In her previous career Sylvia Kent had worked on typing the parliamentary debates for both Hansard offices (Lords and Commons) in Westminster for 26 years.
In 1992 Sylvia helped start the Brentwood University of the Third Age (U3A). She was asked to start a gardening group which she organised for several years from her Brentwood home. This was followed by running a home-made wine group then a memoir-writing course. Sylvia explains, "When I joined the U3A I met a former journalist who had worked for The Times who ran a group to get members writing professionally. She suggested we should "write what we know" which sounds like a cliché. I was then making wine so I sent an article to The Lady magazine which described the basics of how to make a simple gallon of apple wine. This was published and led to other freelance work for other journals."
Sylvia is currently a vice-president and archivist for the Society of Women Writers and Journalists (SWWJ) and was recently offered a Fellowship. She is also the vice-president for the Brentwood Writers' Circle and patron of the Essex Book Festival.
She has authored twelve published books, including her latest one 'Brentwood in 50 Buildings'. She has contributed to seven anthologies and has had more than 4,000 features published, many as part of her columns for magazines and newspapers, specialising in history, gardening, wine-making and folklore. Since 2010, her articles and short stories have also appeared in numerous online magazines and posts in weblogs.
Sylvia won the Sir Harry Brittain Scholarship for Journalism n 2008 and awarded silver cups from the SWWJ for non-fiction features, alongside Freelance Journalist of the Year competition organised by the Writing Magazine in 1998, followed by the Writing Magazine's Community Award Cup in 2004.
Here are Sylvia's 10 top tips for writing and promoting a book.
1. Read, read and keep reading, including all writing magazines. Try to write something every day, even a blog post or an entry for a short story competition. Join a writing circle and mix with other writers.
2. Keep a daybook/diary. Put in there all the things you've done that day, spellings of names, people you've met, it's a work diary so try and keep it up to date.
3. Among magazines that freelancers can approach are Bella, Chat, Woman, My Weekly and older magazines such as Saga. This England, Evergreen and The Oldie. There is a whole host of titles and some interesting overseas magazines too. Log on to Hold the Front Page a website for journalists. Read Writers' Forum and similar journals. Keep a copy of The Writer' and Authors' Handbook (annual).
4. The U3A and WI clubs are always seeking new speakers, especially authors from their area. Some groups have large audiences. Practise in front of the mirror and obliging family or friends. Keep your talk relatively short, and allow time for questions/answers.
5. You have to work hard at promotion and you do have to show off to a certain degree as people have invested a lot of money in you. Get business cards and flyers printed. Contact the local radio stations, broadcast as much as you can because it's a good medium, people recognise you.
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| Sylvia with Ann Widdecombe at Chelsea 21/05/07 |
6. Always go to VIP day at RHS Chelsea Flower
Show, that’s where I’ve met so many people in the news, actors, film folk, top gardeners, etc. They all like to be interviewed. When I was sent there by the Guardian
Magazine I was once kissed by Ringo Starr!
7. Try the BBC or local television. The BBC did an outside broadcast when I had
finished a book at St. Mary Magdalen – Billericay’s
‘Church in the High Street. If there
is somebody well-known featured in your book contact them, they may enjoy the
publicity too.
8. Go to all the media events. When I began freelance writing for newspapers and magazines, I received invitations to openings of restaurants, cinemas and clubs. Almost an army of PRs who, once they know about what you write, will keep sending you invitations in the hope that you will attend and write something nice about their celebrity or product. Most PRs are grateful for your attendance and you will probably receive a 'goodie bag' containing gifts. I used to like being invited to Claridge's and other top hotels. The best one for a journalist was the coveted press pass to the Royal Horticultural Flower Show at Chelsea in May, but there are other shows all through the year.
9. Also, keep a balance, try not to neglect your family
and look after your fingers too. I’ve
always used yoga to help me relax and remain flexible, bearing in mind I spend
hours at the keyboard.
10. Finally, never ever be rude or short with
anyone in the writing business, as you will often meet them online or at media
events thereafter!
Adam Faith and Sylvia doing a presentation
Sylvia with Thomas Magill at BBC Essex 22/06/13
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