Class

How to Pitch Anything

How do you convince a literary agent—or any other book-world gatekeeper—that your book idea is compelling, relevant, and deliverable? Learn from Laura Goode, author of three books including the recent PITCH CRAFT: The Writer's Guide to Getting Agented, Published, and Paid (Ten Speed Press/Penguin Random House).

We'll spend the first class (Thurs, April 9) covering modes of researching and preparing for the querying process: how to find agents who might be a good match for you, how to make yourself findable to them, what assets will help you stand out from the crowd, and what insider tips you should know about the process.

Then, we'll spend the second class (Saturday, April 11) workshopping your query letter draft. Note: while we'll center the agent query process, all forms of pitches are welcome in this class.

Overall, this class will take a holistic approach to self-presentation and self-advocacy that includes presenting yourself with confidence, optimizing your online platform, networking effectively, writing an outstanding query letter, avoiding the slush pile, and most importantly, persevering through the inevitable self-doubt and rejection.

All Classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.