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FROM THE EDITOR
Thank you for signing up for the Guide to Literary Agents newsletter! From now on, you can look forward to getting plenty of helpful tips and insider information on agenting and publishing every other Thursday.
This kickoff newsletter is just
in time to inform readers about the upcoming Writer's Digest Books Writers' Conference on Wednesday, May 30, in New York City. Below, you will find all kinds of information about the event's Agent Pitch Slam and speakers/panelists.
The
purpose of this newsletter is to keep readers updated on news, tips and great resources around the Web, regarding not only literary agents, but also screenwriting agents, writers' conferences and writing opportunities in general.
Pass it on to
your friends, and once again, thanks for signing up.
Chuck Sambuchino
Editor
Guide to Literary Agents
www.guidetoliteraryagents.com
literaryagent@fwpubs.com
BOOKEXPO AGENT PITCH SLAM
Mark your calendar: May 30, 2007. That's the date of an unprecedented gathering of agents ready to hear your book pitch. 62 literary agents - representing nearly every genre of nonfiction, fiction and children's - will be at the Writer's
Digest Books Writers' Conference on May 30, at the Jacob Javits Conference Center in New York City. The Agent Pitch Slam is the final event in a day packed full of seminars and speakers. The writers' conference preceeds BookExpo America, taking place
June 1-3.
There's still time to sign up and pitch your book. To learn more about the conference and its speakers, click here. To see the names and specialties of the participating agents,
click here. All 62 representatives will hear three-minute pitches from writers and request more writing from those scribes whose work interests them. Don't miss a great opportunity to hook up with
an agent.
ASK THE AGENTS & EDITORS
At the WDB conference, in addition to the Agent Pitch Slam, there will also be panels where attendees can participate in Q&A sessions with agents and editors. Grill them on just about everything - it's (almost) all fair game.
The "Ask the Editors"
panel features Alice Pope, editor of Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market; Lauren Mosko, editor of Novel & Short Story Writer's Market; Robert Brewer, editor of Writer's
Market; and, yours truly, Chuck Sambuchino, editor of Guide to Literary Agents.
The "Ask the Agents" panel features Stephany Evans of Imprint Agency; Sorche
Fairbank of Fairbank Literary; Linn Prentis of Linn Prentis Literary; and Jessica Regel of Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. See their
complete bios here. All four will take pitches afterward at the Agent Pitch Slam.
"SECRET AGENTS"
While plenty of agents out there are actively seeking clients, many aren't. To save time (and postage), writers need to know which agencies are currently giving submissions a fair read. That's why we at Writer's Digest and Writer's Digest Books assembled
a large list of agents open to new writers.
The article - "Secret Agents" -
lists 23 representatives, with genre matches for every writer. Now it's just time to polish that query letter and let it fly.
CONFERENCE AGENT OPPORTUNITIES
Besides the Writer's Digest Books conference, there are other opportunities this summer for writers to meet agents face to face at conferences and pitch their work. Remember, meeting agents in person is a great way to get past the slush pile.
If an agent is interested in your work and requests to see more, you can write "Requested Material" on your submission, making sure it gets a fair read and consideration.
Upcoming Conferences:
Aspen
Summer Words Writing Retreat and Literary Festival, June 24-28, Aspen, CO
Attending agents: Andrea Barzvi (ICM); Katherine Fausset (Curtis Brown, Ltd.); Lisa Grubka (William Morris Agency); Dan Mandel (Sanford
J. Greenburger Associates); and Ken Sherman (Ken Sherman & Associates).
Wesleyan University Writers' Conference, June 17-22, Middletown, CT
Attending
agents: Lane Zachary (Zachary Shuster Harmsworth); and Dan Mandel (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates).
Frontiers in Writing, June 8-9, Amarillo, TX
Attending agents:
Andrea Brown (Andrea Brown Literary Agency).
Washington Independent Writers' Conference, June 9, Washington, DC
Attending agents: Mollie Glick (Jean V. Naggar
Literary Agency); Gabriel Davis (Loretta Barrett Books); Jaimee Garbacik (The Literary Group International); Gary Heidt (Imprint Agency); Linda Konner (Linda Konner Literary Agency); Michael Mancilla (Greystone Literary Agency); Peter Miller (PMA Literary
& Film Management); and many more.
You can see more writers' conferences (and even post your own) by checking out the Writer's Digest Web site.
MARKET BOOK SITES
Each of the Writer's Digest Books Market Books now has its own Web site and newsletter - and each book editor will soon have an active blog on their respective sites. Check out the sites and sign up for newsletters that interest you:
Writer's Market
(newly redesigned): www.writersmarket.com
Novel & Short Story Writer's Market: www.novelandshortstory.com
Children's
Writer's & Illustrator's Market: www.cwim.com
Poet's Market: www.poetsmarket.com
WRITERSMARKET.COM
To access a thorough and recently updated database of literary agents, script agents and numerous other markets, sign up for a subscription at www.writersmarket.com. The online database has more than 600 agency listings,
and thousands of magazine markets and book publishers.
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