February Pitch & Play: Industry Engagement Day

In 2023 we hosted our first-ever Pitch and Play: Industry Engagement Day, an incredible online event where several faculty agents signed folks and offered R&Rs in their 1:1s, fulfilling the event mission to get writers their YES or NO in real time. And at the following year’s Engagement Days we saw over 100+ direct requests to see more more from our talented authors.

This year, we’re doing things a bit differently. To facilitate meaningful connections and conversations between writers and industry professionals, only writers in the Courage to Create community will have the chance to share their pitches and sign up for 1:1s with event faculty. 

What We Realized:

• 95% of the pitches that were asked for ALREADY came from within the CTC community under The Writing Barn umbrella. 
• This is because, in the CTC, we have a Queries/Pitches and First Pages Clinic, and we move writers through phases 1-2 (Dreamer – Builder) to phases 3-4 (Submitter/Reviser – The Verge) with integrity and focus on what you want in an agent, but also what YOU offer. 
• By limiting the pitches and 1:1s to those in the CTC community, no one has to wait and worry about if their pitch was or wasn’t chosen—or that, when time runs out… what if you were the next pitch to be read?!

Overview of the Schedule
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM CENTRAL

PITCH SUBMISSIONS SOLD OUT – ATTEND FOR POST-EVENT OPPORTUNITIES

**Throughout the day, agents and editors will say whether they are interested in seeing more based on each pitch. The Writing Barn team will facilitate those requests with writers after the event.

We begin the event with our first panel, Picture Book Palooza I (9:30-11:00AM CT),where we will read pre-submitted Picture Book Pitches to the attending panel faculty. Faculty will respond in real time to whether they wish to see a full query. PB Fiction only (character driven, SEL, concept, etc.) 35 pitches max.

Industry Faculty attending this panel include:

• Agent Jackie Kruzie at Focused Artists
• Editor Miloni Vora at Antheneum (Simon and Schuster)
• Agent Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Birch Path Literary

We’ll continue the day with our second panel, Novels and Nonfiction Panel (11:15 – 12:45pm CT) where we will read pre-submitted novel pitches and nonfiction pitches of all ages (PB, YA Adult) to the attending panel faculty. Faculty will respond in real time to whether they wish to see a full query. (Novels can be MG, YA, Chapter Book. Nonfiction can include PB) 35 pitches max.

Industry Faculty attending this panel include:

• Agent Erica Bauman at Aevitas Creative
• Editor Kade Dishmon at Holiday House
• Agent Susan Hawk at Upstart Crow Literary

We will then move into another PB focused panel with our Picture Book Palooza II Panel (1:30-3:00pm CT) where we will read pre-submitted Picture Book Pitches to the attending panel faculty. Faculty will respond in real time to whether they wish to see a full query. PB Fiction only (character driven, SEL, concept, etc.) 35 pitches max.

Industry Faculty attending this panel include:

• Editor Lydia Abel at Candlewick Press
• Agent Chelsea Hensley at Mad Woman Literary Agency
• Agent Linda Camacho at Galt & Zacker Literary

Finally, we end the day with our fourth panel which is a Market Analysis and Take Away Panel (3:15-4:15pm CT.) open to all attendees! This panel will not include the submitting of pitches but instead will be a moderated Q+A panel with Bethany and panelists on specific takeaways and market insights from the day. There will be time to ask your questions and synthesize the comments and requests made. Participating panelists include:

• Agent Linda Camacho at Galt & Zacker Literary
• Agent Nicole Tugeau at T2 Agency
• Author and Writing Barn Owner Bethany Hegedus

How it Works! 

How The Event Works!

• Attend the event live or catch the replay (your pitch will be read and evaluated by faculty regardless of attendance.)
• Faculty will respond in real time to whether they want to request a full query based on a specific pitch. WB staff will facilitate these requests with these writers after the event. 
• Watch replays for insights and submission opportunities. (ALL ATTENDING FACULTY will be opening up to submissions for event for a brief window. This is outside of any direct requests.)

Event Faculty
Read full bios and manuscript wishlists here!

Payment Info