Workshops

Manuscript to Printed Book, A Journey

This functional workshop will feature veteran literary agent John Ware, who will take attendees from the hunt for an agent to working with an editor and other publishing house members to bring forth the bound book. To include all the relevant nuts-and-bolts, it will survey the complete process your finished manuscript undergoes on its road to market.

Workshops

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Writers Digest Spotlight

John Ware, Literary Agent

Agents and editors don’t have time to read entire manuscripts. So how do they choose which writers they want to work with? Proposals. Regardless of whether you have a book for adults or children, in fiction or nonfiction, you need a strong proposal. But while many writers invest a significant amount of time, energy and money in crafting their manuscripts, few know how to compose a proper proposal. In this class, you will learn:

Why 90% of submissions are rejected based on the cover letter alone
The single most reliable—and free!—resource for finding a good agent
Three common, yet easily avoidable, mistakes writers make
A proposal’s true purpose (hint: it’s not to demonstrate talent)

Marcela Landres is the author of the e-book How Editors Think: The Real Reason They Rejected You, publishes the award-winning e-zine Latinidad, and is an Editorial Consultant who helps writers get published by editing their work and educating them on the business side of publishing. A member of the Women’s Media Group, she has acted as a judge for the PEN/Beyond Margins Award, and was formerly an editor with Simon & Schuster.

TESTIMONIAL: “I just wanted to thank you sincerely for the great presentation you provided us ‘Virgins’ at your work shop. I found the advice you gave us to be very poignant as well as inspiring. The personal consultation was more than I imagined. Honestly, it was worth every penny and so much more. I can only imagine it must have been tiring to provide all those people personal consultations. I was a little worried about being last, and of course ridiculously nervous. I feel that you told us what we needed to hear, and I found that very refreshing. As my Dad use to say ‘quit blowing on the fur and get to the hide’ and so you did, and we are all the better for it. I feel far more confident about my endeavor to effectively navigate my way to success. I know that success will be entirely up to me, and my persistence, but also knowing what to bring to the table when the right opportunity presents itself is a truly invaluable nugget of information. Again sincerely many, many thanks.”--Patrick B Oviedo Jr.

For a list of all Marcela’s upcoming workshops, visit

http://www.marcelalandres.com/

Artwork by Deborah DeWit

Before You Send It Out

With Marcela Landres

Writing an impressive query letter is the first step to acquiring a literary agent. It is your interview. It is your first impression. It is your sales pitch, your introduction, your only shot at getting your work reviewed by agents and editors. It is the most critical piece of writing you’ll do once your manuscript is complete. Learn how to write a query letter that will get your work noticed. Submit your query letter one month prior to the workshop and receive written suggestions from an agent or editor at the workshop on your sample. You will learn the tools and skills you need straight from agents on how to grab their attention. This workshop cost is $25- ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. (Pre-registration for this session is available now through this link. Query letters must be received by March 28, 2012 submitted to unicornwritersconference@gmail.com). Prizes will be awarded for the best query letter for fiction and non-fiction and two runners up will receive honorable mentions!

Agents/Editors for this workshop:
Coming soon...

Query Letter Workshop

Many agents request a summaries and/or synopsis of your book. In this workshop, you will submit your synopsis (1-4 pages) one month in advance, and at the workshop you will receive written comments from an agent or editor. Learn the elements that make a strong synopsis and the skills to summarize your story properly. The workshop cost is $37.58 - ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. (Pre-registration for this workshop is available by clicking HERE. Book summary letters must be received by March 28, 2012 submitted to unicornwritersconference@gmail.com) Prizes will be awarded for the best book summary letter for fiction and non-fiction and two runners up will receive honorable mentions!e

Agents/Editors for this workshop
Coming soon...

Book Synopsis Workshop

Artwork by Deborah DeWit

Anger. Greed. Sex. Revenge. The list of motives for murder reveals the soul at its most dangerous — and its most interesting. So why is the traditional murder mystery so often dismissed (by reviewers who never read the genre) as little more than a clockwork puzzle, a cold dollop of plot?

This workshop demonstrates that the best of the “dunits” — who, how, why, or any of their modern cousins — are rooted in character, in human emotions and needs. Learn about the special challenges faced by the series mystery: the circumstances that drive people to break the world’s first taboo and the compelling characters who bring them to justice. After all, there’s a reason why sleuths Sherlock Holmes and Philip Marlowe regularly jostle with Hamlet and Don Quixote on any list of the world’s most influential fictional characters.

Murder. It’s Personal.

with Alan Beechey

Artwork by Deborah DeWit

Gina Shaw offers a wealth of insight on writing engaging and effective books for kids. Drawing on her career as both an author and editor of numerous children's books, Gina describes techniques for crafting fun, exciting stories that appeal to children and publishers alike. In addition, Gina offers editorial guidelines for submitting to children's publishers and how to avoid common pitfalls. Visit her website:

http://www.authorginashaw.com/

Writing for the Children’s Market

With Gina Shaw

Artwork by Deborah DeWit

Award-winning actor, Lee Strassberg, changed the art of acting by introducing The Method. Now, award-winning author, Lee Stringer, changes the art of writing by introducing The Process: a whole new way to writing better. Whether you are an advanced writer or a novice, the key is to focus on the process rather than the results. Discover how to get out of your own way and let the unconscious and intuitive side of your brain do the work.

Memoir Writing: The Process

With Lee Stringer

Do you get nervous and fumble when speaking in front of a large room of people about your book? Do you know how to handle a radio or TV interview and how to make an engaging and entertaining presentation? Jack Camarda provides dynamic insight on how to pitch your book and find the right hook for your audience, how to effectively and concisely introduce yourself, how to pitch your book in two magnetic sentences and how to train yourself to speak clearly and effectively with confidence, flair, focus, and poise. Voice training exercises as well as practical information are provided in this hands-on workshop.