Lucy Morris: 'Have confidence – avoid the urge to be self-deprecating'
BY Katie Smart
29th Mar 2019
We’re thrilled to announce that our special guest for April's #WriteCBC is Curtis Brown agent Lucy Morris. #WriteCBC is our monthly Twitter writing competition, find out more about how to join in the fun here.Before you check out Lucy's writing tip and writing task, we wanted you to find out a bit more about how brilliant she is …
Tells us something that we should know about you … I studied Spanish and Portuguese for my degree and while I can speak ever fewer words in both languages, I’m always going to have a soft spot for Eva Ibbotson’s The Journey to the River Seai n imagining my alternative career path as an intrepid explorer of the Amazon.
What are you reading now?
I’ve just finished reading The Lost Man by Jane Harper. I loved it! She really is the queen of atmosphere.
Which books are you most excited about reading this year?
I’m really looking forward to Kate Atkinson’s new novel Big Sky – Jackson Brodie is one of my all-time favourite characters, and you always know you’re in the safest pair of hands when you crack the spine on a new Kate Atkinson. Confession, I’ve never listened to an audio book before. But, I’ve decided that my inaugural audio book is going to be Becoming – read by Michelle Obama. I’ve also got a stash of books saved for my summer holiday, including Old Baggage by Lissa Evans and Hilary McKay’s The Skylarks’ War which won the Costa Children’s Book Award. And this is the year when I am finally going to get around to the Cazalet Chronicles!
What are you looking for in a submission? Do you have any advice writers looking to submit their first novel?
Have confidence – avoid the urge to be self-deprecating. I want to be as excited to read your submission as you are about submitting it!
You’re a part of the Curtis Brown 120 team, can you tell us about what’s coming up next as part of the 120th birthday celebrations?
I am ridiculously excited to launch the Curtis Brown Novel Writing Prize. We’ll be announcing our timeline and judging panel very, very soon, and I can’t wait to start reading the entries. Watch this space …