Agent workshop hosted by EPIC Group Writers in Edmonds

Elizabeth Wales

Literary arts will take center stage in Edmonds this fall as literary agent Elizabeth Wales will meet area writers as part of an agent workshop hosted by EPIC Group Writers.

“We want to give local writers a chance to work with an agent,” said EPIC President Janette Turner, “and we are excited to host Elizabeth Wales at this workshop.”

The workshop takes place on two Saturdays. On Sept. 20, story developer Elena Hartwell will help writers refine their narrative arc, and Ingrid Emerick and Andrea Dunlop of GirlFridayProductions will help writers create a winning proposal. On Nov. 8, writers will meet with Elizabeth Wales to become pitch-perfect.

“Having two workshops,” said Turner, “means writers will have time to refine their work before meeting with agent Elizabeth Wales. This is a fantastic opportunity for our local writers. Some may already be signed up for Write on the Sound (WOTS) or college classes, but this is different. This gives writers a chance to actually meet an agent.”

Wales’ clients include Dan Savage, author of ‘It Gets Better,’ and Lucia Perillo, PEN/short list writer of ‘Happiness is a Chemical in the Brain,’ along with other award-winning writers and several independent presses. The Wales Literary Agency is regarded as a competitive boutique agency with a quality list.

The workshop program will be held at Frances Anderson Center at 700 Main St, Edmonds and is limited to 24 participants. To sign up, see the EPIC Group Writers website. EPIC is an Edmonds-based literary nonprofit dedicated to helping people create, communicate and connect through the arts. EPIC is is an Associated Program of Shunpike nonprofit, a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency that fuels innovation in the arts by building productive partnerships, cultivating leadership and providing direct services to arts groups of all kinds.

For more information on the speakers and workshop topics, see below.

Let’s Refine Your Story Arc: All books must take the reader on a journey that matters. In this workshop with Elena Hartwell, playwright of ‘A Strange Disappearance of Bees,’ writers will understand their main character’s narrative arc through conflict and challenges toward a satisfying conclusion. You will also master the difference between cluttering backstory and enlightening flashback. At the end of the workshop, writers will come away with a solid story arc.

How to Create a Winning Proposal: This workshop is for writers looking to hook an agent or a publisher, and for freelance editors working with emerging writers. Knowing how to create a winning proposal is an essential skill in today’s competitive publishing marketplace. No agent or in-house editor has time for meandering book proposals. Instead, your ability to sell ideas and writing is dependent upon the brief pitch: the proposal. In this workshop on Sept. 20, you will work with Ingrid Emerick and Andrea Dunlop, two former acquisitions editors. They will demystify what publishers and agents are looking for and share the most common reason authors get rejected. The workshop will go in-depth and cover the basics of great proposals, from titles that sing to effective marketing points.

Andrea Dunlop is the social media and marketing coordinator at Girl Friday Productions. She began her career as an in-house publicist at Doubleday and currently works with authors on a variety of projects from memoirs to paranormal romance novels to self-help manifestos. She strives to help authors craft the perfect marketing strategy, blending traditional publicity outreach and the brave new world of social media.

Ingrid Emerick has over twenty years of publishing experience. A former editorial executive at Seal Press and Avalon Publishing, she currently runs Girl Friday Productions, an editorial consulting and book development company, with co-founder Leslie Miller. Ingrid has edited a wide range of books and teaches in the Editing Extension Program at the University of Washington.

Elena Hartwell’s plays have been performed in theaters across the country. Her works include ‘Loss: A Play About a Violin,’ ‘A Strange Disappearance of Bees,’ and an adaptation of Ivan Doig’s ‘Prairie Nocturne.’ She is a playwright, director, performer, and writing teacher. Her piece, ‘In Our Name,’ was published in ‘Best Women’s Stage Monologues 2008‘ by Smith / Kraus.

Elizabeth Wales heads Wales Literary Agency, Inc., a full-service agency representing writers of quality fiction and narrative nonfiction since 1990. Member, Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR).