yes i can turn the next page. discuss a departure or development which has been inspired or...
TRANSCRIPT
Discuss a departure or development which has been inspired or confirmed by today.
e.g. •Write for TV•Promote my self-published book•Get a BBC radio drama commission•Be a visiting writer in schools•Be a writer in the business sector•Start a performance event•Adapt my novel for the stage
Where are the opportunities which might match your departure or development?
Step 2 – what skills/experience/understanding
have I got?:From my writing life I know I can:• write on the subject myself • meet deadlines• give constructive feedback to writers• work alone• spot quality writingI also..• have experience in compiling a small anthology of writings • already know a number of candidate writers and know networks through
which to find others• have read widely within the genre
From my non-writing life I can show that I:• Understand the publishing process • Have managed complex projects
Step 3 - how can I show that I have what’s needed?
• ‘Biggar Little Stories’• My own writing on this theme was supported by a Creative
Scotland Award in 2007• See the interest in my ‘Walking and Writing’ blog• Positive feedback from writers I’ve worked with
How do we demonstrate this on a CV?
“In 2007 the Scottish Book Trust paid for me to be mentored by playwright Douglas Maxwell in adapting my novel The Incredible Adam Spark for the stage.” Alan Bissett
“1999: Established Kettillonia, a pamphlet-publishing imprint for new Scottish writing, and produced five pamphlets” James Robertson
Step 4 – what do I need to learn?
• How to select and order work to accrue to a theme
• How to be an intermediary between publisher and writer
• How to evaluate each writer so as to know what style of editorial intervention will be most helpful
• What an anthology introduction should be like• To use ‘track changes’ in Word effectively
Step 5 – what else do I need?
• Support from others on my decisions
• Time
• A sense of confidence and authority
• To trust my intuition
• Inspiring examples of similar books
Step 6 – Where can I get help with Steps 4 and 5?
• Ask Philippa Johnston, Writer’s Compass – useful articles on how others make decisions about anthology editing
• Ask Anne Caldwell – editor of another non-fiction anthology
Ideas poolStep 1 - I want to:• Write for TV• Promote my self-published
book• Get a BBC radio drama
commission• Be a visiting writer in schools• Be a writer in the business
sector• Start a performance event• Adapt my novel for the stage• etc
Steps 2 and 4 – Skills, understanding and experience
• Discipline• Team-working• Meeting deadlines• Speaking in public• Showcasing other writers• Organising live events• Writing clearly• Diplomacy • Synopsis-writing • etc
Step 5 – what else do I need?
• Time• Money• Confidence• Contacts• An agent• To have a visible
profile• A business card• Public liability
insurance• Disclosure• etc