Last Sunday I guested again at Litopia, an online writers’ colony and community. Every week they have a YouTube show, Pop-Up Submissions, where five manuscripts are read and critiqued live on air by literary agent Peter Cox @agentpete and a guest, or sometimes two (this time we had PR agent Kaylie Finn @kaylie_finn ).
The format is simple. Five manuscripts, each with a short blurb. We hear the opening pages, then talk about how they’re working – exactly as an agent would think about a manuscript that crossed their desk. This time we had YA post-apocalyptic fiction, a World War II spy thriller, a farce set in the world of British TV, a literary post-apocalyptic adult novel and a Cold War memoir. Issues we discussed included introducing a world and characters, stylised language, versatility of tone, orientating the reader so you don’t lose their attention, introducing a character with a peculiar problem, writing comedy, believability of a story concept, what makes a YA novel YA, ingredients for a historical novel, and how to get a toehold in the very competitive market for special forces memoirs.
Fascinating stuff – as ever, I talked loads, and I also learned loads from the responses of Peter and Kaylie. (That’s Kaylie and Peter in the preview pic.)
Enjoy! And if you’ve got a manuscript you’d like critiqued, apply here.
And meanwhile, here’s what’s happening to my own much-edited manuscript, plus a few other writerly tales
#1 by Sam "Goldie" Kirk on March 10, 2020 - 11:35 pm
How exciting! I’ll have to look into that and watch when I have a moment. COngratZ!
#2 by Roz Morris @Roz_Morris on March 10, 2020 - 11:54 pm
Thanks, Sam!
#3 by tracikenworth on March 11, 2020 - 12:52 am
Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide Traci Kenworth YA Author & Book Blogger for all Genres as well as craft books and commented:
Important!
#4 by Roz Morris @Roz_Morris on March 11, 2020 - 7:46 am
Thanks, Traci!
#5 by tracikenworth on March 11, 2020 - 4:09 pm
You’re welcome, Roz!
#6 by Bryan J. Fagan on March 14, 2020 - 10:38 pm
This is interesting. I have been looking for an on line group. Thanks!!!
#7 by Roz Morris @Roz_Morris on March 15, 2020 - 10:13 am
They’re long established – hope you make wonderful connections there!
#8 by Roz Morris @Roz_Morris on March 12, 2020 - 7:46 am
Thanks, Loleta!