Brit Writers & Me

Tell us how you started your journey with Brit Writers

For a while I had been going through the motions of sending submissions to agents, but to no avail. Of the roughly 30 agents I had submitted to, only one asked to see the whole manuscript. But that one didn’t come to anything either, although I am told it was what they call a ‘near miss’.

I then went through a period of mourning and self-loathing before coming across Brit Writers and entering the unpublished writers’ competition. Although I didn’t win it was suggested that I might try the referral service they provide, and through that I was put in touch with Imran.

Following several phone calls to discuss my submission package and where I could be going wrong there, I met up with Imran to discuss my book and how I could best place it in the world. He liked the strong message it carries, promoting awareness about child trafficking and prostitution through a fictional story.

We went through the book identifying any issues that might concern prospective agents and publishers. Aside from the fact that the controversial subject matter might be an issue for some, we wanted to ensure there was nothing else that would give them an excuse to turn it down. Imran had previously given my manuscript to a couple of readers asking them to be as critical as possible, but aside from a few small issues, which were easily rectified, they were very positive about it. With the reassurance that my book was the best it could be, Imran suggested we send over a submission package, that included a cover letter, biog, synopsis and the first three chapters, to four agents and one publisher to get feedback.

What was the general feeling among the agents and was your book picked up by anyone?

I would love to be able to say yes, they jumped on it right away and the rest is history, but it wasn’t to be so easy. Three agents came straight back to us, one within twenty-four hours, and both Diane Banks and Eve White asked to see the full manuscript, which raised my hopes perhaps too high so early on. Unfortunately, it was not for them at that time. Imran told me not to be too disheartened, that this was just the beginning and there were many other options available to me. I guess it’s always the dream of every new author that they will be dragged victorious down the traditional publishing route to unequivocal fame and fortune, but in reality, these days, it’s a rarity.

So what happened next?

Well, I picked myself up and Imran suggested we try a few more agents, with a couple more publishers thrown in. What happened next still haunts me as to whether I made the right choice, because a publisher did like my book and offered to take me on. But, and here’s the crunch: they wanted 80-85% of the royalties. Now what would you do? Would you take the ‘kudos’ that being with a proper, real publisher brings and give up all that hard work in order that someone else might reap the rewards, or would you step out alone into the harsh, endless winter of self-publishing and go it alone? That was basically the choice; I could have continued sending my manuscript out in the hope that I might get a better deal, but if that’s what a publisher wanted from me, and I’d had an agent on board too, what would have been left for me? I would have lost control, been beholden to a publisher’s demands, and probably lost my identity to boot. So after much deliberation and head banging, Imran said that if I took the leap into the unknown world of self-publishing, that Brit Writers would help and back me all the way.

Why do you suppose Imran persevered with you and your book?

I think that’s a question you need to ask him! I don’t know, except that Brit Writers is about supporting new writers, especially ones that have a purpose. My book, Ring Around Rosie, was written to create awareness about child trafficking and prostitution. It’s something I knew nothing about before I began researching it, and now that I know about this horrifying world I want others to know too. And teenagers, I think, are a good place to start; they are keen to learn, and have no preconceptions about things they know nothing about. I think that educating them though fiction will help them better understand the reality. And this, I guess, is what attracted Imran – that, and a great story, obviously!

 

So, you’re out there, alone, in the unchartered world of self-publishing. 

How’s that going for you?

Well, not too bad. I published an ebook on Amazon and after four weeks it peaked at number 3 on Amazon.co.uk’s bestseller list for children’s Action & Adventure. In fact, it got stuck behind The Jungle Book at number 2, and Treasure Island at number 1, which I guess I can’t be too bitter about! And it also got to number 3 on Amazon.com’s bestseller list for Teen Mysteries & Thrillers.
 

