How to craft your nature writing book proposal (with Caro Clarke) – The Nan Shepherd Prize

This is a recording of an online event on 27th July 2023. It covers how to create a nature writing book proposal that you can enter in the Nan Shepherd Prize (https://nanshepherdprize.com) or submit to agents and publishers. Hosted by Caro Clarke of Portobello Literary with Claire Reiderman of Canongate Books.

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RELEVANT LINKS, INCLUDING MENTIONED MATERIAL:

The Nan Shepherd Prize https://nanshepherdprize.com
[email protected]

Caro Clarke, Portobello Literary: https://portobelloliterary.co.uk/
Claire Reiderman, Canongate Books: https://canongate.co.uk

Marchelle’s proposal for Uprooting: https://nanshepherdprize.com/resource...
(Please note: it includes information on ‘Readership’ ‘Competing and comparable titles’ and ‘Marketing and publicity’ that wouldn’t be expected in a prize submission but is hopefully a useful resource. Thank you very much to her for sharing it.)

Association of Scottish Literary Agents (ASLA): https://asla.scot/
The Association of Authors’ Agents https://agentsassoc.co.uk/
Writers’ and Artists Yearbook https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/

The Nan Shepherd Prize website resources: https://nanshepherdprize.com/resources

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FUTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE EVENT

Interested in nature writing? Ever wondered how to put together a book proposal?

This workshop will answer your questions and help you craft the perfect proposal for submitting to agents and publishers or to the Nan Shepherd Prize.

This is an online workshop and free to attend. If you cannot make it live, this workshop will be recorded and made available to view at nanshepherdprize.com. It is open to everyone but we particularly encourage writers from underrepresented backgrounds and communities to attend.

The Nan Shepherd Prize is a literary prize for underrepresented voices in nature writing. It deliberately has entry requirements that match what agents and publishers request in a book proposal. That means that – whether you plan to enter for the prize or take your book idea to an agent or publisher – this workshop will help you understand exactly what you should be submitting and craft your proposal. Including:
sample chapters
the synopsis of the proposed book
the chapter summary
your biography and accompanying material

This workshop will be led by Caro Clarke of Portobello Literary. In-person events are also taking place in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. For more details visit nanshepherdprize.com/events.

About Caro Clarke
Caro Clarke is the founder of Portobello Literary and the Chair of the Association of Scottish Literary Agents. They were named Rights Professional of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2021. While working at Canongate Books, they co-founded the Nan Shepherd Prize for underrepresented nature writers.

About the prize
The Nan Shepherd Prize runs every two years and is open to previously unpublished writers based in the UK or Ireland, who consider themselves underrepresented in nature writing whether through ethnicity, disability, class, sex, gender, sexuality or any other circumstances. Find out more at nanshepherdprize.com. To get in touch or for any questions, please email [email protected].

About the workshops
This online workshop and the in-person workshops across Scotland are supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland. Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com.