The New Writers’ Scheme 'Inside Out' Part 5 - NWS Alumni

Since it began, The New Writers' Scheme has launched the writing careers of many romantic novelists. NWS alumni's books are stocked in bookshops and libraries worldwide, they are shortlisted for and win awards and feature in the best seller lists.


Do you recognise any of these writers?

They are all NWS alumni.





Left: RNA Winter party 2010.




In this final part of the series we meet four NWS alumni who tell us about their time in the NWS. A warm welcome to Katie Fforde, Jan Jones, Jean Fullerton and Nell Dixon.


Katie FForde, the RNA's President, found her own unique voice with the help of the NWS.

Katie, tell us about your journey through the New Writers Scheme? How long were you a member? Did the sort of novels you write change while you were in the NWS?

I was a member of the New Writers' Scheme for a long time. It was more generous in those days and you could miss delivering a book for a year if you needed to. All the time I was part of the scheme I was aiming for Mills and Boon. Elizabeth Harrison, who organised the scheme when I first joined told me I wasn't a Mills and Boon writer. Alas, in spite of my best efforts, she was right!

When you started it, did you ever envisage you would be where you are today?

I never, ever envisaged I'd be where I am today. Not that I'm ever quite sure where that is! I just wanted to be published.

What did you learn from the NWS?

I learnt an awful lot from the NWS and the RNA in general. I learned you have to persevere, that no part of a book is 'good enough' it all has to be your very best writing, and that you need to keep the pages turning.

What advice would you give a writer thinking about becoming a member of the NWS for the first time in 2012?

I think my advice is the same as what I learned from the NWS and the RNA. ie, don't give up, never be slapdash, and make sure your strong plot is turning the pages. Don't be self-indulged. If it doesn't further the plot, cut it out, OR, if you love the scene, make it further the plot.


To find out more about Katie's work visit her website at http://katiefforde.com/




Jan Jones writes short stories and serials as well as novels. She was shortlisted for the RNA Love Story of the Year Award 2011 and the Best Historical Romance award at the Festival of Romance 2011.

Jan, tell us about your journey through the New Writers Scheme? How long were you a member? Did the sort of novels you write change while you were in the NWS?

I joined for the first time in 1987 - in those days it was still possible to join in July for half fees and have your mss read the same year! I got a second read, but no take up.

I submitted for the next two or three years before lack of money and an expanding family made writing novels impossible for a while. However, the critique experience had really woken me up to how much difference editing and polishing can make to a script, so when I moved on to short stories I was in a much stronger position as a writer.

Over the next few years I had lots of stories published, but when my main magazine outlet folded, I saw it as a sign to concentrate on novel writing again. I rejoined the RNA in the mid 1990s, submitting contemporaries, regencies, then contemporaries again. Stage by Stage - my debut novel - was finally published in 2005.

When you started out, did you ever envisage you would be where you are today?

Not at all.

Do you think you would be where you are now if you'd never become a member of the NWS?

Goodness, no. Without the support, the passing on of expertise, the friendships, the sheer generosity of everyone in the RNA, it would all have taken much longer. There is also the fact that I met and pitched to my first publisher at an RNA Conference!

What did you learn from the NWS?

I learnt the value of friendly, constructive, impartial criticism. You might not agree with it, but the very fact that someone has highlighted a problem means you need to look at it and decide why it has been picked up on.

What advice would you give a writer thinking about becoming a member of the NWS for the first time in 2012?

Easy - get ready to enjoy yourself! Be prepared to listen and learn and make friends - and also to give back wherever possible. Everyone has areas of expertise that can be of use to someone. The single most useful thing I ever did was to go to my first conference. The joy of spending a weekend with people just like me has never left me. It's why I now run them!


To find out more about Jan's writing visit her website at
http://www.jan-jones.co.uk/




Jean Fullerton writes historical romances set in London. She was shortlisted for the 2010 Romantic Novel of the Year Award and recently won the Festival of Romance's Readers Award for the Best Historical Read 2011.

Jean, tell us about your journey through the New Writers Scheme? How long were you a member? Did the sort of novels you write change while you were in the NWS?

