I'm now conducting mini-interviews with the publishers of other imprints in the JHP stable and posting them on facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks for the benefit of writers looking for publishing opportunities. Although I'm commissioning editor for Compass Books I'm a writer first and foremost, so there's always one eye on giving writers the maximum amount of information and encouragement. There are now some very interesting titles in the pipeline and the introduction of the 25,000-word Compass Points series has attracted those experienced writers who would be hard pressed to drag a how-to book out for 45,000 words. On a personal note, How To Write for the How-To Markets and The Country Writer's Craft are scheduled for publication mid-2013. If you have written or are in the throes of writing a full-length book - fact or fiction - keep an eye on the Compass Books' facebook for opportunities.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Compass Books News
Just had the contract for Country Writer's Craft through this morning and another title added to the Compass Books imprint. Also talking to writers like Maureen Carter, Solange Hando, Sally Spedding and Alison Chisholm about writing for us, too! The addition of the Compass Points series (maximum of 25,000 words) has also attracted a lot of attention so hope to see lots of new titles in the pipeline.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Forthcoming Titles
On a more personal level, I've finished the typescript for How To Write for the How-To Market and this will be going off to the production team early next week. I've already got two more ideas in the pipeline, based on the two main interests in my writing career - Pagan Pathways: How To Write for the Pagan Markets and Country Writers' Craft: How to write for the country, regional and rural markets. I'm a firm believer in writing about what you know, and it's a formula that hasn't let me down yet.
Compass Books Update New Opportunities for Writers
Imprint Submission Guidelines for How-To Write Books
Commissioning Editor – Suzanne Ruthven
At Compass Books we are looking for creative writing
books that are instructional and entertaining, by authors that are widely
published in their genre, and who tutor at popular conferences and
workshops. The general approach should
be informal and aimed at beginners as well as more experienced writers who are
exploring different disciplines. We are
particularly interested in how-to write submissions from
author-tutors in the genres of the MB&S market, children (different age
groups), historical fact and fiction, thriller/chiller, sport, gardening,
erotica, comedy, scriptwriting, food, fantasy and science fiction, with plenty
of writing exercises included in the text.
Submissions should be submitted via the website or email in
the form of a short proposal in the first instance; followed by a synopsis,
full chapter breakdown, author biography and opening draft chapters if requested. The finished typescript should not be less
than 45,000 words and each chapter should contain a number of formal writing
exercises. A decision is normally made
within 1-2 weeks. No advances: royalties paid twice yearly.
Compass Points: We are also introducing a mini how-to
series on the different writing disciplines, such as writing captivating
dialogue, constructing the plot, the importance of establishing time and place,
self-publication, creating believable characters, different forms of poetry,
etc. The finished typescript should be
around 25,000 words maximum including writing exercises - but please submit a
short proposal with author biography in the first instance via the website or
email.
See our Facebook to find out how our authors like working
with us.
Website: www.compass-books.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks
Email: publisher1@compass-books.net
Friday, September 7, 2012
ONLINE WRITING COURSE: KICK-STARTING THE NOVEL
Following my last post I thought it might be a good idea to add details of my 'Kick-starting the novel course, since at the moment I'm having to follow my own advice and kick-start a typescript that been dormant for years!
This is an ideal course for those who have got ‘bogged down’ with an existing novel. Discover how to kick-start the narrative as tutored at Horncastle College (Lincs) and the University of Wales’ Writers’ Summer School. Participants should have completed at least the first 2-3 chapters, and be able to submit a full synopsis of the novel at the time of registration. The course includes:
Lesson One Who’s going to read my novel?
Lesson Two: Plot and Theme
Lesson Three: Characterisation
Lesson Four: Pace and narrative style
Lesson Five: Bones and Padding
Lesson Six: Publishers and Agents
The fee is £20 per lesson paid in advance via PayPal. This ensures that the writer pays only for the tuition received and can withdrawn from the course at any time.
For more information send an email to
suzanneruthven333@gmail.com
Subject: ‘online writing course’.
Personal Update
The final draft for How To Write For The How-To Market is almost complete and should be off to the publishers within the next couple of weeks. Compass Books is slowly gaining recognition and we're beginning to have some highly experienced authors in our sights. Have a look at www.facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks for details of our activities and the forthcoming titles. We're looking to expand Facebook as a mini-writers' resource, not just as a catalogue of creative writing books - so log in and 'Like'.
I've also restarted the research to kick-start my own novel - The House of Strange Gods - and will be knuckling down to this as soon as the last non-fiction book is out of the way. It will be in the same vein as my first novel, Whittlewood, and I hope I have as much enjoyment writing it. I'm also toying with the idea of publishing Whittlewood as an e-book for Kindle but that's for later.
