How to get Published: A Masterclass with Dr. Somnath Batabyal and Jack Ramm

Somnath Batabyal and Jack Ramm

Abstract

What does it take to turn a manuscript into a book, how does a writer become an author? Do you need agents? What does an editor do? What do publishers look for? How do you write that big debut? What skills do writers need and how do you build a career in writing? Jack Ramm, previously of Penguin Viking and Somnath Batabyal will answer questions on all of the above and more and help participants to craft that first letter and synopsis to agents and publishers.

Biography

Jack Ramm runs an editorial services company. Until recently, was commissioning editor for Viking, an imprint of Penguin General. Whilst there he edited and acquired all kinds of nonfiction projects, from the former head of GCHQ to Iggy Pop.

Prior to this, Jack was a literary agent at the Eve White Literary Agency. Whilst there, he discovered and edited authors including Daisy Johnson, who went on to become the youngest ever shortlisted author for the Booker Prize, Jessie Greengrass, a Women's Prize nominee, and Damian Le Bas, bestselling and prize winning author of The Stopping Places.

Somnath Batabyal is author of two books, The Price You Pay and Making News in India. He is working on his second novel alongside Jack Ramm, his agent. Somnath is also writing a television series on political spin doctoring for an Indian Production House.

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This event is part of the Virtual SOAS Festival of Ideas, a week-long series of virtual events. The festival includes: panel discussions, student led installations, masterclasses, keynote lectures, a public debate for/against on Decolonising Knowledge and a Verbatim performance by Bhuchar Boulevard on ‘Decolonising Not Just a Buzzword’ capturing SOAS conversations about the need to decolonise its imperial mission.

Keep updated on the upcoming Virtual Festival of Ideas events and watch recordings of previous events on the SOAS website. Please contact foi@Soas.ac.uk with any questions regarding this event and/or the Virtual SOAS Festival of Ideas.

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Organiser: SOAS Festival of Ideas, SOAS South Asia Institute

Contact email: foi@soas.ac.uk