Join writing coach Judyth Hill and literary agent Katharine Sands for an in-depth retreat focusing on both craft and career. We’ll explore all aspects of your writing and book project, from powerful beginnings and plot to query letters and the business of publishing. You’ll attend classes and roundtable discussions in an intimate setting, fine-tuning your writing and laying the groundwork to sell it.
Our retreat will take place at the historic Mabel Dodge Luhan House in the magical mountain town of Taos.
Mabel Dodge was a prominent figure in the arts and society of New York City. She left her home in the 1920s to settle in Taos, marrying a full-blooded Taos Pueblo man by the name of Tony Luhan. D. H. Lawrence, Georgia O’Keeffe, Willa Cather, Ansel Adams and others found inspiration that would shape their lives’ work while visiting Tony and Mabel’s home. And you will too!
Bring your manuscript, your ideas and your dreams and leave with a personalized plan for success, all while enjoying the cuisine and culture of New Mexico and Mabel’s. Personal mentoring time with each of our instructors is also included.
Ready Your Work for Agents, Editors, Publishers and Producers!
Working with Katharine Sands, literary agent and creator of Pitchcraft
Writers are welcome at many stages of creation and in many formats, whether developing and marketing material for print, digital or other media. During our time together, we’ll discover all the many ins and outs of the publishing universe.
Getting Ready, Getting Read and Getting Readers
Literary agents are always on a treasure hunt. But few writers know what it takes to make agents yell at first glance: “Eureka, I’ve struck gold!” And a first glance is all that most writers will get before the agent moves on without ever reading further. In this class, Katharine shows you the best ways to showcase your writing as a bold, new entry into this category—and yourself as a potential author with an intriguing book poised to spring forth.
From First Writes to Last Rights
Delve into trends in publishing, expanding digital markets, and the actual business of books—and its quirks and processes and challenges. Tour the submissions and acquisitions process of getting-an-agent/submitting-to-editors, focusing on fundamental guiding principles behind all successful authors and the author-agent-editor relationship, including how to identify and develop your selling points and sales engines
Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent’s Eye
The best pitches give off sparks, create a moment, or pose a provocative question just to give a taste of the project. Learn what to do--and what not to do--when summarizing your book: How to get an agent from the get-go; start in a logical place, yet from a compelling perch; how to encapsulate in clear core points; ways to create coming attractions that whet the reader’s appetite for more—and how to avoid "Querial Killers": the easy-to-fix mistakes writers make. This class cuts through the mystery of getting an agent to want YOU, to read YOU, and to say YES to YOU.
Your Best Path to Publication
Learn the pros and cons of different paths to publication. In addition to traditional and self-publishing, discover what partnership publishing is, along with hybrid authorship, and cooperative publishing. Learn how to choose the right path for you and your work, and how to develop a publishing strategy and approach that meets your goals, dreams, timetable and budget.
Learn more about Katharine here.
Working with Judyth Hill, master teacher and poet
We’ve written and re-written, but are we there yet? How, indeed, can you know when your book is ready to hit the BigTime? In our four sessions together, we will work with my ARE YOU REALLY FINISHED Checklist, and, no matter where you are starting from…we will get you to the finish line.
Plan the Work, and Work the Plan
Guided by our Checklist, we’ll go through all the nuts and bolts that comprise Done. This will be a time of describing your project, and your goals, asking questions and getting super clear about where you are on your journey to Ready.
First Responder on the Plot Scene
Even a memoir must be plotted, yup, even a collection of poems needs a captivating thread. What to tell and when, how to pace your story, find and follow your arc, engage your reader, and keep ‘em right in there. This is a function of plot, and we’ll look at the many juicy possibilities for your project: not rules: but Radar, ways to see the most compelling way to tell your story. And then…
Bring Us There: Location, Location, Location
Reader Drift is often caused by our not pulling them into Place, and locking that attention down by vivid, all-five-senses-on-deck descriptions. We’ll have fun, focused writing practices to get a grip on this skill.
Essential Steps to Promoting Your Book
Whatever the way you are published, you’ll need to spend money to make money. We’ll look at a range of project budgets and outcomes as well as discuss how to reach prospective readers in a variety of ways from social media to bookstore placement. Create successful events and readings, get reviews and generate buzz for your book.
Dynamite Readings that Sell Your Book
You’ve given your book your best – now, let’s learn to perform it with verve and passion. Engage your audience, and bring YOUR unique style fully forward.
Learn more about Judyth here.