I've also restarted the research to kick-start my own novel - The House of Strange Gods - and will be knuckling down to this as soon as the last non-fiction book is out of the way. It will be in the same vein as my first novel, Whittlewood, and I hope I have as much enjoyment writing it. I'm also toying with the idea of publishing Whittlewood as an e-book for Kindle but that's for later.
Friday, July 6, 2012
ignotus press titles
You can't keep a good book down - had it brought to my notice recently that old ignotus press titles are becoming collector's items with an asking price of £40+ on one of them. Search the book shelves and compare prices on Amazon and ABE Books!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
How To Write For The How-To Market
I might have been off-line for nearly two months but haven't been idle. Just had my proposal accepted for the above title and accepted the contract. It will be something to work on during the summer rainy season here in Ireland!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Cyber Armageddon!
Two months ago the local Eircom internet went into melt-down and after weeks of anger and frustration it was necessary to change over to a new service provider. Having paid the money and set up the direct debit, it was discovered that where we live is an internet 'black spot' and so it might be necessary for a booster or aerial to be installed. A further three weeks go by and an engineer arrives to install both - as we live between two mountain ranges the reception is a bit iffy. All this was known when we signed up, so why the delay, we are unable to fathom. Never mind ... we're back on the internet, but I must admit it was peaceful not having to bother about web sites, emails, blogs and passwords! Now the headaches begin again ...
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Farewell to ignotus press
It's the end of an era with the announcement that ignotus press is no more. Gone but not forgotten, the name now operates in a new incarnation in the US in the realms of computer technology. Which is a trifle ironic since I'm a known techno-idiot.
On the plus side, Life-Writes (see cover) was launched his week and I'm delighted with the result. Will be taking a short break from writing during the summer months but the brain will still be beavering away. If you have any ideas for a how-to creative writing book, go to facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks for more information about what I'm looking for.
On the plus side, Life-Writes (see cover) was launched his week and I'm delighted with the result. Will be taking a short break from writing during the summer months but the brain will still be beavering away. If you have any ideas for a how-to creative writing book, go to facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks for more information about what I'm looking for.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Suzanne Ruthven Interview
Interview with What the Dickens? magazine
for Issue #3 (1st April 2012)
Have you got previous? What is your writing background?
I started my professional writing career in 1987 by founding the small press writers’ magazine, Quartos, which ran for nine years until its merger with Acclaim to create The New Writer, of which I remain editor along with publisher Merric Davidson. In addition to acting as a judge for several national writing competitions, I have tutored at writers’ workshops including The Annual Writers’ Conference (Winchester College), Writers’ Holiday (University of Wales), Horncastle College (Lincolnshire) and the Cheltenham Literature Festival. I am also the author over 30 books on spiritual, country and self-help matters (including two novels), and contributed articles to a variety of publications as diverse as The Lady, The Countryman, Prediction and the Funeral Director’s Journal.
How did you come to write the book Life-Writes?
When I wrote my first writing guide I was editing a magazine, and with one published book to my name, the aim being to produce a practical nuts and bolts guide to starting a writing career, with plenty of additional advice from other tutors, editors, authors and freelance writers. The second guide was written to support the increasing number of writers’ workshops I was tutoring; as the first book had passed its sell-by date and was out of print, another completely different book was required. Life-Writes, is my third writers’ guide, and has been written to coincide with my appointment as commissioning editor for Compass Books, so that as an author I always have something new on offer and not stuck in the time-warp of constantly regurgitating previously published material.
How long did it take you to write and did you have to research a lot?
It probably took about six months but most of the material was in my head and back issues of The New Writer. Having said that, another book currently in its final proofing stage has taken 10 years to finish and a considerable amount of research time.
The road to publication? Rough or smooth?
I’m extremely fortunate that it’s been relatively smooth but, like David Bowie, I’m constantly re-inventing myself! Writers can’t afford to stagnate and we must always be on the lookout for new ideas.
What inspires you?
My environment. I’m at my most prolific when in close proximity to woods, the sea, or mountains. At present I am living in Ireland with a magnificent view of the Galtee Mountains. When I live in an urban environment I really have to work hard at getting the old creative energies to flow.
Which books have influenced you the most and why?
Writers rather than actual books have influenced my style of writing in terms of delivery and the clever use of language – Noel Coward, Simon Raven, Colette, Francoise Sagan, to name but a few.
Where and when do you write?
I write better in the mornings and have a book-lined study/office that overlooks the mountains. I prefer to work for several hours at a stretch rather than ‘an hour a day’, and if the brain starts to slow down, I take our seven greyhounds out for a walk to recharge the batteries.
What are your plans now and what’s coming up next?
There are two more books in the pipeline: Fact Finding Mission and How To Write for the How-To Market. After that there’s the first draft of a novel to work on, plus several other ideas that are still in note-form.
What words of wisdom can you leave us with?
