Icon-facebook Icon-twitter Icon-instagram

MORE DETAILS COMING SOON

KEYNOTES, TALKS, WORKSHOPS, PITCH PARTY... and #AGENT121 appointments

OUR FESTIVAL LINE-UP IS NOW READY

KEYNOTES, TALKS, WORKSHOPS, PITCH PARTY... and book as many #AGENT121 slots as you like!

Click on the images below to find out more about the presenters and their workshops / talks.

Onjali Q Rauf

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

T.M. Logan

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Gareth P Jones

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Amanda Prowse

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

FRIDAY 19 MAY 2023

09:30 to 10:30 - KEYNOTE SPEAKER - ONJALI M. RAÚF MBE

10:45 to 11:45

THE CHAIN - PANEL Q&A


AUTHOR/AGENT/PUBLISHER

How do an author, an agent and a publisher all collaborate to produce the best book they possibly can? What processes does the book travel through from signing to book shelf? And what responsibilities lie with each person in the chain? Join author Kate Poels, her agent Amanda Preston, and publisher Boldwood Books to find out!

10:45 to 11:45

SELF-PUBLISH YOUR PICTURE BOOKS

SARAH SURGEY

Thinking it's time to self-publish your picture book but not sure where to begin? Learn how with globally successful author Sarah Surgey; how to start, market, internationally publish and develop your platform in the wonderful world of children's literature. Pick up key industry advice from pitching your book to illustration rights and find out what to ask for in contracts.

10:45 to 12:45

PSYCHOLOGY OF CHARACTER


JULIA STONE

What makes a person tick? Award-winning author Julia Stone will introduce you to the psychology of personality to develop rounded characters that readers really engage with. Build your main character's psychological profile with realistic beliefs, behaviours and backstory so they are ready to ride the ups and downs your novel has in store for them!

10:45 to 12:45

THE LUCRATIVE BUSINESS OF ARMCHAIR TRAVEL

KATE FROST

With a focus on commercial fiction, this workshop with bestselling hybrid author of romantic escape novels and YA fiction Kate Frost will be visual, creative and practical. Discover techniques to really bring your setting to life and learn how it can be central to the story, while understanding the importance the location has in writing and selling novels around the world.

10:45 to 12:45

MAKING STORIES WITH MYTH & MAGIC

FINBAR HAWKINS

Join Finbar Hawkins in this workshop exploring accessible fantasy, mixing history with imaginary worlds, and how to approach writing it yourself. Finbar's debut novel, Witch, was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award and nominated for the 2022 Carnegie medal. His latest, ‘Stone’, was published last year.

11:45 to 12:45

WHAT CAN A PUBLISHER DO FOR YOU?

BOLDWOOD BOOKS

So you've written your book...but what next? In this talk Emily Ruston and Nia Beynon from Boldwood Books will discuss the advantages of working with a global independent publisher. Whether you are a debut writer, smashing it as a self published author or an established author looking for a new career move, you'll go through what a publisher can offer you and your writing career.

11:45 to 12:45

CREATE YOUR OWN CHAPTER BOOK SERIES

AMY SPARKES

Chapter Books have huge commercial appeal and are a brilliant starting place for an emerging writer. Come along and have a go at creating your own series for young readers.

13:00 to 14:00

WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS

JENNY MOORE &
KATE POELS

More and more authors are now writing across genres to maximise their reach and make best use of their writing skills. But how easy is it to change writer hat, reader audience and promote yourself in two (or more!) different markets? Find out with children's AND thriller authors, Jenny Moore and Kate Poels.

13:00 to 14:00

PERFECTING YOUR SUBMISSION


TOM BROMLEY

Tom Bromley is an author, editor, ghostwriter and creative writing tutor. For ten years, he taught novel writing for the Faber Academy, before moving to Reedsy where he is now Head of Learning. This session will look at the submissions package and process: how to craft the perfect covering letter, synopsis and opening to grab the attention of an agent or a publisher.

14:00 to 15:00

WRITING AUTHENTIC CRIME


CONSULTANTINGCOPS.COM

Two former Detective Sergeants, Lyndon Smith and Miles Manning, are keen to help crime writers get their facts right after seeing repeated mistakes in crime thriller books and onscreen. Knowing the reality of a crime scene will take your writing to a higher level and make your crime / thriller authentic. Come and learn the mistakes and how to avoid them from the experts who know best.

14:00 to 15:00

SELL (AND PROTECT) YOUR RIGHTS


KATE NASH AND JUSTIN NASH

As an author, you don’t just write books: you are a creator of intellectual property. That gives you legal protections and also creates opportunities to sell your book into different formats, languages and media, like film and television. Covering what every author should know about copyright, moral rights, public licensing rights, publishing rights and film and tv rights, Sell (And Protect) Your Rights shows you what is already in your rights toolkit and what you can do to navigate the commercial opportunities and avoid what could be expensive pitfalls.

