Writers Workshop
Saturday September 24, 2022
9 am - 12 pm
Delaware Valley University | Mandell Science Building
Thinking about writing a book someday?
At what stage in the writing process do you start thinking about your publishing options?
Have you honed your pitch and query skills?
Do you know the pros and cons of the many publishing options available today?
Writers, authors, dabblers and dreamers alike will benefit from this hands-on workshop led by author-agents Marie Lamba and Sarah N. Fisk, including an invaluable “May I Pick Your Brain” Q&A session.
Whether you are in the outline stage, mid-writing, in revision or editing, it’s never too soon to learn from seasoned pros how to increase your chances of reaching your goal of getting your book published.
$30 general admission
$15 student admission
(under 16 must be accompanied by an adult)
Marie Lamba, Literary Agent
Saturday, September 24
9 am - 10am
How to Pitch and Query Like a Pro
Tips and Techniques That Make Agents Take Notice
Literary agents are always looking for great fiction to represent. But writers have only a small window of opportunity, whether during a pitch session or through a query letter, to impress an agent. Pitching and querying can be tricky. If you don’t know the ropes, you might be blowing your chances with a slew of agents, and getting an inbox filled with rejections, or worse, with no replies at all.
How to pitch and query like a pro will show writers how to avoid serious pitfalls and how to best showcase their work. Marie will share insider’s tips and take you step-by-step through the pitching and querying process. Learn how to craft a strong hook, how to target queries for the best results, what can make or break a verbal pitch, and much more!
At the end of this session, you’ll have all the skills you need to make your work stand out, and to pitch and query like a true pro, taking you a step closer to your goal of publication.
Points covered will include:
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Basic structure of both a query and a pitch
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How to incorporate your voice into a query
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What research needs to be done before querying
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How to act during and after you pitch to an agent
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What questions to expect after a pitch
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How to follow the query and pitch formats - but still stand out
Note: Workshop Ticket includes both speakers and Q&A Session. 9am-12pm.
Marie Lamba is a Literary Agent at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency in NYC (jdlit.com), where she represents fiction and non-fiction picture books, middle grade, YA and adult works, plus memoir.
Marie is also author of the picture books Green Green: A Community Gardening Story (Farrar Straus Giroux), and A Day So Gray (Clarion), and of the young adult novels What I Meant… (Random House), Over My Head, and Drawn. Her articles are in more than 100 publications, and she’s a frequent contributor to Writer’s Digest. She has worked as an editor, an award-winning public relations writer, and a book publicist, and has taught classes on novel writing and on author promotion.
You can, follow her on Twitter @marielamba, Facebook at Marie Lamba Author, and find helpful and inspiring blog articles geared toward writers at marielamba.wordpress.com/for-writers/
Sarah N. Fisk is a former mechanical engineer who made the switch to publishing in 2011. They have worked in the publishing industry as an editorial assistant, author’s assistant, publicist, and art director.
Sarah is a former Pitch Wars mentor, board member, and agent liaison. They host the podcast Queries, Qualms, & Quirks and are one of the founding members of Disability in Publishing.
Sarah is a literary agent at the Tobias Literary Agency, representing all genres in Middle Grade and Young Adult as well as adult science-fiction, fantasy, and romance. They also write young adult novels as Sarah Nicolas and adult romance as Aria Kane. See more information at www.sarahnfisk.com.
Sarah N. Fisk, Literary Agent
Saturday, September 24
10 am - 11am
Choosing a Publishing Path
Pros & Cons of Today's Options
Changes and new opportunities in the publishing industry have made it an exciting time to be an author but have also made it one of the most confusing times to be an author.
Hybrid author Sarah Nicolas a.k.a. Aria Kane will present the different publishing paths available and openly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Accolades from their Choosing a Publishing Path workshop at the Florida Writers Association Conference:
“So informative! I most appreciated the speaker’s honest approach.”
“Sarah was outstanding, knowledgeable, informative, and thorough.”
“Excellent presenter, very well informed, and concise.”
“Sarah gave a fabulous overview of complicated issues, with lots of practical advice.”
Note: Workshop Ticket includes both speakers and Q&A Session. 9am-12pm.
Claudine Wolk, Author
Saturday, September 24
11 am - 12pm
May I Pick Your Brain?
Question - Answer Session
Claudine Wolk is an author, radio talk show host and podcast host. Her first book, It Gets Easier and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers has affectionately become “the perfect baby shower gift.”
Claudine is working on her second non-fiction book aimed at helping people who want to publish and market a book in the same fun, practical way as her first. Her Substack Newsletter "Get Your Book Seen and Sold" gives authors the motivation they need to get started, keep writing and market the heck out of their books.
Find Claudine at her substack: ClaudineWolk.substack.com or her website ClaudineWolk.com.
Note: Workshop Ticket includes both speakers and Q&A Session. 9am-12pm.
Ask either workshop leader or Claudine, any question you may have about your creative writing or publishing journey.
Pitch Opportunity
Saturday, September 24th, 1pm - 3pm
10-minute sessions
Practice your pitch or make your pitch. Your choice. Don't miss this opportunity!
Sarah is returning to Mandell Hall after a lunch break, to offer 12 private ten-minute pitch sessions. As a former Pitch Wars mentor, current board member, and agent liaison, Sarah knows a good pitch when they hear one and is ready to help you, one-on-one, to hone your pitch. They host the podcast Queries, Qualms, & Quirks and is one of the founding members of Disability in Publishing. Sarah is a literary agent at the Tobias Literary Agency, representing all genres in Middle Grade and Young Adult as well as adult science-fiction, fantasy, and romance.
Limited to 12 time-slots, first-come-first-served.