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2021 PRE-CONFERENCE MASTER CLASSES
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021
PREMIUM ADD-ON/LIMITED SPACE
$50 each for JRW Members/$75 each for Non-Members
On Friday, October 8, 2021, we will offer six pre-conference Master Classes. Each two-hour Master Class, taught by one of our conference guest speakers, takes an in-depth look at a particular topic of interest to writers. We are offering two tracks: Business Tools and The Craft of Writing. Master Classes are offered for an additional cost to the regular conference fees and are now open to the general public (as of September 24).
Master Classes will be held via the Zoom platform and will offer participants an opportunity to ask questions and interact with the class instructors. Prior to the Conference, you will receive information on how to create a login and access the conference website.
REGISTRATION
You can make your Master Class selections when you register for the main conference or separately using the same registration form. Classes are filling quickly, so don’t delay. You will receive a recording of any Master Class you sign up and pay for, after the class is over, for a limited time–even if you are unable to attend.
This year, our exciting lineup includes:
FRIDAY 10/8 MASTER CLASS SCHEDULE
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
AGENT/CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS with Literary Agent Erica Bauman
(Business Tools Track)
Agents wear a lot of hats—advocate, critique partner, career strategist, cheerleader—and many publishers only accept submissions through an agent. But what does an agent do, and what should you look for in one? Literary Agent Erica Bauman walks you through this important professional relationship and how to make it a successful dynamic duo. From the querying process and signing, to selling your first book and long-term career goals, this Master Class will help you identify what you need in a literary agent, and how to build the foundation for a positive and fruitful working partnership.
AGENT Erica Bauman
Erica Bauman represents a wide variety of authors across middle grade, young adult, and commercial and upmarket adult fiction. Based in New York, Erica is most interested in commercial novels that feature an exciting premise and lyrical, atmospheric writing; imaginative, genre-blending tales; speculative worlds filled with haunting, quietly wondrous magic; fresh retellings of mythology, ballet, opera, and classic literature; sharply funny rom-coms; graphic novels for all ages; fearless storytellers that tackle big ideas and contemporary issues; and working with and supporting marginalized authors and stories that represent the wide range of humanity.
Website aevitascreative.com | Twitter @Erica_Bauman
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
THE ART OF CRITIQUING with Fantasy Author Alexandra Christo
(Craft of Writing Track)
For many, accepting critiques can be one of the hardest parts of writing: making changes while ensuring your voice stays intact and learning how to discern between personal preference and necessary adjustments to make your story shine. We’ll discuss what makes a good critique partner and how to find the right one for you so you can build a life-long relationship. The class will include examples of the author’s published work, with before and after critiques, to show how feedback can fundamentally shape a book and help sell it to publishers. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to practice critiquing each other’s work and honing their editorial eye. The Master Class will end in a Q&A session, where you’ll be able to ask the author all about her experiences in writing and critiquing, so you feel equipped to make your story the best it can be.
Alexandra Christo
Alexandra Christo is a British author whose characters are always funnier and far more deadly than she is. She studied Creative Writing at university and graduated with First Class Honours and the desire to never stop letting her imagination run wild. Her Young Adult fantasy books have been translated into over a dozen languages worldwide.
Website alexandrachristo.com | Facebook @AlexandraChristoAuthorPage | Twitter @alliechristo Instagram @alexandrachristowrites
11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
HOW TO DECIPHER THE STRANGE NEW WORLD OF AMAZON ADVERTISING with Bryan Cohen
(Business Tools Track)
Bryan Cohen
Bryan Cohen is the creator of Amazon Ad School, the founder of author copywriting agency Best Page Forward, and the MC of “Self-Publishing Live.” He’s also an author with eight novels self-published and over 100,000 books sold, as well as the co-host of The Sell More Books Show, a weekly podcast for self-published authors. He lives in Chicago with his wife and daughter but is moving to North Carolina soon to enjoy warmer weather.
Website bestpageforward.net | Blog sellmorebooksshow.com | Facebook @bestpageforward | Twitter @bryancohenbooks | Instagram @bryancohenblurbs
11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
POINT OF VIEW with David Bowles
(Craft of Writing Track)
David Bowles
David Bowles is a Mexican American author and translator from south Texas, where he teaches at the University of Texas Río Grande Valley. He has written more than two dozen books, most notably the multiple-award-winning They Call Me Güero. His work appears in many anthologies, plus publications such as The New York Times, Rattle, English Journal, School Library Journal, and The Journal of Children’s Literature. David is one of the co-founders of #DignidadLiteraria, a grassroots activist campaign for greater Latinx representation in publishing. In 2017, he was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters and now serves on its governing council.
Website davidbowles.us | Twitter @DavidOBowles | Instagram @davidobowles
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
YOUR ROADMAP TO PUBLISHING: WHAT ALL AUTHORS NEED TO KNOW with Literary Agent April Eberhardt
(Business Tools Track)
In this illuminating Master Class, Literary Change Agent and author advocate April Eberhardt examines the state of publishing today, along with the implications and opportunities for authors. Based on her actively in-the-market experience on behalf of clients, she presents five different paths to publication, including a candid discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each approach from an author’s perspective and the financial realities of each. In addition to learning the pros, cons, and best practices of self-publishing, discover what hybrid publishing is, along with collaborative (also known as cooperative) publishing. Learn how to choose the right path for you and your work, which sometimes involves different paths for different projects, and how to develop a personalized publishing strategy and approach that meets your goals, dreams, timetable, and budget.
April Eberhardt
April Eberhardt has been engaged in the international literary community for the past twenty years. In addition to working with authors to conceptualize, write, and publish their stories, she has interviewed authors at literary events and has hosted and moderated conference panels designed to help authors better understand the business of publishing. She serves on the Advisory Council for The American Library in Paris and is a reader for the Best American Short Stories series published annually by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Website aprileberhardt.com
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
WRITING COMPELLING DIALOGUE with Mark Oshiro
(Craft of Writing Track)
Join young adult and middle grade author Mark Oshiro as they discuss techniques and strategies to build compelling and realistic dialogue, no matter what genre you write in! You’ll learn about dialogue tags, pacing, exposition, and common mistakes authors make.
Mark Oshiro
Mark Oshiro is the award-winning author of Anger is a Gift (2019 Schneider Family Book Award), Each of Us a Desert, and their middle grade debut, The Insiders. When not writing, they run the online “Mark Does Stuff” universe and are trying to pet every dog in the world.
Website markoshiro.com | Twitter @markdoesstuff | Instagram @markdoesstuff