“The publishing industry, unsurprisingly, is full of different people who love different things and express that love in different languages. Find the people, the editors and agents, with whom you share some language, and some sense of what makes literature worth reading.”
Publishing Salon Series:
The path to publishing a book can be confusing and overwhelming. How can you catch the attention of a literary agent? How do you write a good query letter? Do you need to write a book proposal? And what is an author platform and why does it matter?
The Publishing Salon is designed to demystify the world of publishing. Through a series of intimate and dynamic conversations, Spirit of Story founder Karin Gutman and esteemed literary agent Jennie Dunham offer insights and practical steps for navigating your way to finding a home for your work.
Publishing Salons
with
Karin Gutman and Jennie Dunham
Hosted via Zoom
To be notified about upcoming salons,
join the Spirit of Story e-list:
About the Instructors:
Karin Gutman, MFA, is a memoir and story coach who has been guiding writers for over 15 years towards discovering and writing their life-based stories. The safe, dynamic spaces she creates allow for this deeply personal work to unfold, as writers peel away the layers, dig deep, and make meaning out of their life experiences. Her clients have sold books to major publishers, including HarperCollins, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster.
A former story analyst for Creative Artists Agency and 20th Century Fox, she is a published author and has written and developed projects for Nickelodeon, the Jim Henson Company and National Geographic Kids. She has taught at Cal State Fullerton, UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and UCLA Arts and Healing, and currently offers workshops, retreats and one-on-one coaching under her Spirit of Story banner.
Jennie Dunham has been a literary agent in New York City since May 1992. In August 2000 she founded Dunham Literary, Inc.
She represents literary fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Her clients have had both critical and commercial success. Books she has represented have appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers in adult hardcover fiction, children’s books, and children’s book series. Her clients have won numerous awards including: New York Times Best Illustrated Book, The Schneider Family Award, Boston Globe Horn Book Honor, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.
She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Anthropology and has a master's degree in Social Work from New York University. She frequently speaks at writers conferences and events.
Kind words...
“Hearing the critiques was invaluable, and I have a much better understanding of what makes a strong premise, and the drive needed on the first page to grab the reader.
Thank you for the amount of thought that you put into the structure and the order of events. One aspect flowed into the next, and the interchange between both of you was also informative. And the moments when you each picked up on slightly different details during the critiques added insightful perspective in looking at the work at hand.”
Karen Samski
Hearing the critiques was invaluable, and I have a much better understanding of what makes a good premise.
I appreciate your acumen, professionalism, efficiency, and the kindness of spirit from you both so evident in the salon.
“What? Inch out of the cool shade of a giant's shadow to expose myself to possible burn? Thank you for the push!
I thank you both very much for a revealing salon. Specifically for my work, and in general. I appreciate your acumen, professionalism, efficiency, and the kindness of spirit from you both so evident in the salon.”
Roberta Degnore
“My understanding of the publishing process increased significantly after yesterday's session. I knew very little leading into it so I feel much more informed now. Specifically, it was very helpful to understand all of the pieces required for submitting book ideas, what literary agents can do for writers in terms of getting book deals and also protecting the hundreds of rights that may be involved, what should be included in credentials and bio information, and also the importance of having a platform.
I am absolutely more confident about writing a premise and first page. In fact, I worked on that last night after the session because I was so inspired!”
Rachel Perry
My understanding of the publishing process increased significantly after yesterday's session.
I am absolutely more confident about writing a premise and first page. In fact, I worked on that last night after the session because I was so inspired!
I liked Jennie’s crisp, to the point feedback, very helpful and supportive of where each writer was with their story.
“I liked Jennie’s crisp, to the point feedback, very helpful and supportive of where each writer was with their story. I particularly liked it when she noted — as I could, hearing the writing — that the writer was still in the process of discovering exactly “where” and “what” their own story was, and why it mattered to them. This allowed me to turn around and ask the same questions of myself, and my own writing. Made me look forward to bringing a piece of my own one day.
Many thanks for a very practical and (from writing perspective) empowering workshop!!”
Marie Unini
“It was interesting to see what worked and what did not... and the commonalities in the critiques. Although I did not have work critiqued, I could imagine what mine may have been, from other examples.”
Kris Crinwelge
Although I did not have work critiqued, I could imagine what mine may have been, from other examples.
Jennie’s honest feedback was just what I needed. And… it was FUN!
“Jennie’s honest feedback was just what I needed. I left the Zoom meeting feeling that, even if I do not get published, the session today will make me a better writer. And…it was FUN!”
Carolyn Butcher
