Windshift Press
Newsletter Archives
For me the appearance of the first local strawberries marks summer's arrival. I think of the great gardener's of the past. A visit to Vita Sackville-West's garden at Sissinghurst is a treat even for the most resistant of gardeners. It brings you into another world. Frances Hodgson Burnett brought us a secret garden in The Secret Garden. Many gardeners will tell you how working in the garden restores their sense of self. Take this season to explore your own creative garden.
Sandra
Writing Tip: - When writing fiction use dialogue as characterization by ensuring each character speaks differently.
Markets
Here's a summer roundup of markets to consider for your novel or non-fiction
manuscript. Do check the submission guidelines on each publisher's website.
A Canadian setting will seem exotic in Europe and may increase your chances
of success.
Hodder & Stoughton Submit 3 chapters (or about 40 pages), synopsis and character list to: Carolyn Mays, Hodder & Stoughton General, 338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH. Tel: 0207 873 6000.
Headline Submit as above to: Jane Morpeth, Headline Book Publishing, 338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH. Tel: 0207 873 6000.
Hutchinson Submit as above to: Paul Sidey, Hutchinson Books, Random House UK Ltd, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA. Tel: 0207 840 8400.
Michael Joseph Send synopsis or outline of ideas only, in first instance, to Tom Weldon, Michael Joseph Ltd, Penguin Books Ltd, Bath Road, Harmondsworth, Middlesex UB7 0DA. Tel: 0208 899 4000.
Allison & Busby Send synopsis and 2 sample chapters to: David Shelley, Suite 111, Bon Marche Centre, 241 Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BJ. Tel: 020 7738 7888. Fax 020 7733 4244.
Jonathan Cape Submit 3 chapters (or about 40 pages), synopsis and character list to: Dan Franklin, Jonathan Cape, Random House UK Ltd, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA. Tel: 0207 840 8400.
Robert Hale Send sample chapters etc. or entire manuscript to: John Hale, Robert Hale Ltd, Clerkenwell House. 45-47 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0HT. Tel: 0207 251 2661.
Foulsham Publishers Publishes non-fiction on most subjects including astrology, gardening, cookery, DIY, business, hobbies, sport, health and marriage. No fiction. IMPRINT: Quantum (Mind, Body and Spirit titles). Unsolicited mss, synopses and ideas welcome. B. A. R. Belasco, The Publishing House, Bennetts Close, Slough, Berkshire SL1 5AP. Tel: 01753 526769. Fax: 01753 535003
Cue Time - Every month we include a couple of writing ideas to help you kick start your writing sessions.
1. Just as a painter sketches
with paints, sketch a scene in words. Look at how you are using adjectives
and adverbs.
2. Take the setting of your favourite book and write yourself as a character
in a story using the setting.
Industry News: Recently David Bezmozgis won the $10,000 Danuta Gleed
Literary Award for his book Natasha and Other Stories. Bezmozgis's book has
also won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book for the Caribbean
and Canada region, and was nominated for the Governor-General's Award in English-language
fiction. Natasha and Other Stories has been compared with Alice Munro's Dance
of the Happy Shades and Mavis Gallant's The Other Paris. This is certainly
a Canadian author to watch.
The answers offered in this column are the personal opinions of the staff at Windshift for Writers. They are in no way meant to take the place of the professional advice you may need to seek for your specific query.
Questions and Answers
Q. What sorts of things
should I be looking for when revising a piece of writing? - Harold N. -
A. Beyond the usual hunt for grammar and spelling errors, it is important
to look for word and phrase repetitions; to reduce the number of adjective
and adverbs thus making your prose crisper; and to read the piece out loud
to ensure that the rhythm flows. Write for the ear not the eye.
Win a FREE place at one of our Workshops - Writers who wish to host a workshop
can do so by inviting interested friends and acquaintances to a venue (It
could be your dining-room table.) and providing the coffee. If you host a
workshop, your participation is free. Check the Workshops page for further
details.
Home News: We are very busy at Windshift Press this summer with book launch and workshop events. I've included some open invitations below for people who live on Vancouver Island.
Celebrate the publication of Falconer's Last Voyage - Mel McIlveen at the Maritime Museum, Bastion Square, Victoria on June 3rd at 2:00
Celebrate the publication of Lurking Back - East Sooke No-News - Peg Pyner at the Fairfield New Horizons, 380 Cook Street, Victoria on June 26 at 1:30
Celebrate the publication of The Coffin Ship Legacy - Shirley Skidmore at the Little Vienna Bakery, #6 - 6726 West Coast Road, Sooke, Victoria on June 25th at 3:00
Launch: Arts Angels School of Writing - Venue: Cowichan Art Gallery, Cowichan Cultural Centre, 2687 James Street, Duncan; June 11, 2005 - 10:00 - 4:00 - Book Tables and Author Readings; Free admission; Information: 250.416.0363 and artsangels@shaw.ca.