As many writers know, agents and editors won't give your work more than ten pages or so to make an impact. If you haven't got them hooked by then, it's a safe bet you won't be asked for more material. Make sure you've got the kind of opening they're looking for! In this invaluable event, you'll get to work with an agent to review and refine the first ten pages of your novel or non-fiction book. You'll learn what keeps an agent reading, what are the most common mistakes that make them stop, and the steps you need to take to correct them. The best part is that you'll be working directly with an agent, who will provide feedback specific to your work.
NOTE:Â All attendees should have the first 10 pages of their novel or non-fiction book finished and ready to submit to the agent prior to the beginning of the event.
THURSDAY
OCTOBER 10, 2024
Online Tutorial Access
On Thursday morning, October 10 you will gain online access to a special 60-minute online tutorial presented by agent and editor Paula Munier. It will help you clarify what you should be looking for in your work. You will also be notified by email which agent you'll be working with on the start date, 10/10/2024, by 5 pm ET. While we accept agent requests, we cannot guarantee that you'll be assigned to that agent. All agents have the ability to provide feedback in all genres including non-fiction.
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 12, 2024
Send in your first 10 pages by 10 AM ET
Students may take Thursday and Friday to revise their pages, which are due to be sent to their assigned agent no later than 10:00 am (ET) on Saturday morning, October 12, 2024. (The word count of submissions is strictly limited to 2500 words and it should be submitted in the body of their email, not as attachments).
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 13, 2024
Feedback returned from agents by 10 AM ET
All pages with notes will be returned to participants by 10:00 AM (ET) Sunday morning (October 13th). You'll work to revise your pages based on the agent's specific feedback.
Agent discussion session Q&A 1–3 PM ET
Talcott Notch will host an online discussion board. This is your golden opportunity to ask your burning questions about craft and improve your writing, as well as industry topics like trends, markets, working with agents, and more. Keep in mind, this is a lively, learning environment that will give you an immense opportunity to learn not only from your faculty but from the other participants' questions, so please pose questions that won't require your instructor to stop the discussion to reread your boot camp submission in the middle of the Q&A, but otherwise, consider the faculty your treasure trove of industry secrets at your disposal!
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 15, 2024
Send in the revised first 10 pages by 11:59 PM ET
You'll return your final revised pages to your assigned agent for review. Agents will spend the next few weeks reading the revised submissions assigned to them and will provide a final brief one-or-two-sentence critique of your progress no later than Monday, November 11, 2024.
MONDAY
NOVEMBER 11, 2024
Feedback returned from agents by 11:59 PM ET
Meet the agents
Gina Panettieri
Talcott Notch Literary Agency
Gina Panettieri is President of Talcott Notch Literary Services, and has worked as an agent for 25 years. She currently represents a full range of adult and children's fiction and nonfiction, with an emphasis in fiction on YA, MG, mystery, women's fiction, historical fiction, and book club fiction. In nonfiction, she is particularly seeking memoir, cooking, health and fitness, pop science, medicine, true crime, military history, and current events. Â
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Paula Munier
Talcott Notch Literary Agency
Paula Munier is the Senior Agent and Director of Storytelling for Talcott Notch Literary and USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of the Mercy Carr mysteries. Over her 20-plus years in the business, she’s conceived, created, produced, and marketed exceptional content in all formats across all markets for such media giants as WGBH, Fidelity, Disney, Gannett, S&S, Quarto, Greenspun Media Group, among others. She represents both fiction and nonfiction; her clients run the gamut from debut authors to New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors who’ve won/been shortlisted for such honors as the Edgar, Thriller, Agatha, and Anthony awards as well as the Pushcart Prize, AWP, and PEN awards. Many of her clients’ works have been adapted for stage and screen. She’s the author of three popular books on writing: The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings: How to Craft Story Openings That Sell, Writing with Quiet Hands: How to Shape Your Writing to Resonate with Readers, Plot Perfect: How to Build Unforgettable Stories Scene by Scene, and the acclaimed memoir Fixing Freddie. The latest book in her Mercy Carr series, HOME AT NIGHT, was named Library Journal’s Mystery Pick of the Month. Her next book, THE NIGHT WOODS, debuts in October 2024.Â
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Amy Collins
Talcott Notch Literary Agency
Amy Collins, Agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services, has over 30 years’ experience matching books with readers. As a former book buyer, publisher, and sales director for one of the largest non-fiction publishers in the US, Amy has been focused on market and sales potential for author and brings that skill to her role as an advocate for her clients. As an agent, she represents many authors who have signed deals with major publishers for Cookbooks, Romance, Pop Culture, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, and Thrillers.
She is a member of Mensa, a featured expert for Writers Digest Magazine, and a trusted teacher at conferences world-wide. She has taught and spoken at many of the publishing industry’s top festivals and conferences including Scottish Writers Association Conference, Pacific Northwest Conference, London BookFair, Publishers Weekly BookCon, Writers Digest and many others.
Amy is the author of several non-fiction books ranging from self-help (It’s The Little Things, (Simon & Schuster/Adams Media) to books on Publishing and working toward becoming a successful author. She is currently traveling the country in a solar powered bus with her two dogs meeting with editors and authors and can be found on social media everywhere as @askamycollins and online at her website.
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Nadia Lynch
Talcott Notch Literary Agency
As a newly appointed Junior Literary Agent, I am thrilled to continue my journey in the world of literature, combining my love for books with a dedication to supporting authors through the publishing process.
Since joining Talcott Notch Literary in June of 2021, I've served as a steadfast support to our agents, delving into queries, managing royalties, orchestrating payments, curating social media, conducting research, and tackling daily projects. The opportunity to immerse myself in the world of literature is a dream come true—one that stemmed from my lifelong passion for books.
Upon earning a bachelor's degree in political science from Southern New Hampshire University, I worked as a paralegal in the structured legal realm. Yet, the allure of a career merging structure with the limitless creativity found in literature was irresistible.
I am interested in upmarket, literary, historical, young adult, and women's fiction, especially narratives that showcase resilient female protagonists. While these genres anchor my reading repertoire, I'm invigorated by books that push boundaries and challenge my perspectives.
In the world of non-fiction, I find joy in delving into subjects that expand my understanding. History, philosophy, alternative medicine, and self-improvement books stand out among my preferred genres, each offering a unique lens to explore and absorb new insights.
I firmly believe that the multifaceted dimensions of my background—from my academic journey to my time as a paralegal and experience in the literary agency—will uniquely contribute to my ability to represent effectively and champion authors in their literary endeavors.
