Know your audience as well as your publisher. Image: Shutterstock.
Dear Emerging Creative,
Celebrated New Zealand novelist Catherine Chidgey had this sage and pithy wisdom to offer: ’Make sure your work is typo-free – consider asking someone to proof it for you – and keep your cover letter brief.
Nicola Legat, publisher at Massey University Press and Te Papa Press, with a palpable sigh, wished these three things: ’Despite our website saying we do not publish fiction, writers would not submit fiction. That writers would read our submission guidelines through thoroughly and follow the instructions there,’ and, ‘that writers would not send the manuscript to several publishers at the same time and then exert pressure to make a decision at speed.’
The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui is New Zealand’s online hub for creative people. Our aim is to support talented, innovative individuals and organisations, back the creative industries and advocate for creativity as an essential ingredient in the cultural and economic wealth of New Zealand. The Big Idea provides resources for the whole creative sector, including those seeking to turn their ‘big ideas’ into viable projects, careers and businesses. We are the go-to destination for work opportunities, event listings, arts stories and creative inspiration. The Big Idea is a not-for-profit trust started in 2001 and is New Zealand’s longest running creative sector website.
