Events and Programs That Begin Before You Arrive and Continue After You Depart - All Genres.
What does the above mean? Prior to the start of any given event, writers receive critical, publisher-reviewed assignments, a novel development eBook, and must-do checklists, many of which are found in the Algonkian novel writing forums at AA Connect. Additionally, at the conclusion of events, and for manuscript polish purposes, writers are provided with a supplemental novel editorial program that includes additional faculty consultation.
We know that if you are beginning a novel or working on one in-progress, or if you have a completed ms and require a strong reality check, you must receive professional, highly focused reaction not only to your prose and narrative, but to your story premise (most important), plot points, antagonist, secondary characters, conflict lines, theme, and all else. Our ultimate goal, therefore, is to increase your odds of becoming a published author by showing you how to inhabit that upper percentile of writers who will have their work taken seriously by professionals in the business.
- Michael Neff, Director
EVENTS AND EDITORIAL PROGRAMS (click for dates):
Algonkian Author Connect (Free Membership)
Novel Development and Editorial Program - Ongoing
Monterey Retreat - 11/24
Write to Pitch NY - 12/24
St. Augustine Author-Mentor - 2/25
Algonkian Park Workshop Retreat - TBA 25
Write to Pitch NY - TBA 25
Like most European and American retreats and workshops, writers discover themselves immersed in a scenic and relaxing location. Both events include pre-event development assignments online, the Algonkian Study Guide, ample one-on-one time with commercial professionals (agents and editors, not just authors) as well as pragmatic doses of technique and knowledge--the kind necessary to produce competitive and artful work. Our workshops and retreats, including the St. Augustine Author-Mentor (see below), also include a post-event novel development program online. Thus, our events are the only ones that begin before you arrive and continue after you leave.
Writers work with a team of professionals who possess solid track records and a range of practical experience in the world of creative writing, editing, and publishing. The Algonkian success rate has born out the fact that only a certain kind of professional is truly qualified to provide the accurate and detailed advice a writer needs to succeed in this current marketplace. No longer is the faculty credential of only being an author good enough.
Inheriting the victory medals from its predecessor, the Write to Pitch Conference 2024 in New York arguably becomes the most successful writer conference (if measured by careers and books launched) in the U.S. The event is held four times a year and features publishing house editors from major houses such as Penguin, Random House, St. Martins, Harper Collins, Tor and Del Rey, Kensington Books, and many more who are looking for new novels in a variety of genres, as well as narrative non-fiction. The event focuses on professional novel development and critical reaction by event faculty as the best method for creating an artful marketing pitch. Once done, the pitch itself also serves as a diagnostic tool for workshopping the plot, premise, prose, and other crucial elements. It is worth noting that participants begin the process by utilizing a pre-event eBook (as well as other assignments) to polish their manuscripts, and continue the process afterwards in a post-event editorial program online. Therefore our motto:
There are no great writers, only great rewriters.
UPCOMING EVENTS ON AUTHOR CONNECT
Come Prepared to Write and Learn From the Best
February TBA, 2025
The Author-Mentor Novel Workshop in St. Augustine creates an intimate and professional environment that combines private meetings with small-group workshops, thus enabling aspiring authors to wisely approach the writing and publication of their novel. At the St. Augustine event, aspiring authors will: 1) work one-on-one with authors and savvy market professionals; 2) acquire the market skills and advanced story and narrative technique they must know to become published; 3) learn the necessary inside mechanics of the publishing business; and 4) leave the workshop with a detailed plan to work towards publication of their novel.
Because this workshop accepts far fewer writers than most conferences, those writers who are accepted are given more time to establish relationships with professionals who are present; and unlike several major celeb conferences, St. Augustine Author-Mentor does not simply import name authors or agents to give inspirational messages and smile over cocktails. Our prize-winning faculty are there to meet with writers in a setting conducive to productive discussion of writing and publishing.
Algonkian Novel Writing Courses online (16 course modules) set the goal of getting you as close to the brass ring as possible by making your novel as commercially competitive as it needs to be on all levels of structure and craft while avoiding critical missteps and the omnipresent tripwires of bad advice. In addition, it doesn't matter what stage the novel is currently in or where you are in your writing life. The program steps, course modules, and methodology, as well as the faculty, enable you to learn and grow as a writer together with your novel, and at your own pace. Your work is reviewed by a professional developmental editor and together you set publication goals, discuss agent representation options, and engage in manuscript edits as necessary and appropriate.
There simply is no other novel writing program that can compare in terms of rigor, approach, or syllabus. As a bonus, you avoid the usual pitfalls that accompany group feedback from amateurs, not to mention poor guidance from instructors insufficiently versed in the nuances of genre fiction and commercial markets.
Manuscripts to Market specializes in successfully developing, editing, and market-positioning commercial genre and literary novels, concluding the process with query letter supervision and agent consultation. The primary goal for each novel we take on is simple: to get it published by a major house or distinguished press. The primary goal for the clients we take on is simple also: to remake and mentor them into better writers. Our success and expertise in developing and editing the popular genres of mystery, crime, suspense and thriller, SF/F adult and YA, historical and narrative nonfiction of any type, as well as women's fiction in all sub-genres, is the result of many years in the publishing business (both commercial and literary presses) as well as authoring our own fiction, and editing fiction for others, not to mention leading workshops at the most successful writer event in the country, the Write to Pitch Conference 2023. Many of the writers who attend are mentored by us into successful commercial publication.