Between Writing and Publishing - Grant Burger (Publishable 2021 Shortlisted Writer)
There have been times when I thought writing my crime thriller might have been the easy part. Easier than a 300-word synopsis of the 86,000-word story or the quest to have the work published.
I entered Publishable in May 2021 and as accustomed as I am to long waits, I pretty much forgot about it. So, it came as a huge surprise when Queensland Writers Centre’s Craig Cauchi called just two months later (mere seconds in write wait time) to let me know I’d made the longlist of 25.
The top 25 development program kicked off with a series of workshops. I particularly enjoyed those presented by Natasha Lester and Ally Blake. Although they are romance writers, and my story has but a few drops of romance in a treacherous sea, good writing practice obviously applies to all genres, and I gained some great tips.
A consult with Chris Grace of Queensland Writers Centre came next. Chris provided reader feedback, and comments like, ‘Smooth, easy, engaging read,’ had me beaming. On the flip side, ‘Some dialogue is a bit staged.’ Eek. I wasn’t beaming anymore, yet this wasn’t the cue for the sad trombone either. I knew which dialogue they’d referred to, and when revising the work, I substituted lines of dialogue with a photo on a wall and the story behind it.
Chris also quizzed me like an agent or publisher would do before concluding with a critique of my synopsis. Armed with this feedback, I revised and resubmitted my work.
The days seemed to craaaawl by while I waited to hear if I’d made the shortlist. So, when the good news came, it was a fist-pumping, YES moment.
The 10 shortlisted entrants received one-on-one mentorship followed by a pitch to an agent or publisher.
I was lucky enough to get showrunner and author Stephen M Irwin as my mentor. Steve gave a lot of good advice and opened my mind to alternative ways of telling my story. He also generously shared some pitches he’d written for various projects—gold.
I’d never verbally pitched my manuscript, so the two trial pitches were a godsend. With the help of Queensland Writers Centre’s Lori-Jay Ellis and Craig Cauchi, I overcame the jitters, and by incorporating their suggestions, I came up with a concise and engaging pitch.
Queensland Writers Centre set up a pitch to a publisher, and it went pretty well. The publisher requested the first 50 pages of my manuscript and synopsis, and then in late January, they contacted me to say they enjoyed what they’d read and asked for a copy of the complete manuscript.
For now, I live in two worlds. One where time flies, and the other where days drag by without news. But I remain optimistic.
I’ll always be grateful to Queensland Writers Centre and the Publishable team. No matter how this chapter ends, I’ve benefited so much as a writer.
If you have a manuscript and you’ve given it a polish, do yourself a favour and enter Publishable 2022.
Grant Burger was a shortlisted writer in Queensland Writers Centre’s 2021 Publishable program. Applications for the 2022 program are open now.