authonomy Masterclass no.1: Women's Fiction

As our long-time members will know, our mission at authonomy is to smooth the path of your book as it makes its way into the big wide world ... whether that's by giving your project more visibility, celebrating new talent, or offering free advice from people at the heart of the book industry.

Possibly the most useful advice can you receive is that from people who've been down the same road before you. Starting this month, we're hosting advice on improving your script - and tips on getting published - from the biggest authors in their fields.

First in the spotlight is one of our community's most popular genres: women's popular fiction. Two of the most phenomenonally successful and experienced authors, Cathy Kelly and Barbara Taylor Bradford, are fans of our community, and have contributed the women's fiction advice sheets coming out on the blog this week. (Next year, we'll also be keeping an archive of the workshop advice at authonomy's main site, so you can use it as a reference as your book project develops.)

Contemporary and commercial women’s fiction (phew, it’s a mouthful….some industry insiders and keen readers controversially/affectionately call it ‘chick-lit’) is a very competitive area, but it’s also where some of the biggest sales happen. From supermarkets to libraries, station bookstalls to literary megastores, bookbuyers are likely to be able to pick up a copy of the latest novel almost anywhere they go, with sales of over a hundred thousand copies (startlingly rare in bookselling) being a common occurrence.

Unsurprisingly, then, there is more competition to get noticed in this genre than ever before. Publishers get hundreds of scripts a week landing on their desks. You have to be both very hardworking and very lucky to get a book contract… So how will you stand out from the crowd?

First of all, congratulations in joining authonomy^TM. With the biggest publishing houses and agencies trawling this site for talent, you’ve already given your chances of being spotted by a commissioning editor for women’s fiction a serious boost.

Second, if there’s one thing that drives these novels, it’s a strong narrative packed with excellent characterisation. So by the time you start searching for a publisher, you should have a clear synopsis that plots out your narrative arc. Bestselling novelist Cathy Kelly will tell you more this week.

Then, third, as with all markets…know your stuff. Do study (and enjoy) the successful authors.

Here’s your reading list
(Please note: all links direct to the new reading networking website, BookArmy, which authonomy members and friends have BETA access to):

Barbara Taylor Bradford

Candace Bushnell

Catherine Alliott

Cathy Kelly

Cecelia Ahern

Danielle Steele

Erica James

Fiona Walker

Helen Fielding

Freya North

Isabel Wolff

Jackie Collins

Jane Green

Jenny Colgan

Jilly Cooper

Joanna Trollope

Katie Fforde

Lisa Jewell

Louise Bagshawe

Maeve Binchy

Marian Keyes

Mary Wesley

Penny Vincenzi

Rosamund Pilcher

Sophie Kinsella