After successful 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 events in Philadelphia, Writing Day Workshops is excited to announce The 2024 Philadelphia Writing Workshop — a full-day “How to Get Published” writing event in Philadelphia, PA on April 27, 2024.
This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (225 total). All questions about the event regarding schedule, details and registration are answered below. Thank you for your interest in the 2024 Philadelphia Writing Workshop! We are very proud of our many success stories where attendees sign with agents following events — see our growing list of success stories here.
(Please note that this is an in-person event. We at Writing Day Workshops plan both online/virtual as well as in-person events. This next PWW is an in-person event happening in Philadelphia on April 27, 2024. See you there.)
WHAT IS IT?
This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia West. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome.
This event is designed to squeeze as much into one day of learning as possible. You can ask any questions you like during the classes, and get your specific concerns addressed. We will have literary agents onsite to give feedback and take pitches from writers, as well. This year’s agent and editor faculty so far includes:
- literary agent Kelly Bergh (Lucinda Literary)
- literary agent Morgan Strehlow (The Bindery)
- literary agent Michelle Jackson (LCS Literary)
- literary agent Emily Williamson (Williamson Literary)
- literary agent Dave Fessenden (Wordwise Media Services)
- literary agent Ginger Hutchison (Movable Type Management)
- literary agent Margaret Danko (High Line Literary Collective)
- literary agent assistant Shania Soler (Metamorphosis Literary)
- literary agent Ramona Pina (BookEnds Literary)
- literary agent Lizz Nagle (Victress Literary)
- literary agent Eric Smith (P.S. Literary)
- literary agent Caitlin McDonald (Donald Maass Literary)
- literary agent Kelly Peterson (Rees Literary)
- literary agent Lindsay Guzzardo (Martin Literary & Media Management)
- and likely more to come.
By the end of the day, you will have all the tools you need to move forward on your writing journey. This independent event is organized by coordinator Chuck Sambuchino of Writing Day Workshops, with regional assistance from the local Philly chapter of Pennwriters. E-mail Chuck to register for the event at WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com.
EVENT LOCATION & DETAILS:
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 27, 2024 — at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia West, 640 Fountain Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. (The hotel has a courtesy block of guest rooms available.)
(Please note that this is an in-person event. We at Writing Day Workshops plan both online/virtual as well as in-person events. This next PWW is an in-person event happening in Philadelphia on April 27, 2024. See you there.)
THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS (APRIL 27, 2024):
What you see below is a quick layout of the day’s events. The topics below are mostly set, but subject to change. You can see a more detailed layout of the day’s classes on the Schedule Page here.
Please Note: There will be 2-3 classes/workshops going at all times during the day, so you will have your choice of what class you attend at any time. The final schedule of topics is subject to change, but here is the current layout:
8:30 – 9:30: Check-in and registration at the event location.
BLOCK ONE: 9:30 – 10:30
1. Understanding the Publishing Industry in 2024 — From Hybrid Publishing to Artificial Intelligence and Everything in Between. How are traditional publishing and self-publishing changing? What kind of writer is attractive to an agent currently? What is hybrid publishing? How will A.I. (artificial intelligence) help or hurt writers in the years to come? All these questions, and more, will be addressed during the speech.
2. Pitching for Promotion: Getting the Gig with Podcasters, Bloggers, and Other Promoters. Getting the gig with podcasters, bloggers, and others who can promote your work is vital to connecting with the audience who will love your work.
BLOCK TWO: 10:45 – 11:50
1. Everything You Need to Know About Literary Agents and Writing an Awesome Query Letter. This workshop is a thorough crash course in dealing with literary agents and writing an amazing query that gets attention.
2. Revision Tools and Techniques. Whether your novel is collecting dust in a drawer or you’ve just finished a shiny new draft, one thing is certain: revision is a crucial part of the writing process. This class will share a three-tiered approach—story, scene, and sentence—with techniques, questions, and resources to guide you through each level.
(What you see here is a quick layout of the day’s events. See a full layout of the day’s sessions, with detailed descriptions, on the official Schedule Page here.)
LUNCH ON YOUR OWN: 11:50 – 1:15
Lunch is on your own during these 85 minutes.
BLOCK THREE: 1:15 – 2:30
1. “Writers Got Talent”—a Page 1 Critique Fest (room). This is a chance to get your first page read (anonymously — no bylines given) with attending agents commenting on what was liked or not liked about the submission.
