This weekend I spent Saturday at agent Kate’s, agency away day. It was a great chance for her clients to get together and eat lots of biscuits. Erm, I mean, talk about writing related stuff.
My agent Kate Nash and newly promoted literary agent Sarah Taylor, as well as providing us with plenty of tea and biscuits, talked about the agency, publishing, and authors.
Anyone following my Twitter feed on Saturday will know we were well fed as I was stuffed and feeling rather greedy after a wonderful lunch.
The best thing about the day for me was meeting other writers. It always is. It’s why I go to the Crime writing festival. In our day-to-day world, a writer can feel like a fish swimming upstream. Especially a writer like myself who is currently not yet published and has no book to show family and friends for all the time I spend at my laptop. So being able to spend so much time with people with the very same shared love of books and writing is just a wonderful experience. You don’t have to explain that you just need another ten more minutes and you’ll be done. Or really, I am working. It’s a given here. Understood. It was bliss.
To top off a great day, we went out for more food and alcoholic drinks in the evening. And as it happened, one of Kate’s clients, Jane Lovering had a book release on Saturday and she had attended the away day. So we took her book out with us and celebrated its birth into the world in style. I even accosted a woman in a pink wig as she walked past me and asked if she would pose for a photo with the book, which she happily obliged – may have something to do with the alcohol – and then went on to photograph the book herself after reading the blurb so she could go out and buy it!
So, today I sit back in the real world alone, but feeling mightily motivated to write more simply for being in the company of other writers. Writers just do that for you! 🙂
readingwritingandriesling says
What a great time you had – I know what you mean about keeping company with like minded people – this week I had coffee with Anna of Simon & Schuster Aust in Sydney, had a coffee with Shelleyrae of Book’d Out at a “service centre” on the Princess Highway enroute to Grafton, and tomorrow meet up with Jen of Daystarz’s Books – all 3 are people I share book talk with but have never meet in the flesh before. Exciting! And when you are with like minded people the time flies by.
Rebecca Bradley says
It was a great time, though I was shattered on Sunday! It sounds as though you are having an amazing week! Book people are just wonderful aren’t they 🙂
readingwritingandriesling says
Book people are great! 🙂
Rebecca Bradley says
Just the best. They understand us!
Margot Kinberg says
Sounds like a wonderful day, Rebecca! And I couldn’t possibly agree more about developing relationship s with other writers. It’s inspirating and helpful to have that support.
Rebecca Bradley says
It was great Margot and yes, inspiring. I am inspired. I just need a little more battery power today and all will be well 🙂
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Sounds like a great day. And if that were my fan, I’d be a little afraid…
Rebecca Bradley says
She did look a little over the top – but she was a reader! And we come in all shapes and sizes 😉
luciewheeler says
Such a lovely day! Lovely to meet you. Lucie x
Rebecca Bradley says
It was a great day and it was lovely to meet you Lucie x
Rebecca Bradley says
It was lovely to meet you Lucie! And it was a great day wasn’t it x
woodbeez48 says
It sounds like you had a great day and I agree that, in my short experience, meeting up with other writers is so good for your soul and your confidence.
Rebecca Bradley says
It was a wonderful day and it was exactly that – great for my confidence. I felt a part of something. Being a writer is such a lonely endeavour.
Bella Osborne says
Great post, Rebecca, it was lovely to meet you on Saturday. I thought it was a really worthwhile day and made me feel very well supported as a newbie writer.
Rebecca Bradley says
It was also lovely to meet you Bella and yes as newbie writers it is great to meet everyone and feel that support – to be a part of something. Here’s to the next one and where we may be 🙂
Jacqui Murray says
I love writer’s conferences. There’s one coming up which I must miss, but I’ve attended many times. I always come away energized.
Yours sounds wonderful–fellow published authors. What a great idea of your agent to get you-all together.
Rebecca Bradley says
It is a great idea of agent Kate’s isn’t it.
I’m sorry you have to miss your conference though. They really are great boosters and just great fun.
Margaret says
It’s lovely to spend time with like minded people. It gives you a great boost and empowers you to continue with your work
Rebecca Bradley says
It certainly does. Writers are great for motivating and encouraging each other.
Elle Turner says
Glad you had such a good time, Rebecca. 🙂
Rebecca Bradley says
It was a great day. I was shattered on Monday though! 🙂