Literary Agent Gina Panettieri Answers Representation Questions for Authors

Panettieri will take pitches, present a workshop session and a master class during the Fifty Shades of Writing Conference 

Gina Panettieri is the president of Talcott Notch Literary Services, LLC, located in Milford, CT, with a satellite office outside Boston. She is a 25-year industry veteran who has worked as an agent, author, and freelance editor. Two of her more recognizable sales—BROKEN, and its sequel, TAINTED, by A.E. Rought—have been optioned by ABC Family for development as a series. Another DEAD JED by Scott Craven, was optioned by Nickelodeon for development as a movie.

Gina loves all genres of literature, from history to travel. To see the many other genres she and her agents are looking for, visit her website here.

While at the ‘Fifty Shades of Writing’ conference, Ms. Panettieri will take pitches on a first come, first serve basis throughout the day on Saturday. Also, she will be leading a breakout session entitled, “Dialogue: Using it to Your Advantage." Attendees at this session will learn how to enhance characterization, keep the pace crisp, add humor or suspense, among other things. For more details click on the link above.

Additionally, she’ll present a Sunday master class entitled, “Brilliant Beginnings.” This three-hour class will focus on the key elements you need to demonstrate in your opening pages, and the errors you absolutely must avoid.

Brian: Ms. Panettieri, thank you so much for joining our ‘Fifty Shades of Writing’ conference. When reading your bio, I see that you and I have a lot in common: books are a huge part of our lives. What was it that led you to a career as an agent, rather than taking the path like many of us book lovers, as a writer?

Nonfiction Writing According to Bestselling Author Matthew Frederick

The Missouri Writers' Guild is pleased to welcome Matthew Frederick as a speaker during the Fifty Shades of Writing Conference in St. Louis, April 11-13.

Matthew Frederick is an architect, urban designer, and bestselling author. He scouts nonfiction book projects for Fairbank Literary Representation and coaches authors on developing their nonfiction concepts. 

Mr. Frederick was an architecture columnist before authoring the bestselling 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School (MIT Press, 2007). Since then, he has developed the 101 Things I Learned book series for which he serves as editor, co-author, and illustrator. The series now has over 500,000 books in print, including titles in Business, Culinary, Fashion, Film, Law and Engineering School (Grand Central/ Hachette), and has been translated into fifteen languages. 

At the 2014 Missouri Writers’ Guild Fifty Shades of Writing’ Conference, Mr. Frederick will provide one-on-one Pitch-Practice at the Friday pre-conference and will lead two other sessions. On Saturday, his breakout session, “The Four Ps of Nonfiction—Platform, Prose, Proposal and Purpose,” will provide an overview of the unique needs of nonfiction and equip students with tools to tackle the genre. And on Sunday, his 3-hour Master Class, “What’s the Big—or Little—Idea?” will help attendees discover, broaden, narrow, heighten, and deepen their nonfiction concepts. Attendees should bring a project to the session a title/subtitle, a one-sentence “tagline,” and if possible, a 200-word synopsis.

Brian:  Mr. Frederick, thank you so much for joining us at our ‘Fifty Shades of Writing’ conference. Can you tell us a little about how you became an expert in a variety of disciplines? 

What Literary Agents Do to Help Authors

Laura Biagi, literary agent with Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, previews her workshop session, “What an Agency Brings to the Table” for the Fifty Shades of Writing Conference

Laura Biagi is an agent with the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. She specializes in adult literary fiction and young readers' books. She also handles the sale rights for Australia and New Zealand for the agency. In addition, she’s an author and the recipient of a Kentucky Emerging Artist Award for fiction writing.

Biagi will listen to individual pitches and will lead two breakout sessions.

In the workshop, “What an Agency Brings to the Table,” Biagi will present exactly what a literary agency does. Additional topics covered will be on agent negotiation and contracts, editing a manuscript before submitting, as well as communications between author and editor.

