WESTPORT, Conn. — Westport Writers’ Workshop announced its return to the Westport Library for its 3rd Annual Pitch & Publish Conference on Saturday, March 16. Pitch & Publish is the ideal opportunity for those seeking a literary agent, wanting to be educated about the industry at large or looking to meet and be inspired by authors, agents, and editors. The keynote speaker is Leigh Stein, author of books across fiction, memoir and poetry genres: Self Care, Dispatch from the Future, Land of Enchantment, The Fallback Plan and What to Miss When.
The conference includes a Friday night (7-9 pm) welcome party at WWW’s locale (25 Sylvan Road, Suite J) for all participants, followed by Saturday’s informative panels, one-on-one pitches and a wrap party. New this year: 1) each agent will read five pages of a writer’s work (in addition to their query letter), 2) a mini “practice your pitch” session at the conference and 3) a catered lunch.
Doors to the library open for registration and coffee at 9am; the event begins at 10am and concludes at 4:15pm; and is followed by an After Party from 4:30 - 7:30pm at Basso Restaurant & Wine Bar, 33 Jesup Road, Westport.
Individual tickets for the conference only are $350 each (walk-ins accepted); tickets for the conference plus two, one-on-one pitches with literary agents are $600 each (early bird discount if registered by February 9), $675 each thereafter.
Register here: https://www.westportwriters.org/pitch-and-publish-conference-2024
The conference will include two interactive panel discussions: “Ask The Agents” moderated by Literary Agent Ayla Zuraw Friedland and “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Everything You Wanted to know about Publishing but were Too Afraid to Ask” featuring instructor Julie Sarkissian, Authors Anya Liftig, Cara Wall, Brigette Dale and Agent Eloy Bleifuss of Janklow & Nesbit. The conference will also include a writing prompt led by Conference Co-Chair and WWW Programming Director Liz Matthews.
Attendees who purchase “Conference with Pitches” tickets will have the rare opportunity to pitch their books in person to two elite literary agents during one-on-one sessions. Writers with this type of ticket will be alerted to their individual meetings and the deadline for query letters and sample pages two weeks prior to Pitch & Publish. The agents include Alexandra Franklin (Curtis Brown), Sharon Pelletier (DG&B), Maggie Cooper (Aevitas), Jessica Fellman (Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency), Eloy Bleifuss (Janklow & Nesbit), Rachel Beck (Liza Dawson), Ayla Zuraw-Friedland, (Goldin Lit Agency), Reiko Davis (DeFiore & Company), Kelly Karczewski (United Talent Agency), Lily Dolin (United Talent Agency), Bona Levin (Fletcher & Co) and Paul Lucas (Janklow & Nesbit).
“We are thrilled to be offering new ways to support writers at this year’s conference, including the opportunity for agents to read writers’ work, break-out session on practicing pitches, and healthy and hearty lunch as a community.” Julie Sarkissian and Liz Matthews, conference co-chairs.
Other highlights of the dynamic day are books for sale, goodie bags, refreshments and a literary door prize gift basket.
Below, a testimonial for a 2023 conference attendee:
“I just wanted to express my gratitude for all the planning and hard work for Saturday. It was a well organized and wonderful event. I feel totally reenergized and excited about my writing again,” said Christina Ziegler, 2023 conference participant.
Westport Writers’ Workshop is an independent literary arts center offering enriching supportive creative writing classes, as well as free literary readings to the public. The organization provides free writing workshops to underserved populations in their own communities.
For more information regarding Pitch and Publish or year round workshops, visit: www.westportwriters.org/pitch-and-publish-conference-2024
PHOTO: From left, Liz Matthews and Julie Sarkissian of Westport Writers’ Workshop gear up for the organization’s 2024 Pitch and Publish Conference at the Westport Library on Saturday, March 16.
Tickets are on sale now at https://www.westportwriters.org/pitch-and-publish-conference-2024.
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Foley