Pitching Your Novel Day – Zoom Workshop
We are delighted to once again welcome Lou Johnson and Jeanne Ryckmans, co-founders of Key People Literary Management to the Writers’ Studio, to offer our community of writers a unique opportunity to learn how to pitch their story from two experienced industry professionals.
We are offering a one-day workshop to help writers learn how to craft a pitch in a way that gives you the best chance to impress agents and publishers and get your stories out into the world.
Due to the overwhelming interest in our inaugural Pitching Your Novel Day in-person workshop at the Studio, we have opened up the session to online participants via Zoom at a significantly reduced price.
This page is for the Zoom version of the workshop. If you are interested in the live session ($345), go to: Pitching Your Novel Live Workshop. Please note: The Live Workshop is now full. But places can open up right until the course start date if you’d like to join the waitlist.
You will hear the agents speak about publishing trends and what makes a novel attractive for agents and publishers and find out what they are looking for in a manuscript.
The workshop will guide you through an interactive process where you craft and refine your pitch.
“Unrecognised genius is a myth. For writers who can tell a quality story, it’s a seller’s market. Always has been. Always will be.” Robert McKee
Feedback from our First Pitching Day
As Lou, one of the agents, said,‘We really enjoyed meeting the writers and hearing the pitches. We were very impressed with the calibre of the novels presented. Everyone had a strong sense of the story they wanted to tell and what made a story compelling for readers.
‘We enjoyed providing the insights and guidance on how create an effective pitch for their work to give the writers the best shot of finding a home for their novel in the publishing marketplace.’
Getting a clear idea of what your story is about while writing your novel, can really help you create the most compelling manuscript.
Some feedback from Course Participants
“I can’t tell you how enormously helpful I found the day and I was so grateful for the opportunity to participate. Listening to Jeanne and Lou was wonderful, I thought they were encouraging, but also straightforward about the facts of trying to get published. To my mind it demystified the process a little which was brilliant.
“Also, I found the pre-course work and the exercises on the day to be especially helpful. I spent some time thinking and writing about the questions before Saturday and I was very glad I did.
“At this stage in the 2nd draft, it was timely to go back and revisit the original inspiration of why I started. And being this far along in the process I thought it was the right time to take a moment, to stop, and try to distill/articulate the essence of the novel. I now think I have a much clearer picture of what I’m writing and this must surely help as I approach the 3rd draft.
“I now I have a much better handle on what my story is attempting to say and why this theme is so important to me.“
Peter O’Dowd
“Thank you both for your generosity and insight at Saturday’s Pitching session at The Writer’s Studio. It was enjoyable, informative and illuminating.
“Lou, thank you for the feedback on my novel. It was both kind and inspiring and has helped to focus how my story can be both true to my vision and commercially appealing.”
Richard Brooks
Important Please Read – Pitching to the Agents
In the Zoom version of the workshop, you will participate in the seminar in the morning and do the exploration exercises, helping you craft your pitch, but you will not receive feedback from the literary agents.
In the afternoon, you will then break into small groups on Zoom and practice pitching your story and receive feedback from your fellow writers online. We will give everyone guidelines on how to give feedback to ensure you get the most out of the session.
Once you have completed the workshop and finished the final draft of your manuscript, making it as good as you can, you can submit your novel for consideration to Lou or Jeanne following the guidelines that will be laid out in the course materials you will be sent via a pdf.
The Importance of Pitching
Wherever you are at with your novel, exploring how to pitch your story can be invaluable in creating a story that will attract the interest of readers, agents and publishers.
A successful pitch is a bridge between your story and potential readers, designed to make someone want to read your novel by highlighting what makes your novel unique and marketable. Pitching is another form of creative communication.
Embracing a commercial mindset gives your story and all the hard work that has gone into it the best chance of reaching a broad and appreciative readership.
Agents and publishers need to know what it is about your story that excites them at an emotional level and represents a commercial opportunity to share that experience with readers.
