February Community Event - More information coming soon!!
LOOKING FOR: YA, NA, ADULT FICTION Helen Lane is an editor and a Junior Agent at The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She is passionate about books and has spent the last decade supporting authors. She will happily offer her editing advice on manuscripts through I Am In Print but in accordance with her membership of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), guidelines state that any work submitted to her for feedback cannot be considered for agent representation. What Helen will do during your session is assess your sample and provide detailed feedback on any identifiable issues, the manuscript's commercial potential and what steps she would advise before you begin querying. She does not require personalisation in the letter, comparison titles or a synopsis, but if you have them already, please include them. As an idea of the genres Helen represents, she would love to see and offer advice on Adult Fantasy, Sci Fi, Horror, Paranormal Romance, LGBTQ+ Romance, Action & Adventure & Thrillers and will also look at YA Fantasy. Books Helen is slightly obsessed with include monster stories (especially if they have giant sharks or squids) and stories set in extreme environments such as the arctic, jungle, caves, ocean, and mountains. She DOES NOT want to read about affairs or abuse in any genre. (Her husband likes her to add here that this is nothing to do with him; she just doesn't like sad stories). Her favourite authors are Mira Grant, Greig Beck, James Rollins, Matthew Reilly, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Darcy Coates, Patricia Briggs & Kelley Armstrong. Helen holds a BSc in Environmental Science from the University of East Anglia and a postgrad qualification in Acoustics. She lives in London with her family and the world’s naughtiest cocker spaniel. Follow Helen on social media: @HFLane_writing Helen would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and first three chapters (Max 5,000 words) of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Helen is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Friday 31st January 2025
Today, every individual and organisation is a publisher. You want everyone in your organisation to be a potential ambassador. And every employee has something to gain from raising their profile and showcasing their expertise. An effective content strategy allows you to deliver compelling stories to your audience in the most seamless way possible to make an emotional connection. This requires a mix of passion for the subject matter, a deep relationship with your audience, robust production processes, and the right tools. With a background in journalism and technology, we’ve worked on many projects that combine the two – including overseeing the iPad edition launches for Condé Nast in the UK, product ownership of a Digital Asset Manager for Condé Nast International, and developing and delivering content training for telco VEON. Publishers and brands we’ve worked with include WIRED, Time Out, GQ, Vanity Fair and Vogue – as well as solo entrepreneurs and startups who are trying to cut through the noise and get their message heard. In this course we'll cover the key elements of an effective content strategy: how to plan across multiple platforms, and how to implement your blueprint without exhausting yourself or your team. Sample learning content Session 1: Planning a content strategy Mapping and understanding your audiences. Defining your content objectives, for you or your organisation. Common pitfalls with poorly targeted content. Session 2: A content creation framework Finding ideas to generate a consistent stream of content. Idenitfying angles that will help you stand out from the crowd. Using different formats across multiple channels. Session 3: Keeping it going Simple processes to help hit deadlines and publish regularly. Balancing content creation and content creation. Creating a mix of evergreen and timely content. Session 4: Measurement and iteration Useful (and useless) metrics for content producers. Handling comments and joining the conversation. Iterating your content strategy based on feedback. Delivery We deliver our courses over Zoom, to maximise flexibility. The training can be delivered in a single day, or across multiple sessions. All of our courses are live and interactive – every session includes a mix of formal tuition and hands-on exercises. To ensure this is possible, the number of attendees is capped at 16 people. Tutor Alan Rutter is the founder of Fire Plus Algebra. He is a specialist in communicating complex subjects through data visualisation, writing and design. He teaches for General Assembly and runs in-house training for public sector clients including the Home Office, the Department of Transport, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Health Foundation, and numerous local government and emergency services teams. He previously worked with Guardian Masterclasses on curating and delivering new course strands, including developing and teaching their B2B data visualisation courses. He oversaw the iPad edition launches of Wired, GQ, Vanity Fair and Vogue in the UK, and has worked with Condé Nast International as product owner on a bespoke digital asset management system for their 11 global markets. Testimonial “The EMpower Network commissioned the content creation workshop to understand how to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. In light of covid-19, it’s more important than ever to communicate clearly especially as we’ve moved to remote meetings. The workshop was very insightful and Alan was a very engaging speaker making sure all attendees contributed and worked through real-life examples. Attendees praised the usefulness of the workshop and especially liked the content generation framework with one saying 'It has changed the way I think about communicating and given me a toolkit that I will use in both my work and personal projects'.” Shade Nathaniel-Ayodele | EMpower Network, Southwark Council
Professional Management is crucial to your company's success. In fact, managers can have the single largest impact on your organisation's productivity and overall profitability, with more influence over employee morale and performance than anyone else.
