December 16 @ 7:00 pm - December 18 @ 7:00 pm
Online
$59Overview
A Two-Night Mini Online Course
Join editor Harold Underdown to uncover strategies for successfully submitting your manuscript to agents and editors. This program is a great fit if you’re looking for a short course of two, 75-minute sessions offering limited interaction with the community, but loads of information.
- Monday, December 16, 2024 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Wednesday, December 18, 2024 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Webinar-style program with closed captioning available and limited interaction in the chat
- You’ll have access to the recordings through January 31, 2025.
Why This Workshop?
We believe in getting the very best stories to children and teens.
Part one of this journey is crafting the very best story. Part two is collaborating with publishing professionals to bring it into the world.
How do you know when you are ready to move to part two of the journey, and submit your manuscript?
Join editor Harold Underdown to answer this question and many others on your journey to submitting your work.
In this short course, we will discuss:
- Knowing when you are ready to submit
- How to prepare your submission
- Where to find editors and agents who are eager for your work
- Different strategies for submission, and selecting the one that is right for you and your work
- The basics of querying (including case studies of successful submission practices)
- The truth about (not) needing a social media “platform”
- And more!
You’ll receive resources to pair with the presentations, including detailed handouts.
Feedback Expected
- None included in the course. There will be limited interaction in the chat feature of the webinar-style program. (Bring plenty of questions to share in the chat.)
It’s a Great Fit for…
- Writers of books for kids and teens. The examples shared will be from a multitude of genres (including YA) with a focus on submission of manuscripts (not illustrations).
- Creatives new to writing for children and/or teens and want to learn more about the submission process. This course will offer suggestions for successful submissions to children’s book agents and editors.
- Writers submitting and needing tips on ways to expand your submission process.
- Storytellers looking for something short, sweet, and smart! This is not a full workshop, instead it is two, 75-minute sessions meant to engage and build your foundational knowledge about submitting to children’s book editors and agents.
Tentative Agenda
At registration: You will receive a Zoom link to use each night of the course.
IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND LIVE:
If you are unable to attend either session for any reason, you’ll have access to the recordings (with closed captioning) through January 31, 2025.
Please note that if you register for the course after the start of the first session, you will not receive recordings immediately. You’ll receive both recordings after the close of the last session, usually within 24 hours.
All Times are Eastern Standard Time.
Click on the headings below to explore the agenda in more detail.
Part One: Monday, December 16 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Assess Your Manuscript: Are You Ready to Submit?
- Research: Finding Agents & Editors Who Want Your Work
- Open Q & A
*Please note that with questions the session may end closer to 8:30pm Eastern. If you need to leave promptly at 8:15pm, you can access the remaining questions via the recording.
Part Two: Wednesday, December 18 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Query Letter Basics (Editor & Agent Expectations)
- Analyze Case Studies (Diving into different successful paths to submission)
- Q&A (access to handouts)
*Please note that with questions the session may end closer to 8:30pm Eastern. If you need to leave promptly at 8:15pm, you can access the remaining questions via the recording.
How It Impacts Kids
If your goal is to bring your book to market, learning strategies for doing so will help you move toward getting your story in the hands of kids.
Testimonials from Our Community
“Harold, as always, delivers a professional and informative presentation with a measured pace. He ensures his research is up-to-date by surveying active authors and agents and offers useful and timely suggestions.”
“Harold is incredibly knowledgeable about the world of children’s book publishing. His presentation was well paced and engaging.”
“This was an excellent presentation, chock full of great information. I felt that Mr. Underdown truly cared about our writing and illustrating dreams. He didn’t sugar-coat the process of entering the publishing world, and yet, I came away with hope of having my writing dreams fulfilled in some way!”
