Wordsmith Schedule
Wordsmith 2022 Schedule
The full conference details are listed below.
Tuesday, September 27
VIRTUAL AGENT PANEL
Wordsmith will kickoff on Tuesday evening with a virtual session. This session is designed to help prepare you for the weekend and be able to ask questions of visiting agents. All times listed are Central Time.
Virtual Attendee Kickoff and Agent Panel
When: Tuesday, September 27, 7–8:15 p.m. CT
Where: Crowdcast (you will receive an invitation link for this event closer to the event)
In this kickoff session, Loft staff will greet you with a brief orientation to the upcoming conference. Then we'll get into the heart of it with a Q&A session with visiting agents
Before anyone meets with an agent, we're going to kickoff the conference with a Q&A session with visiting agents Erin Clyburn, Kayla Lightner, Monica Odom, and Sarah Fisk. We'll discuss agent/client info, how book deals happen, what agents are looking for in pitches and potential clients, and other insider publishing questions. Then we'll open up the conversation for audience questions as well.
Friday, September 30
GENERAL SESSIONS
The conference will kickoff in earnest on Friday afternoon. Settle in, get acquainted, and connect with your peers. There won't be any one-on-ones this afternoon, so come ready to connect and learn. All times listed are Central Time.
Keynote with Jami Attenberg
When: Friday, September 30, 1–2:15 p.m. CT
Where: Open Book Performance Hall
Jami Attenberg has written about food, travel, books, relationships and urban life for The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, the Sunday Times, The Guardian, and others. She is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins and All Grown Up, and, most recently, a memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home. Her work has been published in sixteen languages. In this session, she'll talk about her journey as a writer and what she recommends to her fellow writers.
The Paths to Publishing with Lindsey Smith
When: Friday, September 30, 2:30–3:30 p.m. CST
Where: Open Book Performance Hall
You want to write a book. Perhaps you’ve already finished writing the manuscript. Or, maybe you’re just getting started on the journey.
You’re probably wondering: should you try to get a book deal with a big-name publisher, like Penguin/Random House, Harper Collins, or Macmillan? Or, try to get the book published by a small independent press? Or, self-publish the book by yourself?
Which path is right for you? What’s realistic? What are the pros and cons? What’s the best way to make this decision?
Especially if you’re a first-time author and don’t have much experience in the publishing industry, this can be a dizzying and overwhelming decision to make.
Fortunately, help is here! Join Lindsey Smith—best-selling and award-winning author, literary agent, founder of One Idea Press, and co-founder of Get It Done—for a presentation on The Paths to Publishing.
Lindsey is a lifelong book lover who has helped more than 1,000 people to publish a book.
Lindsey’s philosophy: Every book is unique. There’s no one “right way” to bring a book into the world. All paths are excellent paths. No path is “better” than another. They’re just different. It’s important to educate yourself so that you understand all the options.
By the end of this presentation, you will:
- Understand the differences between traditional publishing and author-owned publishing (aka self-publishing).
- Be able to make a decision on which path is best for you and your first book (or, next book).
- Feel excited to take the next steps and move your project forward.
Please bring pen to take notes, and feel free to ask a question during the presentation. Lindsey will save time for Q&A at the end.
Networking
When: Friday, September 30, 3:45–4:45 p.m. CT
Where: 2nd Floor Commons at Open Book
We'll gather together and get to know your fellow attendees. More details to come.
Saturday, October 1
SESSIONS AND ONE-ON-ONES
The conference continues Saturday with more general, activity, and breakout sessions and two blocks of pitches and consultations. All times listed are Central Time.
Ask the Editor
When: Saturday, October 1, 9–10 a.m. CT
Where: Open Book Performance Hall
What is the role of the editor? What kinds of things do they look for and what is the best way to approach the editor/author relationship? In this session, a panel of editors will share their perspectives. There will be lots of time for audience Q&A, so come prepared with questions!
Story Stitch Activity Session and One-on-one Pitches and Consultations
When: Saturday, October 1, 10:15–11:45 a.m. CT
Where: Open Book Performance Hall and Loft Offices
Our first activity session will take place during this time slot. These sessions are designed to be drop-in in nature so that you can come and go if you have one-on-one appointments during the session.
