Advice for aspiring creative writers

 

Students had a chance to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth on March 18, when the English Department held a “professional development day” for aspiring writers.

Creative writing professor Stephanie Bolster said afterwards that some were surprised to hear an agent say that manuscripts sent directly to a publisher do better than one might expect.

“These days, in fact, emerging writers may have more chance of publishing their manuscripts than mid-career writers whose books have sold modestly.

“Students may also have been surprised to hear the agent say that the best thing they can do for their future careers is to make their manuscript the best it can possibly be. Schmoozing, in short, is not the key to success.”

The panel comprised Catherine Kidd, a well-known spoken word artist (Sea Peach) and novelist (the forthcoming Bestial Rooms), award-winning novelist Nino Ricci (Lives of the Saints), novelist and playwright Mansel Robinson, and poet Carmine Stanino.

“Nino Ricci's confession that he enrolled in Concordia after W.O. Mitchell told him that he didn't have what it took to be a writer startled the crowd,” Bolster said.

The event was well attended: about 50 students for the morning panel of successful alumni, and as many as 80 students for presentations by a magazine editor, an agent and a publisher.

Bolster reported, “Student interest was keen and feedback on the day has been extraordinarily positive, so we plan to hold a day of a similar nature next year.”