Humanity Hallows Issue 4 Out Now!
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By Jacqueline Grima
On 4th November 2016, Manchester Writing School and Comma Press will host the second National Creative Writing Graduate Fair, giving creative writing students and graduates the chance to meet industry professionals.
Manager of the Writing School James Draper said, “We are thrilled to be hosting the second National Creative Writing Graduate Fair at Manchester Met. The publishing world can feel very London-centric, so it’s both important and exciting to bring industry contacts to the North and give the creative talent in our city the chance to discuss their work with leading literary experts. Last year our students got so much out of the day – they went in to their first pitching sessions nervous, but we’re raring to champion their writing in the second. Where better for a gala event like this than the home of the UK’s biggest English and Creative Writing postgraduate community and most successful Writing School, and what better partner than an outfit with the vision and ambition of Comma Press?”
Writers who attend the day-long event will have the opportunity to meet a vast line up of established authors as well as guests from the publishing industry. They will also be able to take part in a number of panel sessions and workshops that will explore a wide range of topics related to the world of publishing.
Topics covered in the sessions will include self-publishing, crowd funding and self promotion. Workshops will include how to create an elevator pitch, spoken word and how to put together a submissions package.
During the afternoon, writers will also have the opportunity to pitch their work to two leading professionals from the industry in one-to-one sessions. Literary agents attending the event will include representatives from Conville and Walsh, Blake Friedman, Curtis Brown and many more.
Guests are asked to prepare at least two pitches before the event in order to get the most out of their sessions and will be paired with two suitable professionals by the organisers. There will also be a whole host of stalls and societies present on the day, with a vast array of information available to budding writers.
Keynote speaker at the event is award winning author and creative writing graduate Kit de Waal. Kit has an MA in Creative Writing from Oxford Brookes University and has twice won the Bridport Prize for Flash Fiction. Her debut novel My Name is Leon is a Times bestseller. Manchester Writing School Senior Lecturer and author Joe Stretch will also be attending the event as well as Costa First Novel Award winner Andrew Michael Hurley and novelist Monique Roffey.
The National Creative Writing Graduate Fair takes place in the university’s Geoffrey Manton Building and tickets are available until 21st October or until the event is full. For more information, visit the Graduate Fair website.
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