ONLINE Training Session for Non-Fiction Writers: Perfecting Your Pitch (June 2024)

How to hone your initial idea for a non-fiction book into a full proposal that will interest literary agents and publishers.

Across a two hour, live online session, non-fiction writer Kate Morgan will guide you through the pitching process for non-fiction books, from submitting your initial idea to literary agents through to developing a full proposal for publishers.

This workshop will cover:

– why you need a literary agent and how to identify the right agent for your work

– preparing your submission, including a great cover letter, outlining your book idea and why you are the best person to write it

-how to develop your idea from initial thoughts, through agent submission to a book that a publisher will want to buy

– how to format a proposal for a publisher, including your introduction to the book, synopsis/chapter breakdown and a sample chapter

– selling yourself as well as the book – what will publishers want to know about you!

Course Details:

• Monday 10th June at 7-9pm (19:00 -21:00 BST)

• Duration: 2 hour live Zoom session

• Requirements: You will need a laptop or similar device with access to Zoom, a pen, paper

About the workshop leader:

Kate Morgan is a writer and former solicitor. Long fascinated with the darker side of the law, her writing focuses on British legal history and the stories behind the important cases that have shaped the law over the centuries. She is the author of the non-fiction books Murder: The Biography (2021, HarperCollins) and The Walnut Tree – Women, Violence and the Law: A Hidden History (2024, HarperCollins).

Reviews of Murder: The Biography: ‘Fascinating’ – Sunday Times; ‘A fascinating new history of homicide’ – Daily Mail.

Reviews of The Walnut Tree: ‘An outstanding work’ – Philippa Gregory.

Who is this workshop suitable for?

Anyone who is looking to write a non-fiction book on any topic, including history, memoir, travel or other narrative non-fiction. You may have already started work on a submission or proposal; or you may not have written a word.

Pitching non-fiction books to literary agents and then to publishers is an art form in itself. Non-fiction books are usually sold on proposal, rather than a full manuscript; so a lot hinges getting your proposal right. Increase your chances of getting picked out of the slush pile and join this workshop to get an expert view on the pitching process from an experienced non-fiction writer.

More about the workshop:

The workshop will take place online via Zoom. Please download it and check it is working before the day of the workshop.

Please join the Zoom link 15 minutes before the advertised start time to allow you to join and test your audio and video is working as it should.

Please try and be somewhere you can concentrate and won’t be interrupted. Headphones can be useful if you have some, to cut out other noise.

Bursary Scheme 2024:

We understand that not all writers are able to pay for their writing courses to further their career, and we run a Bursary Scheme as a consequence. If you feel you need a bursary, please contact us: info@writingwestmidlands.org