What Makes an Agent Say Yes?
Tuesday 29 September
7.00 – 8.00 pm
Session Language: English (with speech to text translation)
Speakers: Anwen Hooson and Abi Fellows
Join two top literary agents for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation on what catches their attention, what makes them turn the page, and what writers often misunderstand about querying today. This is your chance to hear agents discuss real submissions and your audience questions which your are invited to shared anonymously in advance.
The agents will also explore misconceptions about location, whether you really need to be in London to break into UK publishing, and the routes available to writers building careers from Wales.
Come with your questions. Leave with a clearer sense of what agents are looking for, and how to give your submission its best chance.
Ysgrifennu i Bobl Ifanc: Cyfarfod y Cyhoeddwyr
Tuesday 27 October
7.00 – 8.00 pm
Session Language: Welsh
Speakers: Cohort of publishers from Wales
Children’s and young adult publishing continues to be one of the most vibrant areas of the industry, offering exciting opportunities for writers in Wales. This interactive session brings together leading publishers and industry experts to explore what they are looking for, how the commissioning process works and what makes a successful submission. Rather than a series of presentations, the session will focus on the questions writers most want answered, covering topics such as finding your audience, trends in children’s publishing, working with editors, illustration, representation and building a career writing for younger readers. Participants will gain insight into the publishing process directly from industry professionals and have the opportunity to ask questions about navigating the market. The session will provide practical guidance for emerging and established writers looking to develop work for children and young adults.
Writing for Young Audiences: Meet the Publishers (English-language Publishing)
Tuesday 3 November
7.00 – 8.00 pm
Session Language: English
Speakers: Cohort of publishers from Wales
What does it take to get a children’s or YA book published, and what are publishers looking for right now?
Children’s and young adult publishing is one of the most exciting and dynamic parts of the book industry, with real opportunities for writers in Wales working in English.
Join leading publishers and industry professionals for an engaging, interactive webinar that gets straight to the questions writers want answered. We’ll explore what publishers are looking for, how the commissioning process works and what can make a submission stand out. Along the way, we’ll unpack some of the key issues facing writers today, from finding your audience and understanding current trends to working with editors, illustration and building a sustainable career writing for children and young adults.
You’ll be invited to submit your questions beforehand. Whether you’re developing your first children’s book, already have a manuscript under your belt or are looking to take your writing career in a new direction, this is an opportunity to hear directly from publishing professionals and get practical insight into navigating the market.
Meet Wales’ Publishers: Interactive Industry Session and Q&A (Rep Wales)
Tuesday 10 November
7.00 – 8.00 pm
Session Language: English
Speakers: Cohort of publishers from Wales
This interactive hour-long session offers a lively, moderated discussion shaped by questions submitted by writers in advance, alongside live audience participation, and practical advice. By focusing on the issues writers most want answered, the webinar provides valuable insight into the Welsh publishing industry while allowing publishers to address common questions efficiently and direct participants to further opportunities and support.
Whether you’re taking your first steps towards publication or looking to develop your existing writing career, this is a chance to hear directly from publishing professionals and discover what really matters when approaching the industry. Expect honest insights, practical guidance and plenty of ideas to help you take your next step with confidence.
The session begins with brief introductions followed by a moderated conversation based on the most common questions submitted by participants in advance. The final section focuses on live audience questions and practical takeaways, with each publisher sharing one key piece of advice and a next step for writers.
How I Write … Understanding a Writer’s Process
Tuesday 17 November
7.00 – 8.00 pm
Session Language: English
Speakers: Alex Wharton, Anthony Shapland, Rachel Dawson
Every writer develops their own way of working, there is no single route from an initial idea to a finished piece of writing. In this conversation, leading writers from Wales will share an honest insight into their creative process, exploring where ideas come from, how they approach research and drafting, what happens when they lose momentum, and how they know when a piece is finished.
Bringing together writers working across different genres, the session will highlight the many ways a writing practice can evolve over time, whether balancing writing with other work, responding to commissions, or moving between novels, poetry, screenwriting and non-fiction. Through a moderated discussion and audience questions, you will gain practical inspiration, discover common challenges faced by established writers, and leave with new approaches they can apply to their own creative practice. The session will celebrate the breadth and diversity of contemporary writing talent in Wales while reinforcing that every writer’s process is unique.