2. How Easy Is It to Write a Picture Book? Participants will learn the rules for writing picture books and when it’s acceptable to break them. No experience required—just a love of books and a desire to learn the “nuts and books” of picture book development.
3. How to Sell a Nonfiction Book Proposal. This session focuses on effective strategies for writing a nonfiction book proposal on any subject. Topics include industry standards, building your expertise, and how to prepare a winning proposal that demonstrates your understanding of the marketplace.
BLOCK FOUR: 2:45 – 3:45
1. Open Agent Q&A Panel. Several attending literary agents will open themselves up to open Q&A from PWW attendees. Bring your questions and get them answered in this popular session.
2. World Building for Fantasy & Science Fiction Writers. We’ll be chatting, questioning, brainstorming and crafting in this class, so bring a pen, pencil, or laptop to jot down your breakthroughs!
(What you see here is a quick layout of the day’s events. See a full layout of the day’s sessions, with detailed descriptions, on the official Schedule Page here.)
BLOCK FIVE: 4:00 – 5:00
1. The Agent-Author Relationship Deconstructed — How to Work With an Agent. Taught by a former literary agent who began her publishing career as a writer, you will gain perspective from experience on both sides of the desk.
2. Keep the Pages Turning: Maximizing Suspense in Your Novel. Learn how to maximize suspense with specific techniques such as raising the stakes, creating cliffhangers, and using time constraints. With insight from various resources and examples, you’ll learn how to incorporates suspense to keep readers turning the pages.
SESSIONS END: 5:00
At 5 p.m., the day is done. Speakers will make themselves available by the workshop’s bookstore for a short while to sign any books for attendees.
Agent & Editor Pitching: All throughout the day.
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PITCH AN AGENT OR EDITOR:
Kelly Bergh is a literary agent with Lucinda Literary. While she personally seeks only nonfiction & poetry, she is open to some fiction & nonfiction pitches on behalf of her co-agents. In fiction, her agency represents: young adult and middle grade of all genres; and graphic novels (especially queer stories or nonfiction subjects). Kelly personally takes pitches for poetry collection pitches. In nonfiction, her agency represents: mind/body/spirit, pop psych, health and wellness, gift books, business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction (especially popular science and history, pop culture, and big idea books with personal stakes), and food books & cookbooks with a fresh perspective on cuisine or culture — all with a strong hook and takeaway for the reader. Learn more about Kelly here.
Eric Smith [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, with a love for young adult books, literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction. Eric is eagerly acquiring fiction and nonfiction projects. He’s actively seeking out new, diverse voices in young adult (particularly sci-fi and fantasy), middle grade, and literary and commercial fiction (again, loves sci-fi and fantasy, but also thrillers and mysteries). In terms of nonfiction, he’s interested in cookbooks, pop culture, humor, middle grade, essay collections, and blog-to-book ideas. Learn more about Eric here.
Emily Williamson [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent and founder of Williamson Literary, In adult fiction, her agency seeks: upmarket, contemporary, literary, and commercial; character-driven women’s fiction, book club fiction, domestic suspense, adventure, international, upbeat, feel-good, dark and dangerous, fiction with fantastical elements or magical realism, poignant social commentaries, humor, satire, new takes on old tropes. Send us writing that sings rather than tells, take us on an emotional journey, build vivid scenes for us, craft strong voices and unusual and unforgettable settings (we love stories where place is a character too). Any subject is welcome. In nonfiction, her agency seeks: history, sports, science, environmental, biographies, travel, culture, adventure, educational, motivational (i.e. work that informs or inspires social change or advocates for women and BIPOC). Give thought to your author platform and develop a strong marketing section for your book proposal. Learn more about Emily here.
Margaret Danko [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with High Line Literary Collective. Margaret is actively looking for attention-grabbing voices especially historical fiction with a dash of magical realism, literary and upmarket suspense or horror, narratives with a deep sense of place and history, quirky and heartwarming family stories, and women’s fiction and rom-coms full of charm and whimsy. She is also accepting nonfiction in the areas of humor, lifestyle, new age and general spirituality, popular science especially in environmental and human sciences, mental health/wellness, politics and true crime that challenge established conventions, and select cooking projects with an emphasis on new takes on tradition, especially within the Latine diaspora. Learn more about Margaret here.
