Pitch Perfect Webinar with Kelly Dyksterhouse
Aug 25, 2026
Online event
Join Kelly Dyksterhouse online for a practical, hands-on lesson in crafting compelling elevator pitches.
Details
Join literary agent Kelly Dyksterhouse of The Tobias Agency for “Pitch Perfect,” a webinar designed to help writers strengthen their pitches and prepare their work for submission. Kelly will share insight into what makes a pitch stand out, how to present your manuscript clearly and professionally, and what agents are looking for when they review submissions.
The webinar will take place on Tuesday, August 25 at 6:30 p.m. Registration is $15 for SCBWI members and $25 for those who are not yet members, and the video recording will be available for 30 days after the event.
As a special opportunity, registrants will be able to submit to Kelly after the webinar. Kelly will also provide a limited number of written manuscript critiques in advance of the event, available on a first-come, first-served basis. We will also have 10-minute Zoom consultations to get feedback on your pitch and project from other literary professionals in the week following the webinar.
Our Speaker
Kelly Dyksterhouse
Kelly Dyksterhouse is a literary agent at Tobias Literary Agency, where she brings a spirit of intentional care to every partnership. With an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, Kelly is passionate about guiding creators who craft meaningful, adventurous, and uplifting stories for young readers. She represents an array of authors and illustrators whose work spans board books, picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, and captivating nonfiction. Kelly is dedicated to nurturing voices that inspire wonder, spark joy, and leave a lasting impact on the next generation.
The Webinar
Join Kelly Dyksterhouse online for a practical, hands-on lesson in crafting compelling elevator pitches. A strong pitch is more than just a conference tool—it can become the foundation of an effective query letter, persuasive flap copy, and other marketing materials for your book.
Kelly's session will help you identify the heart of your story, communicate it clearly and confidently, and capture an industry professional's attention in just a few sentences.
Whether you're preparing to pitch your manuscript or simply looking to sharpen how you talk about your work, this webinar will give you practical techniques you can use immediately.
Recording will be available for 30 days following the webinar.
Practice your pitch with a publishing professional on Zoom in the week after the webinar. Pitch consultations are 10-minutes. The cost is $40. Our professionals will accept submissions after the webinar.
Opportunities:
- Pre-Webinar Written Manuscript Critique from Kelly Dyksterhouse - $50
- Webinar with Kelly Dyksterhouse - $15 Members / $25 Non-members
- Post-Webinar 10-minute Pitch Consultations - $40
**Because fees paid to professionals for manuscript critiques and Zoom consultations are contracted in advance, these fees cannot be refunded, unless we are able to resell your ticket.
Professional Critiques:
Practice your pitch with these publishing professionals on Zoom in the week after the webinar. Pitch consultations are 10-minutes. All webinar attendees will have the opportunity to submit to these professionals after the webinar.
Tali Shammas (Storm Literary Agency)
Tali grew up devouring books by flashlight long past her bedtime. After several years practicing corporate law, she returned to her childhood love: books. With her legal knowledge and skills in client advocacy and contract negotiation, she looks forward to building a diverse client list. Tali is looking to work with clients over the span of their careers and is not afraid of a writer who wants to explore multiple genres. She is an editorial agent who loves to sink her teeth into a great manuscript and work with the writer to make the story shine. Tali is a champion for underrepresented voices, and she gives back by offering mentorship to up-and-coming writers and running workshops on legal issues writers should consider. She also co-hosts a literary podcast called The Prose Pros. Tali lives with her husband, two children, and a very spoiled (and handicapable) cockapoo with wheels. Tali’s favourite authors include V.E. Schwab, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Alix E. Harrow, Nisha J. Tuli, Holly Black, Shelley Parker-Chan, Tracy Deonn, M.L. Wang, Rachel Gillig, Mona Awad, Ava Reid, Leigh Bardugo, Erin Morgenstern, Stephanie Garber, C.G. Drews, T. Kingfisher, Andrew Joseph White, Ashley Winstead, Liz Moore, Andrea Bartz, Carley Fortune, Lily King, and many more! You can find Tali's complete manuscript wishlist here: https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/tali-shammas/
Erica McGrath (Writer's House)
Erica McGrath is a Junior Agent at Writers House, where she works with award winning authors and illustrators on everything from picture books through adult novels. She is actively building her list and is interested in working with ambitious, funny, and little-seen voices in all age ranges across the board. Erica is most eager to see unexpectedly heartfelt and weird picture books, uncanny and adventurous middle grade, gutsy voice-driven YA, and graphic novels from all ages. As a New York native, she believes there's no greater joy than finishing a good book aboard the M train (that, or a great one-liner). Outside of the book world, she enjoys going to concerts and lying in the park (preferably both, when possible). She looks forward to reading your work!
Morgan Hughes (FinePrint Literary Agency)
Another professional TBA
Alyza Liu (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers)
Alyza Liu is an editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Books she has worked on have been #1 New York Times bestsellers; William C. Morris Award Finalists; and ALA Notable Recordings, among other honors. Prior to S&S, she studied at New York University, where she majored in East Asian Studies and minored in English and Studio Art. Her dream is to become a Jin Yong heroine, but in the meantime she daylights in publishing.