Pitch Perfect Retreat Information
DATES: FRI-SUN MARCH 1-3
COST: $295
TO RESERVE: BOOK NOW (W/LINK TO BOOK NOW PAGE)
LOCATION: Online only. Prior to the retreat, you will receive a login link. Please be sure to download zoom on your laptop or phone prior to the retreat. Once you’ve signed up for the retreat, you will receive a Welcome Email with an Invite Link. Use the link to login for each session.
ABOUT OUR RETREAT LEADERS:
Ann Garvin, Ph.D. is a scientist turned humorist, a USA TODAY and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of five books. She is the CEO and founder of the award-winning The Tall Poppy Writers and she thinks everything is funny and a little bit sad. Ann currently teaches creative writing at Drexel University in their low residency Masters of Fine Arts program, where she prepares students to meet with publishers, agents and editors, and helps them form professional ties and gain real-world perspective on the publishing industry. Ann’s most recent novel is There’s No Coming Back From This.
“I have (and will share) pre-retreat materials including a reading, a questionnaire that funnels your ideas, an article about the difference between a pitch and a summary, and a kind of MadLibs to help corral your pitch. But most of all, I have LOTS of PRACTICE, and I’m truly love to share what I’ve learned with other writers.” –Bestselling Author Ann Wertz Garvin
JESSICA STRAWSER is an editor-at-large and columnist at Writer’s Digest, where she served as editorial director for nearly a decade and became known for her in-depth cover interviews with such luminaries as David Sedaris and Alice Walker. She’s the author of the book club favorites Almost Missed You, a Barnes & Noble Best New Fiction pick; Not That I Could Tell, a Book of the Month bestseller; Forget You Know Me, awarded a starred review by Publishers Weekly, and A Million Reasons Why, called “a standout” in a starred Booklist review and named to Most Anticipated lists from Goodreads, SheReads, Frolic, E! News & others. Jessica’s sixth novel, The Last Caretaker, is an Amazon Editors’ pick for First Reads, an instant Kindle bestseller, and new on shelves everywhere in December 2023.
Pitch Perfect Retreat Information
FRIDAY, MARCH 1
6-8PM: Meet & Greet
*Limit: 500 words per reading. Please submit your page(s) to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to Open Mic Session. Include the title of your piece, word count, and any particular question(s) you have for your readers.
SATURDAY MARCH 2
9-11AM: PITCH PREP workshop with BESTSELLING ANN WERTZ GARVIN
During Ann’s workshop, you’ll learn how to write a fabulous NOVEL SUMMARY, NUT GRAPH (back jacket copy), and perhaps the most valuable tool for anyone hoping to snag a book deal…a KILLER ELEVATOR PITCH.
1-3PM: PITCH DELIVERY WORKSHOP with AUTHOR JESSICA STRAWSER:
Submit your QUERY LETTER draft in advance (w/your permission, parts of your letter may be workshopped live in the session, or used as examples of what works and what needs more work)
+AS AN ADDED BONUS: Jessica will share her tips on HOW TO SPRINKLE BESTSELLER MAGIC THROUGHOUT YOUR OPENING PAGES! Learn how to fine tune your first page, then read it at that evening’s OPEN MIC Session!
“I’m a big believer in teaching by example and I love to make things as interactive as possible. This also draws on my own strengths , as I specialize in editing submission packages! When evaluating a Query Letter, it makes sense to also look at what agents will see when they turn to Page 1. In my workshop, I’ll share tips on how to make sure your Opening Pages live up to the expectations set up in your Query Letter.” –Bestselling Author Jessica Strawser
6:30-8:30PM: OPEN MIC READING SESSION led by WRITING COACH AND CREATIVE WRITING INSTRUCTOR MOLLIE MCCLURE
SUNDAY, MARCH 3
10AM-NOON: PRACTICE PITCH FEST with discussion led by AUTHOR ANN WERTZ GARVIN
2-4PM: PRACTICE PITCH FEST with discussion led by AUTHOR JESSICA STRAWSER
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PITCH PERFECT VIRTUAL WRITING RETREAT? Contact Retreat Organizer Mollie McClure at [email protected] or 859-537-0295.
