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This special five-part Nuts and Bolts series will provide everything you need to help land a literary agent for your novel. Some components, such as Comp Titles and Pitching, can also be useful for indie authors looking for information on how to best talk about or position their books in the marketplace. These lunch-time classes, spaced over five weeks from January 21 to February 18, will culminate in an opportunity to meet privately with a literary agent for your novel. Take everything you’ve learned, apply it to your work, and prepare to pitch your book!NUTS & BOLTS SCHEDULE:
Wednesdays 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Each class in this series includes: a one-hour online workshop, access to the recording, the Powerpoint used during the class, and additional resources.
JANUARY 21 | Part 1: Comparable Titles/Who is Your Audience?
In this session, we’ll drill down on your genre and audience, an essential step in finding the best agent or reader for your work. You’ll learn how to find “comp titles” that you can use as shorthand to snag an agent’s attention and position your book effectively in the marketplace.
JANUARY 28 | Part 2: Synopsis
Many writers dread writing a synopsis more than writing the book itself. Get a quick overview on writing a compelling synopsis that captures the essential elements of your story while showcasing your voice and writing abilities. You’ll learn strategies for distilling your narrative’s core conflict, character arcs, and resolution into a clear, engaging summary.
FEBRUARY 4 | Part 3: Finding an Agent
In this session, you’ll get tips on how to research agents effectively, identify the best matches for your work, and understand what agents are actively seeking. We’ll share resources to help you build a targeted submission list aligned with your book’s genre and style.
FEBRUARY 11 | Part 4: Query Letters
Once you’ve identified your target agents, you want to write a query letter that grabs their attention and compels them to request your manuscript. We’ll walk through the essential components of a successful query, including the hook, brief summary, and your author bio. Learn common pitfalls to avoid and tips for making your letter stand out (in a good way!).
FEBRUARY 18 | Part 5: Pitching
Develop and refine your verbal pitch to confidently present your book in face-to-face or virtual meetings with agents. Get techniques for summarizing your story in two compelling minutes. This session will help you prepare for common agent questions as well as engaging in productive conversation about your writing.
BONUS! Saturday AGENT ONE-ON-ONE MEETING
FEBRUARY 28, 10:00 am – 12:00 Noon | FINALE: AGENT ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS
Meet privately, online, with a literary agent. Take what you’ve learned in the 5-part series, and apply it to make the most out of your meeting time. Meetings will be 10 minutes long, and will take place on the Zoom platform, in breakout rooms.
Register for one or more classes in this series at
https://jamesriverwriters.org/nutsandbolts/
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