Looking to get your novel edited by the best of BAME editors?

Networking group BAME in Publishing is thrilled to announce the opportunity for one writer of a BAME (Black and minority ethnic) background to have their work edited by a senior editor from a major publisher. Arzu Tahsin is publishing director at Weidenfeld & Nicolson, a part of Orion Publishing Group.

Tahsin is offering to edit a novel, novella or a few short stories for one author of a BAME background.

Tahsin said: “For most of my career as a commissioning editor I have published books from a selection sent to me by literary agents, this is traditionally how it works. I have been lucky that the selection included writers from a broad range of diverse backgrounds including The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht, I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela among many others. These titles have all come through traditional channels and I know how hard it is for aspiring writers to find an agent.

“I am interested in voices from people who have come to writing because they are passionate to tell stories, people who might not have access to the creative writing schools or contacts within the industry. Our society is made up of diverse voices, I would like to reflect those voices back to readers.”

Wei Ming Kam, co-founder of BAME in Publishing and sales and marketing assistant at Oberon Books, said: “This is an incredible opportunity – Arzu has over 25 years of experience in the industry and to have work edited by her would be an invaluable experience for an upcoming BAME writer. We hope that writers from a wide variety of backgrounds will submit their work, and we’re excited to read their writing.”

Sarah Shaffi, co-founder of BAME in Publishing and online editor and producer at The Bookseller, said: “Arzu is an incredibly talented editor with a stellar list of authors. We hope writers from BAME backgrounds take this chance to have their work edited by her, and we hope it leads to the discovery of a new author from a BAME background. We look forward to reading everything submitted.”

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Authors should not have had a book published before, although publication in journals or magazines (online or physical) is acceptable. Tahsin is happy to edit adult literary fiction of most genres. To be in with a chance, please submit a short synopsis of your work, 200 words about yourself, and:

• the first 20 pages of a novel or novella OR
• one short story

Submissions should be emailed to bameinpublishing@gmail.com with the subject line “Arzu edit” by 11.59pm on Friday, June 23, 2017.

Further information:

• BAME in Publishing, formed in May 2016 by Sarah Shaffi, online editor and producer at The Bookseller, and Wei Ming Kam, sales and marketing assistant at Oberon Books, is a group for people who are from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and work in the UK publishing industry. Its aim is to provide a safe space for BAME people to connect with other publishing professionals and share advice, tip each other off about jobs, find mentors, and more.
• Arzu Tahsin has over 25 years of experience in the industry. In her previous job as editorial director at Bloomsbury, she acquired Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. Her list includes I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, Mona Eltahawy’s Headscarves and Hymens, Leila Aboulela’s Lyrics Alley and Orange Prize-winning The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht.
• The opportunity to have Arzu Tahsin edit a manuscript is open to all writers of a BAME background living in the UK. Entrants do not have to be a member of BAME in Publishing.
• Please note that this is not a publishing deal or a competition. All entries will be read by Sarah Shaffi and Wei Ming Kam, co-founders of BAME in Publishing, who will create a shortlist of up to 10 pieces of work to submit to Arzu Tahsin, who will select the entry to be edited.

For more information email bameinpublishing@gmail.com or call Sarah Shaffi on 07413 642347 or Wei Ming Kam on 07960 960016.

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