Claire Wingfield

Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Claire Wingfield and I work as a literary consultant. Through my Edinburgh-based literary consultancy service, I also scout for literary agencies.

Tell us a bit more about the role of a literary consultant
I work first and foremost with writers, providing them with the support and advice they need to progress their work. The service is tailored to the different needs of each individual writer, but generally involves an initial critique of their manuscript, in the form of a detailed report, as well as annotations on their manuscript.

Whereas a literary agency or publishing house don’t have the time to give individual feedback on a writer’s manuscript unless they are going to take that manuscript on, I work with writers at whichever stage they are at, and help them to improve their work. Where appropriate, I also advise writers on how to make their submissions.   

Whether the writer is at the very early stages of their writing career, even perhaps writing for a hobby or solely for friends and family, or is at submissions or publication standard, they are left with a clear action plan of what their next steps should be – both in terms of revising the particular manuscript we’ve been working on together, and their wider writing ventures.

What is the best thing about being a literary consultant?
It feels like an incredible luxury to be able to work with so many writers at an early stage in their careers, and to be able to give my full attention to their work.     

I also enjoy working with writers who truly want to develop their craft, and being able to demystify the publishing process for aspiring writers who can feel removed from and/or intimidated by it.

And what’s the worst?
This is a difficult one – I love what I do! Perhaps getting the feeling from the beginning of the process that a client isn't keen to do as much work on their manuscript as they would need to. 

If you could offer one piece of advice to an aspiring writer what would it be?
Realise how much work is involved from the beginning. Be resilient and able to take on feedback. (Sorry, that’s three; but linked, I believe!)

What gets you really excited about a manuscript?
Beautiful prose, where not a detail is out of place or without meaning. Being able to hear a writer’s distinctive voice. A protagonist who insists on staying with you after you close the pages. A true and urgent sense of things having to happen ‘now’ in the plotline – that there is no other order in which events could occur. I also love a sense of the dreadful in my novels; as in, that’s a dreadful position to put someone in – but so interesting!

And what puts you off?
Often the first thing is an overconfident and unrealistic approach from the author – such as being told straight off that their book is going to make a lot of money. After that, there are any number of things that can go wrong. Sticking with fiction (I work with non-fiction writers as well): an uninspiring protagonist; a mundane plotline; any dialogue or material that is working as ‘filler’ rather than driving the manuscript forward.

But it’s my role to spot those things, and to help the writer overcome them. Often a writer is so close to their manuscript they don’t realise what’s there, or they need to be reminded of how a reader will experience their work, or simply need the boost of really engaging with someone about their work before they can get stuck back into the writing/editing of the manuscript.     

What book are you reading at the moment?
Lion Boy, by Zizou Corder; a promising crime manuscript by a retired police officer; an unusual manuscript about the world of competitive fencing.

If I could read a book anywhere I would read it …
In a peaceful spot at the top of a mountain, in the middle of a long holiday

Which would you prefer to have – unlimited money or unlimited intelligence?
I think that intelligence – as long as it includes a hefty dose of creativity – removes the need for extreme wealth.

Links:

www.clairewingfield.co.uk
claire@clairewingfield.co.uk
 

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