In this self-paced course, you will learn how to use TensorFlow 2 to build deep neural networks. You will learn the basics of machine learning, classification, and regression. We will also discuss the connection between artificial and biological neural networks and how that inspires our thinking in deep learning.
LOOKING FOR: PICTURE BOOKS / CHAPTER BOOKS / MG / YA / NEW ADULT inc GRAPHIC NOVELS Gyamfia Osei joined ANA in 2023 as a Literary Agent in the UK department. She was previously an agent at The Good Literary Agency, where she began building her list of authors. Recent successes include a ‘significant’ 6-figure pre-empt for Busayo Matuluko’s YA debut ‘Til Death, a 5-way auction for Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam and the shortlisting of Ebinehita Iyere’s Girlhood, Unfiltered at the 2023 British Book Awards. At ANA, Gyamfia is focusing on on developing the agency’s list of children’s authors, while also representing a bespoke list of commercial adult fiction and narrative non-fiction. In the Children’s space, Gyamfia would love to find contemporary stories that are full of heart and joy-driven books across all genres (think Clare Weze, Kimberly Whittam and Elle McNicoll). Funny middle-grade and YA horror are currently at the top of her list and she is also keen to read more teen projects (think Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and Glow Up Lara Bloom) this year. She is very interested in finding a graphic novel or illustrated project for either MG or YA readers. In the older fiction space, Gyamfia enjoys well-plotted, fast-paced narratives with authentic characters who lodge themselves in her mind long after she’s finished reading (think Sadie, Verity and Girl A). She’s open to a broad range of genres, but would be particularly keen to see romantasy, cosy crime, contemporary romance and tightly plotted domestic noir. Please note that Gyamfia doesn’t consider literary fiction and, in the commercial space, she is not hugely interested in very high fantasy, trauma-focused stories or particularly gruesome horror.In the non-fiction space, she would be happy to consider commercial narrative non-fiction and cultural history projects (think Brit(ish), It’s Not That Radical and Everything I Know About Love). She is very open when it comes to Children’s non-fiction but would be particularly interested to consider unique cookbooks aimed at young chefs, books exploring mental health/wellness and projects that bring the experiences of marginalised children to the forefront. Gyamfia would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the opening three chapters (max 5,000 words). For picture books please send two texts and a covering letter. For non-fiction please supply a cover letter and proposal with up to 5,000 words of your sample text. Please send EITHER picture books OR another genre, not both in one submission. (In addition to the paid sessions, Gyamfia is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 27th January 2025
Emotional Intelligence (Virtual) Emotional Intelligence is a set of emotional and social skills that collectively establish how well we: Perceive and express ourselves Develop and maintain social relationships Cope with challenges Use emotional information in an effective and meaningful way It is a skill set that transfers across all categories of relationships. It is also a predictor of success - both in life and at work. This highly-interactive course delivers a practical approach to developing, improving, and sustaining effective and mutually beneficial relationships. The design of the course involves individual reflection and paired activities, interwoven with small and large group interactions. The EQ-i 2.0® assessment reports will be debriefed over the course of the two days. In addition, participants will delve into their personal strengths and blind spots, and will explore topics including: the neuroscience of emotion, the connection between empathy and performance, and how communication styles impact our perceptions of self and other. Role-play activities give participants the opportunity to try out new behaviors and techniques. The program includes: A personal behavioral profile, the results of which you will bring to your training 2-day highly interactive workshop and experiential learning Optional professional coaching activities initiated in class that can continue over the four months after class ends What you will Learn Recognize your interpersonal strengths and potential blind spots regarding Emotional Intelligence Identify the five domains within the EQ-i 2.0 assessment model Summarize what neuroscience research has discovered about emotions and actions Recognize ways that human beings are physiologically impacted by stress Articulate ways to develop and maintain strong working relationships Describe how emotional intelligence translates into high performance Make use of the EI model and associated competencies Employ strategies for enhancing leadership through Emotional Intelligence Getting Started Foundation Concepts The biology of emotion Why Emotional Intelligence matters The impact of EI on performance The EQ-I 2.0 Model Overview of the EQ-i 2.0 framework Exploring your report Balancing your EI domains Self: Awareness and Sensitivity Self-awareness and empathy Perception vs. reality Acting by choice, not impulse Other: Communication and Relationship-Building Elements of effective communication Communication styles Communication techniques Neuroscience and Behavioral Change Insights from social neuroscience Making a change Summary and Next Steps