I started writing after I was sent on a stress management course and the tutor advised us to take up a hobby. As a life-long reader of all types of historical fiction I thought I’d have a bash at writing a story. Just for fun, you know. Nothing serious!

Anyhow, I sketched out a rough plot on a sheet of A4 and opened my laptop on the kitchen table and typed Chapter One. After just a dozen or so pages the story just seemed to pour out as if someone had shaken up a bottle of cola and undone the top.

I finished that book in about four months then I started another. Again the story flowed. Of course, I had no idea about technique or formatting, I learnt that later, I was just telling the story.

I’d written three books before I discovered the RNA. I joined the New Writers Scheme in 2003 and sent in my second novel. It was through the NWS that I learnt the craft of writing a publishable novel. I was a member of the scheme for four years and had written 10 books before I finally wrote No Cure for Love which won the Harry Bowling Prize in 2006.

Although the period I write has moved forward to the 19th and mid-20th century I have always written Historical so the type of novel I write didn’t change because of the NWS, but the way I write them certainly has. The NWS helped me perfect technical issues such as point of view, showing not telling, dialogue and pace. It also helped me develop my narrative voice and understand story structure.

When you started it, did you ever envisage you would be where you are today?

I had no idea I could write let alone become a published author on my third contract with an international publisher. I’m dyslexic and at school English lessons were torture. The thought of actual earning my living by the written word seemed ludicrous, so as soon as I could, I dropped it as a subject. I only learnt to touch type last year. But, really although I’ve come a long way, no writer can rest easy because you’re only as good as your next book.

What did you learn from the NWS?

I’ve learnt a great deal of things from the NWS about plotting, style, dialogue and characterisation but I think the most valuable lesson it taught me was how to be edited. Someone once said ‘No book is written it’s re-written’ and that is so true. I don’t complete my first draft and send it to the printers, it goes through an extensive editing process, which often involves adding in, taking out or re-writing scenes. The NWS report is very like an editor’s line by line editorial notes and it helps you learn the professional discipline of reworking your story until it is the best it can be.

What advice would you give a writer thinking about becoming a member of the NWS for the first time in 2012?

Join, join, join NOW! It is tougher now than ever to get published, but you only have to look at the number who graduate from the scheme and achieve publication each year, to realise being part of the NWS massively increases your chances.


To find out more about Jean's work visit her website at http://www.jeanfullerton.com/


Nell Dixon writes warm-hearted contemporary romances. She won the RNA's Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year in 2010.

Tell us about your journey through the New Writers Scheme? How long were you a member? Did the sort of novels you write change while you were in the NWS?

I was a member for three years. I had two full novels and one partial go through the scheme. All of those books have since gone on to sell to publishers. Originally, I was aiming for Mills and Boon's romance line but realised my stories are a bit quirky and too richly populated to meet the readers expectations for that line. Now I write everything from short novellas for a dedicated sweet romance publisher to longer contemporary romances for my mainstream publishers with a dash of humour and a hint of suspense.

When you started it, did you ever envisage you would be where you are today?

No, I just wanted to be published. I didn't give any thought to what would happen afterwards.

What did you learn from the NWS?

I learned about adding emotion and conflict to my work. I learned to make my endings as strong as my beginnings and it gave me deadlines and my first taste of feedback in a constructive way.

What advice would you give a writer thinking about becoming a member of the NWS for the first time in 2012?

For me it was a big step, I was investing money I didn't really have and making a proper commitment to becoming a writer. To get the most from the NWS you need to be aware of the dedication you need to finish a book, and how you'll feel having someone else comment on your work. If you dream of becoming a published author, are willing to work and love to write then go for it. You won't regret it and it could be the start of the journey of a lifetime.

To find out more about Nell's writing visit her website at http://www.nelldixon.com/


Thank you to Katie, Jan, Jean and Nell for sharing your experiences of the New Writers' Scheme. Your successes will inspire NWS members to persevere with their writing.


To find out more about the New Writers' Scheme visit the RNA website at http://www.rna-uk.org/


Sincere thanks to everyone who has taken part in this series and generously shared their experiences of The New Writers' Scheme.

The best of luck to all those joining the NWS in 2012.

