New Writers’ Scheme

February 27, 2017 | By Sue Fortin | Reply More

It’s a truth universally acknowledged fact that, no-one ever succeeded by giving up. And that’s certainly true where writing is concerned. I would also add that no-one succeeded in writing without the advice and support of others.

I’ve always been a bookworm and read a great deal as a child. It, therefore, seemed a natural progression that I would want to write my own stories. I vividly remember when I was about ten years old filling up my school book with the adventures of twin girls. Later, I began an adventure story for older children, which would probably be considered as YA these days and as I got older, my stories matured with my years. However, I never showed anyone these half-finished stories, they were done mostly for my own pleasure.

When my youngest daughter was born and I gave up work to look after her and my three older children full-time, I decided if I didn’t write that novel then, I never would. I had no idea if it would be any good and I was aware asking a friend or family member they wouldn’t necessarily give me the honest advice I needed.

While I was at home looking after my daughter and writing my novel, I discovered the Romantic Novelists Association (RNA) and the New Writers’ Scheme (NWS) they run. It’s a fantastic scheme for unpublished authors to join where you can have your manuscript critiqued by a published author. They will provide a report that may include comments on the plot, characters, structure and give general writing advice.

There are only 250 places each year and it can be quite difficult to get on the scheme, but once you’ve secured a place you have first refusal on renewing it the following year. I believe the average time on the scheme is around four years. Once you’ve been published you ‘graduate’ to a full membership with the RNA.

The manuscripts have to have an element of romance in them and the diversity of the manuscripts submitted is vast, ranging from historical to YA and everything in between. My first manuscript was a contemporary romance and my second was a romantic suspense. There’s a cut off time each year and it was this deadline that gave me the incentive to get my novel finished.

The feedback I received from my reader was invaluable. They were very kind but very honest and although I was pleased with my first attempt, it was at this point I realized a lot more work would need to be done. I set about learning the craft by attending workshops run by other authors, undertaking a creative writing course and attending writing conferences. I spent the next year working on my novel and it changed dramatically into a much more accomplished piece of work.

I resubmitted it through the NWS and was delighted with the high praise and comments I received with recommendations that I send it out to agents and publishers.

Ultimately, after a further year and a stint at self-publishing, my debut novel was taken on by my publishers, HarperImpulse. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to have four more books published by them, one of which went on to be a number 1 ebook bestseller and a USA Today bestseller.

Throughout my time as a member of the RNA, I have received tremendous support and advice from the writing community which I value highly. However, one of the best things to come out of being on the NWS was the writing group I am part of called – The Romanics. There are eight of us and we all met through the NWS and formed our writing group primarily to offer support and encouragement to each other.

Since then some of us have gone on to be represented by agents and/or published. We blog regularly, our Life Cycle of a Writer feature being one of our most popular weekly posts where we chart our progress, the highs and lows and where we are with our writing. We’ve also given talks and been on panels. I can honestly say that without their support, I would have found the whole process a lot harder.

The nicest thing about The Romaniacs is that, despite be spread out across the UK, being part of the RNA means we’ve been able to meet regularly and have formed a close friendship which has extended to our families too.

It’s been hard work but as I began this post, it would never have happened if I had given up at any point, let any of the setbacks and/or rejections deter me and not had the advice and support of the RNA, NWS. To anyone wanting to get published, the key really is perseverance and determination and finding a good support network, whether that be through a formal organisation, such as, the RNA or through a local writing group.

When you have tough days and you feel like giving up, the network of support around you will pick you up and carry you through those days. Never give up – you can’t be successful if you stop trying.

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Published by Harper Collins’ imprint Harper Impulse, Sue Fortin writes romance, mystery and suspense. Sue is an Amazon bestselling author, The Girl Who Lied, reaching #1 in the UK in 2016 and a USA Today bestseller. Lover of cake, Dragonflies and France. Hater of calories, maths and snakes. Sue was born in Hertfordshire but had a nomadic childhood, moving often with her family, before eventually settling in West Sussex. Sue is married with four children, all of whom patiently give her time to write but, when not behind the keyboard, she likes to spend her time with them, enjoying both the coast and the South Downs, between which they are nestled.

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