Hi, everyone. Because of safety concerns, we are postponing the Brooklyn Writing Workshop until 2021. There will be no 2020 BWW event. That said, we do have many online writers conferences (with video meetings with agents) through summer/fall 2020. See the list of events here.

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After a successful launch in 2019, Writing Day Workshops is excited to announce The 2020 Brooklyn Writing Workshop — a full-day “How to Get Published” writing event in Brooklyn, NY, on August 29, 2020.

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 (125 total). All questions about the event regarding schedule, details and registration are answered below. Thank you for your interest in the 2020 Brooklyn Writing Workshop!

WHAT IS IT?

This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, August 29, 2020, at St. Joseph’s College New York (Brooklyn). 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. This workshop is focused on getting an agent, with agents teaching most classes during the day. 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 Susan Velazquez (JABberwocky Literary)
• literary agent Kimberly Brower (Brower Literary)
• literary agent Erica Bauman (Aevitas Creative Management)
• literary agent Kat Kerr (Donald Maass Literary)
• more literary agents forthcoming

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 help from SCBWI New York Metro.

EVENT LOCATION & DETAILS

9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday, August 29, 2020, at St. Joseph’s College New York, 245 Clinton Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205. (718)940-5300.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE (SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2020)

8:30 – 9:30: Check-in and registration at the event location.

2020 CLASS LIST FORTHCOMING

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PITCH AN AGENT OR EDITOR!

Susan Velazquez is a literary agent with JABberwocky Literary Agency.

“I am primarily interested in literary/upmarket fiction, historical fiction, and women’s fiction, especially family sagas. In science fiction and fantasy, I’m looking for stories that reflect or challenge how our society functions today. In young adult, I am open to all genres but am particular towards stories that are centered on the bittersweet pains of growing up. In nonfiction, I am only interested in narrative nonfiction that examines history, technology, or pop culture. Above all, I’m looking for strong emotional arcs and characters who feel as real as possible.

Susan was born and raised outside of Dallas, Texas, but strangely enough, has no strong opinions on football or country music. Much to her family’s dismay, she left the South to live amongst the Yankees. She received a B.A. in Creative Writing with a minor in Gender Studies from SUNY Oswego in 2016. Susan speaks fluent Spanglish and just mastered the art of cooking Mexican rice. Before joining JABberwocky, Susan interned at Foundry Literary + Media, Coral Press, and Folio Literary Management.

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Erica Bauman is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management.

Erica represents a wide variety of authors for both children and adults, including acclaimed YA author Andrew Auseon and Broadway performer Tiffany Haas.

Erica is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and has worked in the publishing industry for the last seven years. Before coming to Aevitas she worked at Spectrum Literary Agency.

Based in New York, Erica is currently focused on representing a wide range of authors across middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction, as well as some select narrative nonfiction projects. She is most interested in novels that straddle the line between literary and commercial, imaginative tales with a speculative twist, fearless storytellers that tackle big ideas and contemporary issues, and working with and supporting marginalized authors and stories that represent the wide range of humanity.

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Kimberly Brower is a literary agent and the founder of Brower Literary.

She is interested in: commercial and upmarket fiction, with an emphasis in general/book club fiction (specifically books that involve complex relationships, ones with moral ambiguity plots is a plus), women’s fiction and romance. However, she is always looking for books that she wants to stay up all night reading, unable to put them down, regardless of what genre an author classifies it as. She loves stories that bring her into a world she doesn’t want to leave and characters that have strong character arcs. She also can never say no to an epic love story.

Kimberly fell in love with reading when she picked up her first Babysitter’s Club book at the age of seven (Super Special editions were her favorites) and hasn’t been able to get her nose out of a book since. She holds a BS in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge and received her JD from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. After spending a decade in the business world, it was kismet that she found herself in publishing.

She takes great pride in her client list, from the debut authors to #1 NYT bestsellers, and likes to consider them all her favorite authors. She previously worked for over two years at a boutique literary agency before starting her own. After spending 14 years in California, she is thrilled to be back on the east coast. When not providing individual attention to her clients, Kimberly manages all of the day-to-day operations of the agency. This includes overseaing the management of the foreign, audio and all other subsidiary rights for all the authors in the agency.

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Kat Kerr is a literary agent with Donald Maass Literary Agency.

Kat joined Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2019 after working previously at Corvisiero Literary Agency. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelors in English in 2009 and is drawn to literary and commercial voices within the adult and YA markets, as well as adult nonfiction. Kat feels strongly about supporting programs like We Need Diverse Books and is passionate about creating space in this industry for those from historically marginalized communities.

She is seeking: For literary and upmarket fiction, Kat is drawn to strong, character-driven works with rich, literary prose. She loves books that make her think and have a strong emotional pull. She enjoys adult contemporary, women’s fiction, adult & YA multicultural, adult historical works featuring family sagas (Think Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club or Walter Dean Myers’ The Glory Field). Kat enjoys YA contemporary that isn’t afraid to tackle the hard topics — books in a similar vein as Adam Silvera’s More Happy Than Not, Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, or Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak. Other favorites include Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys¸ Big Fish by Daniel Wallace, About a Boy by Nick Hornby, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, The Leavers by Lisa Ko, and Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel.

For the commercial market, Kat is looking for high concept, voice-driven works with a close POV and well-developed, distinct characters. He likes science fiction — specifically space operas or something dark and twisty similar to an episode of “Black Mirror”; low, epic fantasies and dark urban fantasies where the worldbuilding reflects a non-Europe based setting; quirky and fun women’s fiction and rom-coms like Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding. And Kat likes young adult in all genres. Other favorites: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab, The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, and Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.

For nonfiction, she seeks religion and spirituality that focus on a universal, humanitarian message much like God Is Not A Christian and The Book of Joy; narrative nonfiction and journalistic nonfiction tackling current affairs and social justice issues, particularly covering topics of racism, immigration, LGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, and poverty; cookbooks that are edgy and fresh (think Thug Kitchen), inspired by pop culture (similar to Eat Like A Gilmore), or anything that spotlights authentic, regional cuisine from across the globe; and select biographies and memoirs.

Do not pitch: plots/themes centering around unresolved rape or abuse, or child abuse; previously published or self-published works; middle grade, chapter books, picture books; novellas, short stories, or poetry collections; military/war stories; or Western.

 

MORE 2020 LITERARY AGENTS FORTHCOMING

 

        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 2020 BWW and access to all workshops, all day, on Saturday, August 29, 2020. As of early 2020, 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 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, former longtime editor of the GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS for Writer’s Digest Books. (This rate is a special event value for BWW 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:

• Manuscript critique options forthcoming

How to pay/register: Because of safety issues, the 2020 Brooklyn Writing Workshop is cancelled. We hope to reboot in 2021. Feel free to email us anytime to get on the mailing list or ask questions: writingdayworkshops@gmail.com. My name is Chuck Sambuchino.

REGISTRATION

Because of limited space at the venue of the St. Joseph College New York (Brooklyn), this workshop can only allow 125 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.

How to pay/register: Because of safety issues, the 2020 Brooklyn Writing Workshop is cancelled. We hope to reboot in 2021. Feel free to email us anytime to get on the mailing list or ask questions: writingdayworkshops@gmail.com. My name is Chuck Sambuchino.

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.)