The New Writers’ Scheme 'Inside Out' Part 4 – 2011 NWS Graduates

2011 has been a bumper year for the New Writers' Scheme with a total of eleven members finding publishers for their novels so far. A very warm welcome to four of these, Liz Fenwick, Linda Mitchelmore, Liz Harris and Henriette Gyland who share their NWS journey with us.


Liz Fenwick was a member of the NWS for six years. Her novel, THE CORNISH HOUSE will be published by Orion in May 2012.


Liz, tell us about your novel's journey through the NWS? Did it receive a second read? Had it been submitted before?

THE CORNISH HOUSE was my second novel that went through the NWS and it went through twice. The first year’s really positive comments helped me to revise the book and bring the best out of it. The second year provided more positive criticism, which I took on board before sending it out to the market. The book never received a second read.


What difference did the NWS make to your writing and to you as a person?


The NWS does many things...the first it gives you a solid deadline to work with and this is an important thing to learn to live and work around. It also teaches you that you do have to show your work to others. This leads to the important skill of learning how to take constructive criticism. The feedback you receive from the NWS is intended to improve your work. That doesn't mean it doesn't sting but once your work is out in the wide world people will both like and loathe it. The NWS prepares you for this in a way. It also provided me with a reader who wasn't biased. Unbiased readers are hard to find when you begin.
Do you think you would be where you are now if you'd never become a member of the NWS?


I certainly wouldn't be here yet. I had and still have the persistence needed to become published, but the NWS gave me a push up. By encouraging new writers the RNA gives them a chance to get feedback and the chance to network and learn about the industry. In a sense it gives new writers the chance to become ‘professional’ in a safe environment.


What advice would you give a writer thinking about becoming a member of the NWS for the first time in 2012?

Enjoy, work hard, make friends, listen, learn and grow with the feedback that you will receive.

Follow Liz on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/liz_fenwick
To find out more about Liz's work see her website http://lizfenwick.com/






Devon based author, Linda Mitchelmore's historical novel, TO TURN FULL CIRCLE, will be published by Choc Lit in June 2012.


Linda, can you tell us about your novel's journey through the NWS? Did it receive a second read? Had it been submitted before?

To Turn Full Circle, is my first historical novel, although I have written six contemporary novels. You can imagine my joy when it went to a second read. Both readers said they thought it would be perfect for Robert Hale so that was where I sent it myself - no agent being required for Hale. I got a huge dent to the ego when it came back within a week! I then told the NWS how surprised I was at this and it was suggested I try it at Choc-Lit - again, no agent is needed. But Choc-Lit do require a male point-of-view so I worked hard at writing one in and submitted it three months later. I was soon asked to submit the rest - much to my joy! - but had a nail-biting six month wait before I was finally accepted. My book is scheduled for publication in May 2012.

How long were you in the NWS?

Too long! is the short answer. I wrote six contemporaries, and all but one went to second reads. I kept getting so close but not quite there yet. But although those second reads were sent to top agents and I received very kind and constructive rejections from them all, I wasn't taken on. In 2004, I was awarded The Katie Fforde Bursary and I'm only too pleased I can now look Katie in the eye, her faith in me justified at last!

What difference did the NWS make to your writing and to you as a person?

I don't know that the NWS has made any difference to my writing as such - I've always been told I have a strong 'writing voice' and I can only write how I write and what I like to write about. I am a seat-of-the-pantser! But always emotion led.

As a person, being a member of the NWS has been life-enhancing. Meeting full members - whether big names or not - I was always made very welcome by everyone - not made to feel less of a writer in any way at all because I was on the NWS scheme and not between covers yet.

I think that my first ever submission went to a second read was what probably urged me onwards, made me believe in myself that I can write and would be published one day.

Do you think you would be where you are now if you'd never become a member of the NWS?

Possibly not as I am at this very moment with a novel contract and being uber-excited at seeing suggestions for book covers! But I was a widely-published writer of short stories for the womag market before joining the NWS so I would still be writing.

What advice would you give a writer thinking about becoming a member of the NWS for the first time in 2012?

