The Member Lounge: Small, Interactive Events with Agents, Editors & Authors

Remember your favorite coffeeshop–the one where you could write for hours, surrounded by creative people? We’ve made that–online–for our members.

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All Events Included With Membership

  • Tickets and links are sent to all members two hours before each event–no need to RSVP as long as your membership is active
  • Meet agents and editors in small-group settings
  • Watch as experts answer our questions–and ask some of your own
  • Meet writers in a fun, pressure-free setting for critique partner networking
  • Read your work (and enjoy creative readings) with the best drinks in town, made just how you like them
  • Write together–bring your characters, pages and a word count goal for the day
  • Creative community for the modern writer

Frequent Events To Keep You Connected, Productive & Inspired

  • New events posted at the beginning of each month
  • Morning, afternoon and evening events for every schedule
  • Easy connectivity–most events are through Zoom
  • Introvert-friendly options, flexibility for young families–no requirement to turn on your camera or microphone, no need to clean your room or put on real pants
  • Friendly, lighthearted atmosphere
View Full Calendar Of Events

Access To Top Agents, Editors & Authors

  • Have real conversations that move your work forward. 
  • Ask questions in real time over video chat (or phone), or have your notes delivered by email.
  • Choose from 30+ top agents and editors
  • Receive real, actionable feedback on how to make your work stand out
  • Each of our faculty members is chosen for their kindness, brilliance, and ability to come up with feedback on your spot
  • Members receive early booking + can make custom requests

50+ Hours Of Classes on the Craft, Business & Community of Publishing

  • Everything you’d learn at an in-person conference–and more, since you don’t have to choose between sessions at the same time
  • Watch on your schedule
  • Pause, rewind, take notes
  • Thoughfully edited to maximize efficiency

View List Of Available Classes

  • How To Pitch Your Book Like A Publicist with Rachel Ekstrom Courage, Folio Literary Management
  • Great First Lines with John M. Cusick, Folio Literary Management
  • Platform, Publicity & Publishing in Your Pajamas with Dawn Michelle Hardy, agent and publicist at Dream Relations
  • Middle Grade Basics with Alyssa Jeannette, Stonesong Literary
  • Making The Perfect Pitch with Katharine Sands, The Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency
  • Finding The Funny In Your Manuscript with Jilly Gagnon, author of #Famous (Harpercollins, 2017)
  • Trendsetter, Not Trendy and #OwnVoices: How to Write What You Know with Quressa Robinson, Nelson Literary
  • From Concept To Picture Book with Hazel Mitchell, author/illustrator
  • Worldwide Appeal: What You Need to Know About Foreign Rights with Rena Rossner, The Deborah Harris Agency
  • Character, POV, and the All-Important Voice with Laura Zats, Headwater Literary
  • How To Edit A Bestselling Romance Novel with Lane Heymont, The Tobias Agency
  • A Beginner’s Guide to Publishing Law with Melissa Edwards, lawyer and agent at Stonesong Literary
  • How To Write A Manuscript That Gets And Keeps Everyone’s Attention, with Linda Camacho, Gallt & Zacker Agency
  • Writing Villians Readers Love To Hate with Stacey Graham, Red Sofa Literary
  • Unbranding Yourself: Revealing The True You to the Book Community with Laura Barbiea, Alloy Entertainment
  • Worldbuilding 101 with Roseanne Wells, The Jennifer DiChiara Literary Agency
  • Writing Picture Books: How? Why? When with Julie Falatko, author of Snappsy The Alligator Did Not Ask To Be In This Book
  • High Concept: What It Means, How To Make It Work for You with Jennifer Johnson-Blalock, formerly of Liza Dawson Associates
  • Finding The Narrative In Your Nonfiction with Erik Hane, Headwater Literary
  • Marketing 101 with Jalissa Corrie, Lee & Low Books
  • School Visits: How To Meet Young Readers, Build An Audience, And Sell Books with Cameron Rosenblum, bestselling author
  • Nonfiction Basics with Amanda Shih, Scholastic
  • The Art of the Break for Writers with Elizabeth Ross Holstrom
  • Internet Stalking Without Being Creepy: How to Research, Network, And Become A Priority in the Slush Pile Jessica Sinsheimer, Context Literary
  • The Graphic Novel, Start To Finish with Macmillan Editor Kiara Valdez
  • Anatomy of a (Fictional) Confrontation: How To Use Conflict To Build Characters with author Anne Elliott
  • The Dreaded Synopsis with agent Megan Barnard
  • What The Hook? Finding The Hook Of Your Book with agent Jessica Watterson
  • How Publishing Works with Melissa Warten
  • Narrative Structure and Emotional Impact with bestselling author Cameron Kelly Rosenblum
  • How To Write Children’s Books That Surprise And Delight with agent Fiona Kenshole
  • And many more!

