Historical Writers
Magazine
Novelist Manda Scott has formed the Historical Writers’ Association as a forum for writers and to promote the genre.
The internet-based group, which already boasts around 100 members including authors Simon Scarrow, Stella Duffy, Robyn Young, Laura Wilson, Tom Holland and James Holland, is aimed at writers of historical fiction and non-fiction. Agents, editors and publishers have also already joined including Charlie Viney, Jane Judd, Broo Doherty and Bill Hamilton plus David Headley, MD of Goldsboro Books.
Scott said: 'I used to be a member of the CWA - an extraordinary resource as an up-and-coming author, enormously useful. I’ve been writing historical fiction for nearly a decade, and I realised there wasn’t anything [for us]. Crime writing is the big brother of all the genres. I wanted to create something to be a forum [for] writers of historical fiction and non-fiction to get together.’
Writing in the Bookseller, author Tom Holland, Chair of the Society of Authors, explains how the Association has been put together and is intended to provide a means of communication amongst historical writers, as well as a means of promoting historical writing. He says it:
‘is evidence of something hugely positive that authors, rather than only ever feeling disoriented or bruised by the speed of changes online, are learning to turn them to their own advantage. Join the HWA – as anyone involved in writing history, whether fiction or non-fiction, is entitled to do – and you are effectively logged in to a social media network…
More and more, I suspect, authors will be able to combine the isolation – which is the necessary condition of writing – with ready access to their peers. No longer will writers be forced to depend exclusively on publishers to raise the profile of their chosen genre. The future is social indeed.’
Historical Writers Association
© Chris HolifieldManaging director of WritersServices; spent working life in publishing,employed by everything from global corporations to start-ups; track record includes: editorial director of Sphere Books, publishing director of The Bodley Head, publishing director for start-up of upmarket book club, The Softback Preview, editorial director of Britain’s biggest book club group, BCA, and, most recently, deputy MD and publisher of Cassell & Co. She is also currently the Director of the Poetry Book Society; During all of this time aware of problems faced by writers, as publishing changed from idiosyncratic cottage industry, 'occupation for gentlemen', into corporate business of today. Writers encountered increasing difficulty in getting books edited or published. Authors create the books which are the raw material for the whole business. She believes it is time to bring them back to centre stage. 2011
