Do you dream of seeing your novel on the shelves of a bookshop, but aren’t sure how to get there? This interactive one-day masterclass from 10:00am-4:00pm on Saturday, 25th October at Sydenham Library will guide you through the entire journey of publishing a novel, from shaping a compelling idea to finding a publishers. Taught by novelist Salma Ibrahim, the debut author of Salutation Road (Pan Macmillan, 2025), this full-day masterclass is for aspiring writers who want to learn how to prepare their manuscript for traditional publishing. You will learn how to: Find and shape a compelling story idea Develop an elevator pitch, tagline and synopsis for your book Draft and edit your manuscript with confidence Understand the UK publishing landscape: agents, query letters and publishers Salma Ibrahim is a London-based novelist and the author of Salutation Road (Pan Macmillan, 2025). While still in development, the novel won the London Writers Award (2020) and was runner-up for the Future Worlds Prize (2021). Salma also ran Literary Natives, hosting regular meet-ups for writers of colour in London, subsequently winning the London Book Fair Trailblazer Award in 2019. This masterclass is suitable for ages 16+. Booking is essential. Tickets are available via Eventbrite. (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-publish-a-novel-one-day-masterclass-tickets-1688060346939)