All editors are looking for an element of action, drama or surprise, even in non-fiction. It’s what catches their attention and makes them pause to read further; and the key to any editor’s heart is originality. Not necessarily a new departure in style or genre, but a refreshing and original slant on a popular theme. The writers whose work has been accepted for publication, managed to spark the editor’s interest because those particular typescripts stood out from the rest on a dull, wet Monday morning due to the originality of the writing.
See www.facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks
for Issue #3 (1st April 2012)
Have you got previous? What is your writing background?
I started my professional writing career in 1987 by founding the small press writers’ magazine, Quartos, which ran for nine years until its merger with Acclaim to create The New Writer, of which I remain editor along with publisher Merric Davidson. In addition to acting as a judge for several national writing competitions, I have tutored at writers’ workshops including The Annual Writers’ Conference (Winchester College), Writers’ Holiday (University of Wales), Horncastle College (Lincolnshire) and the Cheltenham Literature Festival. I am also the author over 30 books on spiritual, country and self-help matters (including two novels), and contributed articles to a variety of publications as diverse as The Lady, The Countryman, Prediction and the Funeral Director’s Journal.
How did you come to write the book Life-Writes?
When I wrote my first writing guide I was editing a magazine, and with one published book to my name, the aim being to produce a practical nuts and bolts guide to starting a writing career, with plenty of additional advice from other tutors, editors, authors and freelance writers. The second guide was written to support the increasing number of writers’ workshops I was tutoring; as the first book had passed its sell-by date and was out of print, another completely different book was required. Life-Writes, is my third writers’ guide, and has been written to coincide with my appointment as commissioning editor for Compass Books, so that as an author I always have something new on offer and not stuck in the time-warp of constantly regurgitating previously published material.
How long did it take you to write and did you have to research a lot?
It probably took about six months but most of the material was in my head and back issues of The New Writer. Having said that, another book currently in its final proofing stage has taken 10 years to finish and a considerable amount of research time.
The road to publication? Rough or smooth?
I’m extremely fortunate that it’s been relatively smooth but, like David Bowie, I’m constantly re-inventing myself! Writers can’t afford to stagnate and we must always be on the lookout for new ideas.
What inspires you?
My environment. I’m at my most prolific when in close proximity to woods, the sea, or mountains. At present I am living in Ireland with a magnificent view of the Galtee Mountains. When I live in an urban environment I really have to work hard at getting the old creative energies to flow.
Which books have influenced you the most and why?
Writers rather than actual books have influenced my style of writing in terms of delivery and the clever use of language – Noel Coward, Simon Raven, Colette, Francoise Sagan, to name but a few.
Where and when do you write?
I write better in the mornings and have a book-lined study/office that overlooks the mountains. I prefer to work for several hours at a stretch rather than ‘an hour a day’, and if the brain starts to slow down, I take our seven greyhounds out for a walk to recharge the batteries.
What are your plans now and what’s coming up next?
There are two more books in the pipeline: Fact Finding Mission and How To Write for the How-To Market. After that there’s the first draft of a novel to work on, plus several other ideas that are still in note-form.
What words of wisdom can you leave us with?
All editors are looking for an element of action, drama or surprise, even in non-fiction. It’s what catches their attention and makes them pause to read further; and the key to any editor’s heart is originality. Not necessarily a new departure in style or genre, but a refreshing and original slant on a popular theme. The writers whose work has been accepted for publication, managed to spark the editor’s interest because those particular typescripts stood out from the rest on a dull, wet Monday morning due to the originality of the writing.
See www.facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Launch of Compass Books
The 1st November was an exciting time for O-Books, with the launch of its new website under John Hunt Publishing. It was also an exciting day for introducing one of it’s new imprints, Compass Books. It’s almost a year since the idea for expanding the creative writing interests of O-Books was first mooted, and during that time several TNW subscribers have had books accepted for publication in order to get the ball rolling.
The first four Compass Books - Simon Whaley’s The Positively Productive Writer; Lynne Hackles’ Handy Hints For Writers; Linda M James’s How To Write and Sell Great Short Stories and my own Life-Writes - are due to see the light of day early in the New Year.
The New Writer is also involved in Writer’s Wheel (brain-child of Maria Moloney), which will offer a selection of free self-help articles for the various writing disciplines, together with courses and services operated by the authors who have books published in the O-Books/John Hunt stable. Due to be launched in May 2012, WW will cover every aspect of the business such as fiction and non-fiction writing skills, marketing, proofreading, review and copy-editing services, and how-to self-publish. The ultimate aim is for WW to become the one-stop shop for all writing needs.
So here we are … a whole website of editors and publishers who are writers in their own right, and all contributing to help beginners get their foot on the publishing ladder.
