Book Writing Workshop
Our immersive book writing workshop is designed for aspiring authors who have a concept in mind and need guidance on refining it.
Have a book idea but not sure how to shape it? Our immersive Book Writing Workshop is designed for aspiring authors who have a concept in mind and need guidance on refining it, crafting a compelling pitch, and structuring a strong proposal. Through interactive exercises, expert insights, and hands-on development, you'll gain the clarity and confidence to move forward. The session includes a Q&A with publishers and agents, who will also provide feedback on participants' pitches, plus a networking opportunity to connect with industry professionals.
Speakers
Izzy Everington, Editorial Director Profile Books
Eli Keren, Curious Minds Literary Agency
James Spackman, The Book Pitch Doctor & Agent, The bks Agency
Workshop Leader: Alex O'Brien, ABSW Vice-Chair, Science writer and author
Preparation
You will need to do a small amount of preparation for this workshop, download the programme below for details.
Confidentiality/Protection of Ideas
The segments of this workshop are structured so that you don’t have to share your ideas if you don’t wish to. The interactive parts are such that you are working by yourself and then only if you wish or want to you can pitch it in the forum. Participants, workshop leaders and speakers will be required to sign a mutual non disclosure agreement (NDA) to agree to keep all information disclosed at the workshop confidential.
Date and time
Wednesday April 23, 2025
Coffee and registration 09:15
Workshop 09:30 - 13:00
Lunch and networking 13:00-14:00
Venue: Council Room, Kings College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS
Booking essential (see below), bookings close at noon on Wednesday April 2, 2025
Refunds are only available for cancellations prior to noon on Wednesday April 2, 2025
Why not join the ABSW to receive a discounted ticket for this and all other ABSW events, plus access to all our members-only content and to be included in our directory of science writers and journalists?
With thanks to the ABSW's Lead Professional Development Partner EurekAlert!
ABSW Book Writing Workshop - Programme
Eli Keren, Literary Agent, Curious Minds
Eli Keren worked at United Agents for eight years before joining Curious Minds in 2024. Before starting his publishing career, he had been a research scientist designing and synthesising novel drugs, and science books remain a particular passion of his. He mostly works with experts, academics and researchers on ideas-led books in the fields of smart science and current affairs, with a particular interest in LGBTQ+ books. He enjoys books written by writers who are obsessed with a niche subject and skilled enough communicators to make others fall in love with their subject too, and is keen to find books that are going to change the world for the better. In 2022 he wrote and delivered Jericho Writers’ How to Write a Proposal course, in 2023 he was elected treasurer of the UK’s Association of Authors’ Agents, and he has been a returning judge on the Bloomsbury Academic Writing Fellowship since its founding. Eli very rarely takes on new fiction clients. He is based in the UK.
Alex O'Brien, ABSW Vice-Chair
Alex O'Brien is a science writer based in London, UK. Her work has been published by The Times, BBC, Scientific American, New Scientist, The Guardian and others.
In her first non-fiction science book ‘The Truth Detective’ she calls on all of us to regularly interrogate the narratives and information we are given. It’s a book on critical thinking.
She is particularly passionate about teaching critical thinking skills to young people. She spearheaded the UK Young Science Writer Award, which is aimed at students from state-funded schools to help encourage them into a career in STEM.
When she doesn’t write she competes on the global poker circuit.
Izzy Everington, Editorial Director, Profile Books
Izzy is Editorial Director at Profile Books, where she publishes serious non-fiction with a focus on science. This runs the gamut from harder sciences all the way across to social sciences. Her authors include award-winning biochemist Nick Lane, mathematician Eugenia Cheng, and science writer Kit Chapman. She also works closely with the Wellcome Trust, publishing, among others, Emma Dabiri’s Disobedient Bodies and Daniel Tammet’s Nine Minds.
James Spackman, The Book Pitch Doctor & Agent, The bks Agency
James has worked in books since his eyecatching ‘96 debut in the postroom of Bloomsbury Publishing. From there he moved on to sales, marketing and management roles for Hachette and Osprey. Currently he combines his work as an agent at The bks Agency with coaching publishers in presentation skills as The Book Pitch Doctor. He also founded Profile’s cycling imprint Pursuit and the regional diversity non-profit The Spare Room Project.