Get the champagne in the second you send off your submission! There's always that chance that talent and luck will go hand in hand for you and that your first submission will find a top agent and a top publisher and will fly. But, if it doesn't happen like that for you, then don't give up - never, ever give up. Each novel you write will be better than the one before as you hone your craft. If you go to the RNA conferences you will meet a wonderful bunch of women (and a few men!) who think like you, act like, you, share your dreams. A writing buddy can be good, too - healthy competition as you try to best one anothers daily word output! And remember .....champagne is better for the keeping!

Follow Linda on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lindamitchelmor

and on the Novel Points of View blog at http://novelpointsofview.blogspot.com/





Liz Harris's graduation from the NWS happened with two novels being accepted within a week. One novel by ChocLit and the other by D.C. Thomson for a People's Friend pocket novel.


Liz, tell us about your novel's journey through the NWS? Did it receive a second read? Had it been submitted before?

THE ROAD BACK was submitted once only to the NWS, and it got through the second read. When Melanie told me that it had gone for a second read, and later that it had got through, I was absolutely over the moon. It was a wonderful moment.

How long were you in the NWS?

I’ve been a member of the RNA since 2005 (I think), and a member of the NWS since I joined. So that’s 6/7 years. I believe that I joined just before the 2005 Royal Holloway Conference, and then went to the Conference.

What difference did the NWS make to your writing and to you as a person?

A huge difference to both - they are connected. If you want to write, and I did, anything that helps you to improve your skill in writing – and that improvement is something that you can see for yourself – develops your confidence and has a positive effect on the way that you see yourself in relation to the thing that you want to achieve.

The NWS critiques are a master class in writing. I don’t believe that anyone can approach his/her own work with a truly objective eye, and there can’t be a better objective eye than that of someone already published in that genre, someone who is focused on telling the truth with a view to helping the writer to improve, rather than someone who aims to say only what they think the writer will want to hear.

We all have writing mannerisms, just as we have verbal and physical mannerisms, and the NWS critiquer, not blinded by affection and the desire to avoid giving any sort of pain, is the person to point out those writing mannerisms so that they can be eliminated.

No matter how carefully and sensitively the critiquer presents criticism, there will always be pain, but, to quote a familiar cliché, No pain, no gain.

The best critiques begin with praise for what the writer has achieved, and then go on to offer constructive criticism of the areas that need addressing. I have been fortunate to have had some of the best critiques.


Do you think you would be where you are now if you'd never become a member of the NWS?

It’s a very difficult market, and I’m not sure that I would be published. I’d like to couple the RNA with the NWS in this. By learning about the publishing industry, which I’ve done through my membership of the RNA - and very enjoyably, too – I was better equipped in my quest for publication. The NWS helped me to hone the skills that enabled me to take advantage of what I’d learnt through the RNA.

What advice would you give a writer thinking about becoming a member of the NWS for the first time in 2012?

Go for it! It’s quite amazing value, and there is nothing – absolutely nothing – more exciting than feeling your book improve beneath your fingertips. You cannot reach this point by yourself, but you can with the aid of the NWS.

Follow Liz on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/lizharrisauthor

and Facebook www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=674179771&ref=ts




Henriette Gyland's persistence has paid off in 2011. Her novel has been accepted by Choc Lit and she won first place in the Festival of Romance's New Talent Award.


Henri, tell us about your novel's journey through the NWS? Did it receive a second read? Had it been submitted before?

Yes, it's been through the NWS several times before, once where it made up parts of another novel, where eventually I scrapped the other half because it was a different story (and pretty bad too!), and once as a partial. The title has changed a couple of times – and probably will again – and I've even changed the main character's name, plus added a male view point.
I think this particular novel illustrates my development as a writer, from that early idea, badly executed, to something publishable, and although I've never had a second read, I've always found that a constructive first read is enough to go back to it and improve it. There's nothing stopping you from sending it in again later on.

How long were you in the NWS?

As much as I hate to admit it, I've been on the scheme for about 12 years, although in my defence some of that time was spent looking after young children, which isn't exactly conducive to writing. Not in my house anyway!

What difference did the NWS make to your writing and to you as a person?

