Tina Strachan interviews author and CYA Conference coordinator Tina Clark about how the CYA writers and illustrators conference helps aspiring and emerging creators secure publication through competitions, bootcamps, and agent/editor/publisher assessments. Clark explains her motivation to centralize trustworthy industry information and protect writers from predatory services, and she outlines CYA’s hybrid format, including online bootcamps, in-person July sessions, and a rooftop networking event at the Pullman Hotel. She details how bootcamps work in small groups with editors, how competitions provide two sets of blind-judged feedback and shortlist entries for a final publisher/editor decision, and gives practical submission tips like strictly following guidelines and formatting headers/footers. She advises not to argue with editors in assessments and emphasizes her top tip: finish the book—“bum in chair” writing.

The Debut Spotlight for this week is Katie Hoskins and her debut novel 'When the Party's Over'.

00:00 Podcast Intro
00:56 Meet Tina Clark
06:38 CYA Origins
08:06 Shadows of Africa
12:20 Why She Champions Writers
16:15 CYA Overview
16:46 Bootcamps Breakdown
24:21 Debut Spotlight: Katie Hoskins
25:36 CYA Competition Dates
28:09 Judging Process
33:29 Prizes And Growth
35:24 Publisher Feedback Limits
35:46 Follow Submission Guidelines
37:35 Formatting Pitfalls
39:42 Why Assessments Matter
43:01 Submit the Opening Pages
45:49 Networking Not Pitching
46:58 Never Argue With Editors
48:50 Success Stories And Notes
55:26 Conference Day Options
57:07 Panels And Program Highlights
01:02:00 Rooftop Networking Night
01:03:14 Bum In Chair Finale

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