For some, London Book Fair might seem like an intimidating place – full of agents, publishers, new and established authors – but it’s the perfect place to develop your career as a writer. If you can make the trip to the city, LBF is an unmissable event in any author’s calendar, and here are our top reasons for why you should take the plunge and get stuck in this March.
Find out what’s coming up
As the biggest annual event in the UK publishing trade diary, LBF is the best place to get a feel for the literary landscape of the year ahead. Be prepared for big announcements, and see if you can uncover any upcoming trends which you’ll no doubt spot in your own reading list six months down the line.
While we’d never suggest trying to follow trends in your own writing, knowing which agents or publishers are taking on work similar to yours can be incredibly useful for narrowing down who you send your submission package to. Also, saying you’ve spoken to or watched a certain agent talk is also a great thing to include in your covering letter.
Get networking
Speak to people and make yourself known. While agents and publishers will be very busy, it’s worth making the effort to book yourself in with those you think will like your work. Don’t be indiscriminate – someone who specialises in light romance probably isn’t going to want your gritty noir – but get yourself out there and book time with people who might be able to give you useful advice or further your career.
Networking doesn’t stop at agents and publishers, though. There will be countless authors milling around, from the budding debut to the battle-scarred veteran, and you can learn something from everyone. Don’t be afraid to get chatting over a coffee – they might just have the solution to the problem you’ve been stuck on for weeks.
The biggest highlight of LBF is the vast number of seminars and talks. This year, you’ll find over 200 free talks from the Insights Seminar Programme, and it’s safe to say there will be something for everyone.
– Mo Harber-Lamond
Attend author’s advice talks
The biggest highlight of LBF is the vast number of seminars and talks. This year, you’ll find over 200 free talks from the Insights Seminar Programme, and it’s safe to say there will be something for everyone.
Events include In Conversation talks, craft-focused seminars, industry-specific lectures and many more. Below are a few we don’t want to miss out on this year:
- PWA favourites Irenosen Okojie and Eley Williams are both holding In Conversation seminars. Learn more about Eley’s here and Irenosen’s here.
- Cornerstones’ Helen Corner-Bryant joins author and presenter Konnie Huq for a 45-minute exploration of the structuring of a novel. Learn more here.
- Cloud Atlas author David Mitchell joins the Waterstones Podcast’s Will Rycroft to discuss his new novel and more.
- Dragon’s Den-style The Write Stuff sees six authors pitch to a panel of agents for the chance to win a follow-up meeting and a year’s Author Club membership.
Come find us
Sharing the stand with Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, PWA will be present and correct at LBF 2020. We’ve loved the Fair since we can remember – especially since we took the leap of faith that started our whole story rolling – so if you’d like to come and meet us, learn more about our courses, or just have a quick chat, seek us out. We’re there for all three days, so don’t be shy.
