How to Query Literary Agents at a Conference and Make a Great First Impression
Presented by: LKBF, Saritza Hernandez, Adriana Dominguez, Mayra Cuevas
(Co-sponsored by Latinx Kidlit Book Festival and the Latinx Storytellers Conference!)
It’s a little known industry secret that querying literary agents at a conference can bump you to the top of their query inbox! Or even give you access to their inbox when they are closed for queries. Your attendance at the conference lets them know that you are serious about your craft and you are actively working to gain access to the publishing industry.
Join this one-hour virtual conversation with Aevitas Creative Management partner and literary agent, Adriana Dominguez and Andrea Brown Literary Agency's agent Saritza Hernandez, as they discuss how to query literary agents at a conference. At least half of Adriana’s clients have come from conferences or referrals!
“There is still no substitute for an in-person connection,” Adriana says. “When I consider a client, I don’t only consider their work; I also try to get a sense of their commitment to the craft, what inspires and drives them, their career goals and more. Meeting someone in person answers many if not all of these questions for me.”
The session will be moderated by award-winning author, Mayra Cuevas. Mayra is the co-founder of the award-winning Latinx Kidlit Book Festival and its inaugural Latinx Storytellers Conference.
Attendees will walk away knowing:
-Why should writers and illustrators attend a literary conference and sign up for a manuscript or portfolio consultation?
-What should you expect from a 15 minute meeting with an agent?
-How should attendees prepare for consultations?
-Things attendees should avoid!
-Tips for first timers who may be nervous pitching their work.
Session will include time to answer your questions!
Register and details to join will be emailed to you.
(Please note: If you are a full Virtual [margins.] ticketholder, this is included in your conference.)
[margins.] literary conference + book festival was created by and for BIPOC, LGBTQIAP2S+, Disabled, and Neurodiverse writers & creatives of all genres and stages of career and practice.
About [margins.] Virtual Literary Conference
Brought to you by The Word, [margins.] literary conference and book festival was created in 2020, in response to the request from our community. The first of its kind, [margins.] is a conference, bookfair, and literary festival.
[margins.] brings together writers, storytellers, and wordsmiths at all levels of experience to explore emerging trends in literature and the many approaches to storytelling, visioning and creating, education, inclusion, advocacy, organizing, and building community. The [margins.] conference + festival was created by and for people on the margins, promoting the inclusive representation of experiences in literature for communities who have historically been excluded.
Take a look at our schedule here: https://www.thewordfordiversity.org/marginsvirtualconference2024
About The Word | A Storytelling Sanctuary
The Word | A Storytelling Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2016 to support literary creatives identifying from marginalized communities across race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and emotional and physical disabilities. The Word is community-led, with a 100% BIPOC-identifying board and staff, with intersectional identities in LQBTQIAP2S+ and disabled communities. The Word challenges the practices that perpetuate bias that are reliant on outdated stereotypes to determine who writes, publishes, and reviews literature. The Word does this by providing concrete tools and knowledge; building intentional community; increasing visibility; amplifying equity conversations; and advocating for systemic change within the industry. For more information visit https://www.thewordfordiversity.org/ and follow us on Instagram/X @wordisdiversity.
Our mission is storytelling for collective abundance. We center authentic storytelling for BIPOC, LGBTQIAP2S+, neurodiverse, and disabled communities; support and connect writers, publishers, booksellers, and readers; explore and build collective models for the literary ecosystem; and hold safe space in community. Our main programs include the Editor-Writer Mentorship, [margins.] Literary Conference + Book Festival, and #MarginsBookselling, including the BIPOC Bookseller Award. We always have new events and programming to share, so we hope you’ll check out thewordfordiversity.org to stay up-to-date and connected.