Questions abound … Which publishers should I approach? Do I need an agent? How much will I get paid? What if a publisher over-edits my work? Should I maintain control by just self-publishing and distributing it myself?

These and other aspects of the publishing industry will be discussed in a special one-hour session at the 2018 Bellingen Writers Festival, on Sunday June 10 from 5–6pm at the Cedar Bar & Kitchen.

Titled ‘Inside Publishing: Negotiating The Publishing Industry’, and presented by Sydney-based Writing NSW (formerly NSW Writers’ Centre), the session will be chaired by the organisation’s Executive Director Jane McCredie. Four other publishing insiders will also join her on the festival discussion panel.

A science-medical writer, and former science publisher herself, McCredie was news and features editor of the leading medical publication Australian Doctor, and worked for The Age, as well as contributing to the British Medical Journal, The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald. The co-editor of The Best Australian Science Writing 2013, she is also the author of Beyond X and Y: Inside the Science of Gender.

Lex Hirst is a commissioning editor for Penguin Random House Australia, a festival director and arts programmer. Driven by a love of great writing, her remit is to build a list of new, exciting voices in both fiction and non-fiction and she’s particularly interested in stories about identity.

Lucy Bell is Senior Editor for Pantera Press, and has a Master of Publishing degree. Along with her editorial skills, she has experience in marketing, publicity, design and graphics editing. With Pantera Press since 2014, Bell has fostered longstanding relationships with many talented authors.

Jo Butler is a freelance editor and publishing consultant with the Cameron Creswell Agency, and previously worked as a senior editor and commissioning editor for publishers Harper Collins and Random House. As a literary agent she represents a wide range of authors of literary and commercial fiction, non-fiction and childrens’ books.

Robyn Sheahan-Bright was the first executive director of the Queensland Writers Centre (1991–1997) and operates ‘justified text’ writing and publishing consultancy services. She is widely published in magazines, journals and online publishing sites and has edited many anthologies.

With such expert advice, if you dream of being a published author, this is the session that may help you make it a reality.

Inside Publishing: Negotiating The Publishing Industry

Presented by Writing NSW (formerly NSW Writers’ Centre)

Chair: Jane McCredie, with Lex Hirst, Lucy Bell, Jo Butler & Robyn Sheahan-Bright

Sunday 10 June, 5– 6pm, Cedar Bar & Kitchen – Single session $20.00