PITCH PERFECT VIRTUAL INFO SHEET AND RETREAT ITINERARY
Ready to publish your novel?
Spend a weekend online with two highly successful USA TODAY BESTSELLING authors who will teach you how to write and deliver the PERFECT PITCH!
You’ve finally finished writing your novel, but you aren’t sure what to do next. Or…you have sent your manuscript to plenty of agents, with no luck. Our PITCH PERFECT ONLINE WRITER’S RETREAT could be just what you need!
The MARCH 1-3, 2024 PITCH PERFECT VIRTUAL WRITER’S RETREAT features:
AUTHOR-LED WORKSHOPS
with valuable, easy-to-follow directions, inspiration, and in-person advice featuring USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, Professor, and sought after speaker ANN GARVIN, PhD and WRITER’S DIGEST EDITOR-AT-LARGE, COLUMNIST and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR JESSICA STRAWSER
OPEN MIC SESSIONS
offering the chance to read and get feedback on your query letter and/or first page(s)
PRACTICE PITCH FEST
Writing Circle Retreat’s first-ever Pitch Fest offers a unique opportunity to PRACTICE YOUR PITCH then get constructive feedback from a USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR who has “been there, done that,” and wants nothing more than to help you succeed!
Space is limited to 30 participants, so sign up now and secure your spot!
PITCH PERFECT VIRTUAL RETREAT SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, MARCH 1
6-6:30 PM MEET & GREET
6:30-8PM OPEN MIC READING & DISCUSSION SESSION
MEET & GREET your fellow writers, then attend one of Writing Circle Retreat’s famous OPEN MIC SESSIONS (join in, or simply listen and enjoy, according to your preference) led by Retreat Organizer and Creative Writing Instructor MOLLIE MCCLURE. This is a unique opportunity to read and discuss your work with other writers.
SATURDAY MARCH 2
9-11AM “PITCH PREP” WORKSHOP with USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR ANN GARVIN
During ANN’S WORKSHOP, you’ll learn how to write the back jacket copy or what is sometimes called a summary blurb, or hook. When it’s time for an agent, you’ll be ready with perhaps the most valuable tool for anyone hoping to snag a book deal…a 2-3 paragraph, KILLER ELEVATOR PITCH.
ABOUT ANN: Ann Garvin, Ph.D. is a scientist turned novelist, a USA TODAY and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of five books. Ann writes for women who do too much in a world that asks too much from them.
She is the CEO and founder of the award-winning The Tall Poppy Writers, a bestselling author collaborative that is committed to helping readers find books they tell their friends about. Ann currently teaches creative writing at Drexel University in their low residency Masters of Fine Arts program, where she helps to prepare students for a career as a traditionally published author. Ann’s most recent novel is THERE’S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS and her forthcoming novel BUMMER CAMP will be published in August of 2024.
“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 truly love to share what I’ve learned with other writers.” –Author Ann Garvin
1-3 PM “PACKAGING YOUR PITCH” WORKSHOP with AUTHOR JESSICA STRAWSER
JESSICA’S WORKSHOP will cover how to build that elevator pitch into a successful query letter that checks all the right boxes, make your opening pages shine, understand the basics of other elements you might need to have on hand (synopsis, etc.), and develop SUBMISSION STRATEGY. +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!
NOTE: Before Jessica’s workshop, you’ll have the option to submit your QUERY LETTER draft (optional but highly encouraged). Submitted query letter drafts may be workshopped live in the session, or used as examples of what works and what needs more work. Jessica says: “I’m a big believer in teaching by example and I love to make things as interactive as possible, drawing on my own strengths from years of helping writers strengthen their submission packages.”
ABOUT JESSICA: Jessica Strawser (jessicastrawser.com) is an editor-at-large and columnist at WRITER’S DIGEST, where she served as editorial director for nearly a decade. She’s the author of six popular book club novels, including NOT THAT I COULD TELL, (a BOOK OF THE MONTH bestseller), A MILLION REASONS WHY, and THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW (a People magazine pick). Her latest, THE LAST CARETAKER, was an Amazon Editors’ First Reads pick and an instant USA Today bestseller in December 2023. She is a Career Authors contributing editor, 2019 Writer-in-Residence at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, and has keynoted writing conferences from Pennwriters to the University of New Mexico.
““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.” –Author Jessica Strawser
6-8PM: OPEN MIC READING AND DISCUSSION SESSION with MOLLIE MCCLURE
SUNDAY MARCH 3
11AM-1PM: PRACTICE PITCH FEST WITH ANN GARVIN
Retreat participants will have the 3 minutes to read their pitch aloud (optional, but highly recommended), then receive Ms. Garvin’s comments/suggestions.
2PM-4PM: PRACTICE PITCH FEST WITH JESSICA STRAWSER
Retreat participants will have the 3 minutes to read their pitch aloud (optional, but highly recommended), then receive Ms. Srawser’s comments/suggestions.
6-7:30PM FINAL OPEN MIC READING AND DISCUSSION SESSION
Join your fellow writers for one last chance to read your work aloud (as time permits) and discuss before sending your newly created Pitch Package out into the world!