It’s by no means easy, though. I spend way too much of my time on social media sites, shamelessly plugging myself. And that’s not something I find easy at all, it pulls me way out of my comfort zone, and I wish sometimes that I could just be the writer I want to be, not the publicist I hate. But this is the path I’ve chosen, for now, so I have to make the best of it. But you know, it’s only my first book, I can’t expect to stroll confidently into the party and be accepted straight away. I realise I have to work for it, and so I will, as hard and for as long as it takes.

And there are great people out there that want to help and are incredibly supportive. There’s everyone at Brit Writers, obviously. And there are others I’ve met along the way like Yvonne Grace, and Maia Walczak, and Sheryl Browne, and Paddy Tyrrell, and Laura Besley, and Danica Worthy, and Michelle Goode, and, and, and…. There are too many to name them all, but the point is, I’m not alone, there are many others out there who are in the same situation, or at the very least understand what I’m going through, and just having that support is what keeps me going.

Based on your experience with self-publishing so far, would you recommend it to others?

At this stage I would say yes, but, firstly, be prepared to shift your perception of what self-publishing means to you. Yes you publish without the backing from a traditional publisher, by yourself, but don’t do it alone. Get advice, build a support network, give your time to others so that they might reciprocate. Friends are important in this game, and I don’t mean your mates back home, I mean like-minded supporters who know what you’re going through, people you admire. Self-publishing suggests you are alone but actually you need all the friends you can scrape together to keep your mind on the job, as well as keep you sane.

Ring Around Rosie is available to download from Amazon

The Brit Writers’ Awards, as seen from somewhere near the back, by Emily Pattullo

The Brit Writers’ Awards, as seen from somewhere near the back, by Emily Pattullo

It was an honour to be invited to the Brit Writers’ Awards at the weekend. I’m not sure why I was invited, I wasn’t up for any awards; I hadn’t even entered this year. Between you and me, I think it was because I can do an awesome wolf whistle, or maybe someone more important couldn’t make it and they needed to fill a seat. Whatever the reason, I was happy to be included in what is fast becoming the hot ticket event of the year – move over X Factor! 

And what a spread it was. There was a red carpet, a stage, an audience, and an obscene amount of talent, all brought together for the sole purpose of celebrating great writing. And then there was me, somewhere near the back, supping contentedly on a glass of bubbles, and in complete bewildered awe of the diversity of people in that room.

I don’t think I’ve ever won anything of any consequence, so I can only imagine the excitement and, quite possibly, terror that each finalist must have felt that night. Two of the finalists were sitting at my table, Yvonne Marjot who was nominated for the adult poetry award, and Joel Cranefield for the under 16s songwriting award. And imagine my surprise and elation when both won their category right there in front of me and my starter. Not a great time to bring out the wolf whistle, but I clapped until my hands were sore, and glowed like a proud mother, even though I hadn’t met either of them before that evening.

And that really sums up the vibe that night. Despite the fact it was a competition, and a fierce one at that, there wasn’t a feeling of one-upmanship, there was genuine support and encouragement from everyone. And I credit that to the accessibility of the Brit Writers’ Awards and the diversity of people that entered. And it wasn’t just adults that were being commended, it was children too, sharing the limelight and accepting equal admiration for their talent, despite their age and relative inexperience.

And then there was me, who, whilst devouring my main course, heard my name spoken from somewhere in the chandeliers. And before I’d even had a chance to realise it wasn’t due to one glass too many, there was a microphone in my face and all I could do was pray I didn’t have gravy running down my chin. That’ll teach me to sit smugly in my seat, glad of my anonymity. There I was, answering questions about my book, without a pre-prepared script and in front of several hundred people. I’m not sure what I said, but I have even more respect for those hugely talented winners who accepted their awards with such dignity.

And then all that remained was for the man himself, the driving force behind Brit Writers, Imran Akram, to take a bow and accept the accolade for his part in giving us writers the chance to tout our wares, despite the temperamental climate.

Ring Around Rosie by Emily Pattullo 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009T5W4TC/ref=tag_dpp_yt_edpp_rt#tags

@EmilyPattullo

www.emilypattullo.com