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CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
A BROAD GENRE
RNA authors comment on their
particular area of success.
■ Christina Courtenay writes
Regency historical novellas for
the My Weekly Pocket Novel
series. ‘A pocket novel can be
read in one sitting. It has to
have everything a longer novel
has, but condensed; characters
developed, but quickly. If you’ve
written a slightly longer novel, it
can be fun to cut it down to the
required 30,000 words and you
might be surprised at how fast-
paced the result is!‘
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MENTORING
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FICTION
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NON-FICTION
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SCRIPTWRITING
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■ Anne Bennett’s sagas are set
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■ Bestseller Judy Astley says: mainly around the war. ‘There’s
The Literary Consultancy
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‘I’d describe my books as roman- always an element of romance,
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The UK’s leading manuscript assessment and editorial advice service
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tic comedy: domestic disharmony an important part of life that
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and chaos with love-and-affec- can happen even in the midst of
Recommended by top publishing Truthful, critical feedback
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tion to the fore. It’s not chick lit poverty and deprivation. Who : houses and literary agents on all genres of work
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– that applies to the under-30s doesn’t like a good love story?
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who are looking for their first Mr Writing about a time and a cul-
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An unsurpassed team of professional Helping writers
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Right (or Wrong). ture that has gone, I strive to be
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editors, readers, and mentors since 1996
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‘If you’re new to writing it as accurate as possible, to bring
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can be quite lonely and a bit of the past to life for readers.’
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www.literaryconsultancy.co.uk
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mutual grumbling/support can E
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be really helpful and encour- ■ Helen Scott Taylor writes
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The Literary Consultancy Ltd, Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road,
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aging. The RNA is a fantastic speculative romance. ‘It includes
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London EC1R 3GA Tel/Fax: 020 7324 2563 email: infol@iteraryconsultancy.co.uk
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source of information and help fantasy, time-travel, futuristic
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G IN T I R TW P I R C S N O I T C I F - NON ON I T C I F NG I R O NT E M :
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and friendship.’ and paranormal romance. It’s
been popular in America for
■ Kate Walker writes for many years but has only recently
Harlequin Mills & Boon Modern gained a following in the UK.
Romance, where the emphasis is Stories are fast-paced, combining
Essential Books for Writers
on contemporary, sophisticated a romance with an appropriate
settings and passionate, emo- plot. The tone can be anything
By Alison Baverstock
tional stories. ‘Read, read, read from comedic to dark, verging on
— and write about characters you horrific. There’s a trend for spec-
Marketing Your Book:
care about,’ is her advice. ‘Feel ulative romance to be sexually
An Author’s Guide
the emotions that drive them, explicit, often erotic. World-
How to target agents,
then readers will, too. Modern building is important and the
publishers and readers
Romances may be set in a fantasy characters must be well devel-
‘A rich source of information
world of princes, sheikhs and oped and sympathetic. There are
for people trying to navigate
billionaires, but the conflicts are opportunities for new authors as
their way through the
of the real world. The hero and electronic publishers are keen to
process of how to get
heroine’s emotional journey is acquire this genre.’
their book noticed.’
the reason readers pick up these
Rebecca Swift,
books, so write from the heart.’ ■ Writing historical romances
The Literary Consultancy
for Harlequin Mills & Boon, Carol
Townend says: ‘At 70-75,000
words, these stories are slightly
longer than other series, leaving
space to anchor the novels in their
period. My recent novels are set
in the 11th century, shortly after
the Norman Conquest. But there
are ways to bring it sharply into 2nd edition • £12.99 • 9-780713-673838
focus. Maps and plans are use-
ful but nothing beats a visit to
where the novel is set, whether it
Is There a Book in You?
be Wessex or Normandy. It helps
Foreword by columnist and
to know in which direction the
writer Katharine Whitehorn
sun rises!
£9.99 • 9-780713-679328
‘What matters most is the con-
flict between the main characters.
Setting and historical detail can-
Available from bookshops or to order direct
not overshadow the emotional call 01256 302699 or visit: www.acblack.com
journey of the hero and heroine.’
Writers
’
FORUM #99 41
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