The Insider's Guide to Getting Published, offered through Humber College on Oct. 28 & 29, is an intensive workshop for authors who want to understand the publishing process.
The workshop will be led by Cynthia Good, former president and publisher of Penguin Canada. In this preview, she gives Open Book her advice for aspiring writers, names the most common submissions mistake and describes what to expect from the two-day session at Humber's Lakeshore campus. Find out more about the program by visiting our Events Page.
Open Book:
What should aspiring writers expect from the workshop The Insider's Guide to Getting Published?
Cynthia Good:
Many writers aspiring to publication have very little knowledge of how publishing works, or how editors make their decisions. This workshop demystifies the business, offers tips on how to bring attention to your manuscript, suggests marketing techniques writers can use immediately and provides advice regarding contracts, agents, self publishing and more.
OB:
Why did you decide to run this workshop?
CG:
Right after I left Penguin I decided I wanted to help writers navigate the world of publishing. When I started teaching publishing students at Humber (The Creative Book Publishing Program) it also became the perfect support and location for running these workshops for writers. I schedule one each year to follow my colleague Antanas Sileika’s Humber School for Writers Summer Workshop and two others in the fall and the spring.
OB:
You were at Penguin Books Canada for twenty years, serving as vice-president, editor-in-chief, publisher and President of the Publishing Division, so you have the inside track on what publishers are looking for. What is one piece of advice you learned during your time at Penguin that you can share with us?
CG:
Although it may seem otherwise to aspiring authors, editors are always searching for fabulous new writers. But the manuscripts must meet certain criteria depending on the house and individual taste. Learn about publishers and editors and what they care about.
OB:
What's the most common mistake writers make when submitting their work to a publisher or agent?
CG:
Now especially, manuscripts must be in a professionally edited/polished form. Anything that makes someone stumble in their reading, whether it’s poor spelling, inelegant prose or boring narrative will result in rejection.
OB:
How do you think the digital revolution in publishing will affect the novice writer's chances of getting published?
CG:
Publication means so many things these days. There are greater opportunities for writers to develop a readership, market themselves and even self publish very effectively. The digital revolution has changed many aspects of publishing and can be extremely beneficial to the savvy writers. We will talk about this at the workshop.
OB:
Is there still time to register in the workshop?
CG:
Yes! Please join us on October 28 and 29th at Humber’s Lakeshore campus.
Registration for the Insider's Guide to Getting Published can be completed online.
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Cynthia Good was appointed the first editorial director of Penguin Books Canada in 1982 where she was responsible for establishing a publishing program which grew into one of the most successful in Canada. Under her leadership the roster included such writers as John Ralston Saul, Michael Ignatieff, Alice Munro, Mordecai Richler, Timothy Findley, Stuart McLean, Peter Robinson, Guy Gavriel Kay and many others. After twenty years with Penguin, Ms. Good resigned as President of the Publishing Division in 2003 and developed The Creative Book Publishing Program at Humber College.
For more information about writing programs at Humber College please visit their website.
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