A WEEK-LONG ONLINE EVENT
In 2020, in collaboration with Manchester Writing School, Comma Press hosted the first online National Creative Writing Industry Conference, an adaptation of the National Creative Writing Industry Day. Between the 26th and 30th of October, a range of panel discussions and workshops went live to aspiring writers across the UK.
You can find all the free events, including the keynote speech and four panels, below.
'[...] driven, mesmerizing, provocative.' - AaH! Magazine |
WATCH: Irenosen Okojie - Keynote Speech Irenosen Okojie opens the National Creative Writing Industry Conference 2020. The award-winning author of Butterfly Fish, Speak Gigantular and Nudibranch talks about her journey to publication, and offers invaluable advice to writers at the start of their careers. |
WATCH: Panel 1 - How the Publisher Works With You
Featuring Jonathan de Peyer (commissioning editor at HarperNorth), Cherise Lopes-Baker (commissioning editor at Jacaranda Books), and Poppy Stimpson (publicist at Pushkin Press). Chaired by Nicholas Royle (Nightjar Press, Manchester Writing School). Four industry professionals discuss the relationship between a writer and their publisher, and what the writer can expect once they sign a deal: who they'll work with, what's expected of them, what a timeline to publication looks like and the problems (and solutions) that can occur along the way. |
'The panel focused on the importance of demythologising the process of publishing and familiarising aspiring authors with the jargon of the publishing world.' - AaH! Magazine |
'The panel was particularly refreshing, in that it focused on the many positive aspects of 2020, something which has been missing in much of this year's media coverage.' - AaH! Magazine |
WATCH: Panel 2 - Author Marketing and Online Presence
Featuring Naomi Bacon (Tandem Collective), Hamza Jahanzeb (Marketing Executive at Ikon Books), and Kat McKenna (freelancer in marketing and brand development). Chaired by Andrew McMillan (poet, Manchester Writing School). Four industry professionals discuss the ways in which a writer can build their online presence and market themselves, and how other people can successfully work with them to boost their work. |
WATCH: Panel 3 - Meet the Literary Agents
Featuring Abi Fellows (The Good Literary Agency), Clare Coombes (The Liverpool Literary Agency), and Sile Edwards (Mushens Entertainment). Chaired by Sarah Butler (author, Manchester Writing School). A group of literary agents discuss the process of submissions, accepting and rejecting work, how agents work with writers and how writers can best contact and pitch to them. |
'For aspiring authors looking to submit to agents in the future, this personal perspective of the agenting world is valuable.' - AaH! Magazine |
'They encouraged writers to make the most of their time, craft the language in your own way and give yourself time.' - AaH! Magazine |
WATCH: Panel 4 - Writers' Inspirations and How They Use Them
Featuring Monique Roffey (author of 'The Mermaid of Black Conch'), Luke Brown (author of 'Theft'), and Marina Benjamin (author of 'Insomnia'). Chaired by Anjum Malik (Manchester Writing School). Four writers of different forms and genres discuss where they each take influence from and the process of practically applying this to their work. |