The Slush Pile
(Online)
June 20, 2020
Here's your invitation link:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 872 9078 6818
Password: slush
Welcome to “The Slush Pile!”
The average work day in an editor's or agent's life involves tackling the submissions
in her overflowing inbox. You, the writer, have the first page, first
paragraph, first sentence to grab the attention of this all-important person
who has the power to move your book forward into publishing.
Our Slush Pile meeting gives us a game show-style peek into the workings
of an agent's/editor's mind when they read hundreds, if not thousands
of manuscripts in the course of a year. You'll be able to hear an
agent's thoughts on your first page--what slowed her down, what grabbed
her attention.
This is how we do the Slush Pile.
The reader reads the first anonymous submission UNTIL two members of
the panel raise their hands. The agents and editors then explain why they
indicated for the reader to stop.
Occasionally one or none of the panel raises a hand, so the
reader completes the submission. At that point, the panel explains why they
would want to read more.
The same procedure will be followed for every submission
that is sent in.
Discussions amongst the panel members can get pretty lively.
Last year, they had us so entertained, we just had to have them back!
Once all submissions have been read and discussed, the
host will accept questions using the chat icon at the bottom of your screen.
She can relay those questions to the panel.
To submit your first page, send it as a Word Document to lindasamaritoni@gmail.com by June 18.
To be able to join the meeting, make sure to RSVP. Due to the possibility of nasty "Zoombombers," we need to recognize your name from the RSVP and that you are a member of ACFW.
To be able to join the meeting, make sure to RSVP. Due to the possibility of nasty "Zoombombers," we need to recognize your name from the RSVP and that you are a member of ACFW.
While we're delighted to have the advantages of technology to get
“together” this way, it will be so good to see everyone in person again
someday, enjoying the atmosphere of an excellent meal and the
camaraderie of writers together.
Meet Our Panel
Alyssa Roat has worked in a wide variety
of roles within the publishing industry, as an agent, editor, writer, and
marketer. Along with being a literary agent at Cyle Young Literary Elite,
Alyssa is the publicity manager at Mountain Brook Ink, an editor with Sherpa Editing
Services, and a freelance writer with 175+ bylines. She holds a degree in
Professional Writing from Taylor University. Her debut novel, Wraithwood,
releases Nov. 7, 2020 from INtense Publications. She would love to connect on
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @alyssawrote or on her website alyssawrote.com.
Tisha Martin writes historical fiction and nonfiction but edits
full-time for beginning and best-selling writers and publishing houses. Since
2017 she has worked on over 250 books. She has a bachelor’s in Professional
Writing, a master’s in English Education, and an editing certificate from the
PEN Institute. She enjoys speaking at writer’s conferences and supporting
writers in the self-editing process. Her nonfiction essay in The Horse of My Heart: True Stories of the
Horses We Love is forthcoming in September from Revell. Learn more at www.tishamartin.com.
J. M.
Hochstetler is the daughter of Mennonite farmers and a lifelong student of
history.
For many years
she worked as an editor for Abingdon Press, and currently she is the publisher
and editorial director for Sheaf House Books located in Elkhart, Indiana. Her award-winning historical fiction has been
endorsed by bestselling authors such as Lori Benton, Laura Frantz, Jocelyn
Green, Michelle Moran, and MaryLu Tyndal.
Hochstetler is
the author of the American Patriot Series, the only comprehensive historical
fiction series on the American Revolution. One Holy Night, a
contemporary retelling of the Christmas story, was the Christian Small
Publishers 2009 Book of the Year and a finalist for the American Christian
Fiction Writers’ Carol Award.
Due to the possibility of Zoombombers, an RSVP is required so the host
will admit you to the meeting. This meeting is for members only.
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