How to Work Best With a Literary Agent
Thursday, September 10 at 12 pm PDT
FREE Virtual Event: REGISTER HERE
Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!
Successful collaboration with a literary agent starts long before the contract is signed. Begin by researching agencies carefully so your project matches the kinds of books they represent and the markets they know well. Prepare a professional query letter, a tight synopsis, and a manuscript that has already been revised to the highest standard you can achieve; agents receive hundreds of submissions and quickly set aside work that feels unfinished. Once you have an offer of representation, ask clear questions about communication style, submission strategy, and career vision so both sides understand expectations. After signing, treat the relationship as a true partnership: respond promptly to emails, meet deadlines, share relevant career updates, and remain open to editorial and business feedback. Remember that an agent’s job is to advocate for your work with publishers while guiding the larger arc of your writing career.
Consistency, professionalism, and mutual respect turn a one-book deal into a lasting professional alliance that benefits both author and agent over many years.
- Research the agent’s preferences and recent sales thoroughly before querying.
- Submit only polished, complete work that fits their stated interests.
- Communicate clearly, promptly, and professionally at every stage.
- View the relationship as a long-term career partnership, not a single transaction.
Meet and learn from these two top agents! Andy Ross offers decades of bookselling wisdom and seeks smart, original work with strong narrative and emotional depth. Laurie McLean brings marketing expertise and specializes in middle-grade, young-adult, and adult genre fiction. Both value polished, compelling projects.
About the Speakers
Andy Ross opened his literary agency in January 2008. Before that, he was the owner for 30 years of the legendary Cody’s Books in Berkeley. The agency represents books in a wide range of subjects including narrative non-fiction, science, journalism, history, religion, children’s books, young adult, middle grade, literary and commercial fiction, and cooking. However, he is eager to represent projects in most genres as long as the subject or its treatment is smart, original, and will appeal to a wide readership. In non-fiction, he looks for writing with a strong voice and robust narrative arc by authors with the authority to write about their subject. For literary, commercial, and children’s fiction, he has only one requirement– simple, but ineffable–that the writing reveals the terrain of that vast and unexplored country, the human heart. Visit www.andyrossagency.com, www.andyrossagency.wordpress.com.
Laurie McLean is a founding partner and president of Fuse Literary. She spent 20 years as the CEO of a publicity and marketing agency and 8 years as an agent and senior agent at Larsen Pomada Literary Agents in San Francisco. Following a stint as the CEO of a successful Silicon Valley public relations agency bearing her name, Laurie switched gears to immerse herself in writing and co-founded Fuse Literary in 2013. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the State University of New York and a master’s degree at Syracuse University’s prestigious Newhouse School of Journalism.
To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!
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The Power of Journaling for Women Writers
Thursday, September 24 at 12 pm PDT
FREE Virtual Event: REGISTER HERE
Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!
What if the most important writing you do is the writing no one else ever reads?
In this inspiring and practical presentation, author, journal writing expert, and Director of the International Association for Journal Writing, Lynda Monk explores how journaling can become a powerful ally for women writers. Far more than a place to record daily events, journaling is a creative sanctuary where ideas are born, resilience is strengthened, and authentic voice emerges. These things matter for us as women writers!
Drawing on 30+ years of experience helping people access the healing and transformational power of writing, Lynda shares how reflective journaling can help writers deepen self-awareness and live a truly self-expressed life. Participants will discover simple yet profound journaling practices that support both the writing life and personal well-being all at once.
Whether you are an aspiring author, seasoned writer, or someone longing to write more freely, this session will leave you inspired to pick up your pen and uncover the wisdom, stories, and possibilities waiting within.
Lynda has a tattoo on her forearm that is an image of her own handwriting, that originally appeared in the pages of her journal. It reads: “Anything is possible.” In this session, you will learn journaling as a tool to explore the art of the possible in your writing and in your life!
Participants will learn:
- How journaling enhances creativity and strengthens your writing voice
- Ways journaling can help overcome perfectionism and writer’s block
- Practical journaling techniques to support your writing life and well-being too
Come discover why your journal may be one of the most valuable writing companions you’ll ever have.
About the Presenter
Lynda Monk, MSW, RSW, CPCC is an author, speaker, registered social worker, certified professional coach, and Director of the International Association for Journal Writing (IAJW.org). For more than 30 years, she has helped people harness the power of writing for self-discovery, healing, creativity, and personal growth. Lynda is a recognized leader in the field of journaling and co-editor of The Great Book of Journaling and Transformational Journaling for Coaches, Therapists, and Clients. She is co-author of Writing Alone Together: Journaling in a Circle of Women for Creativity, Compassion & Connection. Lynda is also the author of The Adoptee’s Guide to Healing, Wholeness & Growth. Through her workshops, courses, and global journaling community, Lynda inspires people to connect more deeply with themselves, their stories, and their creative potential and well-being.
To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!
Saturday, April 24, 2027, 8:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. PT
24 Years of Pitch-O-Rama Success!
Are you developing a concept for a new book? Do you have a manuscript in progress? Are you ready to publish that book you’ve been working on for years? If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you to Pitch-O-Rama 2027! Everyone is welcome to participate!
We are pleased to announce we will be hosting the next Pitch-O-Rama as a virtual event on April 24, 2027, a supportive environment where writers will be given ample opportunity to pitch their works to agents and editors for publication.
New to Pitch-O-Rama? Pitch-O-Rama is our annual, signature event; we gather a wide range of publishing professionals to share their knowledge of the publishing industry. During the event, you will be able to practice your pitch with coaches and fellow writers and continue to refine your pitch. You’ll then share it with confidence to several experts who will provide advice on taking your writing project to the next level. An opportunity like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you participate!
Special Pricing: Currently, registration will be $99 for WNBA-SF members and $149 for non-members so don’t wait to register! If you’d like to take advantage of member pricing, visit our website to learn more about the benefits of WNBA-SF membership and join the chapter’s community!
To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!
Perfect your book pitch with expert guidance!
Your Pitch. Perfected.
In this interactive Pitch Clinic, publisher Brenda Knight (Books that Save Lives) and book proposal strategist Debra Eckerling (TheBookProposalExpert.com) team up to help authors refine and strengthen their pitches in real time. Whether you’re preparing for a conference or Pitch-O-Rama; a meeting with an agent or publisher; or an email submission, this session will give you the tools and confidence to make your pitch stand out.
Brenda Knight, Publisher, Books That Save Lives, and President of WNBA-SF Chapter, is a longtime publisher and industry veteran, who draws on decades of experience acquiring and publishing bestselling and award-winning titles. She offers an insider-perspective on what agents and publishers are really looking for — and what makes a pitch irresistible.
Debra Eckerling, TheBookProposalExpert.com, brings her talent for helping writers clarify their ideas, define their audience, and communicate their book’s value with confidence. The author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, Debra helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants turn their compelling book concepts into strong, strategic proposals that sell.
Together, Brenda and Debra provide practical feedback, actionable advice, and professional insights designed to help you pitch your book like a pro.
To learn more about Pitch Clinic, please visit the event page!
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