Event

You Had Me at Your First Two Pages

These days, it's not the first 50 pages or the first chapter of a book that must wow an agent or editor, it's the first two pages, including your first sentence and first paragraph. Let's face it, there's more competition out there. Whether the writing is good or bad or dreadful, with more of it to wade through, those seeking manuscripts for publication have less time to read or keep reading to see if a work shows promise. Writers must grab their attention right away. In this class, what does and doesn't draw agents and editors in will be shared, then the first two pages of participants' work will be discussed with suggestions for improvement. Information on conferences and online resources where writers can pitch their work directly to agents and editors will be also shared.

Christine Stewart is Program Director for Literary Arts with the Maryland State Arts Council and director of Maryland's Poetry Out Loud program. A former artist-in-residence with Creative Alliance in Baltimore, she has an M.A. and M.F.A. in creative writing and poetry, is the recipient of a Ruth Lilly Fellowship, a Pushcart Prize nominee, and has been published in Poetry, Ploughshares, Blackbird, The Cortland Review, and other literary magazines. Check out her Facebook page for daily tips and resources: www.facebook.com/ChrisStewartTheRealWriter.

Located at in the former St. John's Rectory behind St. John's Church, LitMore is dedicated to energizing and sustaining the area's literary community. Free parking is available in the Arts and Ideas lot across South Road. For more information and to view the studios, visit http://litmore.org.