Penguin Random House hosts aspiring Asian authors

Tuesday 12th September 2017 11:54 EDT
 

As part of its nationwide campaign to seek out and publish new and under-represented voices in writing, UK publisher Penguin Random House brought 50 aspiring authors together at a special event in London. The programme was one of three free events taking place across the UK as part of the WriteNow programme launched last year to ensure books and publishing better reflect UK society.

Attendees were writers from different communities including BAME, LGBTQ, disabled, and thoses from socio-economically marginalised backgrounds. They were given advice, tips, and insights from authors Elif Shafak, Francesca Martinez, Afua Hirsch, Mahsuda Snaith, Dave Rudden and Fox Fisher, and leading literary agents. The writers were given a better understanding of the industry and how to get published. One of the best parts of the event was a one-to-one feedback on the amateur writers' manuscripts from a Penguin Random House editor.

Hirsch spoke of her own experience of moving from journalism to writing non-fiction. “It's really important to get away from the idea that there is just one kind of writer from one kind of background. I thought I couldn't be a writer because I didn't it the profile of what I expected a writer should be. But I was wrong, anyone can write, and there are so many ways of being creative.”


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