Writer's Conferences - Algonkian - Literary Agents

INTERVIEW
OBSERVATIONS
BY AGENTS

"Any first time author can be made to look "fabulous" -- it's all about how an agent, author and publisher present the author. Every author has a background and a story, which can be told to the book- sellers and public in a boring way or a way that is spectacular."
  Barbara Zitwer

"If an author is a terrific writer and has a voice or perspective or style that's not been seen before, there is a far greater chance it will have a place in the literary market. Though it's true that it can be tough to get a first book published, agents and editors are always looking for the next voice or story. That's why we go to writer's conferences."
  Elise Capron

"Whatever you're doing in this business, whether you're an agent, editor, or writer, it's crucially important to keep on top of what's happening in the industry. Agents and editors are much more likely to take writers seriously if they can name other writers in their genre whose work they admire ..."
  W. Gottlieb

"The truth is that most publishing professionals needn't read further than that ... Judging a book in five sentences might sound like an outrageous idea. But it's really not."
  Noah Lukeman

Welcome To Algonkian Writer Conferences

•	New Event Dates + Sample Conference Schedule: 9/25 NY .. 10/22 SF .. 11/12 AP .. 12/03 AP .. 2/25/09 PT.L ... Sample Schedule.

The upcoming Fisherman's Wharf Writers Conference in San Francisco in October will feature Elise Capron, Michael Neff, and Folio Lit agent, Scott Hoffman, among many others. Scott will be looking for literary projects, SF/F novels, and anything else with commercial appeal ...

New agent interviews with Peter Rubie of Fine Print Literary and Ken Atchity of AEI. These agents have been in the book biz for a long time and their viewpoints are both frank and invaluable. Plus good advice from Daniel Lazar, an agent with Writers House Literary Agency, one of the industry's oldest and largest agencies. For over six years, he has been on the lookout for distinct fiction, and lively non-fiction.

The Writer's Edge Blog--begun by Michael Neff of Algonkian, along with writer Tony Policastro--continues its tradition of providing hard ball advice to authors and writers. In The Seven Reasons Passionate Writers Fail to Publish, Michael talks about writers who snatch defeat from the jaws of victory ... ... In Got a Novel That Needs a Fix? Whose Advice Should You Trust? MN observes that bad advice can doom a novel ...

Alarm bell rung by Chris Stewart of WE--advice to new writers on carefully choosing a writer critique group. What should you look for? What to avoid? How to be cruel to be kind? ... ... In The Five C's of a Good Critique Group Chris continues to discuss the issues a writer must face when choosing a critique group -- this advice is crucial!

Bullets of Tough Love Advice You Might Resist + lots of basic good information from our Folio Friends--especially the charismatic Paige Wheeler ... + details on the latest New Literary Agents and more than a few Marketing Feed-Tips + a fine selection of great craft books to read + the New and Improved FAQ: How is Algonkian Different? Which Event to Attend First--Algonkian or NYC Pitch? ...

NYC Pitch and Shop Conference
Sept. 25-28, 08. OPEN TO APPLICATIONS. Tuition $595

Writers workshop their novel before pitching it to major publishers such as Scribners, Penguin, Random House, Holt, St. Martins, and more. See NYC Pitch and Shop NEWS for latest. Book publicity pros and top workshop leaders from Algonkian and NYWW.

Fisherman's Wharf Writers Conference
Oct. 22-26, 08. OPEN TO APPLICATIONS. Tuition $695

"From the Heart, but Smart - Premise, Platform, Market and Execution" beside the San Francisco Bay ... Agent sessions With Elise Capron, Michael Larsen, Elizabeth Pomada, and Sally van Haitsma.; Short Fiction Workshop, Novel Into Film; Michael Neff, author Kathi Kamen Goldmark and Sam Berry. Book Publicity Pros David Cole and Isabella Michon.

Algonkian Park Workshops
Nov. 12-16, 08. OPEN TO APPLICATIONS. Tuition $865

Beside the waters of the Potomac, writers go to the fireplace with lots of coffee and hunker down for five days of intensive novel and fiction crafting with Michael Neff, Robert Bausch, and Paige Wheeler.

Algonkian Park Workshops
Dec. 3 - 7, 08. OPEN TO APPLICATIONS. Tuition $865

Beside the waters of the Potomac, writers go to the fireplace with lots of coffee and hunker down for five days of intensive novel and fiction crafting with Michael Neff, Robert Bausch, and Paige Wheeler.

Point Loma Writers Conference
2/25 - 3/01/09. OPEN TO APPLICATIONS. Tuition $965

"From the Heart, but Smart - Premise, Platform, Market and Execution" - Agent Pitch Sessions With Elise Capron, Barbara Zitwer, Betsy Amster, Michael Neff, Kate Gale, and Sally van Haitsma. Craft workshops, short fiction workshop, novel into film.

Click here for more details about the writer conferences.

If you need to contact us click here.

• New Literary Agents

• Damn Good Advice

• Friendly Folio Advice

NOVELS BY
ATTENDEES NOW
AVAILABLE FOR ORDER
AT AMAZON BOOKS

Madapple - by Christina Meldrum, now available for order from Amazon. When her mother dies unexpectedly, Aslaug is a suspect. And the more her story unravels, the more questions unfold.

The Fiction Class - by Susan Breen, now available for order from Amazon. The collision of truth and fiction can result in romance or even redemption�or so say the writing exercises and life lessons that make up Breen's debut novel.

Obedience - by Will Lavendar, now available for order from Amazon. Professor Williams assigns his students the most sinister of logic problems. "There's been a murder," he tells them.

NYC Pitch and Shop Conference
9/25 - 9/28/08
Writers workshop their novel and then pitch top Editors from Holt, Scribners, Viking, and more. A huge opportunity for aspiring authors.

WRITERS AND AUTHORS
TALK ABOUT
ALGONKIAN CONFERENCES

Interview with Algonkian attendee, author Thierry Sagnier: "I was stuck, hadn't done any serious writing for months, and a friend of mine�also a writer�suggested I attend writer's conferences for a kickstart. So I looked on the net and found that there were quite a few places that offered what I wanted, but when I researched the Algonkian conference, I recognized the name of a reporter I really respect. He'd been there and was highly complimentary, so that sealed it for me."

Interview with Algonkian attendee, author Julie Kaewert: "Because I was changing agents, I knew it was important to learn how to package the MS effectively ... When I saw the Seven Mountains Writer's Conference on the website, it looked like just the thing. In fact, it far exceeded my expectations in every way."

Interview with Algonkian attendee, author Kate Gallison: "One way to lengthen your life is to stretch it backwards, and so I read a lot of history. Early movies fascinate me. They were both like and unlike stage plays of the time, borrowing actors and melodramatic plots, but developing entirely new techniques for portraying dramatic action. "