LOOKING FOR: PICTURE BOOK TEXTS / ILLUSTRATIONS Lucy Brownridge is a Commissioning Editor at Wide Eyed Editions and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, and formerly Thames & Hudson where she helped to establish the Children’s list. She has developed and edited books for children with Alan Ahlberg, Quentin Blake, Bruce Ingman, Sandra Dieckmann, Yuval Zommer and Joe Coelho among others. She is the author of Illuminightmare as well as the Portrait of an Artist and Art Masterclass series. She is interested in the history of picture books and is always looking for innovative ways to use the book format. Her favourite books are funny, deceptively simple, thoughtfully written, distinctively illustrated and encourage a love for reading both words and pictures. Lucy would like you to submit the following depending on whether you are a picture book writer / illustrator or both. ABOUT YOU Include a covering letter, in a word document, telling Lucy about yourself and your sources of inspiration. If you have one, include a link to your website. She is keen to read stories she hasn't seen before or see artwork with a distinctive style rather than something that fits with trends. She has particular experience with picture books and illustrated narrative non-fiction. AUTHORS Please send a full manuscript (or 3), in a word document, starting with a short summary/blurb. Make the summary punchy and engaging. Remember that the best picture book stories are simple and every word should count. Do you see this book as part of a series? ILLUSTRATORS If you have a picture book idea please send a story board and a summary of the story. Please send a diverse selection of artworks from your portfolio. It is useful to see examples of the following: people of different ages and ethnicities, character studies showing a range of clothes and expressions, animals, a selection of everyday objects, wide-angle vistas, an example of a book cover (i.e. a classic book reimagined). Please send these in PDF where possible. (In addition to the paid sessions, Lucy is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 27th January 2025
LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NEW ADULT Rebeka Finch is a Junior Agent at the Darley Anderson Literary Agency. Alongside assisting Darley on his list of authors, Rebeka is building her own list of romance and romantasy authors, specifically for the BookTok hungry new adult/20+ markets. She is on the hunt for messy, cheesy, heartbreaking, relatable, characters and stories with romance at the very heart of the narrative. For those writing romantasy, Rebeka is looking for books that strike the perfect balance of romance, pace, action and world-building, with series potential. Importantly, she looks for strong, diverse, brave and relatable characters in these settings. People that feel like both a friend, a champion and an ally. Rebeka would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 -2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Rebeka is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Thursday 20th February 2025
LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Diana joined the prestigious DHH Literary Agency in June 2024. She started agenting with Rupert Heath Literary Agency in 2011 before moving to UTA and Marjacq in 2017. Before that she was senior commissioning editor at Transworld. Diana was chosen as one of The Bookseller’s Rising Stars of 2012, was a nominee for RNA Agent of the Year 2019, and was shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year 2022 at the British Book Awards. Her list includes a wide range of bestselling and prize-winning authors in the UK and internationally. Diana represents adult fiction and non-fiction. For fiction, she is looking for upmarket women's commercial, with depth and heart, including reading group, historical, saga, uplit and contemporary stories that are irreverent and make her laugh; accessible literary fiction, high-concept crime fiction and thrillers. She has a thing for spy novels and would love to find a great vampire story. On the non-fiction side: memoir, smart, funny feminists, lifestyle, cookery and social justice, and open to anything with a strong, original voice. She also encourages submissions from writers who have been traditionally under-represented. Diana would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first three chapters (a maximum of 5,000 words) of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Diana is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 17th February 2025