Dave Fessenden is a literary agent with Wordwise Media Services. What I’m looking for: “I’m interested in representing Science fiction, Fantasy, Historical fiction, Theology, Bible studies, Professional, Church Issues, Social/Cultural Issues, Career, Reference. I am the author of seven books; I’ve written hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles, and edited numerous books for others.” Learn more about Dave here.
Ginger Hutchinson [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Movable Type Management. In fiction, she is open to: action/adventure, BIPOC literature, book club, Caribbean literature, commercial, contemporary, crime, domestic thriller, East Asian literature, eco-fiction, family saga, high-concept, historical, horror, LGBTQ, literary, mystery, psychological thriller, South Asian literature, South East Asian literature, speculative, thriller, West African literature, women’s fiction. In nonfiction, she is open to: books that grapple with racial issues, LGBTQ+ issues, and all social issues; cultural criticism; feminism and women’s issues; LGBTQ; memoir; pop culture; relationships and family; science. Learn more about Ginger here.
Ramona Pina is a literary agent at BookEnds Literary. Ramona is interested in carving a space for and elevating underrepresented voices. She’s currently interested in contemporary YA that carves a space for those stories. She is also seeking fiction for middle grade, young adult and adult/crossover stories, and is not taking on picture books or nonfiction projects at the moment. Right now, she wants magical realism/fabulism themes in the YA and Crossover Adult space. For middle grade, lore her into magical universes with lush world-building. Or, charm her with a Brother’s Grimm or Alice in Wonderland/Wizard of Oz retelling. Learn more about Ramona here.
Morgan Strehlow is a literary agent at The Bindery. Morgan is seeking compelling nonfiction by athletes, journalists, experts, academics looking to publish for the general market, and emerging voices with a growing platform who can speak to pop culture, sports, feminism, social justice, sex/sexuality, or religion/spirituality. She’s especially interested in the dynamic and interesting voices writing and speaking at the intersection of sport and society. On the fiction side, Morgan is eager for upmarket fiction, complex women’s fiction, and sports fiction. Learn more about Morgan here.
Caitlin McDonald [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Donald Maass Literary Agency. She is looking for: all types of science fiction and fantasy for adult, young adult, and middle grade, especially secondary world fantasy and alternate history; genre-bending or cross-genre fiction, and stories that examine tropes from a new angle; diversity of all kinds, including (but not limited to) race, gender, sexuality, and ability, in both characters and worldbuilding. Learn more about Caitlin here.
Lizz Nagle [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Victress Literary. “For young adult and middle grade, I’m looking for contemporary, diverse, underrepresented stories with messy, resilient characters driving the show. Bonus points for a mystery, adventure, or thriller element. For adult I’m looking for psychological thrillers, domestic suspense/mysteries, and historical fiction. Always bonus points for: LGBTQIA+, inclusivity, found families, physical disabilities, grief, addiction, dark and twisty, characters questioning the status quo and deepening their understanding of the human condition. Plus all of your thought-provoking, laughter-inducing, social-movement inspiring narrative nonfiction.” Learn more about Lizz here.
Shania N. Soler is a literary agent assistant with Metamorphosis Literary. She is seeking: “I’m a bit of an all around reader and can get behind most any young adult, new adult or adult novel that takes me on journey. The genres that I’m interested in are: historical fiction, high fantasy, contemporary romance (with the spice!), mystery/thriller, and horror. I’m not big on standalone novels, but if you can get the pacing right and keep me invested throughout, I’m sold. Think books like Icebreaker, Horrid or The 7 1/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Learn more about Shania.
Michelle Jackson [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a Literary Associate with LCS Literary. “I represent books that evoke heartfelt emotions and fervent conversations among its readers. My mission is to mentor and develop authors, particularly those from underrepresented communities.” Adult Fiction wishlist: commercial, historical, humor, new adult, romance, science fiction, fantasy, thriller, women’s fiction. Adult fiction sub-genres of interest to Michelle: contemporary romance, multicultural, psychological thrillers, romantic comedy, romantic suspense. Young Adult Fiction: contemporary, historical, Christian, romance. Middle Grade: contemporary, mystery, magical realism. Children’s picture books: author/illustrators, nonfiction. Nonfiction: biography, true crime, self-Help, relationships, cookbooks, narrative, spirituality. Learn more about Michelle here.