This first Activity Session will be focused on getting to know your fellow attendees and will be led by Tea Rozman of Green Card Voices. She will bring their renowned Story Stitch cards to help attendees connect with each other.
Pitches and consultations will take place during this session in the Loft offices. Please arrive at your arrival time. We cannot accommodate late arrivals. Consultation materials must be submitted by September 9, 2022. You can still have a consultation without materials, but your agent or editor will not see your specific project in advance without the submitted materials.
Pitches: Lucy Carson, Maeve MacLysaght, Rachel Ekstrom Courage, Melanie Figeuroa, Kayla Lightner, and Nora Gonzalez
Consults: Allison Cohen, Joey McGarvey, Lindsey Smith, Erin Clyburn
Working Lunch: All Conference Read with Jung Yun
When: Saturday, October 1, Noon–1:30 p.m. CT
Where: Open Book Performance Hall and 203
Boxed lunches will be served in 203. You are welcome to take them anywhere, but we encourage you to attend the All Conference Read session with Jung Yun. This session will start at 12:30. We encourage attendees to read Jung Yun's O Beautiful in advance and come ready to dig in on some of the key craft decisions that she made in writing this novel. This session will be moderated by Allison Wyss.
Creative Process Activity Session and One-on-one Pitches and Consultations
When: Saturday, October 1, 1:45–3:15 p.m. CT
Where: Open Book Performance Hall and Loft Offices
Our next activity session will take place during this time slot. These sessions are designed to be drop-in in nature so that you can come and go if you have one-on-one appointments during the session.
This creative process session will be led by Vanessa Ramos. She will lead you through several creative exercises that you can introduce into your own practice.
Pitches and consultations will take place during this session in the Loft offices. Please arrive at your arrival time. We cannot accommodate late arrivals. Consultation materials must be submitted by September 9, 2022. You can still have a consultation without materials, but your agent or editor will not see your specific project in advance without the submitted materials.
Pitches: Erin Clyburn, Saritza Hernandez, Sarah Fisk, Rachel Ekstrom Courage, Lindsey Smith, Monica Odom
Consults: Allison Cohen, Loan Le, Antoinette Van Sluytman, Jim McCarthy
Breakout Sessions 1: Craft Specifics
When: Saturday, October 1, 3:30-4:30 p.m. CT
There will be three craft-centered sessions to choose from in this breakout session block that will wrap up day 1 of the conference.
Nicole Helget will lead a memoir and nonfiction session titled "The Shifts and Shapes of Memoir" | Memoir, as a genre, is exploding in interpretations and expressions. Always difficult to define, memoir has never been a genre to sit nicely within the confines of any one person's single definition. In this session, we'll discuss the ways a writer's perspective and voice and mode of delivery can change in their own book, and we'll look at some of the ways a memoir can be structured.
Allison Wyss will lead a fiction session titled: "Writing Dynamic Scenes" | We know things are supposed to happen in our scenes, but it's easy to fall into a rut regarding what that change is. Many writers hail conflict as the great scene creator, but intimacy can do the same thing. This short session will quickly touch on ways to create connections between characters and how those connections can bump characters out of their previous orbits, revealing hidden vulnerabilities and prompting them to act in new ways—all to create dynamic scenes.
Nicole Kronzer will lead a children's & young adult session titled: "Understanding the Teenage Brain: Writing MG & YA" | Writing believable teenagers starts with understanding where teenagers are in their emotional, social, and intellectual development. We'll look at some brain science and examine "teen logic." We'll also take a look at examples of the teen brain in action in texts.
Sunday, October 2
SESSIONS AND ONE-ON-ONES
The conference continues Sunday with more general, activity, and breakout sessions and three blocks of pitches and consultations. All times listed are Central Time.
Mindset Activity Session and One-on-one Pitches and Consultations
When: Sunday, October 2, 9–10:30 a.m. CT
Where: Open Book Performance Hall and Loft Offices
Our next activity session will take place during this time slot. These sessions are designed to be drop-in in nature so that you can come and go if you have one-on-one appointments during the session.
This session will focus on mindset, including exercises in meditation, breathing, yoga, and other practices. It will be led by Arleta Little.
