'It's a treasure hunt'

'Right now, all over the country there are people spending their early mornings, lunch breaks, holidays and any moment of spare time creating stories. They're on their own, tapping away at a keyboard and creating parallel worlds.

A small handful of these stories will become the new trendsetters, the new blockbusters, the new stand-out bestsellers of the next decade. Some chapters on a hard drive in a spare room, increasing by 500-word increments every day, will change the publishing landscape from 2012 and beyond. That is a certainty. And that's what makes the business of books so thrilling.

The chances are that these future supernovas won't be bang on trend - the next big thing seldom is. It sets future trends, it doesn't follow them. The next big thing is generally a big surprise.

The next book I love from out of my submissions pile might be on trend, before the curve or blindsiding me from out of nowhere. That's why the slush-pile is my favourite place. It's a treasure hunt.'

Julia Churchill, UK children's agent at The Greenhouse, in Writers' ForumBritish writers' magazine which is highly recommended for all writers. It features wide range of news and articles which help writers to improve their work and get published: www.writers-forum.com