New York Writers Workshop hosts a three-day Pitch Conference for writers of non-fiction. At this unique conference, participants meet with and pitch book proposals to three different editors from major New York publishing houses (houses including Viking, Penguin, Random House, Scribners, Simon and Schuster, and others).
Before the conference begins, participants boil the essence of their manuscript down to a synopsis of jacket flap copy length (roughly three minutes). The copy should include the book's premise and hook, and the writer's platform. Then:
Day 1:
Pitch participants workshop their flap copy with a workshop leader from New York Writers Workshop. Each participant reads his/her synopsis. The NYWW instructor provides guidance in revision for clarity, concision, and impact. The instructor also discusses, as appropriate, the realities of the publishing market. The rest of the group participates, as appropriate, and learns from each example.
Day Two:
Participants make two pitches to editors today. The first pitch is "public," meaning participants pitch to an editor in the presence of their group. The public session is followed by a short Q&A with the editor. The second pitch is private, one-on-one with an editor, with an NYWW instructor present. Each pitch lasts approximately five minutes.
Day Three:
Today each participant makes one private pitch to an editor, again with an NYWW instructor present. The day wraps with a group conference with an NYWW instructor.
Conference times:
Friday: 9:00 to 5:00
Saturday: 1:00 to 6:00
Sunday: 10:00 to 1:00
