ONLINE WORKSHOPS

May 5-30, 2008

The Great Agent Search

Instructor: Jenna Petersen

Cost: $25.00 payable by PayPal

Whether they have finished their first manuscript or their tenth, many authors are overwhelmed by the daunting task of searching for an agent. This workshop breaks the agent search down and discusses common issues.

Part One: Who Needs An Agent?

In this section, I discuss the pros and cons to having an agent. I also talk a bit about what most agents do, both for an unpublished client and one who already has a contract to negotiate.

Part Two: How Do I Find An Agent?

This part deals with the actual searching portion of an agent search. I discuss, in detail, several methods of finding an agent, all based on my own experience (from personal agent searches and information garnered for my industry website).

Part Three: How Do I Attract the Attention of a Good Agent?:

We will discuss how to write a good query letter (for an agent or an editor), by breaking down each paragraph in a query. I will provide several examples.

Part Four: What Do I Do Now That I Have An Agent Interested In Me?

This section will help a potential client handle agent interest in a professional manner. It discusses everything from asking the right questions to following their gut when it’s right.

Part Five : What Do I Do Now That I’ve Hired An Agent?

Even after the Agent Search is over, many authors are still lost. So this section deals with what they should expect from most agents and how the relationship between author and agent shifts once they’ve hired someone.

Part Six: What If I Want to Fire My Agent?

This is one of the concepts I get the most questions on. Discusses reasons why you might fire your agent and how to go about doing it so that you don’t burn bridges.

Part Seven: But What If I Don’t WANT An Agent?

A final discussion on how an author can still pursue a romance career without dealing with an agent. Discusses approaching editors on your own and resources available to deal with your own contracts.

About the Presenter:

Jenna Petersen started writing full-time in 1999 when her husband said, “You’re only happy when you’re writing, why don’t you do that?” In 2004, her dream came true when her literary agent called to say she’d just sold two books to Avon.

Her releases include: Scandalous (October 2005), From London With Love (August 2006) and Desire Never Dies (January 2007), Seduction is Forever (October 2007) and the upcoming Lessons from a Courtesan (August 2008). She also writes erotic romance as Jess Michaels, and helped launch the Avon Red line with her novella in Parlor Games. Her next Jess Michaels release is Something Reckless (May 2008). She’s been a Bookscan and Waldenbooks Mass Market bestseller.

In addition, she has run The Passionate Pen since 1999. This popular site for aspiring authors gets nearly 200,000 hits per month and contains information on literary agents, publishing houses, articles about writing and the industry, links and Jenna’s Diary toward and beyond publication. You can find her at www.passionatepen.com and at www.jennapetersen.com.

Deadline to Register: April 30, 2008

START YOUR REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS NOW! CLICK ABOVE TO ADD THIS CLASS TO YOUR PAYPAL CART (will open in new window) HOW TO REGISTER: 1. Send $25 payment via PayPal by clicking the PayPal button below. (No checks or cash payments will be accepted.) Please note that you are not required to have a PayPal account to pay with a credit card via PayPal. 2. Once you've paid for your class(es), you will be sent to a registration form, where you must include all of the following information: Your Name Your Email Address And the following for each class you are registering for: Workshop Title Month of Workshop You will receive an acknowledgement after your payment and registration information have been received. If you are not automatically sent to the registration form after paying, click here to access the registration form. REFUND POLICY: No refunds will be given for withdrawing from a workshop. In the event a workshop is cancelled by the instructor, you have the option of taking another workshop or return of fee.

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