First-Look Roundtables

HOW A ROUNDTABLE WORKS

When you register, you will choose which agent or editor you would like your Roundtable with.  Each faculty will meet with a group of up to 5 writers at the same time. BEFORE YOU REGISTER, MAKE SURE YOU CAN ATTEND THE FACULTY’S SCHEDULED ROUNDTABLE TIME. There are NO REFUNDS if you cannot attend the meeting!

Roundtables for this event are on Saturday, April 26th from 1:45 - 2:45 pm PST. Please arrive promptly at 1:45 pm. 

At the Roundtable, each writer will have a 9-12 minute turn (depending on how many other writers are in the group). During your turn, you will read aloud the work you want feedback on.

You may:

•  for novels, read the first page of your manuscript - standard 12-point font, double-spaced  or
• for picture books, read the first 300 words or
• give the pitch for your work.

The agent/editor will then use the remaining time to give their initial feedback on the work they just heard. If the reviewer asks, please be prepared to share your screen with the text.

ROUNDTABLE ETIQUETTE

ONLY the agent/editor may give their thoughts and suggestions. ONLY the person whose turn it is may ask questions. Please understand that your peers have paid for professional opinion, not yours, so please refrain from giving your two cents on someone else’s work. Everyone will benefit from hearing the professional feedback on their fellow attendees’ work.

ROUNDTABLE FACULTY SCHEDULES

(Abbreviations: PB - Picture Book, CB - Chapter Book, MG - Middle Grade, YA - Young Adult, NF - Non-fiction, GN - Graphic Novels)

Jim Averbeck, agent (PB, MG, YA, GN)

Stephanie Fretwell-Hill, agent (PB, MG, YA, GN)

Courtney Donovan, junior agent (PB, MG, YA)

Jennifer Thompson, associate editor (PB, MG, YA)

Foyinsi Adegbonmire, associate editor (MG, YA)

Roundtables for this event are on Saturday, April 26th from 1:45 - 2:45 pm PST. Please arrive promptly at 1:45 pm. 

Q: I am an illustrator or author/illustrator. May I show my picture book dummy or portfolio?

A: Illustrators will have the chance for portfolio or dummy feedback at our Illustrators’ Day event in September. 

Q: I cannot make the scheduled time for the Roundtable. May I reschedule or receive a refund?

A: No. Please check the faculty’s available time frame BEFORE you register. There are no refunds and we are unable to reschedule if you miss the session.

Q: What will the agent/editor say about my work?

A: It depends. Each faculty has a different critique style and anything they say is subjective. It is helpful if you have a specific question or something for the faculty to focus on, for example – “Is my first line exciting enough?” “How do you suggest I shorten my elevator pitch so I can use it for a social media pitch event?” “Does my main character’s voice sound believable?”

Q: Can I query the agents and editors?

A: Yes, the faculty will be open to submissions from all the event attendees, regardless of whether or not you had a roundtable or critique. We will send an email with their submission guidelines after the event. We suggest that if the faculty at the Roundtable had critical feedback for you, that you take the time to do the revisions before you query them.