The NWS readers helped me see where I was going wrong with my writing, but also praised me for the things I did right. I took on board their advice, sometimes grudgingly, and realised later that they were so spot on. On a personal level, because the RNA allows membership to unpublished writers, through the NWS, I felt I was part of something. That was and is really important to me. Writing can be a lonely existence – chatting to fellow writers makes you feel normal.

Do you think you would be where you are now if you'd never become a member of the NWS?

Categorically no. Not sure where I would be, but probably in some dark corner muttering to myself and feeling resentful and left out...

What advice would you give a writer thinking about becoming a member of the NWS for the first time in 2012?

Write the best novel you can, and take the NWS reader's comments in the spirit they're intended, as a help. Don't get hung up about not getting a second read. Enjoy being a New Writer and having the luxury to work on your novel for as long as you like. Come to the parties!

Follow Henri on Twitter at https://twitter.com/henrigyland

and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Henriette-Wulff-Gyland/761371494

Thank you to Liz, Linda, Liz and Henri for sharing your journeys through the NWS. Your successes will inspire other members of the NWS to keep on writing. We wish you all every success with your novels.

To find out more about the New Writers' Scheme visit the RNA website at http://www.rna-uk.org/

Information about 2012 membership will appear on the RNA website in mid December.


The final part of The New Writers’ Scheme 'Inside Out' - NWS Alumni will be posted on 20th December.

The New Writers' Scheme - Inside Out - Part 3 - A Reader's point of view

The anonymous Readers of the New Writers' Scheme are its backbone. Without them there would be no critiques. Usually they remain in the background, but today three NWS Readers give us an insight to what they look for when a manuscript arrives on their door mats. Welcome to Allie Spencer, Rachel Summerson and Pia Tapper Fenton.

Allie, can you tell us what attracted you to being a reader for the New Writers' Scheme?

I wanted to be a reader for the NWS because I benefitted so much from the scheme myself and I wanted, as they say, to ‘put something back’. It is such a valuable scheme for unpublished writers as it not only gives technical advice but emotional support and encouragement too – being an aspiring writer can be quite a lonely job!

How many novels do you usually critique a year?

I don’t critique as many as I would like to, because of my own work and family commitments. I also only feel comfortable critiquing rom coms (my specialist area) so I usually manage between four and five a year.


Talk us through how you critique a novel? What do you look for?

I make sure that I read the novel carefully; taking notes as I go, then I sit down and think about what I am going to say in my report.

When I read a ts, I am looking for a strong, imaginative story; excellent line-by-line writing; characters who leap off the page, develop and grow with the story – plus a good dollop of conflict. Essentially, I want a ts that I can’t put down!

I spend a lot of time writing my report and then checking it through to make sure I have said what I need to clearly, concisely, and in a way that the NWS member receiving it can translate my advice into practical steps to improve their novel. My aim is to offer constructive, practical and, where possible, optimistic advice which the writer can use to re-work their book.

From your experience with NWS submissions, what are the key points a writer needs to think about before they submit their work?

There is no getting away from it: writing a novel is hard. Most of us who are published authors had years – if not decades – of honing our skills before we got that much-longed for contract. I think, however, if you make sure you work on all the points I mentioned above in Question 3 plus polish, polish, polish, polish – you will be well on the way to producing a publishable novel.

My agent, Teresa Chris, always says that you wouldn’t produce a quick sketch and then send it along to the Royal Academy to see what they think; instead, you would make sure your picture was as perfect as you could possibly make it. The same applies to novels: the more professional your work appears, the more chance you have of getting it published.

Whilst ‘partials’ are always welcomed by the NWS, if you really want to get that second read make sure your book is polished to the highest standard you can manage.

Also, as well as writing, make sure you read a lot, especially within your chosen genre. There is no better tutorial than reading the market leaders in the type of book you want to write. You will learn an awful lot about the craft of writing and hopefully finish the book inspired and fired-up, ready to create your own masterpiece!

What advice would you give a writer submitting to the NWS in 2012?

