Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin is a notable author, literary agent, and the founder of The Inkwell Group. She is also the founder of writing.ie, a website dedicated to all things writing-related. These are only a few of her many accomplishments in the field of writing and publishing. She has also written several books which have received wonderful reviews. I chatted with Vanessa last week about her major contribution to the writing world in Ireland, and she shared some advice for budding authors.
How did the initial plan for The Inkwell Group come about?
Inkwell started as Inkwell Writers’ Workshops and I was only going to organise one originally for crime writers. I had been writing for some time and went to a weekend workshop down in Dingle, it gave me the confidence to know that I could write, but also showed me how much more I needed to learn. I wanted to hear from bestselling authors and one-day workshops in a lovely venue with nice people. There wasn’t anything like that in Ireland at the time, so I started my own. Once I’d found the right venue and started thinking about it, it seemed silly to organise only one, so I planned five, beginning with Start Writing, ending with Getting Published. The idea was they would run on the first Saturday of each month during the winter when the children were in school. Once I’d done one season, people wanted more, so I organised another. It sort of grew from there; I had people travelling from all over the world to come to them!
What exactly is The Inkwell Group?
Inkwell is a publishing consultancy group. We bridge the gap between writers and the publishing industry, whether that be agents or editors. We help writers get their books into the best possible shape for submission and, where we can, help them in that process by introducing their work to agents.
It seems that writers today are either self-taught or are graduates of a Creative Writing MA. What, then, do you think, is the status of writing courses like those on offer at The Big Smoke in today’s literary industry?
To be self-taught you need help! Google doesn’t offer all the answers. And not everyone can do an MA, hundreds of people are writing at work in their lunch hours or when their babies sleep. Courses like Big Smoke’s are invaluable as they are facilitated by writers who have been through the process, they can answer all sorts of questions and can help to constructively critique work on an individual basis within a class. Every time I hear a writer speak I learn something new, you can’t replace that face to face contact.
As a literary agent and writer, what prompted you to start writing workshops at Inkwell?
I started them literally to help me to learn to write better. I wasn’t working in publishing, I didn’t know anything about how it worked. I was from a marketing, retail, and event management background. Everything I do now has stemmed from that first Start Writing workshop that I ran with Julie Parsons and Rose Doyle back in 2006.
How do you find new talent in a market that is becoming increasingly digitised? Are posted manuscripts a thing of the past now?
No, I still like to read hard copy, so I often ask for manuscripts to be posted if I’m assessing them for a submission or, for instance, as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin’s ‘Date With An Agent’ event (which will be running in 2018 again – do please make a note if you are reading this and consider submitting, it’s a fantastic opportunity). I find new authors in many ways – most come through Inkwell; we do lots of readers reports for writers, reading their complete book and critiquing it and, if it shows promise, my readers let me know. But I’ve found authors through competitions, through reading their blog online, through twitter. I always have my radar switched on to new ideas and new voices.
What do you look for in a good manuscript?
Great writing is essential, but it’s not always enough. There needs to be a strong story with a hook and fabulous characters who immediately engage me. It’s a bit like the X Factor, those guys who can just sing are a joy to watch, but it’s what they do with their voice, the way they interpret a song that makes them really interesting.
Apart from writing a good manuscript, what strategies should new writers employ while trying to get published?
Read tons, get to as many events as possible (book launches, festivals, library events) to hear published authors speak, and learn about the industry. Understand the commercial end – unfortunately, publishing isn’t all about great art, it’s a business, and elements like genre and word count can be crucial. You can only break the rules if you know what they are!
Do you have a favourite literary event that you attend in Ireland?
I love Listowel Writers’ Week but, unfortunately, only get to go when I’m programmed to speak as it’s such a long way. I also love open mic events, like Staccato in Toners Pub in Dublin, because they give new voices the chance to shine. Everyone has a story to tell.
Have you any parting advice to budding writers in college looking to master their craft?
The best advice I was ever given, by Sarah Webb, was just keep writing. Often it’s not your first book that gets you a deal, that’s where you serve your apprenticeship, where you learn the craft. Little Bones was my fifth book. The other thing is to make sure you finish your book. The skill in writing is in rewriting and polishing, you can only do that when you’ve got to the end of your story. Then you know what it’s really about and can make sure you’re starting in the right place, that all the characters are there for a reason, that the plot is properly developed. Monica McInerney’s advice is “Read. Read. Read. Write. Write. Write. Edit. Edit. Edit,” only then consider submitting. ■
