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INTERVIEW OBSERVATIONS BY AGENTS "Any first time author can be made to look "fabulous" -- it's all about how an agent, author and publisher present the author. Every author has a background and a story, which can be told to the book- sellers and public in a boring way or a way that is spectacular."   Barbara Zitwer "If an author is a terrific writer and has a voice or perspective or style that's not been seen before, there is a far greater chance it will have a place in the literary market. Though it's true that it can be tough to get a first book published, agents and editors are always looking for the next voice or story. That's why we go to writer's conferences."   Elise Capron

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We provide professional workshops and writer conferences for writers in all genres who wish to improve, begin, finish, or sell the novel. If you wish to learn more about our methods and approach, please stop by our About page to appreciate our philosophy, then on to the FAQ page for more information, and finally, our Syllabus page for assignment and study details. Next, see our Commentary page and writer interviews for reactions to our events. Our goal, simply put, is to place writers on a realistic path by teaching them how to place themselves in the upper .001 of those who have an actual chance of becoming published authors. Upcoming events and a sample event schedule as follows: 7/09 SF, CA .. 9/09 AP, VA .. 9/09 NYC Pitch .. 10/09 SF, CA .. Sample Schedule.

More invaluble info from The Writer's Edge. Paula Marguiles chooses her favorite Ten Best Books on Writing (plus ART OF FICTION by Gardner) and explains why in detail. Joe Finder, in Art of The Pitch, compares high-concept, premise and hook, as vital elements in pitching both film and novel. Then Paula returns to make a very important observation in First Impressions, namely, that "Every writer should have multiple pairs of eyes on a book before it goes to an agent, editor, or publicist ... After rounds of testing with other authors, the book should then go through a good edit, hopefully with a professional editor ..." Haven't we been saying that? Too many first novels are ruined by impatience and failure to properly cross and dot. Latest from the Writer's Edge, post by Michael Neff: Backspace conference admins and Folio agent Hoffman finally admit what we've known all along: pitching your novel at most writer conferences is a waste of time. According to Neff, "I've been to many large writer conference events, talked to lots of agents, and heard the horror stories from writers ..." More helpful notes from the Writer's Edge Blog hosted by Michael Neff of Algonkian Writer Conferences and writer Tony Policastro, also including legendary agent Richard Curtis, publicist Paula Marguiles, and writer-teacher Christine Stewart: More Stigma to Self Publishing? by guest writer Debbi Mack; Top Ten Things Editors and Agents Hate by Tony P.; and an important piece entitled New Writers Must Be Careful Not to Emulate Bad Writing By Poor Authors ... In Seven Reasons Passionate Writers Fail to Publish, the Algonkian MN talks about writers who snatch defeat from the jaws of victory ... ... and in Got a Novel That Needs a Fix? Whose Advice Should You Trust? he further observes that bad advice can doom a novel ...

Fisherman's Wharf Writers Conference July 8-12, 09. OPEN TO APPLICATIONS. Tuition $695 "From the Heart, but Smart - Premise, Platform, Market and Execution" beside the San Francisco Bay ... Agent sessions With Michael Larsen, Elizabeth Pomada, Amy Burkhardt and Scott Hoffman; structure and narrative workshops with Michael Neff; Short Fiction Workshop, Novel Into Film. Author Kathi Goldmark and Editor/Author Sam Berry.

New York Pitch Conference Sept. 10-13, 09. OPEN TO APPLICATIONS. Tuition $595 Writers workshop their novel before pitching it to major publishers such as Scribners, Penguin, Random House, Holt, St. Martins, and more. See NYC Pitch and Shop NEWS for latest. Book publicity pros and top workshop leaders from Algonkian and NYC.

	Algonkian Park Workshops Sept. 16-20, 09. OPEN TO APPLICATIONS. Tuition $865 Beside the waters of the Potomac, writers go to the fireplace with lots of coffee and hunker down for five days of intensive novel and fiction crafting with Michael Neff, Robert Bausch, and Paige Wheeler.

Fisherman's Wharf Writers Conference Oct. 21-25, 09. OPEN TO APPLICATIONS. Tuition $695 "From the Heart, but Smart - Premise, Platform, Market and Execution" beside the San Francisco Bay ... Agent sessions With Michael Larsen, Elizabeth Pomada, Amy Burkhardt and Scott Hoffman; structure and narrative workshops with Michael Neff; Short Fiction Workshop, Novel Into Film. Author Kathi Goldmark and Editor/Author Sam Berry.

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