Attendees in her second workshop, “How to Write a Stand-Out Query”  will learn to shape their plot description and the elements for a stand-out query, so that their writing changes from “ho-hum” to “WOW!

For more on both workshops, check out the conference website here.

Throughout the day on Saturday, Biagi will also be available for one-on-one agent pitch sessions. These are on a first come, first serve basis, so sign up sooner rather than later!

Brian: Ms. Biagi, thank you so much for joining our faculty at our upcoming ‘Fifty Shades of Writing’ conference.

So I’ve got this great book, I know it’s going to be a best seller. I want to send it straight to a publisher. They’ll love it. So why should I bother with an agent? I mean, won’t you just take 15% of my royalties? What’s in it for me? What do agents do, exactly?

MWG Writing Contests Deadline Extended to March 15

The 2014 MWG conference committee has decided to extend the deadline for the Sponsor and Chapter contests until March 15, 2014.

So, whether you write short stories in YA, Sci/Fi, fantasy, humor, or on any topic, put the finishing touches on your manuscript and send it in! Or pen an inspirational essay or turn our judges on their ear with a flash fiction story.

Chapter Contests:

1. Flash Fiction (Sponsored by Saturday Writers) Max 500 words

2. Inspirational Essay (Sponsored by: Saturday Writers) Max 2500 words

3. Young Adult (YA) Short Story (Sponsored by Southeast Missouri Writers’ Guild) 2,500 words or less

4. Short Story (Sponsored by Southeast Missouri Writers’ Guild) Max 2000 words

5. Free Verse Poem (Sponsored by St. Louis Writers Guild)

Sponsor Contests:

1. Humorous Short Story (Sponsored by Joanna Dale) 1,000 –2,000 words.

2. Science Fiction and Fantasy Bonanza Short Story Contest (Sponsored by Walrus Publishing) 1,000-6,000 words. 

Here's our previous post on the judges >>>

For complete contest listings, judges, and rules go to: http://missouriwriters guild.org/2014AnnualContest Rules.pdf and www.missouriwritersguild.org and click on the 2014 conference link.

WRITE! And see you there!

—Submitted by Donna Essner, MWG Secretary

Authors learn how to “sit down & pitch” at free St. Louis Writers' Guild workshop

Once you’ve written a book, getting the attention of an agent or publisher isn’t always easy. Learn how to promote yourself and your writing at the St. Louis Writers Guild’s second annual “Sit Down and Pitch” workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, March 1, at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Rd. in Kirkwood, Mo.

“Pitching to an agent or publisher might be the scariest thing a writer has to do,” said Brad Cook, St. Louis Writers Guild president. “This workshop is free and open to all. We invite everyone who is planning to attend the Missouri Writers Guild (MWG) conference in April or other writing conference this year.”

Brad will offer tips for delivering an effective five-minute pitch, then writers will get a chance try their pitches within small breakout groups of other authors. 

“Even if you don’t have a pitch when you arrive, you’ll have one by the time you leave,” he said.

Then you’ll be ready to pitch to real agents and publishers at the 2014 MWG Conference, Fifty Shades of Writing, April 11-13, in St. Louis. For more conference information and registration, visit www.missouriwritersguild.org.

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild, a MWG chapter, at www.stlouiswritersguild.org.

Missouri Writers' Guild Conference Nets Record-Breaking Early Registration Numbers

Regular registration lasts through March 31

SAINT LOUIS – The 99^th Annual Missouri Writers’ Guild Conference has broken its previous early bird registration record. Currently, approximately 80 writers from throughout the country are registered to attend the “Fifty Shades of Writing” conference. The event will take place Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 13, 2014, in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Registration remains open through March 31. 

“Writers looking for an affordable conference that’s centrally located, need look no further,” said Conference Chair Lisa Miller. “The MWG board has worked hard picking our speakers and agents and the early numbers prove we have put together a stellar line-up that appeals to writers of all skill levels.”

Conference events include: