LINKED APPRAISALS
Apprenticeship Appraisals & one-to-ones
We have opened up access to the programme so that a broader range of writers may benefit. This new preliminary stage is aimed at shortlisted writers whose work displays considerable talent, but who, for various reasons, may not yet be ready for the demands of the programme.
An Apprenticeship Appraisal is a detailed document (Usually about 5/6 pages single-spaced). It includes an assessment of your submission - synopsis and chapters - from a professional mid-career writer working in a similar genre. Appraisals are designed to offer you an overview of your work within the context of the publishing industry and to cover all aspects of successful fiction. We take a practical, example-led approach which will clearly set out which issues you need to address and offer you a clear step forward.
For the serious aspiring writer, this represents an invaluable opportunity to see their work in a professional context and to improve their chances of publication. Applicants have used this input to strengthen subsequent submissions - runners-up have made the shortlist, a shortlisted writer gained an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships Appraisals are offered at a discounted rate and are available for a limited period only.
FEEDBACK
I have had feedback before, but often it focuses narrowly on the writing
that's there, rather than taking a step back, if that makes sense. Your appraisal
was more useful in that it gave a variety of possible ways of taking the
project forward and pointed out what might have to be done either way.
Cath Ferguson
Tale
of a Useful Idiot
I found the appraisal extremely useful - it brought into focus the areas
I think I knew were weak and enabled me to look again at how to tackle them.
I was surprised and delighted at the attention to detail and thoroughness.
Julie
Farnworth
The Fat Angel
…it confirmed my judgment, and reassured
me that my instincts re editing are good.
Ruth Dugdall
Innocence Lane
I have received your feedback and am delighted
with it! I agree with everything you say and felt it in my bones anyway,
though didn’t have the experience
to spot what potholes I was falling into... It has already proved invaluable
and had the effect of lots of insights dropping into place!
Jessica Nelson
Living with Volcanoes
I found the feedback immensely constructive and I'm looking forward to re-writing
the book and making the suggested changes.
Simon Griffiths
The Lion of Senegal
Liz (Williams) has given me a great deal to think
about…although there
is a lot of work to do, the comments have given me new ways to connect with
my characters and to think about setting and plot. Overall I was extremely
pleased with my appraisal and glad that I have plenty of feedback to work
with. Thank you for all your help!
Lindsay Kernahan
The Other Side of Coins
Brian (Keaney) was very specific that the main thing to work on was the
structure of my story (this was also what another publisher told me, so it
made sense), rather than the writing itself (although, obviously, that can
always be improved). He gave me a lot of confidence in the fact that I can
actually write. He also gave me a lot of information about the publishing
process. I found it very useful to understand more how a publisher might
look at my work when deciding whether to take it on or not.
Jane Frederick
The Zero Sum Game
It is extremely useful to have such detailed and constructive comments,
which highlight some fundamental shortcomings but also offer some hope.
Clare
Hawkins
Passage to Redemption
