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 numerous direct requests to see more from our talented authors, resulting in multiple book deals and agent offers Now this popular event is back for its Summer Session!
For writers in the Verge/Inner Circle/Empowered Author Track this event works a little bit differently for you! Email client success if you have any questions as a Verge writer.
Pitch submissions for this event are ONLY open to Courage to Create Members. 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.
Overview of Industry Engagement Schedule
July 12th , 2025; 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM CENTRAL
**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. ALL PB GENRES (Fiction, NF, Info-fiction) 25 pitches max.
Industry Faculty attending this panel include:
- Agent Sally Kim at Andrea Brown Literary
- Editor Sally Morgridge at Holiday House
- Agent Eve Adler at Red Fox Literary
We’ll continue the day with our second panel, Novels and Longform Nonfiction (11:15 – 12:45pm CT) where we will read pre-submitted pitches for all longform projects (Chapter Book, MG, YA, Adult, NF Longform) 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) 25 pitches max.
Industry Faculty attending this panel include:
- Agent Sandra Proudman at Gallt & Zacker Literary
- Editor Foyinsi Adegbonmire at Fiewel and Friends
- Agent Serene Hakim at Ayesha Pande 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. ALL PB GENRES (fiction, NF, info-fiction)
25 pitches max.
Industry Faculty attending this panel include:
- Agent Marie Lamba at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
- Agent Jazmia Young Curtis Brown Literary
- Agent Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow
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 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 Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow
- Editor Trisha de Guzman at FSG
- Agent Kristin Ostby at Greenhouse Literary
*ADD ON – The following Sunday is all about one-on-one critiques (20-minute sessions) with the visiting faculty. These critiques will take place Sunday, July 13th unless listed otherwise.
How It Works:
- Register for the event and choose which panel you want to submit your pitch for (specific pitch requirements will be sent upon registering.)
- Choose to add a 1:1 Critique for Sunday with Faculty.
- 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 directly to submissions for event attendees for a brief window. This is outside of any direct requests.)
- Check out our Industry Event FAQ for any questions about logistics, replays, submission ops, etc.
Signing up for your panel:
When choosing a panel, make sure to choose the genre you most want to submit a pitch for. Detailed pitch instructions will be sent once you register. All submitted pitches will be read during the panel and evaluated by faculty. If an Agent or Editor requests to see more you will be notified of how and when to do so. *If you can’t attend live no worries! Your pitch will still be read and evaluated by faculty.
- Picture Book Palooza I Panel: ALL PB GENRES (25 pitches max)
- Noteworthy Novel and Longform Nonfiction: Chapter Book, MG, YA, Adult, NF Longform (25 pitches max)
- Picture Book Palooza II Panel ALL PB GENRES (25 pitches max)
Event Faculty
Payment Info
Full Day Event: $185 (CTC MEMBERS ONLY)
Includes:
- Submission to one panel of your choosing where your pitch is guaranteed to be shared aloud with faculty. Faculty will provide direct passes/requests to see more in the panel (limited supply per panel.)
- Total access to all of Saturday’s panel discussions jam-packed with insights from industry professionals.
- Submission opportunities after the event with all of the attending Agents and Editors for a brief window of time after the event. (Information sent out post event.)
- Opportunity to purchase an add-on for a PB manuscript or 10 pages of a MG/YA/Adult novel manuscript to your chosen editor/agent.
- Access to replays of all panels for up to 90 days after the event. Even if you can’t attend live we will still read your pitch aloud and alert you to any potential requests to see more.
- Synthesized insights and takeaways from Creative Director Bethany Hegedus.
One-on-One Add On
Happening Sunday, July 15th 10:00am-3:30pm CENTRAL
(Times are pre-assigned by staff. Please don’t sign up if you cannot be available between this time frame.)
For an additional $125, you can add on a 20-minute one-on-one Zoom critique with one of our esteemed faculty members (first come, first served in choosing your faculty advisor).
With this add on, you will submit a piece for a formal critique of a work in progress(one full-length picture book manuscript [250-750 words], NF PB manuscript [1200 words including backmatter], 1 Full PB Dummy, or 10 pages of Chapter Book/MG/YA double spaced.) Faculty will read your work ahead of time and be prepared with feedback and a written critique. (These sessions are NOT recorded.)
