About this Event
If you've ever thought "I'd like to write a book one day", this is an event for you! Join us, in person, to hear from authors, agents and publishers as they explain the opportunites, challenges and thrill of writing non-fiction and having it published for others to enjoy.
While there are similarities between reporting news stories and the research and writing that go into nonfiction books, sustaining a narrative over 50,000 words or more... and making it an engaging read are very different challenges. How do you go from a fledging idea to a publication day announcement on X/Twitter? How do you find an agent? Should you approach publishers direct? What are the hallmarks of a successful book proposal? What are the secrets of developing characters, setting scenes, unfolding narratives and holding readers from the first to final pages?
To help us answer these questions and more, we'll be joined by:
Andrew Hankinson, freelance journalist and author of two creative nonfiction books, including You Could Do Something Amazing with Your Life, about murderer Raoul Moat, which won the CWA non-fiction prize.
Preti Taneja, writer, screenwriter and professor of world Literature and creative writing at Newcastle University whose non-fiction books include Aftermath, which won the Gordon Burn Prize in 2022.
Chris Stokel-Walker, tech journalist and author of YouTubers: How YouTube Shook up TV and Created a New Generation of Stars, TikTok Boom: China’s Dynamite App and the forthcoming How AI Ate The World.
Sophie Yeo, award-winning freelance environmental journalist whose forthcoming Nature's Ghosts examines how the planet would have looked before humans scrubbed away its diversity.
Mark "Stan" Stanton, who founded The North in 2017 – one of the few literary agencies outside London and its authors are published in 30 different countries.
Rosie Gailer, director of communications at John Murray Press which has been publishing narrative non-fiction, science, history, biography, memoir, travel and nature writing since 1768.
Jonathan de Peyer, senior commissioning editor for non-fiction at HarperNorth, established by HarperCollins in Manchester in 2020 to support regional writing talent.
This afternoon panel discussion will take place in-person, on Wednesday 1st May on Newcastle University's campus in Newcastle upon Tyne from 2pm to 4pm. Brought to you by the Civic Journalism Lab at Newcastle University, the event is free and open to anyone, regardless of experience. However, registration is essential as we'll email you important details before the event begins.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Newcastle University, City campus, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00