June 9, 2022
Hello, writers!

We're only a couple of weeks out from the 2022 Agents & Editors Conference and we hope you're as excited as we are. This is the third in a series of conference mailers that will help you prepare for the big weekend.

In this mailer you'll find:
  • A reminder and Zoom link for the pre-conference "Practice Makes Pitch Perfect" presentation and Pitch Lab
  • An update about agent and editor consultations
  • A form to RSVP for the Sunday Closing Luncheon
  • A reminder to register for the Saturday Keynote Luncheon
  • A reminder to reserve your hotel room
  • A note about COVID guidelines
  • A sneak peek at the 2022 A&E Conference program!

The conference is approaching fast, so if you have any questions about the information in this mailer or anything else, please feel free to reach out to us at wltconference@writersleague.org.

See you soon!
WLT Staff
Coming up! Join us on Tuesday, June 14th at 7:00 PM CDT for a pre-conference virtual event. We're bringing back the "Practice Makes Pitch Perfect" – an informative and lively discussion with two publishing professionals: WLT ED Becka Oliver (a former literary agent) and Lance Fitzgerald (VP of Content and Business Development at Penguin Random House Audio). They'll go over the ABCs (really, the 4Cs) of pitching, including some time for audience participation - yes, we mean YOU.

Plus, after the presentation, we'll be hosting a virtual pitch lab, where you'll get the chance to hone your pitch with fellow attendees.

All conference registrants have access to this session. And if you can't make the live event, don't worry! The "Practice Makes Pitch Perfect" presentation will be recorded and a link to the recording will be shared with you the day after the event takes place.

To join the presentation on Tuesday, use the Zoom link here.
At this time, all conference registrants are limited to no more than two (2) consultations.

We will be sending out consultation appointment schedules on Monday, June 13th. Be on the lookout for an email from us by the end of the day.

Any questions? Now's the time to ask! First, take a look at our FAQs. If you still have a question after you've read through the FAQs, give us a call at 512-499-8914, or email us at wltconference@writersleague.org.
On Sunday, June 26th, join us for the Sunday Closing Luncheon to end the big weekend. While we know some folks will need to hit the road for the drive home (or to the airport), we hope you'll stick around for the closing session if time allows.

There is no extra charge for the closing luncheon, but we do require that you RSVP ahead of time so that we're able to give an accurate count to the venue. The luncheon will include a buffet-style meal and a conversation with our three 2022 Summer Writing Retreat instructors - Charlotte Gullick, Donna M. Johnson, and Stacey Swann - on their favorite craft books and what authors/titles are inspiring them right now.

If you'd like to attend, we need to hear from you by Thursday, June 16th. RSVP at the button below. (If you don't RSVP ahead of time, we will be selling closing luncheon tickets on site if space is available).
The 2022 Agents & Editors Conference Keynote Speaker is Jami Attenberg, author of the memoir I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself HomeShe'll be giving a speech on "How to Carve Out a Creative Life for Yourself" and we cannot wait to hear her advice and insights. Plus, all keynote luncheon registrants will receive a copy of Jami's memoir.

ABOUT OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Jami Attenberg is the author of seven books of fiction, including: Instant LoveThe Kept Man, The Melting SeasonThe MiddlesteinsSaint Mazie, and All Grown Up. Her most recent novel is All This Could Be Yours (2019). She is also the author of the memoir I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home (2022). Attenberg has written about food, travel, books, relationships and urban life for The New York Times MagazineThe Wall Street Journalthe Sunday TimesSlate, and others. Her work has been published in a total of sixteen languages. She lives in New Orleans, LA.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
From New York Times bestselling author Jami Attenberg comes a dazzling memoir about unlocking and embracing her creativity—and how it saved her life.

In this brilliant, fierce, and funny memoir of transformation, Jami Attenberg—described as a “master of modern fiction” (Entertainment Weekly) and the “poet laureate of difficult families” (Kirkus Reviews)—reveals the defining moments that pushed her to create a life, and voice, she could claim for herself. What does it take to devote oneself to art? What does it mean to own one’s ideas? What does the world look like for a woman moving solo through it?

As the daughter of a traveling salesman in the Midwest, Attenberg was drawn to a life on the road. Frustrated by quotidian jobs and hungry for inspiration and fresh experiences, her wanderlust led her across the country and eventually on travels around the globe. Through it all she grapples with questions of mortality, otherworldliness, and what we leave behind.

It is during these adventures that she begins to reflect on the experiences of her youth—the trauma, the challenges, the risks she has taken. Driving across America on self-funded book tours, sometimes crashing on couches when she was broke, she keeps writing: in researching articles for magazines, jotting down ideas for novels, and refining her craft, she grows as an artist and increasingly learns to trust her gut and, ultimately, herself.
Exploring themes of friendship, independence, class, and drive, I Came All This Way to Meet You is an inspiring story of finding one’s way home—emotionally, artistically, and physically—and an examination of art and individuality that will resonate with anyone determined to listen to their own creative calling.

Keynote Luncheon tickets are $50 per registrant. This includes entrance to the luncheon, a 3-course meal, a copy of Jami's memoir, as well as access to the book-signing following the luncheon. Seating is limited, so make sure to secure your spot as soon as possible.
The 2022 conference venue is the Hyatt Regency Austin on Lady Bird Lake. The hotel has set aside a block of discounted rooms for A&E Conference registrants for dates before, during, and after the event. Rooms will fill quickly, so book now if you want to be assured a spot.

Rooms are $185/night plus tax. The cut-off date to register under the group block is June 23, 2022.

To reserve your room at the Hyatt Regency, click here
NOTE: The hotel block is filling up fast. If you're hoping to stay at the conference hotel, we encourage you to book your room as soon as possible.
The health and safety of all our attendees and volunteers is our top priority. 

We sent an email on Wednesday, June 8th explaining the COVID guidelines for the 2022 Agents & Editors Conference. You can find the guidelines on our website here.