What We’re Looking For
Let’s begin by saying what Compass Books doesn’t want. Avoid overworked subjects such as writers’ A-Z compilations; beginners’ how-to’s covering every writing discipline on the planet; motivational texts; collections of previously published articles; or re-hashes of old fashioned, out of print titles. What we do want are proposals for how-to books for writers that are packed with practical advice, tips and exercises; from authors with a few publishing successes to their credit and the ability to produce new writing tutorials that are original in approach, informative and entertaining. Books based on each author’s personal writing experience and achievements, together with appropriate tutorial experience, will be given preference because these are writers who are writing about what they know.
For example, rather than a book about ‘how to write a novel’ or ‘how to write for children’, we are looking for authors who write in, and can write about, a specific genre, i.e. historical fiction, modern romance, chick lit or fantasy. While each category of children’s writing also has its own set of ‘rules’ from toddlers to teens, and young adults. What are the differences in publisher requirements between the different genres? What are the marketing tricks in that particular category? How can you get ahead of the game? Which pitfalls should you avoid?
Proposals are already in the pipeline for how to write crime, the MB&S market, self help/how to and research techniques. And here’s our current wanted list for starters:
Scriptwriting
Plays
Novel writing (specific genres)
Writing for children (different age groups)
Young adults
Poetry
Science Fiction
John Hunt Publishing distribution covers the USA, Canada, South Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East and so it will also be to your advantage to give your book an international appeal where possible. If you are writing a new book that fits the Compass list, and we seem like a possible publisher, send your synopsis with full chapter break-down and the opening chapter via email in the first instance (as all Compass Books business is conducted on-line) to suzanneruthven@eircom.net
For submission guidelines for the other imprints go to www.johnhuntpublishing.com
This article first appeared in the Winter issue of The New Writer
The first four Compass Books - Simon Whaley’s The Positively Productive Writer; Lynne Hackles’ Handy Hints For Writers; Linda M James’s How To Write and Sell Great Short Stories and my own Life-Writes - are due to see the light of day early in the New Year.
The New Writer is also involved in Writer’s Wheel (brain-child of Maria Moloney), which will offer a selection of free self-help articles for the various writing disciplines, together with courses and services operated by the authors who have books published in the O-Books/John Hunt stable. Due to be launched in May 2012, WW will cover every aspect of the business such as fiction and non-fiction writing skills, marketing, proofreading, review and copy-editing services, and how-to self-publish. The ultimate aim is for WW to become the one-stop shop for all writing needs.
So here we are … a whole website of editors and publishers who are writers in their own right, and all contributing to help beginners get their foot on the publishing ladder.
What We’re Looking For
Let’s begin by saying what Compass Books doesn’t want. Avoid overworked subjects such as writers’ A-Z compilations; beginners’ how-to’s covering every writing discipline on the planet; motivational texts; collections of previously published articles; or re-hashes of old fashioned, out of print titles. What we do want are proposals for how-to books for writers that are packed with practical advice, tips and exercises; from authors with a few publishing successes to their credit and the ability to produce new writing tutorials that are original in approach, informative and entertaining. Books based on each author’s personal writing experience and achievements, together with appropriate tutorial experience, will be given preference because these are writers who are writing about what they know.
For example, rather than a book about ‘how to write a novel’ or ‘how to write for children’, we are looking for authors who write in, and can write about, a specific genre, i.e. historical fiction, modern romance, chick lit or fantasy. While each category of children’s writing also has its own set of ‘rules’ from toddlers to teens, and young adults. What are the differences in publisher requirements between the different genres? What are the marketing tricks in that particular category? How can you get ahead of the game? Which pitfalls should you avoid?
Proposals are already in the pipeline for how to write crime, the MB&S market, self help/how to and research techniques. And here’s our current wanted list for starters:
Scriptwriting
Plays
Novel writing (specific genres)
Writing for children (different age groups)
Young adults
Poetry
Science Fiction
John Hunt Publishing distribution covers the USA, Canada, South Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East and so it will also be to your advantage to give your book an international appeal where possible. If you are writing a new book that fits the Compass list, and we seem like a possible publisher, send your synopsis with full chapter break-down and the opening chapter via email in the first instance (as all Compass Books business is conducted on-line) to suzanneruthven@eircom.net
For submission guidelines for the other imprints go to www.johnhuntpublishing.com
This article first appeared in the Winter issue of The New Writer
BOOK REVIEW
There's now a publishing date for Life-Writes for the 25th May 2012 and an advance book review:
"This is a practical and substantial insider guide for the new writer, highly informative and brimful of helpful advice from a vastly experienced author and a specialist in this field. A compendium of riches, it covers the waterfront and beyond."
Merric Davidson, publisher The New Writer magazine
"This is a practical and substantial insider guide for the new writer, highly informative and brimful of helpful advice from a vastly experienced author and a specialist in this field. A compendium of riches, it covers the waterfront and beyond."
Merric Davidson, publisher The New Writer magazine
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