Visiting The London Book Fair
I’ll be honest, when I first visited the London Book Fair several years ago I found it all rather overwhelming. Somehow in my head I had imagined it to be full of fellow creatives, all chattering about their book ideas with enthusiastic editors who could make their dreams come true. I feel a bit silly confessing this but it’s true. So it was a bit of a shock to the system to find the Fair, first and foremost, is very much a place of business. When I first walked in, I was struck by how many stands had welcome desks, only allowing those with pre-arranged meetings to enter. It felt like a physical manifestation of the ‘gatekeepers’ of publishing. And I felt like I had no right to be there. BUT I very quickly realised this feeling was very much coming from me, not the Fair. I was the one who felt out of my depth and this was, in fact, an opportunity to learn.
This week, I visited for the fifth time, very much in a different mindset. I now see the Fair as a brilliant opportunity to research and to meet like-minded people. So, below are five ways that I feel you can get the most out of the Fair as an independent creative.
Take your time
It’s easy to feel intimidated when you first walk in so take some time to take it all in. I like to walk slowly around the stands, simply observing for a while. Get a coffee. Get your bearings.
Find the areas that interest you
The London Book Fair app has a great floorplan and there are also printed versions around the venue. The whole world of publishing is represented here. I home in on the children’s publishing and poetry areas. You may have a particular publisher you’re keen to investigate or may want to find out more about services such as KDP or the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Attend sessions
As part of your entry fee you get access to over 100 seminar sessions throughout the event. You’ll find some headliners on the Main Stage but my favourite space is Author HQ which specifically focuses on writers and illustrators. This year I attended a really inspiring session with four women who had set up their own indie publishing companies. I also learnt about illustration contracts and listened to some super successful indie authors talk about what works for them on the KDP platform.
Talk to people
This is the difficult bit, right? As writers and illustrators we often work in isolation, hiding out in our comfort zones. Striking up conversations can be tricky. I’ve become more honest as the years have gone by. I will openly say, “I feel a bit silly asking this but…” or “Do you mind if I ask you a question…” The Fair is a golden opportunity to engage with people who are usually hard to find or to get in contact with so take a deep breath and take your opportunity.
Have a giveaway at the ready
When you do chat with people, it’s great to have something to give them to remind them of you post event. As an illustrator, I take postcards of my illustrations with my website and social media links on. If you’re a writer, have a business card or some samples of your work. This year, I took copies of my books and enjoyed having my Hug book as something to give away.
Most of all, enjoy being a part of it all. It may feel more business than creative but everyone under that roof has one thing in common, an enduring love of books.
