London Writers' Salon #167: Anna Davis, founder of Curtis Brown Creative — Learning How to Write: Messy Drafts, the Rewrite Doctor, and What Agents Want
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Nov 8, 2025 Anna Davis, a novelist and founder of Curtis Brown Creative, offers invaluable insights for writers. She emphasizes that messy first drafts are part of the process, sharing her 'Rewrite Doctor' method to diagnose and refine manuscripts. Anna discusses how to stress-test structure and plot, the importance of playful writing exercises, and what agents truly seek in submissions. She also debunks publishing myths and highlights the long game of writing success, encouraging authors to stay true to their unique voice while preparing market-ready works.
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Use A Single Scenario To Test A Pitch
- Try writing a one-line scenario that pairs a character with a striking situation to test pitchability.
- Use the questions that scenario raises to generate dramatic possibilities and momentum.
Switching Projects Led To A Debut Novel
- Anna abandoned an early MA novel after realising it had profound unsolvable problems.
- She switched projects, wrote a new novel in the final year, and that became her first published book.
The One-Third Stall Is A Common Shift Point
- Many writers stall about one-third in because the work must shift gear from setup to development.
- Diagnosing issues often means reassessing plot, character depth, or narrative voice.
