Colourful Opportunities
(Khome talks to Michelle Adabra of the New Nation)
Last month I was asked by Michelle Adabra, a journalist from the New Nation newspaper, to provide some input for an article she was writing about self-publishing trends in the black British community. At first I didn't think I'd have much to say on the subject but of course the more I thought about it, the more I realised I did have distinct views. And, hopefully you can judge for yourselves, as this month I've decided to focus on Michelle's questions and my answers.
Michelle asking the questions.
Q. Can you tell us about UnheardWords? What inspired you to start the site?
Me providing the answers.
A. I had mulled over the idea of a way for new writers to share their work for a long time; as I've always had a love of words, writing and books.
I started unheardwords.com in April 2004, it was a culmination of things: finding the time, finding the medium (the internet) and feeling a strong motivation to encourage those writers who may not get a voice in the mainstream. I wanted to create a site where new writers of colour could (virtually) hang out. A space where writers would share their thoughts and feelings and work.
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Q. Do you feel that black authors are being given
opportunities in the UK?
I think black authors (and artists) are finding ways to break through, and you do need a solid supply of black authors and industry professionals. At the same time the old barriers are still in place. For example:
-Mainstream publishers / agents lack black representation on their boards
and amongst their commissioners of new work.
-Industries tend to operate around social networks, the networks of UK publishing are
historical, it’s difficult to break in.
-The UK publishing industry doesn’t consider there to be much of a market
for black fiction.
-There is probably a lack of knowledge amongst black writers of how the
publishing system works, due to a lack of exposure to the system.
There also seems to be a bias when considering work by black authors - towards certain genres like "crime" fiction. I think that to gain respect as successful authors and artists the community needs to be seen as generating a heritage or variety of literary work.
Q. A lot of publishing houses appear to be reluctant to take
on black authors- do you think this trend is changing with the success of authors like Zadie etc?
A. This is partially answered above.
I think authors like Zadie Smith and Diana Evans show the media / masses that being a black author doesn't simply mean being a writer of 'drug, sex, crime' fiction. This broadens people's horizons.
I think the whole business of getting recognised by an agent / publisher is increasingly competitive. You need the black authors to be submitting in volume in order to get a proportion of manuscripts recognised. This means supporting, growing, encouraging black writers, publishers, commissioners, editors, etc...
Q. How would you advise a budding author?
A. Here's a brief summary but more can be found on the site:
Read a lot of books, this is part of the process of learning to be a writer.
Look to your own experience as a source of characters, scenes, relationships, plot.
Talk to fellow writers and readers, if practical seek feedback on your writing.
If you are going for the traditional publishing route, once you've got half a manuscript, begin submitting it, along with a punchy synopsis to reputable agents / publishers. If you're planning to self-publish make sure you're manuscript is well reviewed / edited before going to electronic press.
Don't give up, keep writing and keep learning to improve yourself as a writer.
Q. Authors such as Q (Deadmeat) and Von Mozar have been self
publishing and selling their books from stalls or cars etc,
as major book stores refused to stock their books. Do you
agree that more British black authors need to take matters
into their own hands now?
Yes, I think self-publishing / marketing is a good route for new writers. However, it's a lot of work and you really need to know what you're letting yourself in for before you start. Whether traditional or self-publishing it's a great manuscript - one that attracts a readership - that'll count at the end of the day.
Q. More and more British black authors tend to be moving to the
States for recognition- why do you think this is?
When I first started unheardwords.co.uk, my research revealed a strong, well developed market for fiction produced by African-American authors in the States. Even now, I get many black American authors contacting me with manuscripts and to promote their work. There appears to be a well developed black publishing industry in the states, so I guess this presents fewer barriers for aspiring writers.
by Khome (editor@unheardwords.com)
© editor@unheardwords.com, 2008 (all rights reserved)
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