Get advice from a professional Editor!

Editor and Publishing Assistant Rachael Donovan from Allen & Unwin Publishers will be attending the Bundaberg writers’ festival, WriteFest, on May 19 and advising selected writers on how to improve their query letter, synopsis, and manuscript sample.

Rachael will do this by conducting editor/writer consultations with six writers who have been selected by her based on their submitted work having the potential to hold an editor’s interest or be close to this level.

These consultations will not lead to the writer being requested to submit a full manuscript or considered for a contract. They are offered as an advice session only.

Writers are required to submit the first 50 pages (in industry-standard format) of their manuscript, together with a two-page single-line-spaced synopsis and covering letter outlining details of their writing experience and publishing history (if any).

The first 50 pages must be from a completed manuscript ready for submission to a publisher – first drafts are not acceptable.

Submissions will be read by a team of experienced professionals and the best will be forwarded to Rachael who will select the six she will consult with, and those writers must be attending WriteFest.

Each submission must be accompanied by an entry fee of $25. This entry fee is non-refundable but will be taken off the entry fee to the WriteFest workshops ($75) or masterclass ($95), or combined two days of workshops and masterclass ($145).

Submissions and entry fee can be posted to the Bundaberg Writers’ Club Inc, PO Box 1486, Bundaberg Qld 4670, or emailed to novels@sandycurtis.com provided the entry fee, or a receipt for a direct deposit to the Bundaberg Writers’ Club Inc is posted in. The Club’s bank details are Wide Bay Australia, BSB 656400, Account No. 104337281.

Successful applicants will be notified at least two weeks before the event. As reading and assessing the submissions will take the editor some time, we would appreciate writers submitting as early as possible. All submissions must be received by 15 April.

Any queries should be made to novels@sandycurtis.com or PO Box 1486, Bundaberg Qld 4670.