Live Workshops & Group Coaching

Live Query Letter Reviews

They aren't called the "query trenches" for nothing. Learn from literary agent Jessica Berg what's working and what's not — in your own query and those of your peers — so you can land an agent.

There are limited spots available for the review sessions - the first six people to turn in their query letters will get these spots. However, coming as an observer will also add a lot of value to your ability to write your own compelling query.

These sessions will be recorded.

Live Editing | Hooking Readers from Page One: Crafting an Irresistible Opening

The first page of your book is everything. It’s your first impression on agents, publishers, and—most importantly—readers. If your opening doesn’t grab them instantly, they may never turn the page.

In this exclusive live editing workshop, David Lombardino, a professional editor with over 25 years of experience working with authors published by Penguin Random House, Hachette Livre, and Sourcebooks, will show you how to craft an opening that captivates from the very first sentence.

You can submit 1-2 opening pages for editing after you register. Due to time constraints, not all participant submissions will get edited, however everyone will benefit from the insights shared.

This workshop will not be recorded for future viewing. Please plan to attend live. 

Owning Your Identity as a Writer

At what point do we get to call ourselves writers?

For many aspiring (and experienced) writers, the greatest obstacle is not necessarily talent, skill, or creativity… it’s the resistance we feel the moment we attempt to claim our voice. We can be overcome with self-doubt and perfectionism, or a fear of criticism and opinions of others often stand between us and the work we are meant to create. In this workshop, depth psychologist and author Dr. Melissa Kim Corter helps writers explore the hidden psychological patterns that interfere with authentic expression. Through reflective exercises, and practical insight, participants will develop greater confidence in their creative voice, and creatively move through resistance. Whether you are writing your first article, working on a book, or struggling to share your work publicly, this workshop will help you embrace the identity of a writer and communicate with greater authenticity, courage, and conviction.

This session will be recorded.

Lost in Translation: Writing distinct cultures, languages, accents & soundscapes

Or: I Guess the Elves are British

Our speech shapes the way we see the world, our choices, our beliefs, and our sense of identity. This can all feel intimidating! Often writers leave this rich well untapped and vague or end up with confusing inconsistencies because they never considered it. Let's dig deep and see what treasures lie in really thinking about the way our diverse peoples speak, how language and accents evolve over time, and what shapes them. Jargon, socio-economic and temporal differences, alien and fantasy species, and how to translate all of this into an edible experience for the reader.

Aaron Fors is an author of speculative fiction, a screenwriter, filmmaker, actor, and narrator. For over two decades Aaron has been working a dialectologist and linguist who teaches and performs in dialects and languages from around the world. He creates constructed languages for films, television, and novels and specializes in the intersections between culture, environment, and language. Just as he teaches performers to embody characters and inhabit worlds, he teaches his fellow writers to create and shape them.

This session will be recorded.

Live Query Letter Reviews

They aren't called the "query trenches" for nothing. Learn from literary agent Jessica Berg what's working and what's not — in your own query and those of your peers — so you can land an agent.

There are limited spots available for the review sessions - the first six people to turn in their query letters will get these spots. However, coming as an observer will also add a lot of value to your ability to write your own compelling query.

This session will be recorded.

Live Editing | Hooking Readers from Page One: Crafting an Irresistible Opening

The first page of your book is everything. It’s your first impression on agents, publishers, and—most importantly—readers. If your opening doesn’t grab them instantly, they may never turn the page.

In this exclusive live editing workshop, David Lombardino, a professional editor with over 25 years of experience working with authors published by Penguin Random House, Hachette Livre, and Sourcebooks, will show you how to craft an opening that captivates from the very first sentence.

You can submit 1-2 opening pages for editing after you register. Due to time constraints, not all participant submissions will get edited, however everyone will benefit from the insights shared.

This workshop will not be recorded for future viewing. Please plan to attend live.