The Workshop

WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? 3 Literary Agents, 3 Opinions is a one-day workshop for writers and illustrators who have written, or written and illustrated, a manuscript for children or young adults and want help with the next step—how to put themselves on the path that leads to publication.

The workshop on November 13, 2011, will consist of small-group round table discussions. During these group sessions, the 3 Agents will discuss wide-ranging subjects that aspiring writers often find perplexing, such as literary standards and values, the differences between theme and plot, characterization, query and cover letters, the importance of reading published books, hints to be gleaned from publisher's catalogs, and more.

As part of the registration process, each writer will forward one of the following:

10 double-spaced pages and a synopsis of a chapter book or YA novel (fiction or nonfiction), and a single-spaced query letter or cover letter if you would like us to comment on one of those
OR
the entire text of a picture book manuscript (the first 10 pages double-spaced and a synopsis if longer) and a single-spaced query letter or cover letter if you would like us to comment on one of those
OR
an entire dummy of an illustrated picture book and a query letter or cover letter if you would like us to comment on one of those.

Please leave adequate margins on each page.

The 3 Literary Agents will read this material and discuss it during the round table sessions. Writers will also benefit from reading each others' work in advance of the workshop.

For the round table discussions, the writers will be divided into three group sessions, each group led by one of the 3 Agents. At the end of each 75-minute session, the group will meet with the next agent.

Proposed Schedule


(The schedule is subject to change. The final schedule will be provided at the workshop.)
9-9:30am
Agents and writers meet and mingle over a continental breakfast of pastries served with juice, teas, and coffee

9:30-10:00am
Agents introduce themselves and discuss various aspects of agenting

10-11:15am
Each group meets with first agent

11:15-11:30am
Break

11:30-12:45pm
Each group meets with second agent

12:45-2:00pm
Lunch at the SLC Conference Center with vegetarian and non-vegetarian sandwich selections (included in the cost of the workshop)

2:00-3:15pm
Each group meets with third agent

3:15-4:00
Wrap-up and Q&A