15:00 to 16:00

WILL AI MAKE AUTHORS REDUNDANT?

SCOTT PACK

In the past couple of years, Artificial Intelligence has come to the fore in many walks of life, but what impact will it have on the book world? Scott Pack will examine AI's position in publishing right now, explore its potential benefits and drawbacks for the future and will attempt to create some AI-generated content from your prompts and suggestions.

15:00 to 16:00

I REALLY REALLY WANT TO WRITE PICTURE BOOKS

LITTLE TIGER

Commissioning editors receive hundreds of submissions every month, so what’s going to make your text stand out? What will make an editor jump for joy? Join Little Tiger’s Eleanor Farmer and Maudie Powell-Tuck as they chat about the top 5 ways to get your picture book text noticed by publishers.

15:00 to 17:00

CRACKING CRIME


SIMON HALL

Learn all you need to know to write a cracking crime novel in this high energy, highly interactive slam of a workshop. From setting sinister scenes to critical elements of character, plus plotting and the all-important twist of an unforgettable ending.

15:00 to 17:00

STORY-TELLING, SCENE-SHOWING


ADRIENNE DINES

It’s your story but your job is not to tell, but to show it - what does that mean and how do you separate the two? Explore how storytellers get out of the way and let the stories speak for themselves.

15:00 to 17:00

CHILDREN'S WRITING FOR ALL AGES

ALI SPARKES

If you can write well for a nine-year-old, you can write well for anyone. Ali will lead a high-octane mash-up of interactive presentation and workshop to take writers of all ambitions through the fundamental underpinning of all writing - engagement. Be prepared to muck in, collaborate and share... and possibly get hypnotised.

16:15 to 17:00

AGENT PANEL

OLIVIA MAIDMENT, JUSTIN NASH AND CATHERINE PELLEGRINO

We’ve brought together three agents from different agencies to answer your questions on agenting. What makes a standout submission package? How will an agent support you, the author? And what are they looking for when selling a book and its rights around the world? Olivia Maidment from the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency, Justin Nash from Kate Nash Literary Agency and Catherine Pellegrino from Marjacq will answer all you need to know!

16:15 to 17:00

CHILDREN'S BOOK AGENT Q&A

LIL CHASE AND GILL MCLAY


Have a chat about the world of agenting children’s books with two esteemed agents, Lil Chase of Caroline Wakeman Literary Agency and Gill McLay of Bath Literary Agency. Lil herself is a children’s author so understands the challenges of writing and agenting, and Gill is co-founder and former Director of the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature. Is children’s fiction a difficult area of the market just now? What are the challenges? What is are the trends? And how can you make your submission stand out?

17:30 to 18:30 - KEYNOTE SPEAKER - T.M. LOGAN

19:00 to 23:30 - TWO COURSE MEAL AND PITCH PARTY (Tickets need to be purchased separately for this)

SATURDAY 20 MAY 2023

09:30 to 10:30 - KEYNOTE SPEAKER - GARETH P JONES

10:45 to 11:45

AGENT PANEL Q&A


MADDY BELTON, MOLLY JAMIESON AND JO WILLIAMSON

Come and ask these three agents your questions

10:45 to 12:45

THE PICTURE BOOK BISCUIT SHOW


KARL NEWSON

Join Karl Newson for a picture writing workshop with a crunch! We'll look at everything from finding ideas to writing 'The End' to the published book... Let's see if we can make up a picture book story on the spot? Expect silly noises. Reading aloud. Twists and turns. And biscuits.

10:45 to 12:45

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EDITING


ANNA DAVIDSON

So, you’ve found an agent or a publisher – but what next? If you’re hoping to turn your hobby into a career, this workshop will give you the lowdown on the editorial and publishing processes in a typical publishing house. From how the decision to acquire a book gets made through to who else will read final page proofs, discover how to make your publishing experience as rewarding as possible.

10:45 to 12:45

STORYSMITH - CHARACTER, CONFLICT AND CONTEXT


ADRIENNE DINES

What qualifies a seemingly ordinary character to take centre stage in your story? How do you create a worthy opponent? In this workshop we’ll look at protagonists and antagonists, the qualities and flaws in both so you can be confident you’ve got your team lined up to tell your best story.

10:45 to 12:45

SPECULATIVE WRITING: FANTASY, SCI-FI, HORROR & ALL THAT'S IN BETWEEN

DAVINA TIJANI

This workshop will delve into defining the (speculative) genre and its subgenres before branching into various topics like world building, tropes, plot and characterisation. This workshop will explore what makes (speculative) such a compelling genre to write in and how creative elements come together to write interesting and thought-provoking stories.

