A 2-Day Business of Writing Workshop
Saturday & Sunday, May 23 & 24, 10 AM - 1 PM
A practical, hands-on workshop to help writers move confidently from a polished manuscript toward submission. In this updated edition of Draft to Deal, freelance editor Rali Chorbadzhiyska will guide participants through the key components of a compelling agent submission package, with particular focus on crafting a clear, persuasive query letter or non-fiction proposal package. Together we will:
Study the routes to publication: traditional and hybrid
Break down what agents are looking for in a query
Identify the core hook and positioning of your project
Explore effective use of comparison titles
Take part in live editing and guided exercises to strengthen your own letter
Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to present their work professionally, and with practical progress made on their own submission materials. The session also includes discussion of the broader submission process: how to prepare your manuscript for industry readers, when to seek editorial support, and how to interpret and respond constructively to feedback or rejection.
Designed to demystify the route to publication, this workshop offers both strategic insight and actionable tools writers can use immediately. Ideal for writers working on a novel, memoir or other long-form project who are approaching the submission stage or planning their next steps toward representation. *Authors considering the self-publishing route are welcome as long as they’re happy to work on a query package with the group; the workshop can be helpful in supporting them to speak about their work to their audience with clarity and confidence.
$120 Members/$175 Nonmembers
Rali Chorbadzhiyska is an award-winning freelance editor working with both independent and corporate publishers, as well as authors, to provide expert, tailored editorial support to their fiction and narrative non-fiction projects. Drawing on experience at Penguin Random House, Faber and Canongate, she brings a collaborative, creative approach and a deep understanding of the publishing process. She can be found at ralieditorial.com and @rali.editorial.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact programs@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-200-7180 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one partial scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due two weeks prior to the workshop start date, at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION