editorial & Advisory Service for Authors:

If you are an author looking for representation we highly recommend that you attend a literary retreat with a chapter away and take advantage of one our specialised courses. During your stay with us you will be able to pitch your work to an agent and receive feedback in person.

If you need help editing your work at home before submitting your work to an agent a chapter away highly recommends Cornerstones Literary Agency.

Cornerstones is a founding UK literary consultancy with a division in the USA and work mainly by word of mouth within the industry. They offer professional editorial feedback, are a teaching-focussed company, and scout for agents.

Working with an Editor:

Do you want to know (but haven't dared ask) what is the best way to work with an editor? During this session Helen Corner-Bryant of Cornerstones Literary Consultancy will introduce you to an editor's world: what is show not tell, how to develop pace, what is tension and why does it matter, how to create a character that stays in the reader's mind, and why is internal conflict so important. By the end of this session you'll have the confidence to brainstorm techniques and provide solutions so your agent and editor know they're in the hands of a professional writer.

Submitting to Agents:

Do you want to know (but haven't dared ask) what is the best way to pitch your book and dazzle your literary agent? During this session, Helen Corner-Bryant of Cornerstones Literary Consultancy will give you a peek into an agent's world and introduce you to submission etiquette: how to identify and research the right agent, how to prepare your submission package, and how to write a professional, industry-standard cover letter.

The session will also cover how to write a one-page synopsis and polish your sample chapters, and how to professionally follow up your submission. Receiving an offer of representation is only the beginning. You'll also want to know how to approach any other agents who have your manuscript and how to know who is the right agent for you by asking the right questions and working with editorial feedback.

By the end of this session you'll have the confidence to pitch your work, to industry standard, so your agent will know that they're in the hands of a professional writer who they will be proud to present to editors.

Helen Bryant

Helen spent a number of years at Penguin in editorial before setting up Cornerstones Literary Consultancy in 1998. In 2016, she opened Cornerstones US, creating the world’s first transatlantic literary consultancy. Cornerstones is known for teaching self-editing techniques, providing feedback on all types of genres, scouting for agents, and launching many writers. See www.cornerstones.co.uk and www.cornerstonesUS.com for Books and testimonials.

Get in touch: helen@cornerstones.co.uk

Alex Hammond

Alex holds a BA (Hons) in American Literature with Creative Writing from UEA, and an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Lancaster. During his studies, he developed a passion for wilderness literature, war stories and historical fiction - something he tries to give academic credence to by studying part-time for a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Southampton. After his MA, he worked for the literary agency Rogers, Coleridge & White from 2010 to 2013, and then with social media marketing company Digital Animal. He joined Cornerstones in October 2014 in editorial, managing editors and social media.