How to find a literary agent with Juliet Mushens

An unmissable masterclass with leading literary agent Juliet Mushens, with advice on everything from editing your manuscript to preparing the perfect submissions package.

If you’re a new writer, the process of getting your book into print might seem a bit daunting. This unique masterclass with leading literary agent Juliet Mushens will demystify the publishing process and reveal what agents look for in fiction submissions.

In the space of three hours, you’ll learn how to edit your manuscript, pitch your novel to an agent and prepare the perfect submissions package.

Juliet will also be joined by two of her most exciting authors, who will discuss their journey to publication. With plenty of time for questions and some practical activities, this is a class budding authors won’t want to miss.

Content

• What is a literary agent – what do they do and why do you need one?
• How to research potential agents and decide who might be the best person to represent you
• What do agents look for in submissions?
• How to write a killer cover letter and synopsis
• Expert advice on editing your manuscript
• Advice on pitching your book to agents – and giving it the best possible change of being accepted
• Discussion of pitches and blurbs for famous books
• Practical session – selected attendees volunteer to read aloud a short blurb for their book, with opportunity for feedback on the evening (see below for more info)
• Q&A with Juliet and her guest speakers

Class preparation

• You’re invited to bring along a short blurb or "elevator pitch" for your book, if you wish to do so. The blurb should be similar in style to the copy on the back cover of books in shops – and no more than one paragraph in length
• Juliet will ask between two and five volunteers to share their blurb with the group, with opportunity for feedback on the evening

Tutor profile

Juliet Mushens is a literary agent whose authors range from international bestsellers such as Jessie Burton (The Miniaturist and The Muse) to James Oswald, as well as social media favourites such as Very British Problems (@SoVeryBritish). Juliet is the co-founder of Caskie Mushens. She was highly commended in the literary agent of the year category by the Bookseller in 2015 and 2016, having been shortlisted in 2014. Her book Get Started in Writing Young Adult Fiction was published by Hodder in 2015. She tweets @mushenska.

Guest speakers

Amy Alward’s debut young adult fantasy adventure novel, The Oathbreaker’s Shadow, was published in 2013 under the name Amy McCulloch and longlisted for the 2014 Branford Boase award for best UK debut children’s book. Her first book written as Amy Alward – The Potion Diaries – became an international success and was chosen for the first ever Zoella Book Club with WH Smith. Amy’s new YA duology will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2018 and 2019.

Laura Purcell writes biographical fiction about the Georgian queens and “spooky” Victorian novels. She lives in Colchester with her husband and many pet guinea pigs. Her next book, The Silent Companions, will be published by Bloomsbury in autumn 2017 and her second Victorian novel, The Corset, in 2018.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website