The publishing industry is going through a tough time at the moment. Sales are down – especially supermarket sales – and it is going to be harder than ever to get published in 2012. However, there are some very talented people around, and talent and hard work will, in my opinion, always win through. Don’t despair, don’t get despondent – just switch on that computer and get writing. The RNA and the NWS are here to support you (we really do want you to succeed) and we will do what we can to help you get where you want to be.

To find out more about Allie and her work visit her website at http://alliespencer.com/



Rachel Summerson, who writes as Elizabeth Hawksley, has been a Reader for about twelve years.

Rachel, can you tell us what attracted you to being a reader for the New Writers' Scheme?

I have benefitted hugely from my membership of the RNA and I wanted to give something back. I’m not a ‘committee person’, but reading and reporting on typescripts is a skill I can offer. I enjoy helping aspiring writers and I’m thrilled when they make it.

How many novels do you usually critique a year?

I usually critique between 5 and 6 typescripts a year.

Talk us through how you critique a novel.
What do you look for?

I read the typescript fast, the way an editor would read it, and make brief notes on each chapter (2 lines max.) to remind myself of what happens: names, dates, places etc., and any page references I want to comment on.

I’m looking for a good story with characters I can relate to.

The most common problems are with plot – which usually shows up in chapter one, that is, not enough is at stake; characters which fail to convince as they should; a tendency for the tension to drop; and a dodgy grasp of punctuation and of how a professional typescript should be set out.

From your experience with NWS submissions, what are the key points a writer needs to think about before they submit their work?

If you’ve submitted a typescript before, make sure you’ve taken on board all the advice you were given the previous year. You don’t have to agree with it but you would be well advised to take it seriously.


What advice would you give a writer submitting to the NWS in 2012?

Please, try and get it in well before the deadline!

To find out more about Rachel's work visit her website at http://www.elizabethhawksley.com/

Pia Tapper Fenton, who writes as Christina Courtenay, is a New Writers' Scheme graduate.

Pia what made you want to become a Reader for the NWS?

I was on the New Writers' Scheme myself for six or seven years when I joined the RNA and I would never have been published without the support I received from the organisers and readers. Their critique helped me to improve and their encouragement made me believe that I could achieve my goal one day, even when I doubted it myself. So when I finally became a published author, I really wanted to give something back to the RNA, and I felt this was one of the best ways of doing that. I have been a reader now for four years (or is it five? Sorry, I’ve lost count!)

How many novels do you usually critique a year?

It varies from year to year, depending on how many submissions there are in the genres that I read.

Talk us through how you critique a novel? What do you look for?

I start by reading the whole manuscript as if it was a published novel, without looking at the synopsis because I don’t want to know what’s going to happen, I want to be surprised. If there’s anything that really pulls me out of the story, I’ll make a note of it (or write in pencil on the m/s if the author doesn’t mind).

I’m looking first of all to see whether the plot works/is plausible, whether I like the characters and can empathise with them (especially the hero/heroine) and whether it feels like a story that’s ready for publication.

If anything isn’t working, I’ll try to make suggestions to improve that particular aspect and to help the author make the novel as good as possible.

Once I’ve commented on the overall story and what I liked about it, I’ll go through it again in more detail and perhaps pick out specific things that need changing or looking at. If the author is new to the NWS, I might comment on things like layout and grammar etc, but only because an agent or editor will expect submissions to be perfect, not because I’m trying to nit-pick.

From your experience with NWS submissions, what are the key points a writer needs to think about before they submit their work?

First of all immaculate presentation – although no one except the NWS reader will see this manuscript, it’s a practice run for when you send it out to agents so it has to be as perfect and professional as you can make it in every respect.

A coherent synopsis which covers only the key points of the story and tells the reader all they need to know without unnecessary waffle.

Are the characters the kind that the reader can empathise with? (Ie. not a heroine who is spoiled and petulant all the way through and doesn’t deserve her happy ever after.)

Is there enough tension throughout the story, or are there some chapters that feel very “flat”, where nothing much happens? Have you remembered the “show-don’t-tell” rule – if there are several pages of telling the reader what’s happening instead of showing it through dialogue or action, go back and change it before sending it off.

If you’re not sure about your grammar or spelling, ask someone else to read it for you before sending it off. Read your dialogue out loud to yourself to see if it really sounds like a normal person talking. I’m sure there are other things, but those are some of the more important ones I think.

