Building a Book That Agents (And Readers) Can’t Refuse with Alex Jennings

Instructor: Alex Jennings

Dates and times: From 11am to 1pm on four Saturdays:

• November 9
• November 16
• November 23
• December 14

Note that there are no classes on November 30 or December 7.

Location: 2832 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA. This is across the hall from JAMNOLA.

This is a four-week course for adult students about putting together compelling projects and submitting them to agents and publishers.

When he finished his debut novel, The Ballad of Perilous Graves, award-winning author Alex Jennings barely understood what a monumental task it would be to see the book into print. In this course, Alex will work with students one-on-one and in groups to refine, describe, and seek representation for novels, short fiction collections, or poetry volumes. The journey to publication is rarely a straight line, so let Alex Jennings fill you in on what to look out for, and how to maximize your chances for success!

The course will cover:

• Identifying markets and market placement
• How best to communicate with agents, editors, and publishers
• Forming an effective submission packet
• Why and how you should look for an agent
• Submission strategies, tactics
• How to stay organized and how to reduce stress as you shop your project
• Community building and engagement

By the end of this course, students will be able to craft:

• Cover letters
• Query letters to agents and publishers
• Novel synopses of varying lengths
• Book pitches
• Novel outlines

Enrollment is limited to adults 18 and over.

A minimum number of students must enroll in this class for it to make. If fewer students enroll than are necessary, the class will be cancelled and full refunds will be issued. If we have to cancel the class, we'll make every effort to notify students at least one week before the first class meeting.

Instructor Alex Jennings has been writing SFF professionally since 2005. His writing has appeared in various venues including Strange Horizons, PodCastle, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Pseudopod. His novel, The Ballad of Perilous Graves (HBG/Orbit, 2022) is available wherever books are sold. Ballad has been short-listed for numerous awards including the Ernest Gaines Award, The William L. Crawford Fantasy Award, the Ray Bradbury Prize for Speculative Fiction, the Mythopoeic Award, and the Locus Award for First Novel. He is the winner of the Compton Crook Prize, and is an Instructor of Popular Fiction at the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast MFA Program. He is also a true believer in the power of fiction to shape the world.

By registering for this class ("the Activity"), which is offered by the NOCCA Foundation, you represent, covenant, and agree, on behalf of yourself and your heirs, assigns, and any other person claiming by, under, or through you, as follows:

1. You acknowledge that participating in the Activity involves certain risks (some of which you may not fully appreciate), and that injuries, death, property damage or other harm could occur to yourself or others. You accept and voluntarily incur all risks of any injuries, damages, or harm which arise during or result from your participation in the Activity, including any associated travel, regardless of whether or not caused in whole or in part by the negligence or other fault of the NOCCA Foundation, NOCCA, and/or its or their departments, trustees, affiliates, employees, officers, agents, or insurers ("Released Parties").

2. You waive all claims against any of the Released Parties for any injuries, damages, losses, or claims, whether known and unknown, which arise during or result from your participation in the Activity, regardless of whether or not caused in whole or part by the negligence or other fault of any of the Released Parties. You release and forever discharge the Released Parties from all such claims.

3. You agree to indemnify and hold the Released Parties harmless from all losses, liabilities, damages, costs, or expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees and other litigation costs and expenses) incurred by any of the Released Parties as a result of any claims or suits that you (or anyone claiming by, under, or through you) may bring against any of the Released Parties to recover any losses, liabilities, costs, damages, or expenses which arise during or result from your participation in the Activity, regardless of whether or not caused in whole or part by the negligence or other fault of any of the Released Parties.

4. You have carefully read and reviewed this Waiver, Release, And Hold Harmless Agreement. You understand it fully, and you execute it voluntarily by registering for the Activity.

This class is hosted by the NOCCA Foundation, NOCCA's nonprofit support and advocacy organization. Proceeds support an array of programs for NOCCA students, faculty, and the community.

Host or Publisher NOCCA Foundation