Friday Workshops

Charlotte Cook, Charlotte Robin Cook, MFA, co-founded Komenar Publishing and served as its publisher and story editor for five years. Her insight as a writer and as a business woman in big box retail, high tech, book selling, marketing, teaching and consulting contributed to KOMENAR’s quick success. Also, KOMENAR’s six first-time novelists saw their debut novels receive awards and notable sales. Today her reputation within the publishing industry and her keen eye for story editing contribute to the promising careers of writers and screenwriters-turned-novelist. She’s also played a role in the writing, careers and publishing histories of some sixty authors.

For HNS’s first “Friday Workshops,” Charlotte will be offering the following topics:

“The First Five Pages”–Workshop #1 – Friday, June 21, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. A boxed lunch will be provided. Cost: $75.00 — 50 spaces available

Ever wonder what an acquisition editor does when she reads your submission? Want to know when and why an editor stops reading or asks for more pages? This is an interactive workshop during which you can listen to the initial thoughts and reactions of a publisher and acquisition editor as she sorts through participants’ opening pages. Learn the differences between what peers suggest and when that works, and what an industry professional advises and when that’s important. Charlotte gives a balanced accounting of what drives an editor to keep reading, stop reading, or ask for more pages.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:

For “The First Five Pages,” participants should bring five pages properly formatted (one side only, double-spaced, 1.25″ margins, Courier New or Times New Roman in 12 point, indented paragraphs, proofed/polished as if I’m the target agent or publisher). If they bring 25 copies to share–one for me, one for the writer and the rest for others to share and look on–that would be ideal. I will be reading aloud from any or all of them, as time permits, and making suggestions that should improve their work and enlighten the others there. Please understand that I won’t read from submissions that are NOT properly formatted because no agent or publisher would either.  I’d love it if participants make sure I get a copy and then they pass out the rest of the copies or leave them by the entrance for people to pick up as they enter. I don’t think every participant needs a copy–certainly looking on would be a great idea and brings the group together. If we can do that before we start, that would be perfect. I’ll probably have a handout as well.

“Pitching Your Query” — Workshop #2 – Friday, June 21, 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Cost: $40.00 — 100 spaces available.

Agents and publishers have heard thousands of pitches, which means you need to connect with the object of your pitch. Most agents and editors are much easier to approach than you think. But what you say, how you act and how you respond is all part of the success of your pitch. Yes, you’re allowed to be nervous. Nerves are a good sign. In this interactive workshop, Charlotte will help you get to the part of your pitch that makes the agent or publisher want to see your manuscript. She’ll talk pitch, synopsis, and etiquette—a potent combination that will give you the results to make you successful in the moment and in the future work you do. Charlotte will use her “Magic Three, Six and Nine” tool to show you how to write and improve your pitch.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:

For “Pitching Your Query,” I need each person who wants to pitch me to provide me with a printed copy of their pitch, IF I REQUEST ONE.  What I need is to HEAR you say your pitch. With a large audience, we’ll have a microphone for the participants to use when giving their pitch. I’ll be handing out some guidelines and suggestions.

You can also sign up for BOTH workshops at the special price of $100.00 (it still includes the boxed lunch!).  These options are available on the Registration Form.

More about Charlotte:

Charlotte has been a featured guest and speaker at many writers groups and conferences. She’s a popular presenter at California Writers Club branch meetings and at similar events at writers’ groups in other states, including Colorado and Oregon. She’s been featured at writers’ conferences, often receiving repeat invitations. These include: Willamette Writers Conference, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, South Carolina Writers Workshop, San Francisco Writers Conference, Jack London Writers Conference, Mendocino Coast Writers Conference, Central Coast Writers Conference, East of Eden Writers Conference, Redwood Writers Conference, and Independent Book Publishers Assoc. Publishing University. Teaching venues for Charlotte’s classes have included academic, private and public arenas.