Yes I canturn the next page

Discuss a departure or development which has been inspired or confirmed by today.

e.g. •Write for TV•Promote my self-published book•Get a BBC radio drama commission•Be a visiting writer in schools•Be a writer in the business sector•Start a performance event•Adapt my novel for the stage

Where are the opportunities which might match your departure or development?

time

sanitymoney

creative passion

Step 1 - I want to:

Edit a creative non-fiction anthology of writing about landscape and nature

Step 2 – what skills/experience/understanding

have I got?:From my writing life I know I can:• write on the subject myself • meet deadlines• give constructive feedback to writers• work alone• spot quality writingI also..• have experience in compiling a small anthology of writings • already know a number of candidate writers and know networks through

which to find others• have read widely within the genre

From my non-writing life I can show that I:• Understand the publishing process • Have managed complex projects

Step 3 - how can I show that I have what’s needed?

• ‘Biggar Little Stories’• My own writing on this theme was supported by a Creative

Scotland Award in 2007• See the interest in my ‘Walking and Writing’ blog• Positive feedback from writers I’ve worked with

How do we demonstrate this on a CV?

“In 2007 the Scottish Book Trust paid for me to be mentored by playwright Douglas Maxwell in adapting my novel The Incredible Adam Spark for the stage.” Alan Bissett

“1999: Established Kettillonia, a pamphlet-publishing imprint for new Scottish writing, and produced five pamphlets” James Robertson

Step 4 – what do I need to learn?

• How to select and order work to accrue to a theme

• How to be an intermediary between publisher and writer

• How to evaluate each writer so as to know what style of editorial intervention will be most helpful

• What an anthology introduction should be like• To use ‘track changes’ in Word effectively

Step 5 – what else do I need?

• Support from others on my decisions

• Time

• A sense of confidence and authority

• To trust my intuition

• Inspiring examples of similar books

Step 6 – Where can I get help with Steps 4 and 5?

• Ask Philippa Johnston, Writer’s Compass – useful articles on how others make decisions about anthology editing

• Ask Anne Caldwell – editor of another non-fiction anthology

Yes I Can (Can I?)

Ideas poolStep 1 - I want to:• Write for TV• Promote my self-published

book• Get a BBC radio drama

commission• Be a visiting writer in schools• Be a writer in the business

sector• Start a performance event• Adapt my novel for the stage• etc

Steps 2 and 4 – Skills, understanding and experience

• Discipline• Team-working• Meeting deadlines• Speaking in public• Showcasing other writers• Organising live events• Writing clearly• Diplomacy • Synopsis-writing • etc

Step 5 – what else do I need?

• Time• Money• Confidence• Contacts• An agent• To have a visible

profile• A business card• Public liability

insurance• Disclosure• etc

Turning the Next Page: Yes I can!

My action points arising from today are:

1.

2.

3.

I will do these within the next …..days/weeks/months