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Submissions That Sell with Cathy Yardley

Mentoring Course. If you’re planning on submitting a query to an agent or editor, this course will help you write a compelling query letter, a slam-dunk synopsis, and ensure that your first fifty pages start with a hook that has them eager for more.  

Cathy Yardley, author of over seventeen novels with Harlequin, St. Martin’s and Avon, will provide tips and active feedback, guiding you in the process of creating a submission package that sells.   

In just four weeks, you’ll work on a query letter that gets across the streamlined facts (and whets an agent’s appetite) as well as showcasing your savvy; you’ll create a synopsis that hits the high points and shows how well you know your narrative arc; and you’ll get feedback on your first fifty pages, the ultimate test for an agent’s interest.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1:  What’s your story about?
  
•Identifying your story question.
•Identifying your plot points.
•Identifying your high concept/commercial hook.

Week 2:  The Query – a three paragraph template

•The first paragraph:  who you targeted, why, and what you’ve got
•The second paragraph:  your mini-synopsis.  Who, what, and why.
•The third paragraph: why it’s your story, and why they should trust you.

Week 3:  The Synopsis – easier than you think.

•Focusing on the Plot Points
•Streamlining the connective tissue: keeping it simple.
•What a synopsis tells you about character, plot, and conflict.

Week 4:  The proposal pages.

•Feedback on the pages.
•Questions & comments.

WHEN:    Jul 1, 2012 - Aug 3, 2012

COST:   $125 for Premium Members
$125 for Basic Members

Cancellation policy: Registrations are non-refundable except when the workshop is cancelled by Savvy Authors.

REGISTRATION:      *** Registration Closed***

INSTRUCTOR:   
Author of more than 17 novels with publishers such as Harlequin, Avon & St. Martin's Griffin, Cathy Yardley is a powerhouse of writing knowledge. She has presented workshops at the Emerald City Writers Conference and the New England Writers Conference, and at several RWA chapters, including Sacramento, Monterey Bay, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Seattle's Eastside chapter. She was the only romance author representing the romance genre at the California Writers Club's annual "East of Eden" conference. She has spoken at the RWA conference, either on a panel or as a solo speaker, in 2003, 2004, and 2007, and teaches a variety of writing workshops throughout the year.

Find out more about Cathy at her website.


WHERE:   
In the Savvy Authors Forums and Chatrooms

Tags:    Publishing, Query/Pitch,





*** PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED AND ENCOURAGED ***

Website Instructions

All workshop registrations include FREE Basic Membership in Savvy Authors.

Savvy Authors' workshops are held on a forum: a bulletin board based system. Instead of an invitation to join a loop you will receive a reminder notice one or two days prior to the start of the workshop that includes your user name, password and instructions on how to access the workshop forum. If you have not received instructions by the day the workshop begins, please check your spam filter.

The forum will be available the morning (EST) of the day the workshop starts and will remain accessible to all participants thereafter, even after the workshop ends (unless otherwise stated by the moderator).

Participants can "subscribe" to the forum at any time after receiving initial access to automatically receive notice of all posts made to the forum via email. Participants will receive a link in each email which will take them directly to that area of the forum where one can post a reply.

A moderator is assigned for each workshop and will introduce himself/herself on the first day of class. The moderator is available to answer any website questions, assist the instructor, and address any concerns. We urge every participant to contact the moderator immediately if you feel the workshop experience falls below expectations so we may address issues promptly before the workshop ends. Savvy Authors strives to offer an educational and satisfying workshop experience for everyone, and we treat complaints with utmost urgency.

Questions or concerns may also be sent to workshops@savvyauthors.com.

Payment is due at the time of registration to guarantee your seat in the course. Registrations are non-refundable except when the workshop is cancelled by Savvy Authors.

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