“The publishing industry, unsurprisingly, is full of different people who love different things and express that love in different languages. Find the people, the editors and agents, with whom you share some language, and some sense of what makes literature worth reading.”
Publishing Salon Series:
The path to publishing a book can be confusing and overwhelming. How can you catch the attention of a literary agent? How do you write a good query letter? Do you need to write a book proposal? And what is an author platform and why does it matter?
The Publishing Salon is designed to demystify the world of publishing. Through a series of intimate and dynamic conversations, Spirit of Story founder Karin Gutman and esteemed literary agent Jennie Dunham offer insights and practical steps for navigating your way to finding a home for your work.
Publishing Salons
with
Karin Gutman and Jennie Dunham
Hosted via Zoom
To be notified about upcoming salons,
join the Spirit of Story e-list:
In this salon, Karin and Jennie will provide an overview of how traditional publishing works. This path typically involves a submission process via a literary agent to land a book contract. We’ll discuss the key players, how a book gets sold, and the best way for an author to approach sharing their work in a professional landscape.
We’ll devote a full hour to providing feedback on the query letter of up to 10 participants. This mock submission exercise is an opportunity to receive a professional feedback from a successful New York literary agent who receives thousands of query submissions every year. This premium package is limited to 10 writers, who may register on a first come, first serve basis.
If you are not ready to present your work, you of course can still benefit greatly from listening to the conversation. Each premium author’s work will be shared live on the screen as specific feedback about it is shared.
The last part will be an open Q & A period for all participants to ask questions related to the publishing process.
We hope you’ll join us for the kick off of this series. Ultimately, stories are meant to be shared, and there are so many ways to share them. This forum is a way to support you by illuminating the path forward!
About the Instructors:
Karin Gutman, MFA, is a memoir and story coach who has been guiding writers for over 15 years towards discovering and writing their life-based stories. The safe, dynamic spaces she creates allow for this deeply personal work to unfold, as writers peel away the layers, dig deep, and make meaning out of their life experiences. Her clients have sold books to major publishers, including HarperCollins, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster.
A former story analyst for Creative Artists Agency and 20th Century Fox, she is a published author and has written and developed projects for Nickelodeon, the Jim Henson Company and National Geographic Kids. She has taught at Cal State Fullerton, UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and UCLA Arts and Healing, and currently offers workshops, retreats and one-on-one coaching under her Spirit of Story banner.
Jennie Dunham has been a literary agent in New York City since May 1992. In August 2000 she founded Dunham Literary, Inc.
She represents literary fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Her clients have had both critical and commercial success. Books she has represented have appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers in adult hardcover fiction, children’s books, and children’s book series. Her clients have won numerous awards including: New York Times Best Illustrated Book, The Schneider Family Award, Boston Globe Horn Book Honor, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.
She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Anthropology and has a master's degree in Social Work from New York University. She frequently speaks at writers conferences and events.
Questions you may be asking...
Who is this webinar for?
This 2.5 hour seminar is for anyone who wants to learn more about the path to securing a literary agent and what it takes to land a book contract with a traditional publisher.
It is also for those who have a manuscript draft in place and would benefit from a professional critique from a successful literary agent.
What is the format of the workshop?
Karin and Jennie will spend the first part dialoguing about the world of traditional publishing, touching on key topics and delivering practical insights and tips for those looking to pursue this path.
Then, Jennie will spend a full hour critiquing the query letter for book projects submitted by 10 participants (those who sign up for the Premium Package).
The last 30 minutes will be a Q & A open to all participants who have specific questions related to the publishing process.
We’ll pause for a short break midway through.
I’m interested in the Premium Package. What will I need to submit?
You will need to submit a draft of your query letter, which is a one-page letter designed to attract the interest of an industry professional in your book project.
What kind of book projects are appropriate to submit?
This salon would be most helpful to writers of fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction or a children’s book (which includes young adult, middle grade and picture books).
What if I can’t make the date? Will you be offering it again?
We intend for the Publishing Salon to be an ongoing series. We’ll be announcing additional dates and focused topics in the near future. If you have a topic that you’d like us to consider, please message Karin!
Choosing which package is right for you…
Who should register for the premium package?
Those who are finished with their book (or close to finished) would most benefit. You need to be far enough along that you know the premise of your book. If you are in the brainstorming phase, the premium package is probably not the best fit for you.
Also, you need to be thick-skinned! You have to be ready to share your work with the seminar attendees and for everyone to hear where you need to grow your writing.
The feedback will be brief, but very personalized and specific. You will receive feedback about the strengths and what can be improved.
The premium writers will be muted until the end of the critique at which point they'll be unmuted for a quick moment.
Additional perks for Premium Writers!
The Premium registrants are invited to join 20 min early to enjoy some mingling time before the workshop begins, as well as 20 minutes hangout time after the workshop to ask any additional questions pertaining to your work.
I’m not yet ready to share my book project. Will I still benefit from this salon?
Absolutely! This setting will offer you a rare window into the professional lens of a literary agent, in addition to an understanding of book publishing.
You will be privy to the discussions and feedback Jennie is giving the premium members, and be able to apply that to your own book project. You’ll also have the chance to ask questions in the Q & A period.
It is a unique opportunity, and you are not required to submit anything to register!
Kind words...
I appreciate your acumen, professionalism, efficiency, and the kindness of spirit from you both so evident in the salon.
“What? Inch out of the cool shade of a giant's shadow to expose myself to possible burn? Thank you for the push!
I thank you both very much for a revealing salon. Specifically for my work, and in general. I appreciate your acumen, professionalism, efficiency, and the kindness of spirit from you both so evident in the salon.”
Roberta Degnore
“It was interesting to see what worked and what did not... and the commonalities in the critiques. Although I did not have work critiqued, I could imagine what mine may have been, from other examples.”
Kris Crinwelge
Although I did not have work critiqued, I could imagine what mine may have been, from other examples.
Jennie’s honest feedback was just what I needed. And… it was FUN!
“Jennie’s honest feedback was just what I needed. I left the Zoom meeting feeling that, even if I do not get published, the session today will make me a better writer. And… it was FUN!”
Carolyn Butcher
