Event Description
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Pacific (to accommodate agents from NY)
IWOSC members – free
Non-members – $15
Jump down to register
Registration closes at noon, the day before this meeting.
Via Zoom
With the economy only beginning to recover from its worst moments since the Great Recession a decade ago, and with never-ending changes in technology and business models in both publishing and Hollywood, it’s more important than ever now for writers to know what agents want, and how they (and the industry) want it.
This month, IWOSC will be presenting a stellar bi-coastal panel of top New York and Beverly Hills literary agents seeking writers. Topics will include:
- “Do’s and Don’ts” — how to make the best first impression (including irresistible query and cover letters), good book openings, and what mistakes will guarantee a rejection letter
- What agents are looking for in authors today, and what happens AFTER an author is signed!
- How long it usually takes for a book or screenplay to sell once it’s represented, and what goes on “behind the scenes” at publishers and studios
- What career and educational credentials, and online/media platforms, are agents and publishers looking for in a writer today?
- Diversity and representation — including not just racial and gender issues, but age discrimination as well
- The trend towards agents developing books in-house, giving book deals to social media “influencers”, and how we writers can “get in on the action.”
We are also actively in the process of reaching out to a Movie & TV Screenplay Agent to broaden our discussion to include screenplays and TV writing as well!
Our current confirmed panelists are:
Lynn Johnston, Literary agent
Lynn Johnston — Lynn Johnston Literary
Lynn Johnston has been a literary agent since 2001 representing mostly nonfiction.
The books on her list have been called “firebreathng” and “righteous” by the New York Times, “exuberant” by O, The Oprah Magazine, and “a godsend” by Publishers Weekly. Among them are bestsellers (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and others), finalists for the Books for a Better Life Award, winner of the International Association of Culinary Professionals Cookbook Award, Grammy nominee for best audio book, and many “best nonfiction of year” citations.
Johnston has an MBA and BA in Philosophy. Before publishing, she held various management and marketing roles and has served on the board or staff of notable non-profit organizations, including Dress for Success, Bottomless Closet and the American Bar Association. She currently serves on the advisory board of the Woodstock Book Fest.
Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Johnston lives and works in New York City.
You can learn more at LynnJohnstonLit.com.
Dara Hyde, Literary agent
Dara Hyde — Hill-Nadell
Dara Hyde is a Senior Agent at the Hill Nadell Literary Agency in Los Angeles and represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, including literary and genre fiction, graphic novels, narrative non-fiction, memoir, and children’s.
Dara’s clients include, among others, Angie Cruz, Natashia Deon, Jamie Harrison, Kimi Eisele, Maggie Downs, Christine Pelisek, Matt Mendez, Justin Eisinger, Samuel Sattin, Lilah Sturges, Jordan Morris, Gene Ha, Jen Hickman, Soo Lee, and Mariah McCourt.
Alec Shane — Writers House Literary of New York
Alec Shane’s bio and photo are forthcoming.
Telly Davidson
Moderator: Telly Davidson
Telly Davidson is IWOSC’s Director of Programs and a frequent moderator of IWOSC Panels.His book, Culture War: How the ’90s Made Us Who We Are Today (Whether We Like It or Not) has attracted rave reviews from critics.
Telly was senior film and TV reviewer for bestselling pundit David Frum’s FrumForum from 2009-12, has written about movies, TV, and music for FilmStew, 213 Magazine, iF Monthly, Entertainment Today, Guitar Player, AllAboutJazz, The American Conservative, and Attn.com.
He also wrote the Emmy-cited media tie-in, TV’s Grooviest Variety Shows, works alongside top indie film producer’s rep Jeff Porter of Porter Pictures on the placement of independent films, and worked on TV specials for NBC and PBS, including the Emmy-nominated Pioneers of Television.
Registration info
IWOSC members – free
Non-members – $15
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