Writing Magazine April 2020

8 APRIL 2020 http://www.writers-online.co.uk

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We want to hear your news and views on the writing world, your advice for fellow writers

• and don’t forget to tell us what you would like to see featured in a future issue...

Write to: Letters to the editor, Writing Magazine, Warners

Group Publications plc, 5th Floor, 31-32 Park Row, Leeds

LS1 5JD; email: [email protected]. (Include your

name and address when emailing letters. Ensure all

letters, a maximum of 250 words, are exclusive to Writing

Magazine. Letters may be edited.)

When referring to previous articles/letters, please state

month of publication and page number.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Writing as an agent, Piers Blofeld (From the other side of the desk,

WM, Mar) suggets that publishers tend to have a leftish, metropolitan

worldview and incline to publish work that appeals to readers who share

it.  is is also true of literary agents. One might argue that far from

being reactive to its broader market the whole book-producing industry

determines what that market shall read – or ought to read.

In the same issue, a letter from reader, Eric Olsen (Does Age Matter?,

p9), touches on agents’ attitudes to the age of those submitting work to

them.  is is usually put down to concern about investing in a rapidly

wasting asset, but may also be attributable to contempt for those whose

written English dates from before these agents were born.

ALAN HAMILTON

Bridport, Dorset

Psyching yourself up

http://www.writersandartists.co.uk

The star letter each month earns a copy

of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2020,

courtesy of Bloomsbury,

Gatekeepers of opinion

In my recent writing practice I’ve been struck by how much eff ort and
energy it takes to put yourself out there. Writing is one of those things
that most people consider a highly introverted activity, yet the acts of
sending letters out, entering competitions, or even publishing on your
own website can be a mountainous undertaking of extroversion and ego.
 ere’s a lot of advice in Writing Magazine about inspiring your
writing, what the industry is looking for, and how to connect with it. I’d
be interested in the magazine’s take on how to psyche yourself up and
inspire your self-confi dence!
I’ve been trying to step up my game recently with letters and
competition entries. I’ve been spurring myself on with mantras of ‘Just a
little more! You can do it!’ and ‘Get out of your own way!’ but sometimes
it’s been a real eff ort to think positively and get over the mental blocks in
front of query-letters and competition entries. Much like the writing work
itself, it’s greatly helped by just getting your bum in the seat and getting
it done. Emptying your mind of what might happen and focusing on the
task at hand.
 ere’s nothing like the sense of completion and feeling of power
that comes once it’s done. Once you hit send and the email goes, or the
envelope disappears into the postbox. All there is to do then is wait, and
try not to imagine all the diff erent ways you could have done it better.
ERIN WRIGHT
Cleethorpes

I could not but agree with the

points made by the article Go to

the dogs (Fiction Focus, WM Feb)

about animal characters: they

add a lot to the story, and often

steal the show.

I realised that when almost

every reader who gave me

feedback on my novel stated

that the character they liked the

most was neither the hero nor the heroine. It was the horse.

And not any old horse: a greedy, grumpy, talking racehorse.

Everyone loved the horse. Everyone was delighted that the

horse could speak (did I mention that this novel is historical

 ction in a realistic setting?) I was shocked that no one

questioned that. I had expected some raised eyebrows. But

no, nothing.

A particularly critical beta reader pointed out that one

character’s speech was unrealistic, because it did not re ect

his social background.  at same reader did not think that

this character having conversations with a HORSE was

unnatural.  ough they did state that the fact this horse’s

mane had been ‘cut’ when it should have been ‘pulled’, was

not accurate or acceptable.

Animal magic indeed...  is horse bewitched readers,

and left me wondering if my book might have been more

successful had I cast him as the hero (and his human as a

supporting character).

MAY BERMONT

Paris, France

Horse’s mouth

I could not but agree with the I could not but agree with the

points made by the article points made by the article

the dogs the dogs

about animal characters: they about animal characters: they

add a lot to the story, and often add a lot to the story, and often

steal the show.steal the show.

every reader who gave me every reader who gave me

feedback on my novel stated feedback on my novel stated

that the character they liked the that the character they liked the

most was neither the hero nor the heroine. It was tmost was neither the hero nor the heroine. It was the horse. he horse.

My husband bought me a subscription to

Writing Magazine as a gift. As a new writer, I

have written a children’s story which I have just

sent out to publishers and have just entered two

writing competitions for this magazine.

I love writing and especially love Writing

Magazine. I have created a scrapbook full of the

great advice and tips contained in each edition

I receive!

JULES McBAIN

Hanworth, Bracknell

Cuttings book

STAR LETTER