The Write to Pitch Conference takes place four times a year in June, September, December, and March. Events begin at 9:00 AM on Thursday and conclude by 2:00 P.M. on the following Sunday for a total of four days. See this page for a sample day-by-day schedule. If you are flying in, plan for arrival by Wednesday night, and departure on Sunday evening, or thereafter. Current live event dates can be found on our application and registration page.
NOTE: information found on this page applies also to upcoming conferences.
Where and Where to Stay?
KEYWORDS: Hotel Rates, AirBnB, Hotwire, Uber, Hilton Garden Inn
We recommend using HOTWIRE.COM to book nearby hotels in Manhattan, however, another tactic is to look for deals on sites like HOTELS.COM and then call the hotels directly. Sometimes you will discover the rates are cheaper! Yes, strange how that works on occasion. Overall though, room prices are once again reasonable following a spike in inflation earlier in 2024.
However, if you are searching for even more reasonable rates, we recommend a couple of ideal alternatives, and one in particular, the Hilton Garden Inn in Secaucus, NJ. Here is a webpage that lays out the ways and means of going from there to our event at 520 8th Avenue.
Aside from the Hilton, there are unquestionably plenty of very good hotels across the river in NJ. Additionally, the AirBnB rules in Jersey are far less stringent. Regardless, whether you choose a hotel or an AirBnB, either choice allows for a short and straight shot into Manhattan via taxi, rail, Uber, or bus.
RIPLEY GREER STUDIOS
All Write to Pitch Conference events in New York take place at the famous Ripley Greer Music and Theater Studios on 520 Eighth Avenue. The studios are conveniently located a few blocks from Penn Station. More information can be found here.
How Big and How Does it Work?
The Write to Pitch Conference 2025 ranges between 45 and 65 total writers depending on the season. We keep the conference intentionally small compared to the usual big writer conferences, and for good reason: our methods and overall strategy would be compromised if we did otherwise. Each writer is placed in a specific workshop group and matched with a workshop leader and other professionals who possess expertise in a range of genres relevant to that workshop, e.g., women's fiction and related sub-genres.
Workshop leaders coach the writer, helping them from the very first day to editorially hone, develop, and pitch their novel (or nonfiction), and they continue to mentor the writer until the end of the conference, interacting as needed with faculty agents and acquisition editors to provide writers with an extra edge. Altogether, over the course of four days writers pitch and discuss their work with six members of the faculty, all of whom are seasoned and networked professionals able to put a writer on the path to publication.
What is the Goal?
To set you on a realistic path not only to publication, but to becoming a career author. Together we develop your novel to make it sufficiently competitive while also providing you with the network and one-on-one opportunity you need to place your work in commercial markets (including TV and film) via professionally managed pitch sessions, and in particular, ones that allow ample post-pitch discussion time.
A diagnostic and developmental tool for exploring the depths of the novel and its many elements, assisting to improve said elements as needed, and once accomplished, as a means of artfully communicating a marketable commercial story to professionals in the business.
How is This Conference Different?
Like other Algonkian writer events, in several ways, as follows. See the Benefits and Perks page for more elaboration.
All events begin before you arrive and continue after you depart with pre-event and post-event novel development study forums.
Demonstrable track record of writer publication.
Sufficient time for productive dialogues with faculty (no three-minute timers).
MS and prose narrative critiqued by professionals only.
Extensive story and pitch prep prior to sessions with agents or publishers.
Focus on market-positioning, high-concept story premise, and competitive execution.
Less focus on "key note speakers" and panels, more on actual productivity.
As a conference participant your laptop isn't mandatory, though it is a good idea. You must at least bring writing materials. Don't bother transporting your entire manuscript, rather bring a flash drive if you wish, or just a copy on your pc, or Google Docs. Most editors or agents will ask for the ms, or samples, to be sent following the conference (who wants to lug 20 pounds of paper out the door?).
Dress Code?
The conference dress code is casual or business casual. No need to dress up! We want you as relaxed as possible.
Lobbying Faculty
Please note that any and all contacts with publishing house editors, agents, or other professionals--whether by mail, phone, or other means--are not allowed before or after the event, i.e., unless and until a specific faculty member has requested that you submit your work to them. If you have any questions about this issue, please speak with your workshop leader.
NOTE: information found on this page applies also to upcoming conferences.
We recommend using HOTWIRE.COM to book nearby hotels in Manhattan, however, another tactic is to look for deals on sites like HOTELS.COM and then call the hotels directly. Sometimes you will discover the rates are cheaper! Yes, strange how that works on occasion. Overall though, room prices are once again reasonable following a spike in inflation earlier in 2024.
All Write to Pitch Conference events in New York take place at the famous Ripley Greer Music and Theater Studios on 520 Eighth Avenue. The studios are conveniently located a few blocks from Penn Station. More information can be found here.
2025 Workshop Leaders
