At the Wrong Time At the Darley Anderson Agency we ask that any writers who wish to submit their work to us should provide the first three chapters of their novel as a sample of their writing. This is, as I understand it, standard practice in the industry. However, at least once a week I…
Tag: general fiction
Getting Into Publishing – Keshini Naidoo Crime & Thriller Reader
Growing up, I was the classic ‘child-that-loves-books’, continually accompanied by a paperback or two and finding time to read when I was brushing my teeth, eating dinner or walking down the street (ouch, lampposts). I feel really lucky to now work in an industry in which book obsession is a veritable asset, rather than a…
11 Ways Not To Start Your Novel – No. 4
With Onomatopoeia EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOW KER-SPLAT! I’m really sorry to have to tell you but that is the sound of a literary agent’s expectations plummeting at the sight of onomatopoeia in the first few lines of your novel. Especially if it’s written in capitals, as they so often are. This is not to say you cannot describe…
11 Ways Not To Start Your Novel – No. 3
With a Description of the Moon Quick! Pick a card, any card. Now think of a number between 1 and 10. Next think of a colour. And a vegetable. Got them all? OK? Carrot, red, 7 and either the Ace of Spades or the Queen of Hearts, failing that something with a 3 or a…
11 Ways Not To Start Your Novel – No. 2
With Your Protagonist Looking Into a Mirror The other day as I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror of my north London flat I recalled that my hair is fine and dyed a darker brunette then it would naturally grow to match my darker than average brown eyes. The shadows under my eyes…
Book Fairs and Book Worms
Jon Holder has dedicated Monster of the Month to London Book Fair and has created these bookish creatures… And Mary Darby, Rights Executive, is talking foreign rights. In the frantic run up to the London Book Fair I thought I’d take some time out from preparing for my 56 meetings and introduce you to the…
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