Instructors: Cynthia Manson & Caitlin Alexander
Length: 1 session, $150
Saturday, December 5, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
 
The first step in getting published is querying literary agents—and to catch one’s eye you need a dynamite query letter that will stand out from the dozens (sometimes hundreds) they receive every week.
 
In this interactive workshop, an experienced literary agent and an accomplished editor will walk you through the key components of effective pitch letters and queries, from the all-important “hook,” to how to describe your book in a succinct, attention-grabbing paragraph, to what to include (and what not to include) in your bio—mixed in with plenty of insider tips about what agents and editors are really looking for. The emphasis will be on personalized feedback and editing of your query letter draft, which you’ll bring with you to the workshop.
 
Don't have a query letter yet? Don't worry. You'll come away from this class with a bevy of advice and inspiration to get you started.
 
Cynthia Manson is a well-known and respected independent literary agent with a small, successful list of published authors. She graduated from Scripps College for Women with a BA in English Literature and Fine Arts. She also attended the Radcliffe Publishing Course, where she was inspired by Sterling Lord. Two years later she joined the Sterling Lord Literary Agency. Manson has worked in both magazine and book publishing, including Putnam, Bertelsmann and Scientific American. Currently she is a consultant for Advertising Age magazine and other Crain Publications as well as representing authors in a variety of genres.

Caitlin Alexander spent eleven years at Random House, where she edited New York Times bestsellers such as The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond, Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper, and the Nina Wilde/Eddie Chase series by Andy McDermott, as well as RITA Award winners, Thriller Award winners, and Edgar Award nominees. In 2012, she started her editorial services company and can be found at www.editedbycaitlin.com.