Writing Day Workshops is excited to announce The 2019 Oklahoma Writing Workshop — a full-day “How to Get Published” writing event in Oklahoma City.
This one-day writers conference 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 (150 total). All questions about the event regarding schedule, details and registration are answered below. Thank you for your interest in the 2019 Oklahoma Writing Workshop!
WHAT IS IT?
This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop at the Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel. 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 faculty so far includes:
- literary agent Shannon Hassan (Marsal Lyon Literary)
- literary agent Amy Brewer (Metamorphosis Literary)
- literary agent Nicole Payne (Golden Wheat Literary)
- literary agent Heather Cashman (Storm Literary)
- and more agents/editors 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 Jessica Bell of Writing Day Workshops, with help from local writing groups.
EVENT LOCATION & DETAILS
9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., at the Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel, 1 N Broadway Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. (405)235-2780.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
8:30 – 9:30: Check-in and registration at the event location.
9:30 – 10:30: “An Overview of Your Publishing Options Today.“ This workshop examines the two largest routes any writer can take with their book: traditional publishing and self-publishing / e-publishing. We will examine the upsides of both routes, the challenges with both, and the next steps no matter what you decide. In today’s publishing world, a writer has to understand what they’re in for before they send their book out. This session is designed to prepare them for what’s to come and what options exist.
10:30 – 11:45: “Everything You Need to Know About Agents and Query Letters.” This workshop is a thorough crash course in dealing with literary agents. After quickly going over what an agent is and what they do for writers, we will discuss resources for finding agents, how to ID the best agents for you, query letter writing, as well as the most important things to do and not to do when dealing with representatives.
11:45 – 1:15: Lunch on your own. There are several restaurants within quick driving distance on the block.
1:15 – 2:30: “Writers’ Got Talent: A First Pages Critique-Fest.” In the vein of American Idol or America’s Got Talent, this is a chance to get your first page read (anonymously — no bylines given) with our 4 attending agents commenting on what was liked or not liked about the submission. Get expert feedback on your incredibly important first page, and know if your writing has what it needs to keep readers’ attention. (All attendees are welcome to bring pages to the event for this session, and we will choose pages at random for the workshop for as long as time lasts.)
2:50 – 3:50: “How to Market Yourself and Your Books: Talking Author Social Media, Blogging, and Platform.” Whether you’re traditionally published or self-published, everyone could use some helpful guidance on how to effectively market themselves and sell more books. This session includes easy-to-understand advice on social media (Twitter, Facebook, more), blogging, and other simple ways you can market your work online cheaply and easily.
4:00 – 5:00: “Ten Keys to Writing Success.“ Learn 10 things you can be doing right now that will help get your book(s) published and have more control over your writing destiny. This is a general course that addresses commonsense things any writer can do to give their work the best shot at getting published, such as writing the best thing they can, stealing from themselves, and why writing for love and money is a good idea.
All throughout the day: Agent & Editor Pitching.
PITCH AN AGENT!
Shannon Hassan is a literary agent with Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Shannon brings a depth of business and editorial experience to her role as agent, having worked in publishing and law for more than a decade. She represents authors of literary and commercial fiction, young adult and middle grade fiction, and select nonfiction. With respect to fiction, she is drawn to fresh voices, compelling characters, and crisp prose, and enjoys both contemporary and historical settings. For nonfiction, she is interested in exceptional narratives from authors with strong platforms. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she is also eager to hear from authors with a unique perspective on the West. A sample of books Shannon has represented: THE MASK COLLECTORS, a literary thriller by Iowa Short Fiction Award-winner Ruvanee Vilhauer (Little A), INSIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CACTUS, an award-winning middle grade series by Dusti Bowling (Sterling), DIE YOUNG WITH ME, an ALA award-winning memoir by Rob Rufus (Simon & Schuster), THE MOON IN THE PALACE, a RITA-award winning historical series by Weina Dai Randel (Sourcebooks), THE WORLD’S GREATEST ADVENTURE MACHINE, a middle grade adventure by Frank L. Cole (Penguin Random House), GIRLS ON THE LINE, a multicultural young adult novel by Jennie Liu (Lerner), THE SILENCE BETWEEN US, a young adult contemporary by Alison Gervais (HarperCollins), and FRÄULEIN M., a historical novel by Caroline Woods (Simon & Schuster). Before becoming an agent, she was the Acquisitions Editor at Fulcrum Publishing, and prior to that, a corporate attorney at Arnold & Porter in New York. She received her JD from Harvard and her BA from George Washington University, and she serves on the board of The Dairy Arts Center.
