Horsham Writers Circle

25/05/2026

Hi, I thought you might be interested in this free agent webinar on Monday 1st June: How the Industry Really Works by agent Vicky Weber:

Literary agent Vicky Weber will unpack what you need to know about traditional and indie publishing, including key players, timelines, business terms, and what matters (and doesn’t) when breaking in.. Event starts at June 1, 2026 7:00 PM EDT

13/05/2026

Have you bought your tickets for this weekend's BilliLit Festival? Billingshurst's Literary Festival is in its third year and the workshops on offer just get better each year. Here's a sample of Sunday, 17th May, offerings. For more information please see their page.

13/05/2026

Calling all writers, BilliLit Festival is taking place on Saturday and Sunday, 16-17th May with a huge variety of writing workshops and speakers. More details here and I'll copy and paste Sunday's workshops in a mo:

BilliLit Book Festival is back for its third year and takes place at the Women’s Hall on Billingshurst High Street this May.Saturday 16th May is Super-Saturdayfilled with authors, talks, book-signings and musical interludes. You can purchase tickets for an individual talk for £8, or buy a full da...

03/05/2026

BilliLit's fabulous flash fiction competition has been extended until Monday 4th May. Entry details attached. The festival is 16-17th May and they've booked some incredible speakers. Search BilliLit for more details and to book your writing workshops etc:
In case anyone has a quiet bank holiday weekend! Short story competition - deadline Monday
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H6mPUTuA2/?mibextid=wwXIfr

NEWS FLASH - FLASH FICTION COMPETITION DEADLINE EXTENDED

BilliLit Flash fiction competition deadline extended until Monday 4 May at midnight! So, there's still time to write a short story of up to 500 words and submit. All entries are adjudicated by our expert and the winning entries announced at the prizegiving at BilliLit Authors' Day on Saturday 16 May! The winner receives £50. Details of entry, costs and submission can be found at:

www.theresagooda.co.uk/billilit

29/04/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU_udhTCajG/?igsh=NWJqNjFzZ2VwOHpm
This is great advice for opening pages.

03/03/2026

Self-publishing and trad-publishing authors, please sign this petition to persuade bookshops to download POD self-published books in the same way as trad-published books.

NB I'm pretty sure they can but don't always want to because of sale or return settings set by authors and because marketing by individuals doesn't have the reach of trad publishing houses.

It's worth self-published authors registering with ALLI's (Alliance of Independent Authors) author publicity scheme which they are launching at this year's LBF to provide indie authors with the same publicity and distribution opportunities as trad published authors.

Please still sign the petition nonetheles. Anything that shines a spotlight on self-published authors and the disparity in the industry is worth a punt.

Happy writing,🖨

Gardners, please stock print-on-demand books

18/12/2025

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2000/mar/24/childrens.library

I was searching for something and came across this article, which is ancient but I think still relevant and has recommendations for lots of children's classics and suggestions for the age to introduce children and grandchildren to the books you loved as a child.

This is the age at which reading starts to get interesting, both for you and them. Around now most children will be reading fluently on their own and will start to develop their own distinct taste in books, although, like aliens, yo-yos and skipping, particular writers go in and out of fashion in th...