Conference Program: Consultations

Agent/Editor and Publicist Consults

One of the most valuable aspects of the Whidbey Island Writers Conference is the opportunity it provides writers to meet literary agents, publishers, editors, and publicists. In face-to-face conversations, you can pitch your story idea and learn what's strong, what sounds right on track for market interests and where to refine your approach or your writing. We have more than a dozen agents, editors, publishers, and publicists coming. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the publishing world through their eyes.

We fill the appointment schedules of our consulting agents and editors on a first-come, first-serve basis. This year you can request one or two appointments before you arrive at the conference. If you would like to meet with more than two publishing professionals, you can sign up for additional appointments Friday morning at the conference. The cost per consultation is $30 for WIWA members, $35 for non-members.

Steps to take in advance of the conference:

1. Read the presenter bios on our Web site to learn who represents your genre. Visit the presenters' Web sites for more information. Make your selections and send your check, $30 for WIWA members or $35 for nonmembers, per consultation
   Whidbey Island Writers Conference
   P.O. Box 1289
   Langley, WA 98260
   Or, you can call the WIWA office and pay by credit card.
2. State your first, second, and third choices for agents and editors and your preferred times for meeting. We will do our best to give you your first choices. The sooner you send in your request and your payment, the higher priority you'll have for the consults that you want. We'll place a card in your registration packet, available for pick-up Thursday night or Friday morning before the conference, with a schedule of your appointments.

At the conference, you can sign-up for other agents and editors.

1. On Friday morning as part of the opening session, we will have each of the editors, agents, publishers and publicists speak a few minutes about their work. From this, you may decide that you want to speak to other individuals in addition to the ones you have already selected.There will be a consultation registration room where you may sign up for other consults. Times will be posted of available appointments for all agents, editors, etc. You will pay the additional fees at that time.
2. If you want to make any changes to your pre-selected appointments, go to the consultation registration room to arrange a more convenient time. Please remember, however, that appointments are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and your choices may be limited accordingly.

How to Make the Most of Your Fifteen Minutes

We want you to be able to make the most of this rare opportunity to sit side by side with the major decision-makers in the publishing industry. Your appointment can serve many goals. Pitch a completed, in-progress or new project or utilize your appointment to ask questions about improving your project or suggestions for marketing. Remember that these agents, publishers and editors will be giving a panel presentation and Q & A session on Saturday as well. Publishing is an industry of networking and connections. Agents, editors and publishers have their own preferences and many know each others' slants. So, while we have selected a few agents, editors and publishers to serve you here, they may also suggest an associate who is the perfect match for your project. A lot can be accomplished in one consultation appointment if you are prepared. We want both you and your project to succeed. Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions and a link to a worksheet you can print and complete. Use it to help you prepare to make the most of your fifteen minute appointment.

Note: Plain Business cards (needn't be fancy -- just the facts: name and contact numbers) are a good idea. You can exchange them during an agent/editor consultation as well as with other presenters and attendees. They are an excellent tool for maximizing networking opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to have a completed manuscript or fully developed proposal, chapter outline, or sample chapter in order to participate in these appointments?

A: No, although these would be helpful.

We encourage you to describe your project and idea on the Agent/Editor Consultation Worksheet then print and bring the sheet with you. You'll be able to accomplish more during your appointment if you have done the mental homework before you arrive. Also, it is best to know the ending of your project. Though readers like suspense, agents and editors like to be assured that you know where your project is headed.

Q: How do I describe my project and get input in just 15 minutes?

A: Be prepared to answer the question "What's your project about?"... in one sentence. Yes... one sentence. If you don't know what your book is about, it's genre and targeted audience, then your interviewer (and reader) won't know either. Develop an intriguing or compelling hook line that captures the essence of your book. Be ready to explain your idea in a way that triggers a desire to hear more. As a resource, we suggest book cover sleeves.

Further, be prepared to be concise. Don't take ten minutes to say something that you can say in one. You want time to interact with the agent or editor. Rambling answers waste time and give the impression that the project has not been well thought out.

Q: How do I present myself?

A: Be yourself. These are people who came to help you and to find future clients. Be comfortable but professional too. The interviewer is trying to decide if you are someone that he or she wants to work with for years to come. The more professional, organized and courteous you are, the more he or she will be impressed and recognize you as a trustworthy, responsible person who will deliver on your promises.

Q: How do I get an appointment and when will it be?

A: To ensure that you get an appointment, we recommend that you make it the first day of the conference. You can, however, sign up for an appointment at the beginning of each day of the conference at the registration table.

Appointments will run on time. Please check in a few minutes early so that we can start promptly. Since the interviews are tightly scheduled, we thank you in advance for departing graciously when your time is up.

Author Critiques

Have a published author give you feedback on your writing.
Aspiring writers face an interesting dilemma. Our writing groups love us and our work. Our parents are thrilled with anything we write (particularly if it's in a letter to them). While we love our friends and relatives to love us and our work unconditionally, we also want to know that our writing is clear, compelling, and interesting.

Who better than a Whidbey Island Conference presenter to give us honest, feedback to help us improve our writing? For this coming conference a number of presenters have agreed to offer a new opportunity to conference participants. Have a writing sample read and critiqued by a faculty member at the 2006 conference.

Here's how it works: You submit writing samples in any of four genres: poetry, nonfiction, fiction or children's/youth literature. We forward each submission to a presenter in the represented genre who will read and review the submission prior to the conference. During the conference you will be scheduled for a 15-minute meeting with the author to go over the piece and discuss the author's comments. The cost for an author critique is $40 per manuscript submitted by Feb. 15. Manuscripts submitted between Feb. 16 and Feb. 28 cost $50 each. No manuscripts will be accepted after Feb. 28 or at the conference.

Guidelines for writing samples

• Put your name and complete contact information, including email, and the genre on first page.Typed, double-spaced with 1 inch margins. Use a standard 12 point font. For prose, your sample may not exceed 1250 words.For poetry, your sample may not exceed 50 lines.
• If you have a preference of author to critique a particular piece, please indicate it with a note attached to that sample. (See following list.) We will make every effort to accommodate your request. We will, however, send writing samples to authors on a first-come, first served basis.
• The cost for an author critique is $40 per manuscript submitted by Feb. 15. Manuscripts submitted between Feb. 16 and Feb. 28 cost $50 each. No manuscripts will be accepted after Feb. 28 or at the conference. Send your submissions and checks to:
  Whidbey Island Writers Conference
  P.O. Box 1289
  Langley, WA 98260

So, polish your writing and send in a sample or two. You may walk away from your appointment with exactly the suggestions you need to help move your writing to the next level.

Presenters Who Have Agreed to Critique Writing Samples

Fiction
Gloria Kempton
Kathleen Shaputis
Bruce Holland Rogers
Kelsey Roberts
Carolyn Wheat
Hallie Ephron
Deborah LeBlanc
Jack Dalton

Poetry
Carolyne Wright
Kate Gale
Allison Hedge Coke

Nonfiction
Larry Colton
Steve Mettee

Children's/Young Adult
Brent Hartinger
Kirby Larson
Clare Meeker
Stephanie Bodeen
Sally Warner
Summer Laurie

Scripts
Devorah Cutler-Rubenstein