After a successful previous event in Portland, Writing Day Workshops is excited to announce The 2024 Portland Writing Workshop — a full-day “How to Get Published” writing event in Portland, OR on Friday, May 10, 2024.
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 (130 total). All questions about the event regarding schedule, details and registration are answered below. Thank you for your interest in the 2024 Portland Writing Workshop! We are very proud of our many success stories where attendees sign with agents following events — see our growing list of success stories here.
(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 PWW is an in-person event happening in Portland on Friday, May 10, 2024. We hope to set a date soon and update this website. See you there.)
WHAT IS IT?
This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Friday, May 10, 2024, at the Radisson Hotel Portland Airport. 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. 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 agent and editor faculty so far includes:
- literary agent Rayhané Sanders (Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents)
- literary agent Kesia Lupo (The Bindery)
- literary agent CoCo Freeman (Linda Chester Literary)
- literary agent Elisa Saphier (Macgregor Luedeke Literary)
- literary agent Jynastie Wilson (LCS Literary Services)
- literary agent Valerie Noble (Donaghy Literary)
- and possibly more to come
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. (E-mail him to register for the event at WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com and say you’re interested in the Portland event specifically.)
EVENT LOCATION & DETAILS:
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, May 10, 2024: Radisson Hotel Portland Airport, 6233 NE 78th Ct, Portland, OR 97218. (971)361-3971.
(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 PWW is an in-person event happening in Portland on May 10, 2024. We hope to set a date soon and update this website. See you there.)
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE & INSTRUCTORS (MAY 10, 2024)
8:30 – 9:30: Check-in and registration at the event location.
9:30 – 10:30: Self-Editing: Analysis and Application Toward Your Own Work. Books are at their best when crafted with care and deliberation toward authorial intent. While it serves a different function than working with an editor, self-editing is a vital step in the writing process and a skill that many authors struggle to perfect. In this lecture, we’ll discuss various tools and approaches to self-editing that will help authors take an editorial eye toward their own work with confidence and direction.
10:30 – 11:45: Query Like a Pro. A query letter is a one-page professional business letter that dynamically describes a writer’s manuscript in such a way that a literary agent requests to read the full manuscript. This class will teach students how to write a query letter that improves their chances of getting a manuscript request. By the end of the course, attendees will understand the purpose of a query letter, best practices for the formatting and content of a query, and understand the purpose of comps as well as how to find them.
11:45 – 1:15: Lunch on your own. There are several restaurants within quick driving distance.
1:15 – 2:30: “Writers’ Got Talent: A First Page Critique-Fest.” In the vein of American Idol or America’s Got Talent, this is a chance to get your first page read (anonymously — no bylines given) with our attending agents commenting on what was liked or not liked about the submission. Get expert feedback on your incredibly important first page, and know if your writing has what it needs to keep readers’ attention. (All attendees are welcome to bring pages to the event for this session, and we will choose pages at random for the workshop for as long as time lasts.)
2:45 – 3:45: How to Plot Your Story. There are scores of approaches to plotting, from Save the Cat to the Snowflake method to the basic three-act structure. Then there are “pantsers”—people who don’t plot in advance at all. Which approach is right for you? In this course, Angela M. Sanders will help you identify plotting methods that match your personality and working style, and, most importantly, satisfy a reader’s demand for compelling story questions and characters to root for.
4:00 – 5:00: Why Do You Need Book Publicity, Anyway? What is book publicity, and why do you need it? An overview of what publicists can offer, from the timeline, process, and usual outcomes, to additional services and recommendations on what authors can do to help their own publicity campaigns leading up to (or even after!) a new title’s release. For all genres and levels of authors.
All throughout the day: Agent & Editor Pitching.
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PITCH AN AGENT OR EDITOR!
Rayhané Sanders is a literary agent with Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents. She represents literary, historical, and book club fiction, including short story collections; narrative nonfiction; memoir; and essay collections. She likes projects that are voice-centered and site-specific, whether that be a place, profession, culture, or subculture. Though quality of writing is the most important factor, she is particularly interested in fresh voices telling fresh stories we haven’t heard before and is fond of immigrant stories and stories concerned with race, sexuality, cross-cultural themes, and notions of identity. Learn more about Rayhané here.
CoCo Freeman is a literary agent with Linda Chester Literary Agency. “I am a graduate of Bard College with a B.A. in Written Arts. Before joining Linda Chester, I worked for Tom Yoon Productions developing projects and editing existing material. I am very happy to have entered the world of my first love, books. I am looking for smart adult commercial fiction in a variety of genres, including mystery/thriller/suspense, fantasy, romance, women’s fiction and historical, Young/New Adult, Middle Grade and select picture books.” Learn more about CoCo here.
Kesia Lupo [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] 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.
