How to Get Published By Pitching to Trends
A Top Kidlit Author Reveals Her Secret to Getting Book Contracts
"Such an ah-ha concept. I really appreciate how nuts and bolts the presentation was and Michelle's knowledgeable, upbeat approach. Really valuable and fun. Thank you!"
- Leigh B.
"Excellent presentation, well organized, and generous with specific examples. I'm looking forward to trying to pitch my work now instead of dreading it!"
- Carrie P.
Discover the secret that turned a struggling, unpublished writer into an award-winning multi-published author.
Michelle Schusterman was stumped.
Her work was good and well-targeted, but the rejection letters kept coming.
Editors praised her writing, yet told her that her stories didn't fit what they "were looking for right now".
So she ignored the age-old advice "Don't write to trends!" and did exactly that. But she knew it wouldn't work.
Michelle didn't want to simply mimic what was selling - she wanted to write the books of her heart. But the topics close to her heart weren't "on trend".
It felt hopeless until she had a powerful revelation:
DON'T WRITE TO TRENDS:
PITCH TO TRENDS
Now, with more than 20 critically acclaimed books for children and teens — from such top publishers as Random House, Scholastic and Penguin — it's clear that this simple realization changed everything for Michelle.
And it can do the same for you.
It's an Undeniable Fact: Trends Rule the Publishing World.
Over the past decade, kidlit publishers have become increasingly risk-averse.
Editors are under intense pressure to find stories that have built-in audiences and are similar to books that have already resulted in best-sellers.
Writers have tried to game this system, by "writing to trends", but it really doesn't work.
For one thing, you probably didn't become a writer just to bash out copycat stories.
But even then, by the time you've written your story to trend, the trend may actually be over.
Discouraging? Maybe.
Unless you know how Michelle does it....
Here's Michelle's Big Idea that changed everything:
You can still write the book of your heart.
And then you can get published by pitching it in a specific way that honestly and powerfully demonstrates to agents and editors that your book is EXACTLY what's on trend — even if it's not a currently "hot" topic.
And Michelle's technique works for all genres of kidlit, from picture books through YA!
In this info-packed workshop, Michelle will teach you — step-by-step — her unique and proven method of pitching to trends.
No matter what you're writing, by the end of this workshop you'll have a pitch that shows not just what your story is about, but why it's exactly what readers are looking for right now.
In this comprehensive class you'll learn:
- How to sell your manuscript to a major publisher, even if your book varies from current trends.
- How to identify today's kidlit publishing trends, and apply them to your work.
- How to know which trends are real, and which are just passing fads.
- The right way to find and utilize "comps" in pitching your book.
- Michelle's plug-in formula to pitch your book that breaks down the key components editors want to know about your story.
- How to read current deal announcements to find the clues that will make your pitch timely and relevant.
- How to convince an editor that your manuscript is not only "on trend", but can become a trendsetter in its own right.
- Michelle's three techniques for pitching a book - and how to choose the right one for each of your stories.
- How to know what editors really want to see in a manuscript.
...and much more.
"I really appreciate the expanded description of the formula. I have a better understanding now how to use this valuable tool. Thank you, Michelle."
- Kathryn P.
"Thank you so much Michelle - so informative. Just awesome!"
- Danelle
Your Instructor
Michelle is the author of more than 20 critically acclaimed books for children and teens.
Her works have received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and Publisher's Weekly and have received honors including multiple Junior Library Guild selections, the CBCC Best of 2019 List, ALA's Rainbow List and Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers List, and the NC State College of Education Comic Relief Reading List.
By pitching to trends, Michelle has been published by top houses, including Random House, Scholastic and The Penguin Group.
"Great step by step directions that I can utilize immediately. You are greatly appreciated!"
- Joan M.