Kelly Peterson [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] (she/her) is a literary agent with Rees Literary. Kelly seeks books in various genres within Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult age ranges. In Middle Grade, she’s looking for: Fantasy and sci-fi; contemporary that touches on tough issues for young readers. In Young Adult, she’s looking for: Genres from contemporary, to high fantasy, to sci-fi (not the space kind) to paranormal (all the ghost stories, please!) and historical all the way back to rom-coms. In Adult, Kelly represents: Romance, fantasy, and sci-fi. She is very interested in representing authors with marginalized own voices stories, witty and unique characters, pirates, witches, and dark fantasies. Learn more about Kelly here.
Lindsay Guzzardo [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a senior literary manager (agent) at Martin Literary Management. She will consider any adult fiction with a clear, marketable, compelling hook, and strong voice. Her personal tastes align with the following wish list, but she would never shut herself off to The Next Big Thing! Lindsay is also interested in working with proven genre writers (i.e. previously published, award-winning/nominated, placement in contests, strong platform, etc.) from the elevator pitch onward. Bring her your pitches and she will help direct you which one to pursue, or she can provide you with one to flesh out into a proposal. She loves: Fiction that elevates diverse/marginalized voices; WWII-era fiction; Retellings of classic stories (either modern retellings or classic stories told from a different character’s perspective); Beach reads; Amish romance/fiction; Cozy, charming, small-town romance/fiction; Rich, evocative historical fiction; European-set fiction, any era and tone; Dark psychological and domestic suspense; Gorgeous, lyrical literary fiction; and Wholesome, clean fiction and romance. Learn more about Lindsay here.
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ADDED ONLINE PITCHING: To ensure that writers have a robust and diverse lineup of agents & editors to pitch, 2024 Philadelphia Writing Workshop attendees will have the ability to also pitch literary agents at the Writing Day Workshops *online* event that follows the 2024 PWW on our calendar.
That event is the Ohio Writing Workshop, May 10-11, 2024, which will have 30-40 agents taking one-on-one Zoom virtual pitches.
This means that 2024 PWW attendees can have access to pitching all those online OWW agents — pitches still at $29 each — without being a formal registrant for the online May 2024 event. (That said, if you want to formally register for the Ohio conference and have access to all classes and panels, let us know, as there is a discount for confirmed Philadelphia attendees.)
If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for Philadelphia. Following the PWW conference on April 27, 2024, we will be in touch with all Philadelphia attendees and ask them if they want to partake in pitching online agents at the 2024 OWW (May 10-11). At that time, you can communicate your pitch requests and purchase meeting time.
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More 2024 agents to be announced as they are confirmed. You can sign up for pitches at any time, or switch pitches at any time, so long as the agent in question still has appointments open.
These one-on-one meetings are an amazing chance to pitch your book face-to-face with an agent, and get personal, individual feedback on your pitch/concept. If the agent likes your pitch, they’ll request to see part/all of your book — sending you straight past the slush pile. It also gives you an intimate chance to meet with an agent and pick their brain with any questions on your mind.
(Please note that Agent/Editor Pitching is an add-on, separate aspect of the day, for only those who sign up. Spaces are limited for these premium meetings, and pricing/detail is explained below.)
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PRICING:
$199 — EARLY BIRD base price for registration to the 2024 PWW and access to all workshops, all day. As of fall 2023, registration is now OPEN. Email WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com and say you’re interested in the Philadelphia workshop.
Add $29 — to secure a 10-minute one-on-one meeting with any of our literary agents or editors in attendance. Use this special meeting as a chance to pitch your work and get professional feedback on your pitch. (Spaces limited.) If they wish, attendees are free to sign up for multiple 10-minute pitch sessions at $29/session — pitching multiple individuals, or securing 20 minutes to pitch one person rather than the usual 10. Here are four quick testimonials regarding writers who have signed with literary agents after pitching them at prior Writing Day Workshops events. (Our bigger, growing list of success stories an be seen here.)
“I met my client, Alison Hammer, at the Writing
Workshop of Chicago and just sold her book.”
– literary agent Joanna Mackenzie of Nelson Literary
“Good news! I signed a client [novelist Aliza Mann]
from the Michigan Writing Workshop!”
