I was just wondering. Who out of everyone on the site has been to the London Book Fair? Is it worth going to? What am I really likely to find there?

On the website it seems to be more of a 'trade' thing than one for the aspiring writer.

If anyone has any info' it would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

Dan.

I found it quite useful when I went a couple of years ago - if only in terms of what publishers' lists are looking for. And also they have a series of writing seminars that were okay.

I'll be there on the Sunday this year - with my colleage & CEO, Jennifer Margrave - we'll be visiting with our Goldenford Publishers hats on!

)

A
xxx

I went years ago, when it was still at Olympia, and from the look of the site it hasn't changed all that much, just got bigger. There are writing workshops with big names, but from the industry's point of view, it's mainly for publishers and booksellers to get together, and the people on the stands will be sales and marketing dept., not editors, except among the small presses where in most cases both owners wear all the hats.

Of course in some ways it's interesting to see what they're all up to and maybe collect some catalogues and things. But there's no point in setting out to write more of what's on display - it's too late for that. They don't know what they want us to write (or if they say they do, they're probably wrong, just as generals are always fighting the last war); our job is to show them.

It is rather extraordinary to see the whole industry in action: on the one hand, daunting, in that authors seem such a small part of the whole thing; on the other hand, it reminds you that there's a whole industry built around what WE can do, and no one else can.

Makes quite a good day out, if you add in the Docklands Museum (recommended) and a scenic trip from the Tower on the DLR, of course.

Emma

Thanks guys.

I got the impression that it might be more of a 'trade' thing. I'll look into it a bit more but it seems to be one for next year when the purse strings aren't so tight.

i hope.

dan

Yes, it's expensive, and of course you're a captive market for food and drink as well.

Emma