Elisa Saphier is a literary agent at MacGregor & Luedeke. She is open to most fiction and memoir except for high fantasy & science fiction, series writing (she like standalones), picture books, and probably chapter books “I am always most excited to find great writing and full characters, regardless of genre. I am focused on uplifting marginalized voices and want to be a part of seeing publishing become more equitable and less unbalanced of underrepresented writers.” In adult fiction, she seeks: literary psychological thrillers/mystery; queer romance (especially but not exclusively friends to lovers and forced proximity); literary fiction; literary memoir; stories of marginalized people where the marginalization isn’t the story; dark academia; suburban malaise. She also seeks young adult fiction and middle grade. Learn more about Elisa here.
Jynastie Wilson is a literary agent at LCS Literary Services. Jynastie is looking for a variety of projects in both adult and children’s genres. In addition to what is listed below, she is always interested in stories written by LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and/or other marginalized authors. In adult fiction, she seeks: new adult, and contemporary romance. In young adult, she seeks: contemporary, romance, science fiction, fantasy, historical, and horror. In middle grade, she seeks: contemporary, science fiction, fantasy, historical, and horror. In kidlit, she seeks children’s picture books and chapter books. Learn more about Jynastie here.
Valerie Noble is a literary agent Donaghy Literary Group. Valerie is seeking Young Adult fiction, and Adult fiction in the following areas: fantasy, science fiction, historical fantasy, and historical fiction. While Valerie is always looking for diversity in her projects she is generally not drawn to big issue books, but rather the everyday struggles and joys of family, culture, and coming of age. Stories featuring sibling dynamics, anti-heroes, and a bit of romance in any form are always welcome. In general, Valerie is not a fan of time travel stories, superheroes, books set during World War II or the Civil War, or stories where dreams play a starring role. Learn more about Valerie here.
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ADDED ONLINE PITCHING: To ensure that writers have a robust and diverse lineup of agents & editors to pitch, 2024 Portland Writing Workshop attendees will have the ability to also pitch literary agents at the Writing Day Workshops *online* event that follows the 2024 PWW 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 Portland attendees can have access to pitching all those online Pittsburgh 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 Portland attendees.)
If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for Portland. Following the Portland conference on May 10, 2024, we will be in touch with all attendees and ask them if they want to partake in pitching online agents at the 2024 Pittsburgh WW (May 31 – June 1). At that time, you can communicate your pitch requests and purchase meeting time.
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More agents may be added at any time.
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 registration pricing! This is the complete base price for registration to the 2024 PWW and access to all workshops, all day. As of 2024, registration is now open. To register, just email coordinator Chuck Sambuchino at WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com and tell him you want to register for the Portland event.
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 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 instructor Chuck Sambuchino, who previously taught at this Portland workshop. (This rate is a special event value for Portland Writing Workshop 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 will either 1) get an in-person meeting at the workshop, if the faculty member is attending the live event, or 2) get a 10-minute phone call with the faculty member, and have notes passed along via email, if the critiquer is not attending the live event. Options:
- Middle grade, young adult; adult fiction in the areas of low fantasy, literary fiction, romance, contemporary fiction, women’s fiction, historical fiction, and mainstream fiction (virtual critiques): Faculty member Joel Brigham, a writing coach and author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime around the workshop to discuss his thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
- Women’s, mainstream, science fiction, fantasy, romance, crime, thriller, mystery (virtual critiques): Faculty member Michelle McGill-Vargas, a writing coach and author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime around the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
- Romance, women’s fiction, domestic suspense, and young adult fiction (virtual critiques): Faculty member Swati Hegde, an author and freelance editor, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime around the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
- More critique options possibly forthcoming
How to pay/register — Registration is now open. Reach out to workshop organizer Chuck Sambuchino via email: WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com, and he will provide specific instructions for payment and registration to get you a reserved seat at the event. Payment is by credit card, PayPal, or check. Because Chuck plans different workshops, make sure you note that you’re inquiring about the Portland workshop specifically.
REGISTRATION
Because of limited space at the venue of Radisson Hotel Portland Airport, the workshop can only allow 130 registrants, unless spacing issues change. For this reason, we encourage you to book sooner rather than later.
(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 PWW is an in-person event happening in Portland in 2024. We hope to set a date soon and update this website. See you there.)
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 Register: The easy first step is simply to reach out to workshop organizer Chuck Sambuchino via email: WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com. Chuck will pass along registration information to you, and give instructions on how to pay by credit card, PayPal, or check. Once payment is complete, you will have a reserved seat at the event. The PWW will send out periodic e-mail updates to all registered attendees with any & all news about the event. Because Chuck plans different workshops, make sure you note that you’re inquiring about the Portland workshop specifically.
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.)
Thank you for your interest in the Portland Writing Workshop.
The 2024 Portland Writing Conference 