How to Hook An Agent - February 2024
Are you writing a book for publication but unsure of how to find an agent?
Get the inside track on the submission process from leading UK literary agents at this intimate half-day event in the heart of literary London Held in the historic surrounds of Bloomsbury Publishing, home to authors including Margaret Atwood, Kamila Shamsie, Benjamin Myers and Sarah J. Maas, 'How to Hook an Agent' is your chance to meet and work with UK literary agents, who will help develop your pitch and offer all of the guidance you and your book need to have the best possible chance of success.
The event is designed for writers preparing to embark upon the process of seeking representation, or those looking for pointers after having already queried a number of agents. Attendees can expect to be placed in small workshop groups, with all agents invited on the day spending time with each group to discuss the role that the agent plays for the writer, trends within the current publishing marketplace, and also offer plenty of practical guidance on how to grab the attention of a prospective agent via the submission package (covering letter, synopsis and opening three chapters). All writers in attendance will enjoy a ten-minute 'speed-dating' session with an agent, while there will also be opportunities throughout to network with their writing peers.
Schedule
09.00-09.30: Registration and welcome breakfast
09.30-10.15: Seminar 1 - The role of a literary agent
10.20-11.05: Seminar 2 - The covering letter and how to pitch your book
11.15-12.00: Seminar 3 - Is my book ready? The synopsis and opening chapters
12.20-13.30: Agent one-to-one sessions
You will receive joining instructions via email ahead of the event. Please make sure to check your junk/ spam folder if you haven't received it.
Breakfast will be provided, so please let us know if you have any dietary requirements and/ or allergies.
As you know, the event ends with you receiving a ten-minute one-to-one session with one of our agents. The four agents who will be joining us are as follows:
Laura Macdougall
Juliet Pickering
Kerry-Ann Bentley
Monica MacSwan
If you have a preference of which agent you’d like to speak to about your project, please indicate your first and second agent preferences by sending an email to me by 9th February. We will do our best to accommodate your request. Priority will be given on a first come first served basis.
You can read the bios of our agents on the event page here, to get an idea of the work they love.
The address is as follows:
Bloomsbury Publishing
50 Bedford Square
London
WC1B 3DP
The nearest tube stations are Tottenham Court Road and Russell Square. You can plan your journey with the TFL Journey Planner here. On the day, there will be someone waiting at the door to greet you and show you to the right room, etc. If you have any specific access requirements, please do get in touch to let us know.
What do you need to bring?
We’d recommend bringing along paper/ notebook so you can take notes. You can take notes on a laptop but we can’t guarantee everyone will be able to reach a charging socket. You’ll be given a welcome event pack at the start of the day, which will include a tote bag, pen, schedule, printed agent bios and some examples of sample cover letters and synopses to take home. We will also be selling books at a reduced price for the event. Titles available will include the latest edition of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and the W&A Guide to How to Hook an Agent. We’re a cashless venue so do bring a card if you’d like to make any purchases.
What do you need to prepare?
In one of the workshops you will be having a go at writing a brief pitch for your book (some of which we can read out) so do prepare for that opportunity. We’d also recommend having a few questions ready for your one-to-one sessions with the agents, as well as being ready to talk about your project throughout the day, and during your one-to-one session.