11:45 to 12:45

THE MATHEMATICS OF PUBLISHING

SCOTT PACK

How many copies does a bestseller actually sell? What sort of advances to authors get paid? How much does it cost to publish a book? How much money does a typical author earn? Publishing is an industry built on words but driven by numbers. Scott Pack will explore these numbers in an entertaining and eye-opening talk.

13:00 to 14:00

POSTIVE AFFIRMATIONS, VISION BOARDS AND THE LAW OF ATTRACTION FOR WRITERS

MEL COLLINS

Discover how positive psychology, visualisation and energy practices can help you to become a published author.

13:00 to 14:00

PERFECTING YOUR SUBMISSION

SIMON HALL

Need to power up, polish and perfect your pitch to agents and publishers? This talk will take you through how to start strikingly, end emphatically, and what to include – and not include! – in the middle.

14:00 to 15:00

SELF-PUBLISHING

NICOLA MAY AND SCOTT PACK

Join bestselling author Nicola May, and veteran publisher Scott Pack, as they discuss the pros and cons of self-publishing your work compared to life as a traditionally published author. Nicola and Scott have had books published through both channels and promise to be very indiscreet, and reveal some trade secrets, in this frank and open conversation.

15:00 to 16:00

BLOGGERS TURNED AUTHORS



CLARE POOLEY AND SARAH TURNER

Come and ask these three agents your questions

15:00 to 16:00

TEN STEPS TO PICTURE BOOKS PUBLICATION


BARRY TIMMS

You’ve had your picture book idea … but how can you make it brilliant? And how should you submit it? This practical ten-step guide covers the essentials – from research, editing and objectivity to pitching, agents and working with editors. Budding authors will obtain a clear understanding of the journey towards publication, and how to dodge those key pitfalls. 

15:00 to 17:00

HISTORICAL FICTION MASTERCLASS


EMMA DARWIN

Most writers think that the key to writing historical fiction is ‘getting the facts right’, but how do you root your fiction in history without getting stuck in the mud? How do you set your imagination flying when you have to look everything up? And while getting your facts right is one challenge, what really matters is that your readers get deeply involved in your characters and their story.

15:00 to 17:00

JUST A LOT OF HE SAID, SHE SAID


EMMA READ

During the workshop we’ll explore how dialogue is used in a variety of formats to convey a story. We’ll examine memorable pieces of dialogue, compare how people really speak to how they speak in books, and edit dialogue for plot. This workshop will provide you with practical tools and a variety of exercises for writing and presenting dialogue which will, in turn, help your characters shine and your voice come through.

15:00 to 17:00

THE PERFECT KILLER TWIST

KATHERINE BRADLEY

Using her skills as an author and a qualified teacher of English with a first class degree in literature, this workshop will guide you through classic and contemporary examples of film and novels with famous twists. Katherine will direct you to the tricks of the thriller trade to help you develop an understanding of how authors successfully create misdirection and produce the highly sought after twist.

16:00 to 17:00

PUBLICITY

SCOTT PACK

So you've written your boo

16:00 to 17:00

GRAPHIC NOVELS

TOM MCLAUGHLIN

Graphic novels are riding a record high in both today's adult's and children's markets. Where other genres are proving more difficult to sell, agents and publishers can't get enough of this colourful world fuelled by imagination. But with pages ranging from 48 in number to 480, how does a new writer even begin to put such a book together? What are the key features? Where do you place your twists and turns? And how can you approach an agent with your visual idea in text format? Take this class with author / illustrator Tom McLaughlin to dive into this exciting area of publishing.

17:30 to 18:30 - KEYNOTE SPEAKER - AMANDA PROWSE

19:00 to 23:30 - TWO COURSE MEAL AND EVENING ENTERTAINMENT (Tickets need to be purchased separately for this)

LOCATION:

MERCURE BRISTOL HOLLAND HOUSE

Redcliffe Hill
Bristol
BS1 6SQ

Mercure-Bristol-Holland-House-Hotel-Review-Main-Entrance
mercure-bristol-holland
meeting-room (2)
mercure-bristol-holland (1)

HOW TO REACH THE VENUE Directions:

Hotel Mercure, Holland House, Redcliffe Hill,  Bristol, BS1 6SQ

Email: iamwriting@iaminprint.co.uk

BRISTOL BUS STATION

0.62mi / 20 min walk / 20 min drive

BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS

0.87mi / 6 min walk / 2 min drive

BRISTOL PARKWAY

4.35mi / 30 min drive 

BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

7.52mi / 17 min drive

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES