Life of a Book: Author Development Programme

Voices from across the Scottish literary sector, authors and poets, agents, publishers, festival programmers, and booksellers, are coming together for Life of a Book: a series of free online events designed to clarify the journey and processes of writing and publishing a book.

The sessions will run over five days, Monday 13^th – Friday 17^th May, covering the following topics: Writing the Book; Querying; Working with Publishers; Post-Publication; and Building Community. Panel discussions and 1-2-1 surgeries will be led by key figures within the literature sector who have deep working knowledge of publishing and all its component parts.

This programme has been developed and funded by funded by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, with support from Hawthornden Foundation with Society of Authors, and facilitated by Moniack Mhor, Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre.

Rachel Humphries, Centre Director at Moniack Mhor said, “Moniack Mhor are thrilled to be supporting this programme: it aligns very closely with our principles of providing opportunities for writers to enhance their knowledge of the industry and make new connections. It’s a wonderful chance for Moniack Mhor to consider this approach in our ongoing programme. We would encourage anyone who is writing, who is interested in publishing or pursuing a career in the art form to join us in this online space.”

Katalina Watt, Literature Officer at Creative Scotland said: "Life of a Book is dedicated to empowering authors and demystifying the intricacies of the publishing world. Moniack Mhor's commitment to accessibility, fostering a diverse range of expertise and championing fresh and diverse voices contributes to a vibrant and inclusive literary landscape in Scotland. We're delighted to collaborate with them in offering a week of free online events, encouraging writers at every stage of their journey to participate and thrive.”