy or dystopian fiction, and see their novel in print.
This course is for you if...
- You want to write fantasy and/or dystopian fiction and want to learn more about the genre
- You’re a keen writer who wants to learn how to improve your chances of getting published
- You’re an experienced writer who is new to the fantasy genre and wants to better understand how the genre works
- You’re a fan of fantasy and dystopian fiction and want an insight into how the publishing industry works in this genre
Course description
This lively evening seminar is ideal for any budding fantasy writers hoping to take the next step towards seeing their work in print. The evening includes talks from three leading authors on their publishing journeys, and an in-depth panel discussion on the practicalities of getting your work published. Topics covered include:
- Writing great fantasy and dystopian fiction – lessons learnt from three top genre authors
- Getting the concept right – how to develop an idea for a fantasy novel or short story
- From idea to book – an overview of the journey from concept to finished novel
- How to shape your pitch material to an agent or publisher
- Advice on finding an agent
- The publishing process
- Pros and cons of traditional versus self-publishing
- What happens after publication?
- The importance of the genre community
- Q&A and panel discussion with all three authors, led by leading publisher Jane Johnson
Tutor profiles
Joe Abercrombie is one of the UK’s biggest-selling fantasy authors and has a host of fans in the genre including Game of Throne’s George R. R. Martin and Robin Hobb. He is a Sunday Times bestseller and has been translated into 26 different languages. Joe previously worked in television production as a freelance film editor, working on documentaries, music videos and concerts for an array of stars from Barry White to Iron Maiden to Coldplay. His debut novel, The Blade Itself, was published in 2006. The first two parts of his Shattered Sea series Half a King and Half the World, are out now, published by Harper Voyager (UK) and Random House (US), with the conclusion, Half a War, to follow in July.
Sunday Times bestseller Peter V. Brett wrote his first novel on his mobile phone while commuting on the subway from his home in Brooklyn to his job in medical publishing in Times Square. He sold his novel in June 2007 and left his day job to write full-time later that year. The book, The Painted Man, became one of the most successful fantasy debuts of 2008. The fourth in the series, The Skull Throne, is published this year.
Francesca Haig grew up in Tasmania, gained her PhD from the University of Melbourne, and was a senior lecturer in creative writing at the University of Chester. Her poetry has been published in literary journals and anthologies in both Australia and England, and her first collection of poetry, BODIES OF WATER, was published in 2006. In 2010 she was awarded a Hawthornden Fellowship. Her debut novel The Fire Sermon has sold in 26 territories and the film has been optioned by DreamWorks.
Jane Johnson has worked as an editor for over 30 years, and set up SFF imprint Harper Voyager 20 years ago in 1995. She was responsible for publishing the works of J. R. R. Tolkien during the 1980s and 1990s, and worked on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, spending many months in New Zealand with cast and crew. Under the pseudonym Jude Fisher she wrote the companion volumes to the films. Jane is the UK editor of George RR Martin and is also the author of several novels published by Penguin.
Details
Date: Tuesday 14 April 2015
Times: 6.30pm-8.30pm
Location: The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU
Price: £49 (includes VAT, booking fee and refreshments)
Event capacity: 100
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 14 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
