The winner of the Branford Boase award is announced tomorrow. It's unusual in that celebrates the role of the editor as well as the writer, with the prize going to both a first-time children's novelist and their editor. Here, all the editors shortlisted for this year's Branford Boase award share their top tips for new writers
Quill and inkpot not required to be a great writer but practice, practice, practice - and a good editor - is. Photograph: Pierre-Yves Goavec/Getty Images
David Fickling, editor of A Boy and a Bear in a Boat by Dave Shelton
End note?
People always say that a story must have a beginning, a middle and an end. If that is true then by far the most important part is the end. Before you set off on a writing project it saves a lot of time to have the end in sight. That doesn't mean you have to know exactly what is going to happen at the end of your story, but you should have a sense of the ending note in mind. This may also help tell you how long your text is going to be. And you don't need to tell the editor or publisher what will happen or what it's about either, that's your business. All the editor or publisher really needs is the reassurance that there is an ending and that the narrative will be good. Editing is all about trust.
Enjoy the journey
The reader must enjoy the journey and so must the writer. A reader will go almost anywhere in the company of a writer they enjoy reading (which is why good writers are tempted to write without ending). The hardest part is probably bashing out the first draft. You need to get it down on paper. And you need to get to the end (as in tip one). Don't let yourself get distracted. You know where you are going. As a new writer you need to gain the confidence that readers like reading you. Sometimes it's not until you get to the end of the first draft that you can see what's wrong with it. The second and subsequent drafts become more and more enjoyable for the writer. And an editor should be good at giving you confidence on the sometimes long journey. At the end you will have something wonderful. It really is worth the trouble to get it right.
Performing
All writers are performers, performers on the page. Like an actor you must keep the reader's attention. You can do this by being soft as well as loud. But you are also the playwright. It is the overall drama or comedy that will really compel the reader so you must never lose sight of the entire story as you write the individual parts. If you can make the reader laugh or cry, or feel in all the myriad ways then you will be writing powerfully. If you can at the same also help them learn things for themselves, then you will be writing deeply. Reading is a very active process, so don't tell readers, show them. They will stay with you if you are engaging their interest.
Finishing off
Once you know the ending, then by far the most important task is to finish your work. Many good writers start off and fall by the wayside through lack of determination. Many bad ones think they have finished before they have. Only the good ones complete the course. Remember that "finishing" does not just mean filling pages with writing or saying "I've finished!" You should listen to the editor at this point. You are making a work of art for the reader. It ought to be really, really good to be worthy of publication. Try not to take rejection too hard. Good editors are always on your side. Becoming a writer is learning to become your own editor.
More
End note?
People always say that a story must have a beginning, a middle and an end. If that is true then by far the most important part is the end. Before you set off on a writing project it saves a lot of time to have the end in sight. That doesn't mean you have to know exactly what is going to happen at the end of your story, but you should have a sense of the ending note in mind. This may also help tell you how long your text is going to be. And you don't need to tell the editor or publisher what will happen or what it's about either, that's your business. All the editor or publisher really needs is the reassurance that there is an ending and that the narrative will be good. Editing is all about trust.
Enjoy the journey
The reader must enjoy the journey and so must the writer. A reader will go almost anywhere in the company of a writer they enjoy reading (which is why good writers are tempted to write without ending). The hardest part is probably bashing out the first draft. You need to get it down on paper. And you need to get to the end (as in tip one). Don't let yourself get distracted. You know where you are going. As a new writer you need to gain the confidence that readers like reading you. Sometimes it's not until you get to the end of the first draft that you can see what's wrong with it. The second and subsequent drafts become more and more enjoyable for the writer. And an editor should be good at giving you confidence on the sometimes long journey. At the end you will have something wonderful. It really is worth the trouble to get it right.
Performing
All writers are performers, performers on the page. Like an actor you must keep the reader's attention. You can do this by being soft as well as loud. But you are also the playwright. It is the overall drama or comedy that will really compel the reader so you must never lose sight of the entire story as you write the individual parts. If you can make the reader laugh or cry, or feel in all the myriad ways then you will be writing powerfully. If you can at the same also help them learn things for themselves, then you will be writing deeply. Reading is a very active process, so don't tell readers, show them. They will stay with you if you are engaging their interest.
Finishing off
Once you know the ending, then by far the most important task is to finish your work. Many good writers start off and fall by the wayside through lack of determination. Many bad ones think they have finished before they have. Only the good ones complete the course. Remember that "finishing" does not just mean filling pages with writing or saying "I've finished!" You should listen to the editor at this point. You are making a work of art for the reader. It ought to be really, really good to be worthy of publication. Try not to take rejection too hard. Good editors are always on your side. Becoming a writer is learning to become your own editor.
More
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