(Please note that this is an in-person event. We at Writing Day Workshops plan both online/virtual as well as in-person events. This next SWW is an in-person event happening in Seattle on May 11, 2024. See you there.)
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PITCH YOUR BOOK TO A LITERARY AGENT:
These one-on-one in-person meetings at the 2024 Seattle Writing Workshop 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. More 2024 agents to be announced as they are confirmed. You can sign up for pitches at any time, or switch pitches at any time, so long as the agent in question still has appointments open.
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Adria Goetz is a senior literary agent and illustration coordinator with KT Literary. She represents picture books, middle grade, graphic novels (all ages including YA), and adult fiction. She seeks all kinds of picture books and gravitates toward author-illustrators, but will consider text-only submissions. In middle grade, she likes magical realism, fantasy, historical fiction, and mystery. The only young adult books she seeks are graphic novels. In adult fiction, she represents upmarket, book club fiction, thrillers, mystery, romance, romantic comedies, cozy fantasy, magical realism, and unique formats. Learn more about Adria here.
Kesia Lupo is a literary agent with The Bindery. “I consider middle-grade and YA my specialty and would love to represent authors writing for these age groups. But I’d love to return to my roots and also represent adult genre fiction in science fiction / fantasy and horror. I’m an omnivore in my reading taste and I would love my list to reflect that – so, while I’ve tried to be exhaustive, if you have something that doesn’t quite fit then please don’t hesitate to pitch anyway! In general, I’m looking for fiction for middle grade, YA and adult readers – and also a smattering of popular, accessible nonfiction. Across age groups, I’m a big fan of original fantasy, accessible but smart science fiction, paranormal or creepy horror, thrillers (especially if they have a shocking twist!), dark academia and basically all stories that help me escape or make me question everything. I majored in History so I love a bit of historical fiction too, as long as it’s done in a fun and accessible way – and I enjoy romance. For nonfiction, I’m looking at narrative nonfiction with broad appeal – I love books about psychology and big political, cultural or historical topics.” Learn more about Kesia here.
Katie Reed is a literary agent with Andrea Hurst & Associates. Katie currently works as an agent and literary scout, and is looking for compelling, standout projects to champion. She is open for submissions in the following genres: commercial women’s fiction with a strong hook and market appeal; historical fiction (Favorite authors include Ruta Sepyts, Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah, Taylor Jenkins Reid); women’s suspense/thriller (especially with unreliable narrators or an ending with an unforeseen twist); fiction with a fantastical angle (a la The Midnight Library by Matt Haig); retellings, similar to Circe by Madeline Miller; young adult contemporary or fantasy; and middle grade. Learn more about Katie here.
Alisha West is a literary agent with Victress Literary. “We work with all genres of literary and commercial fiction and nonfiction but are especially interested certain genres.” In adult fiction, the agency likes contemporary, family saga, historical, horror, LGBTQIA2+, literary, mystery, suspense, thriller, In young adult, the agency likes contemporary, science fiction, fantasy, historical, literary, and mystery. In middle grade, the agency likes contemporary, science fiction, fantasy, historical, and mystery. In nonfiction, the agent seeks: cultural/social issues, history, humor, journalism, LGBTQIA2+, memoir, music, pets, sports, true crime, women’s issues. Learn more about Alisha here.
Rae Loverde is an agent assistant at Donald Maass Literary Agency. At the 2024 SWW, she will be acting as a literary scout — taking pitches at the workshop on behalf of one or multiple co-agents at her agency. Her co-agent Cameron McClure is seeking the following: projects that combine genre style plotting with literary quality writing. She’s up for anything speculative, and is interested in seeing science fiction and fantasy, mystery and suspense, horror, and projects with multi-cultural, international, environmental, and LGBTQIA+ themes. Learn more about Rae and her co-agents here.
Leslie Varney is a literary agent and co-president of Prentis Literary. She specializes in adult speculative fiction — science fiction and fantasy — for adults, young adult, and middle grade. Leslie has also established herself as a specialist in genre-bending fiction, enthusiastically representing authors whose works defy easy classification. “I am pleased as punch that now I get to help authors bring new worlds, new ideas, and new magic to the literary world. I will always love the oral story-telling tradition, but my appreciation for the written work knows no bounds and I love being a part of bringing that passion to new readers.” Learn more about Leslie here.