– literary agent Sara Mebigow of KT Literary
“I signed author Stephanie Wright from
the Seattle Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Kathleen Ortiz of New Leaf Literary
“I signed an author [Kate Thompson] that I
met at the Philadelphia Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Kimberly Brower of Brower Literary
“I signed novelist Kathleen McInnis after meeting her
at the Chesapeake Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Adriann Ranta of Foundry Literary + Media
Add $69 — for an in-depth, personal critique of your one-page query letter from Chuck Sambuchino, one of the day’s instructors. (This rate is a special event value for Philadelphia Writing Workshop attendees only.) Registrants are encouraged to take advantage of the specially-priced critique, so they can send out their query letter with confidence following the workshop. Also, if you are meeting with an agent at the event, you’re essentially speaking your query letter aloud to them. Wouldn’t it be wise to give that query letter (i.e., your pitch) one great edit before that meeting?
Add $89 — for an in-depth personal critique of the first 10 pages of your novel. Spaces with faculty for these critiques are very limited, and participating attendees will either 1) get an in-person meeting at the workshop, if the faculty member is attending the live event, or 2) get a 10-minute phone call with the faculty member, and have notes passed along via email, if the critiquer is not attending the live event. Options:
- All middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction (in-person critiques): Faculty member Marlo Berliner, a literary agent and author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you in person at the event for 15 minutes sometime during the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
- All middle grade, young adult, and adult thrillers & mysteries (in-person critiques): Faculty member Yvonne Ventresca, a published author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you in person at the event for 15 minutes sometime during the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
- Picture books, chapter books, and middle grade (in-person critiques): Faculty member Nancy Viau, a published author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you in person at the event for 15 minutes sometime during the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting. If you submit a picture book, it must be 1,000 words or fewer (can have illustrations or not).
- Women’s fiction, contemporary/mainstream fiction, literary fiction, young adult, and memoir (virtual critiques): Faculty member Kimiko Nakamura, a literary agent and writing coach, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
- Children’s picture books and middle grade (virtual critiques): Faculty member Brittany Thurman, a published author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting. If you submit a picture book, it must be 1,000 words or fewer (can have illustrations or not).
- Commercial women’s fiction, thriller/suspense, thriller with romantic elements, cozy mystery, YA thriller, young adult in general, middle-grade, literary fiction, and fantasy (virtual critiques): Faculty member Amberly Finarelli, a former literary agent and current writing coach, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
- Science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, young adult SFF, urban fantasy (virtual critiques): Faculty member Wesley Chu, a published novelist, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss his thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
- More critique options possibly forthcoming
How to pay/register — Registration is now open. Reach out to workshop organizer Chuck Sambuchino via email: WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com, and he will provide specific instructions for payment and registration to get you a reserved seat at the event. Payment is by credit card, PayPal, or check. Because Chuck plans different workshops, make sure you note that you’re inquiring about the Philadelphia workshop specifically.
REGISTRATION:
Because of limited space at the venue (DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia West), the workshop can only allow 225 registrants, unless spacing issues change. For this reason, we encourage you to book sooner rather than later.
(Please note that this is an in-person event. We at Writing Day Workshops plan both online/virtual as well as in-person events. This next PWW is an in-person event happening in Philadelphia on April 27, 2024. See you there.)
Are spaces still available? Yes, we still have spaces available. We will announce RIGHT HERE, at this point on this web page, when all spaces are taken. If you do not see a note right here saying how all spaces are booked, then yes, we still have room, and you are encouraged to register.
How to Register: The easy first step is simply to reach out to workshop organizer Chuck Sambuchino via email: WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com. Chuck will pass along registration information to you, and give instructions on how to pay by credit card, PayPal, or check. Once payment is complete, you will have a reserved seat at the event. The PWW will send out periodic e-mail updates to all registered attendees with any & all news about the event. Because Chuck plans different workshops, make sure you note that you’re inquiring about the Philadelphia workshop specifically.
Refunds: If you sign up for the event and have to cancel for any reason at any time, you will receive 50% of your total payment back [sent by check or PayPal]. The other 50% is nonrefundable and will not be returned, and helps the workshop ensure that only those truly interested in the limited spacing sign up for the event. (Please note that query editing payments and manuscript editing payments are completely non-refundable if the instructor has already edited your work.)
Thank you for your interest in the Philadelphia Writing Workshop.