Workshops

Publishing shouldn’t be so mysterious. Lucinda Literary is thrilled to offer one-on-one and group workshops and coaching programs for writers at any stage in the publishing process. We’ll cover subjects ranging from improving your query letter and agent strategy, to fiction workshops with New York Times bestselling authors, to marketing and publicity bootcamps, to book contracts guidance, and more. Make sure to return to this page for updates on new offerings!

Letter Better FOR WRITERS STARTING OUT

Getting an agent today requires a brilliant book idea, sharp writing, and a solid platform, all of which need to be present in the query letter pitching your concept. In our new monthly series, writers will have the opportunity to learn the art of creating a successful query letter, capture an agent’s attention, and finally craft a query destined to break out of the slush pile.

As part of this workshop, held via video conference call, you will:

• Send your letter in prior to the workshop for Lucinda’s personal review and feedback
• Gain access to sample query letters hand-selected by Lucinda’s team
• Write your first draft based on these examples, and have it critiqued during the workshop
• Learn what agents and publishers are looking for in your letter
• Unlearn all the bad publishing advice you’ve received about the query process, and learn tried and true submission strategies
• Leave with a sense of hope, clarity, and excitement about the process

$150 for one session. Limited to 6 writers per session. Our next workshop will be August 21st at 1:00 pm EST. Ideal for nonfiction and fiction writers. A recording will be available for those unable to attend.

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Letter Better AdvancedFOR WRITERS AT ANY STAGE

Wishing for consistent, personal support and guidance from an industry professional? Ideal for those who have already taken a first Letter Better workshop, our new Letter Better Advanced program offers continued coaching and access to Lucinda and other writers in our community. Like nothing else on the market, writers will meet with Lucinda once every two weeks to workshop their material, gain interactive feedback in real time, and have all of their publishing questions answered. Our goal is to take you from little to no response from agents and publishers on your material to YES by the end of eight sessions. As part of this program held via video conference, you will:

• Get clear on your publishing goals, and stay on track to meet them
• Gain exclusive access to hand-selected, winning query letters and Lucinda Literary’s Proposal Template
• Walk through every section of a book proposal, with strategies for hitting the right chords
• Receive a weekly assignment with prompts and personal encouragement along the way
• Receive Lucinda’s personalized critique of your material
• Have the opportunity to workshop your material and build relationships with other writers
• Get tips for building your platform, and proven marketing and publicity strategies
• Receive tips for finding and securing the right agent or publisher for your book, as well as learn what publishers are looking for in fiction and nonfiction right now

$200 per session. Letter Better Advanced will launch on September 24th at 8:00 pm EST. There are 8 hour-long sessions total, held every other week. Limited to 6 writers per cohort. Ideal for nonfiction writers; fiction writers also welcome.

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Private Consultations
FOR WRITERS AT ANY STAGE

Join Lucinda for a 45-minute, one-on-one consult—an in-depth discussion on your personal goals as an author. She can offer feedback on subjects such as:

• What’s missing from your pitch
• How to align your proposal with what publishers are looking for right now
• Your platform—personalized tips on how you can build it
• How to market and publicize your book successfully
• Guidance on whether self-publishing or the traditional route is right for you

$300 per session at a time convenient for you. Ideal for nonfiction writers, fiction writers, traditionally published and self-published authors.

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Testimonials

“The tips and feedback I received from Ms. Halpern’s workshop have helped me improve not only my query letter, but my novel as a whole. If you’re serious about getting an agent, you don’t want to miss this.”
—Rachel Waxman

“While it’s obvious Ms. Halpern has been a bridge carrying both novice and established writers to higher levels of success for years, what impressed me the most about her workshop was her humble approach and personalized feedback that better clarified my novel’s genre and made my query letter more compelling to readers.”
—Pamela Mshana

“This was a very helpful workshop, and I truly appreciated the follow-up consultation. I “unlearned” several bad strategies I’d been taught in the past.”
—Aliina Hopkins

“[Lucinda’s] feedback on my letter and ideas for platform building were clear, personal, and most importantly, do-able.”
—Stephanie Kriesberg