Every summer term, the School of English’s Centre for Creative Writing runs a series of talks and events called ‘Meet the Professionals.’ This is an invaluable opportunity for all writers to hear from industry professional, and to learn more about every aspect and stage of the publishing process – from how to submit a manuscript to the way books are sold. This year, we are delighted to welcome a fantastic roster of guest, which include publishers of prose and poetry, a literary agent and a bookseller.
Tuesday, 18 May 6pm
Kishani Widyaratna, Editorial Director, 4th Estate
Kishani has previously been a commissioning editor at Picador and is now editorial director at 4th Estate. She is also on the editorial board of the White Review literary magazine. She will describe what she is looking for when she signs up an author and will take us through the stages of the publishing process, from an editor’s acquisition of a manuscript to the arrival of the finished book in a shop. All aspects of publishing, and its various roles and positions, will be discussed.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85270177597
Tuesday, 25 May 6pm
Natalie Galustian, Literary Agent, CCL Agency
Natalie will be explaining what a literary agent does, how they work with authors and with publishers, and will be explaining the processes of submitting a manuscript—from author to agent, and from agent to publisher. She will describe her own career progression, from rare books dealer to literary agent, and of course answering that perennial question: does an author actually need an agent?
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85270177597
Tuesday, 1 June 6pm
Simon Everett and Moyra Tourlamain, Muscaliet Press
Muscaliet Press, established in 2017, is an independent publisher of poetry, short fiction and creative nonfiction. They publish new work which is innovative and embodies this approach: bold, interdisciplinary, interweaving, fluid, processual writing, both formal and free-form. Simon and Moyra will talk about the press: its publications; how they work with authors; concepts of the book; the mechanics of publishing a book; funding; and how small presses distribute and market their books.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85270177597
Tuesday, 8th June 6pm
Claire Harris, Bookseller, Lutyens & Rubinstein
What do booksellers do and why are they important? What are the differences between big chains and independents? How important is book design and packaging? What is the future of the bookshop? Wouldn’t you love to talk about books to people for a living? Experienced bookseller, Claire Harris, will offer insights into this dream job.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85270177597
The ‘Meet the Professionals’ series is a part of the School of English Summer School, a series of short courses and training events held each May in the School of English. In the Summer School, students can explore aspects of literary study beyond the usual curriculum. They can learn how to code and apply it to literature, or pick up project management skills, or take short courses on topical themes. Senior students are given the opportunity to undertake research internships on major research projects hosted in the School.