Micah Brocker is a literary agent with Corvisiero Literary. In both film and novels, she is interested in YA contemporary stories that deal with messy relationships and issues that can help young adults put words to their experiences. She is also looking for YA science fiction and urban fantasy that provide an escape while still helping us connect to the everyday troubles of growing up. In adult fiction, she loves women’s fiction and upmarket fiction that deals with burdensome secrets, messy relationships, and a character with a deep desire to change their life, the world etc., especially with a psychological, sci-fi, or romantic twist! Learn more about Micah here.
Kate Rogers is a literary agent and licensing coordinator at K.O. Media Management. Wishlist: Kate loves both adult and YA graphic novels and prose, primarily contemporary realistic fiction, horror/thriller, romance, sci-fi, women’s fiction, and narrative nonfiction. She is interested in character-driven narratives that subvert familiar tropes or conventions and especially would love to help champion under-represented voices. Kate is not currently seeking out anything younger than YA or fantasy-heavy stories. Learn more about Kate here.
Kate MacGregor is part of the team at MacGregor & Luedeke Literary Agency. Kate is the agency’s in-house editor, and is happy to take pitches at the 2023 SWW on behalf of several co-agents actively building their client lists. If Kate thinks that a writer-attendee has a book that a co-agent will enjoy, she will request materials from the attendee, and then pass those submission materials directly to the best agent at the agency. On behalf of co-agent Alina Mitchell, Kate is taking pitches for: nonfiction proposals including memoir, biographies, how-to, elementary & secondary education topics, religion/spirituality, narrative nonfiction, and new perspectives in history, arts & culture. On behalf of co-agent Elisa Saphier, Kate is taking pitches for: Elisa is open to most genres, as long as the novel or memoir is well-written, but she is partial to character-heavy stories that tell her something about herself or the world around her. She is hoping specifically to represent marginalized writers and their stories. On behalf of co-agent Colleen Oefelein, Kate is taking pitches for: Colleen is looking for romance–heart-rending love stories in most sub-genres (no erotica) and romantic suspense, as well as young adult and adult fiction: harsh and sobering contemporary, low fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, unusual re-tellings, suspense and thriller. In nonfiction, she’s interested in proposals for high-profile crime memoir, whistleblower memoir and narrative nonfiction on the subjects of science or medicine. Learn more about Kate here.
Scott Eagan is a literary agent and founder of Greyhaus Literary Agency. Greyhaus is a specialized agency. Scott focuses solely on women’s fiction as well as romance. “Being a small agency as well as being focused on a small number of genres allows me the chance to work closer with my writers as well as staying up with the every-changing trends in romance and women’s fiction. Learn more about Scott here.
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ADDED ONLINE PITCHING: To ensure that writers have a robust and diverse lineup of agents & editors to pitch, 2024 Seattle Writing Workshop attendees will have the ability to also pitch literary agents at the Writing Day Workshops *online* event that follows the 2024 SWW on our calendar.
That event is the Pittsburgh Writing Workshop, May 31 – June 1, 2024, which will have 30-40 agents taking one-on-one Zoom virtual pitches.
This means that 2024 SWW attendees can have access to pitching all those online PWW agents — pitches still at $29 each — without being a formal registrant for the online May/June 2024 event. (That said, if you want to formally register for the Pittsburgh conference and have access to all classes and panels, let us know, as there is a discount for confirmed Seattle attendees.)
If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for Seattle. Following the SWW conference on May 11, 2024, we will be in touch with all Seattle attendees and ask them if they want to partake in pitching online agents at the 2024 PWW (May 31 – June 1). At that time, you can communicate your pitch requests and purchase meeting time.
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More 2024 (in-person) agents to be announced as they are confirmed. You can sign up for pitches at any time, or switch pitches at any time, so long as the agent in question still has appointments open.
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.)