Amy Brewer is a literary agent with Metamorphosis Literary. She’s seeking: Romances of all kinds, if your plot revolves around love or angst or both, send it to her. She is also looking for general fiction, LGBTQ+, women’s fiction, book club reads, and quirky humor. Amy wears many hats everyday, from literary agent at Metamorphosis, to co-author of the Texting Prince Charming series, to social media manager, to yoga teacher. For the last few years she has been learning all she can about social media optimization and platform building in the publishing industry. Amy’s experience in the mental health field and yoga training help her guide and assist clients with stress and anxiety in this highly competitive industry. All of this is pulled together with a multi-tasking and hyper-organized brain, so that at the end of every day she feels accomplished and grateful.
Nicole Payne is a literary agent with Golden Wheat Literary. ” I am mainly looking for young adult, new adult and adult novels. They have a special place in my heart. However, if the writing and story is amazing, I’ll always make exceptions so don’t hesitate to pitch it. As an agent at Golden Wheat Literary, we accept both spiritual and secular books. As long as your manuscript’s elements can all be true without any part of God’s Word needing to put aside or be discounted, it is acceptable for submission. In general, what I look for is romance, romantic comedy, mysteries, contemporary, suspense, thriller, speculative fiction and science fiction and fantasy. These can fit any of the age categories I’ve mentioned. I don’t have a preference there. I always have to have a strong male and female hero/heroine or one who becomes strong as they evolves. It really grinds my teeth when I read books where the leads can’t seem to do anything for themselves. Both Secular and/or Christian themes welcome.”
Heather Cashman is a literary agent with Storm Literary. She is seeking: “I’ll take anything in the middle grade or young adult realm, especially if it has a high concept.” After working as a professional editor for Cornerstones Literary US/UK and managing Pitch Wars and #PitMad, Heather used to assist Stacy Cantor-Abrams at Entangled Publishing. Because of her diverse background working for agents, editors, published authors, and mentoring, Heather also freelance edits. In her free time, she loves road trips, kayaking, hiking, and of course, writing novels–always with a speculative element from her days working as a biochemist.
New agents may be added for the 2019 event at any time. Check back.
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.)
PRICING
$169 — EARLY BIRD base price for registration to the 2019 OKWW and access to all workshops, all day. As of fall 2018, event registration is now OPEN.
Add $29 — to secure a 10-minute one-on-one meeting with any of our literary agents 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 can be seen here.)
“I signed with my agent, Patricia Nelson, after
meeting her at the Arizona Writing Workshop.”
– writer Axie Oh
“I officially signed with agent Renee Nyen of KT
Literary. I met her at the Colorado Writing
Workshop.” – writer Jessie Hilb Akos
“After taking pitches at the Michigan Writing
Workshop, I signed writer Kyle Prue as a new
client.” – literary agent Veronica Park
“After taking pitches at the Alabama Writing
Workshop, I met Erin Hollis at a pitch session, and
she is now my newest client.” – agent Julie Gwinn
Add $69 — for an in-depth, personal critique of your one-page query letter from Chuck Sambuchino, former longtime editor of the GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS for writer’s Digest Books. (This rate is a special event value for Oklahoma 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 get an in-person meeting at the workshop. Options:
How to pay/register — The event is over. If you are interested in any future event, email us at writingdayworkshops [at] gmail [dot] com and let us know you want on the OKC email alert list. Thanks!.
REGISTRATION
Because of limited space at the venue of the Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel, the workshop can only allow 150 registrants, unless spacing issues change. For this reason, we encourage you to book sooner rather than later.
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.
Refunds: If you sign up for the event and have to cancel for any reason, 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 are completely non-refundable if the instructor has already edited your letter.)
The Oklahoma Writing Workshop 