What advice would you give a writer submitting to the NWS in 2012?

Believe in your story and write exactly the kind of thing you’d like to read. Don’t try and write like anyone else, just be yourself - I want to hear your voice loud and clear. And don’t write a vampire story because Twilight is popular or whatever, write one because you happen to like blood and gore, otherwise it will show!

To find out more about Pia's work visit her website at http://www.christinacourtenay.com/

Thank you very much to Allie, Rachel and Pia for talking to us and for giving your time and expertise to the New Writers' Scheme. Thanks also go out to all the other anonymous Readers who contribute to the NWS.

To find out more about the New Writers' Scheme visit the RNA website at http://www.rna-uk.org/

Information about 2012 membership will appear on the RNA website in mid December.

The New Writers’ Scheme 'Inside Out' Part 4 – 2011 NWS Graduates will be posted on 16th December.

The New Writers' Scheme 'Inside Out' Part 1 - The Organiser

One of the special things about the RNA is its New Writers’ Scheme, which is unique among professional writing organisations. Every year it gives aspiring writers a chance for a personal evaluation of their work by an experienced author and has helped many writers achieve publication.

Melanie Hilton is the current NWS organiser, whose job it is to deal with the 250 manuscripts which arrive through her letter box each year.

Melanie can you tell us when and how you took over organising the New Writers' Scheme?

I took over in 2008. The then Chairman, Catherine Jones, caught me after one too many G&Ts.

With 250 members, it must take a lot of organising. Take us through what happens when a NWS manuscript arrives in the post.

I open it, check everything is there, date the receipt postcard, log it in my Typescripts spreadsheet and make a new folder for the author if they haven’t got one already. Then I read the Green Form, the synopsis and any notes the author has sent, look at my Reader spreadsheet (yes, Spreadsheet R Me) and match the typescript with a Reader who is free. I may need to email the Reader first. When I’ve got them matched up I repack the typescript, repair the damage the PO has done to the parcel and address it. My husband does a post office run daily. We had 106 typescripts in August this year which meant volunteer packers had to be called in!

Left - Manuscripts waiting to be repacked and sent to reader.

Right - Ready for the post.

Can you give us some stats from the 2011 NWS. What sort of novels were most popular?

This year 34.5% were straight contemporary/women’s fiction; 15.5% for various Harlequin Mills & Boon lines; 25% Historical (not including the HMB Historicals); 7% each: crime/adventure/suspense; Rom Com; Speculative (supernatural, fantasy, sci fi, vampires etc); sagas. 4% Young Adult. 3% each Chick Lit; Pocket Novels. <0.5% each literary; inspirational; erotic. As far as the period in which they were written goes: 66% were set in the 21st c; 25% 20thc or earlier and 9% were fantasy, timeshift, scifi etc.

How many NWS members have found a publisher for their books this year?

10 signed contracts. Because of publication dates 7 have opted to enter for the Joan Hessayon Award this year (ie winner to be announced at the 2012 Summer Party) and 3 are deferring until next year.

Have the genres of novels submitted changed over the years?

I only have statistics from when I began running the Scheme, but over those 4 years the relative popularity of genres has remained more or less the same with the exception of a decline in Chick Lit (I suspect that authors are simply calling many of them Contemporary) and a slight upward trend in fantasy. The biggest change has been the arrival of Young Adult last year for the first time.

What advice would you give to a writer wishing to take part in the 2012 NWS?

To get on to the Scheme, read the instructions on the website and apply as soon as you can after the start date! Once you are actually on the Scheme, then – read the Notes and fill out the Green form in full to help both me and the Reader. Sort out your punctuation (especially of speech!) so the Reader can focus on the writing. Try and get it in before August and miss the rush.

Thank you Melanie, for all the work you do for the NWS, it is greatly appreciated.

To find out more about the New Writers' Scheme visit the RNA website at http://www.rna-uk.org/

Information about 2012 membership will appear on the RNA website in mid December.

The New Writers’ Scheme 'Inside Out' Part 2 – Inside the NWS will be posted on 9th December.