Pitches and consultations will take place during this session in the Loft offices. Please arrive at your arrival time. We cannot accommodate late arrivals. Consultation materials must be submitted by September 9, 2022. You can still have a consultation without materials, but your agent or editor will not see your specific project in advance without the submitted materials.
Pitches: Karly Dizon, Lucy Carson, Antoinette Van Sluytman, Jim McCarthy
Consults: Loan Le, Rachel Ekstrom Courage, Melanie Figueroa, Kayla Lightner
Endnote Craft Session: Matt Bell
When: Sunday, October 2, 10:45–11:30 a.m. CT
Where: Open Book Performance Hall
Join us for a craft endnote session with Matt Bell, author of Refuse to Be Done—a guide to writing, rewriting, and revision from Soho Press.
Working Lunch Marketing Activity Session and One-on-one Pitches and Consultations
When: Sunday, October 2, 11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m. CT
Where: Open Book Performance Hall, 203 and Loft Offices
Our next activity session will take place during this time slot. Boxed lunches will be available in 203, bring your lunch into the hall or enjoy it elsewhere. These sessions are designed to be drop-in in nature so that you can come and go if you have one-on-one appointments during the session.
This session will be led by Rachel Werner and will focus on the business and marketing side of writing—Branding yourself and being active on social media are two very beneficial ways to interest potential agents, editors, and readers. But what's the best way to engage on digital platforms to cultivate an ongoing interest in your work? And how should you get started? This session will explore ways to design and produce an active online presence that keeps readers coming back—plus attract new ones—using free and paid content.
Pitches and consultations will take place during this session in the Loft offices. Please arrive at your arrival time. We cannot accommodate late arrivals. Consultation materials must be submitted by September 9, 2022. You can still have a consultation without materials, but your agent or editor will not see your specific project in advance without the submitted materials.
Pitches: Erin Clyburn, Nora Gonzalez, Monica Odom, Jim McCarthy
Consults: Karly Dizon, Lucy Carson, Maeve MacLysaght, Sarah Fisk
Craft & Creativity Session: Brendan Slocumb
When: Sunday, October 2, 1:30–2:15 p.m. CT
Where: Open Book Performance Hall
Join debut novelist, educator, concert master, and violist Brendan Nicholaus Slocumb for a session on connecting with your art and finding the inspiration it can provide. This session will be moderated by Arleta Little.
Revision Activity Session and One-on-one Pitches and Consultations
When: Sunday, October 2, 2:30–4 p.m. CT
Where: Open Book Performance Hall and Loft Offices
Our final activity session will take place during this time slot. These sessions are designed to be drop-in in nature so that you can come and go if you have one-on-one appointments during the session.
This session will help you look back on all the feedback and advice you've taken from the conference and chart a path for your next steps. Kathryn Savage will lead a series of revision exercises that will help jumpstart your next steps.
Pitches and consultations will take place during this session in the Loft offices. Please arrive at your arrival time. We cannot accommodate late arrivals. Consultation materials must be submitted by September 9, 2022. You can still have a consultation without materials, but your agent or editor will not see your specific project in advance without the submitted materials.
Pitches: Karly Dizon, Sarah Fisk, Melanie Figueroa
Consults: Joey McGarvey, Saritza Hernandez, Monica Odom, Nora Gonzalez
Breakout Sessions 2: Resources for Next Steps & Evaluations
When: Sunday, October 2, 4:15-5:15 p.m. CT
Wordsmith will conclude with one final batch of breakout sessions designed to help you figure out and take your next steps.
Guante will lead a session titled From Stars to Constellations: Building Connection and Community.
The image of the lone writer, locked in a cabin for months at a time, furiously working on their masterpiece—this stereotype obscures the fact that writers live, work, create, and thrive in communities. From online spaces, to literary scenes, to our actual cities and neighborhoods, the people and places around us shape our writing life. And this relationship is mutual: artists also have power—sometimes through our art, sometimes not—to impact the spaces we move through and help build the world we want to live in. In this interactive session, we'll explore how to connect more deeply with our communities, sustain creative collaborations, engage with social movements and activism/advocacy work, and beyond.
Kathryn Savage will lead a session on the best ways to approach revision.
Catherine Lundoff will lead a session to help you explore the publishing resources you might need to take your next steps.