Draft Like A Pro with Agent Haley Casey

Whether you’re a plotter or a pantser, completing a working draft of your WIP can be challenging—and that’s just the first step in the writing process. Instead, reconsider how your drafting style works for you, learn how to keep your story flowing, and keep from getting caught in the trap of perfectionism the moment you put pen to paper.

CRITIQUES AVAILABLE!

Haley will be offering 6 slots of written critiques and 6 slots of 15-minute Zoom critiques. The price for written critiques is $60 for members, $70 for nonmembers; for Zoom critiques, $85 for members, $95 for nonmembers. Critique comments will follow the Gold Form. MG/YA manuscripts accepted. First 10 pages, plus an optional 1-page synopsis and query letter, will be due by July 20th. Feedback will be returned by August 17th. Details on how to submit will be sent to registrants directly.

SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY!

Registered attendees of the “Draft Like a Pro” webinar hosted by Iowa SCBWI may submit to Haley Casey for six weeks after the event. Haley Casey says: "I’m open across genres in YA and MG, from fiction to nonfiction, though I’m eagerly seeking genre fiction—fantasy, horror, and sci-fi. I’m also a voice-driven reader, and while I don’t shy away from heavier themes, I prefer stories that bring levity to even tough topics." You can find more details on what she's looking for on her agent page linked here. Submission guidelines will be sent after the event.

Haley Casey graduated from The University of Kansas with a BA in creative writing and attended the Denver Publishing Institute in 2015. She began her full-time career at Ogden Publications, where she was an editor for four years. There she worked with a variety of authors across multiple magazines, wrote over a dozen articles, edited audio for podcasts, and even styled cover photos—anything to add some creativity to her days. In 2020, she interned at Metamorphosis Literary Agency and Creative Media Agency, Inc. before stepping into her role as an associate agent at CMA.

She’s actively building her list, and—using her industry expertise and editorial eye—she’s ready to continue bringing new stories into the world!