Do you know a budding author? by Nicky Peacock
In the last couple of years, a lot has changed in the publishing industry. eBooks, although not devouring our traditional books as first predicted, have gained tremendous popularity. With this change has come much more opportunity for aspiring writers to submit their work. With major publishers opening eBook imprints and not limiting these submissions to those with an agent, there has never been a more exciting time to be a writer.
If you ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, most will say: pop star, actor, footballer, solicitor, or doctor; I would have been one of the precocious ones that said, “Author”. I always knew what I wanted to be and I never changed my mind. For years I climbed that literary mountain, learnt my craft and… failed, again and again. Needless to say, I developed a pretty thick skin. But as those far too cheery motivational speakers always say, “Only quitters truly fail”. So I kept trying, and five years ago, I had my first story published. Since then I have had over thirty-five short stories published and have a contract with the publishers, Evernight Teen, for two book series: Battle of the Undead and The Twisted and The Brave.
I have learnt a lot along the way and, thinking back to my early writing days in Corby; there wasn’t much in the way of resources available to me when I started out. I want to change that now. When I was first published, I started a writers’ group for adults called Creative Minds. We still meet every second Thursday and the friends I’ve made there have become invaluable to myself as a writer and a person.
Some members since joining have been published and even signed book deals. The benefits of having like-minded people and experienced mentors around you are priceless when it comes to writing. So, I have teamed up with Corby Library to create a 13-25-yearold writers’ group to run creative writing workshops. Attendance is completely free and will be led by myself to help aspiring young writers to hone their writing skills, exercise their imaginations, and learn about the publishing industry through talks and workshops.
If you know someone or are someone, aged 13-25, who could benefit from the workshops please email me on iwanttowrite@hotmail. com to register interest and receive details for updates.
Over 25? Don’t worry, my adult group Creative Minds is still going strong and everyone is welcome regardless of experience. Attendance here is also free. Visit creativemindswriting.wordpress.com for details.
If you would like to learn more about me as an author and my published work, please visit www.nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com
|