WEBINARS
Pitch Wars Webinars Presents…
A Query Workshop with Agent Jim McCarthy, Vice President of Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret Literary Agency
In this live webinar, Jim McCarthy invites you to peek behind the curtain and watch exactly what happens when an agent considers your query. Working from your pre-submitted queries, participants will have the chance to read along with him as he decides whether to stop reading or carry on. You’ll see the exact moment in query letters that he perks up or passes. He promises to be all the way honest but also to share feedback that is not only proscriptive but kind. Along the way, you’ll garner helpful tips on what to avoid as you write your own query, how to stand out from the pack (in a good way), and what goes on in an agent’s mind as they consider your material.
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW ONLY OPEN TO OBSERVE, NOT TURN IN YOUR OWN QUERY FOR REVIEW (Price has been adjusted.)
The Details . . .
Date: Tuesday, July 25
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Cost: $25 $20 to attend the workshop
Instructions: Register using the form below and upload your receipt. Don’t forget to send your query letter to brendadrakecontests@gmail.com no later than 5 pm ET on Tuesday, July 18 with the subject line “Query letter for Jim McCarthy workshop.”
Please note: There is a 30 person limit for the webinar
About Jim McCarthy . . .
Jim McCarthy is Vice President and literary agent at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management in New York, NY. He has been with the agency for 18 years, initially starting as an intern way back in the ‘90s. He represents a wide range of fiction, adult and young adult, commercial and literary. He is also seeking narrative nonfiction, particularly memoir, history, and pop culture. His clients include New York Times bestsellers Richelle Mead, Victoria Laurie, Morgan Rhodes, Livia Blackburne, Robin Talley, among many more.
THIS WEBINAR IS NOW OPEN WITHOUT QUERY SUBMISSION
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(You don’t need a Paypal account to donate. Just go to the bottom and you can use a credit card.)
About Pitch Wars Webinars…
The Pitch Wars webinar series was developed to help writers at every stage of their careers. Mentors and industry experts will host webinars focused on pitching, publishing, developing craft, and more.
Pitch Wars is a contest where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns choose one writer each, read their entire manuscript, and offer suggestions to shine it up for agents. The mentors work with their mentees for two months before an agent round. Learn more.
Just registered. Do I pay at the donate button?
My apologies. I just re-read it. I had three things going at once. I’ve sent payment.
Glad you figured it out! Enjoy the workshop.
Hi! I just registered and sent my query. Will we receive a confirmation response? Thanks!
Hi Samantha, you should receive a confirmation at the email account you listed when you registered.
If I can’t log on live, can I still register and watch a recording? I’ll be on a train at that time… not sure about wifi, etc. Thanks!
Hi jamiebethc, yes, if you can’t make it live you could register, submit your query, and then watch the recording of the workshop later. It may be a little less interactive, but still valuable.
Thank you!
For the query workshop, is it ok if we leave out our last name in the query letter we submit since it will be broadcast?
Hi Sabina L., You do not have to use your last name when you submit if you don’t want to. No personally identifying information will be shared during the workshop itself, just the content of the queries. Hope that helps!
In that case, should we omit the bio portion ?
You’re welcome to cut it or leave it in, whichever you are more comfortable with!
Thanks, Leigh!
Just paid. When do I get confirmation? I also put in the wrong Twitter handle… Its Jordanpdunsmore
Hi Jordan, I see your registration, you are confirmed. Thanks!
Hi. I just signed up, I think. I did not figure out how to pay so presumed it happened afterward – but it said the seminar is now full – though I received an email receipt. So – I need to pay; any idea how?
Thank you.
Hi Laura, Apologies for the delay, I’ve been out of town without internet! Could you email brendadrakecontests@gmail.com and let me know what name/email you registered under, please? Thank you!
Hi! I paid and signed up earlier today. I’ve received confirmation from PayPal for the payment. Will I also receive confirmation for registering for the workshop? I’m worried I goofed my email address.
Hi Laura, Apologies for the delay, I’ve been out of town without internet! I see you in the registration list, did you receive an email earlier today?
I signed up and also received a “this seminar is now full” notice after making my payment. Please let me know if I am actually registered or if I will receive a refund. Thank you.
Hi, Apologies for the delay, I’ve been out of town without internet! Could you email brendadrakecontests@gmail.com and let me know what name/email you registered under, please, so I can look into this? Thank you!
I have never done a webinar before. Do I come to this same web address to watch it and interact?
Second, I am on the PitchWars proboard getting feedback on my query so it is going to be drastically different than the one I submitted. Is there a way to submit my new version instead?
Hi Gina, You should have received an email this morning with details to login to the webinar. Unfortunately, the deadline for queries was last week and they have already been provided to our host. If you can send me your latest, I’ll see if it’s possible to adjust. I would advise holding on further changes until after the webinar!
Thank you Leigh. I have sent my new query to the brendadrakecontests@gmail email. Thanks to the PitchWars proboard it is completely different and, I think, it is much improved. Thank you so much! I’ve already learned so much from being a part of PitchWars this year.
will the recorded webinar be posted here so we can go back and re-listen to it?
Hi Gina, No, the recording will be sent directly to those who registered for the webinar. The recordings are sent within a week of the live webinar. Thanks!
Hi! I wasn’t able to tune in live, but I registered and sent my query. How do we access the recording?
Thanks!
Hello! The recording will be sent directly to those who registered for the webinar. You will receive within a week of the live webinar. Thanks!