Professional Development – Pitching workshop

Join Olivia Chapman as she leads this 90-minute online workshop teaching you how to talk about your work, and how to pitch it to agents, editors, and producers.

In order to participate fully, you will need to have a complete story / poetry collection (in whatever form) which you can discuss from start to finish. You will learn skills that can be transferred to any other story, but to get the most out of the workshop, it will be helpful to focus on a single story you can finesse.

Although you do not need to be published to attend, you do need to have a complete manuscript to be able to base your pitch on.

Places are limited for this event, so please do let us know if you are no longer able to join us after you’ve registered.

#SoAatHome Professional Development events – free for SoA Members

All #SoAatHome Professional Development sessions continue to be free for members. However, for non-members, the price is £35 including VAT.

Not a member? sign up here with our special #SoAatHome offer and get 20% off for the first year – use code SOAATHOME20.

Programme

• Welcome, introductions and housekeeping from Lilly Brend-Fish – Events & Engagement Manager, SoA (3 mins)
• Workshop lead by Olivia Chapman (60 mins)

Please note that this will include a series of breakout rooms with other attendees where you will have the opportunity to practice your learnt pitching skills.

• Comfort break (5 mins)
• Q&A with audience (20 mins)
• Summary and closing comments (2 mins)

What will this session cover?

• How to put across the best of your story in the most engaging way possible, whilst allowing your passion for your work to come across.
• How to structure your pitch and talk confidently and clearly about the plot and genre.
• There will be time to practise your pitch with other writers during the session if you wish.

Who is this session for?

This workshop is intended for prose writers (both fiction and non-fiction) and scriptwriters. The content can be adapted for poetry but works best if your poetry collection is themed or can be pulled together to be discussed in broader terms than individual poems.

Send us your questions

If you would like to send questions in advance, email Lbrendfish@societyofauthors.org with ‘Pitching workshop’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day.

#SoAatHome Fundraising Bookshop

Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in the #SoAatHome. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund, giving authors support for travel, subsistence, childcare or access needs for events, residencies, and retreats.

The Line-up

Liv Chapman

Liv Chapman is programmer and festival manager who’s worked with writers for over 20 years. She currently works with Hexham Book Festival, Word Up North in Bradford and Cheltenham Festivals, as well as the Society of Authors.

Website: https://livchapman.co.uk/

Need to know

Accessibility

• Attendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript, to watch with subtitles
• If you require BSL interpretation for this event, please email events@societyofauthors.org

Before the event

• Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation email with the Zoom link
• If the confirmation email doesn’t arrive in your inbox, please check your junk/spam email folder
• Please add events@societyofauthors.org to your Safe Senders list so you receive our confirmation and reminder emails

During the event

• This online event will take place on Zoom Meetings; you will be visible on screen if you keep your camera on during the session. You will be able to ask your questions directly or put them in the Zoom chat.
• This event will be recorded and you may be on screen
• Attendees have the option to turn on the live transcript
• This event is 90 minutes 

After the event

• The hashtag for this event: #SoAatHome
• SoA Members and paid attendees of this event will be able to catch the recording on our Vimeo channel (password protected) or members can access via the SoA website.

Booking

SoA Members: Please use the ‘Register – SoA Members’ form below and provide your details, including your membership number. If you’re unsure of your SoA ID, please email info@societyofauthors.org.

Non-members: Choose one of the two ticket options below, complete the registration form, then fill out the billing info to finalise your payment.

For event or registration questions, email events@societyofauthors.org.

SoA Members – Free

Non-Members – £35