Live Events Designed For Maximum Interaction, Support & Community

  • First page and query panels with top agents & editors
  • Live monthly classes where you can ask questions in the moment, as they occur to you
  • Workshops designed for real results for real people
  • Supportive, thoughtful, talented community
  • Can’t make it live? Send your questions ahead and watch the replay

Member Support To Make The Most of Your Time With Us

  • Early booking in the meetings and critiques system–get your top-choice meeting before they open to the public
  • Concierge service–show us your query, and we’ll pair you with your best faculty meeting match
  • Special requests–if your preferred faculty member is sold out for the month, we’re happy to ask them to add a spot on your behalf (no guarantees, but it often works!)
  • Custom services–want a longer written critique than is available in the system? Need a faster turnaround? Ask, and we’ll do our best to make it happen
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Sandra Edmondson
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Erin Corbett
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Judy Hock
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Elizabeth Holden
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Natasha Yim
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Afton Nelson

Anyone out there working on a novel, picture book, etc. needs to know about The Manuscript Academy.

I really enjoyed the energy and information from all the people involved. I wrote so many notes down which I think will really help me get my work published. My search continues for an agent to help me start the process. I am so glad I found your group.

Anyone out there working on a novel, picture book, etc. needs to know about The Manuscript Academy. This group can offer so much relative information which will help answer the many questions we all have starting out as writers. I feel so privileged to know about this group.

Sincerely,

Sandra

I can already see the difference in my writing.

I found the craft pack to be extremely helpful, particularly Laura Zats' class on voice. She provided actionable advice on deepening POV that I was able to use on my manuscript that same day, and I can already see the difference in my writing. Since I watched the classes, I have frequently referenced back to the notes I took on all of them.

Amazing Value

Julie & Jessica, I know you hear this all the time, but I am so grateful for these Manuscript Academy workshops. I learn so much. I would not have gotten this information anywhere else. I like that I don't have to log in at a specific time and can pop in and out of the class throughout the day. The biggest takeaway from this session was that the sample pages need to support what is promised in the query letter. I'm looking forward to more of these classes. Also, they are an amazing value!
Judy Hock

The Manuscript Academy made a huge difference.

I have an agent! I signed with Emily Forney at BookEnds this morning, on the basis of my roller derby young adult novel, and I'm so excited!

Manuscript Academy made a huge difference in getting me the info I needed and in getting me to take the effort to get published seriously. HUGE shout out to Jessica Sinsheimer and Julie True Kingsley!
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I love all the events and classes Manuscript Academy has to offer. Thank you for making industry professionals so accessible to writers.

This was a FANTASTIC series! I love all the very specific, usable tips, especially the ones on how to research agents using metatags and advanced Twitter and Google searches. I had never thought of that before. I couldn't attend live so watched the recordings. I found all the information extremely helpful and inspiring. It was such a supportive environment. Thank you for all the useful strategies on how to track agent submissions and read rejection letters (that was super helpful!). I've had a few "this isn't right for me. But send me another manuscript" type of rejections. It reminds me not to stop listening at "this isn't right for me." but to make note of that agent for "send me another manuscript." - got to find that silver lining!

I love all the events and classes Manuscript Academy has to offer. Thank you for making industry professionals so accessible to writers.

Great presentations with truly valuable information from industry insiders.

This was such a great resource. I felt as motivated as if I'd spent all day at a conference, except it only cost $49! It was so nice to watch each class multiple times so that I could really absorb it at my own pace, take notes, or just listen. Thank you Laura Zats, Roseanne Wells and Linda Camacho! Great presentations with truly valuable information from industry insiders.

All the Classes + All The Events + Early Booking

  • Early booking in the meetings & critiques system
  • Access to 100% of our filmed, edited classes (50+ hours) taught by top agents, editors and authors
  • Tickets to ALL of our live events
  • A monthly Q&A help desk with rotating guest faculty
  • Personal recommendations for faculty pairings
  • Cancel at any time–if you cancel before your 30-day renewal, you’ll pay just $49
Join With Basic Membership Now

Monthly Agent Consultation + All the Classes + All The Events + Early Booking

  • One monthly consultation with the faculty agent or editor of your choice ($49 value)
  • Early booking in the meetings & critiques system
  • Access to 100% of our filmed, edited classes (50+ hours) taught by top agents, editors and authors
  • Tickets to ALL of our live events
  • A monthly Q&A help desk with rotating guest faculty
  • Personal recommendations for faculty pairings
  • Cancel at any time–if cancel before your 30-day renewal, you’ll pay just $69
Join With Gold Membership Now