MG Harris on writing a bestselling novel - Sixth Form Speaker Programme

Do you have a novel in you? How do you make sure yours is the manuscript that the literary agent actually bothers to read? What do Aristotle and Hollywood have in common – and how could they both help you come up with a bestseller?

Yesterday, as part of our Speaker Programme, we were visited by MG Harris, bestselling author of The Joshua Files, a series of books for young adults.


MG described writing her first novel in the aftermath of a skiing accident, and (subsequently) the conception and creation of The Joshua Files. She spoke particularly about the challenges of finding a literary agent and getting published – and outlined the approach that had finally worked for her: targeting and researching a specific agent and tailoring her manuscript to grab his attention.

Plot, she argued, was the most demanding (and easily neglected) aspect of the writer's craft: she spends weeks honing her narrative, ratcheting up the tension in key scenes, devoting attention to characters' motivations and the consequences of each plot device. And she pointed out that the qualities identified by Aristotle as essential to a compelling drama – all the way back in Ancient Greece – remain virtually unchanged in the modern Hollywood blockbuster.

You can read more about MG Harris on her blog, or visit the Joshua Files website.