“Unrecognised genius is a myth. For writers who can tell a quality story, it’s a seller’s market. Always has been. Always will be.” Robert McKee
Who is this Workshop Suitable for?
This pitching workshop has been designed for people at all stages of the writing process.
Don’t feel your story has to be finished or your writing highly polished.
Once you have completed your novel, you can then submit your work to the agents following the guidelines outlined during the workshop.
Crafting Your Pitch
Crafting a pitch for your novel during the writing process is important for several reasons:
Clarity of Vision: Developing a pitch forces you to distil the essence of your novel down to its core elements. This clarity can help you stay focused on your story’s central themes, characters, and plot as you write.- Audience Identification: Crafting a pitch requires you to consider who your target audience is and what they are looking for in a novel. This awareness can guide your writing choices, ensuring that your story resonates with the intended readership.
- Agent and Publisher Interest: When querying agents or publishers, having a well-crafted pitch can make your novel stand out among the many submissions they receive. A compelling pitch can pique their interest and make them eager to read more.
- Marketing and Promotion: A strong pitch serves as the foundation for
marketing and promoting your novel. It provides the basis for your book’s back cover blurb, online descriptions, and promotional materials. A clear and engaging pitch can attract readers and generate buzz for your book. - Revision and Refinement: Crafting a pitch early in the writing process can help you identify any weaknesses in your story concept. If you struggle to summarise your novel effectively, it may indicate that certain aspects of your story need further development or clarification.
Pre-Course Work Required
Please note: You will be required to complete and bring in pre-course work which will be used in the workshop and for the pitching process.
How the Day Will Work
Morning Session: 
Meet the two agents who will be talking about publishing trends and what makes a novel attractive for agents and publishers and find out what they are looking for in a manuscript.
Take a deep dive into what makes your story unique and compelling and create a draft of a 300-word pitch that encapsulates the heart of your story.
Afternoon Session:
Use what you’ve learned over the day to craft your pitch and get feedback from fellow writers on how well your pitch it is working and what it is about your story that makes it stand out.
Zoom participants will break into small breakout groups of 3-4 writers where they will practice their pitch with each other and brainstorm how it could be improved.
During the Workshop you will Experience the Benefits of:
Expert Guidance: Gain insights from industry professionals who understand what it takes to capture an agent’s attention. Lou and Jeanne, are here to guide you through the nuances of crafting a pitch that stands out.- Practical Experience: From exploring the unique selling points of your story to practicing your pitch in a supportive environment, gain invaluable hands-on experience that prepares you for real-world pitching scenarios.
- Community and Support: Connect with fellow writers who share your passion and drive. The Writers’ Studio is not just a place to learn – it’s a community where stories find their voice, and writers find their tribe.
If you are interested in signing up for the Pitching Your Novel Day – Zoom Workshop, Register Here
About our Agents
Lou Johnson and Jeanne Ryckmans have worked across all facets of the global consumer publishing industry and championed hundreds of award-winning authors.
In 2023, they launched Key People Literary Management, representing writers across content channels including publishing/audiobooks/podcasts/TV and screen/events and commercial collaborations.
Lou Johnson
Lou has been a Managing Director of multinational Simon and Schuster, Publishing Director of preeminent global lifestyle publisher Murdoch Books, International Publishing Director & Chief Strategy Officer for Miami based, Mango Publishing Group, Sales Director of ANZ’s largest independent publisher, Allen & Unwin, Head of Marketing/Head of Sales at Random House, managed the ABC’s retail concessions and founded and sold her own disruptive publishing start up, The Author People.
Jeanne Ryckmans
Jeanne has been a book publisher for two multinationals (Random House/HarperCollins) and one independent (Black Inc), Artistic Director of the Canberra Writers’ Festival (2019-2022) – the latter whilst working simultaneously as a literary agent – a long vocation of story-telling from both sides of the publishing fence with plenty of author wrangling. She’s worked with dual Miles Franklin award-winner Christopher Koch, feminist icon Gloria Steinem, 2019 Stella Prize winner Vicki Laveau-Harvie and many others. She is the author of three books.