Melissa Keil: Talk: How To Make A Book

Session Info:

I am both a writer and in-house editor, so have insight into publication from both sides of the process. My aim is to show budding writers that the words they put down on a page are only a starting point. Refining, polishing and perfecting your work is long, messy and sometimes arduous – but nothing ever needs to be perfect from the outset.

No writer, no matter how skilled, ever writes a perfect first draft. This is the process – from initial idea, to finished book.

Making a book is a collaborative process, requiring the skills and talents of many people. But who are they, and what exactly do they do?

A brief inside look at the Life in Outer Space journey, from the first idea spark, through writing, editorial, to finished novel.

It takes more than a writer to make and publish a book. This is the collaborative process – from initial idea all the way through to finished book – and some of the people behind the scenes who make a book happen.

The presentation will offer a brief, entertaining overview of everything from drafting, to editing, to cover design.

Topics

So you’ve finished a first draft – now what?
What do publishers look for in a manuscript? What happens ‘in house’, and why do some good books get rejected?
What is an editor? How much influence do they have on a finished book?
What does the editorial process look like? How many drafts do writers go through before they see their work on a bookstore shelf?
How is a book cover made, and who decides on the look of a book?

Other sessions:

Online Session: How to build a story with character (writing workshop)
Creating interesting, three-dimensional characters is essential to writing a story – but when you’re stuck for story ideas, asking questions of your characters, and getting to know them better, can also provide a rich source of plot inspiration. By the end of this session, students should have an understanding of the process writers undertake in […]
Online Session: Writing conflict (writing workshop)
Conflict is the engine that drives a story – it’s all about setting problems and obstacles for your characters, and then figuring out how (and if!) your characters are going to solve those problems. Conflict is a key ingredient in all storytelling – but how do we pose gripping, genuine problems for our characters? In […]
Online Session: The story of a book (author talk)
Writing a first draft of a story can be a long, hard, brain-twisting process – but it’s only the beginning of the journey of a book. Publishing is a collaborative process, requiring the skills and talents of many people – but who are they, and what exactly do they all do? This presentation will offer […]
So you want to make a picture Book
How does a picture book get made? Who does the pictures? Who writes the words? And how does it all come together? In this workshop, students will learn all about the behind-the-scenes work that happens inside a publish house to create a picture book, from idea to finished creation, while at the same time building, […]
Workshop: Building Characters
Why do some characters feel more authentic and compelling than others? How do writers find the inspiration for their fictional people, and how do they make them ‘come to life’? What are some of the methods writers use to create the people in their fictional worlds? Characters are the beings who populate and drive a […]
Talk: The Story of A Book
As someone who left high school with a love of books but a belief that writing was something that only ‘other’ people could do, I am passionate about encouraging young people from all backgrounds to pursue their creative interests. All creative people, no matter how accomplished or renowned, experience moments of fierce doubt when it […]

Melissa Keil: Talk: How To Make A Book

Session Info:

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