WLT Intensive: “Composing a Standout Query Letter” with Becka Oliver
August 27, 2025 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM CDT
$99.00
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This Event is for Members only.
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$99 for Members
If you’re looking to polish your query letter before submitting to agents or independent publishers, join us for this query letter intensive. There are only ten spots, so sign up before they sell out! Please note: this program is open to members only. Become a member here.
Are you struggling to write a query letter to send to potential agents? Thinking about approaching an independent publisher and need a query letter to go with your submission?
In this workshop, you will learn the necessary components of a query letter and receive feedback on your own letter from the instructor and fellow students. Prior to the class, each student will send the following to the instructor:
- The draft of a query letter for one writing project
- One-page synopsis of the same writing project
- An author bio.
If you don’t have any or all of these things, you can still attend the class, but we do urge you to send in what you can in order to have a richer experience.
TAKE THIS CLASS IF
- You’re getting ready to query agents or submit to independent publishers and want to understand what goes into a query letter.
- You want to learn strategies for writing an effective query letter.
- You want feedback on your own query letter.
The deadline to register for this class is Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM.
Instructor
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Becka Oliver is the Director of Talent, VP, at Kevin Anderson & Associates (KAA), a ghostwriting and editorial services firm. She began her career licensing foreign and domestic rights, first at St. Martin’s Press (Macmillan) and later at Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books, now Hachette) where she served as Associate Director of Subsidiary Rights before making the move to agenting. She helped to launch the Endeavor book department, continuing as a literary agent at William Morris Endeavor (WME) after the two powerhouse talent agencies merged. Most recently, Becka has served as Executive Director at the Writers’ League of Texas, the largest literary arts organization in Texas, overseeing a full-slate of year round programs and services to support writers not only in Texas but across the US and beyond. She joined KAA in 2024 and oversees the staffing of all ghostwriting projects.
Before purchasing, please read all policies as noted below and on our Accessibility and Policies page.
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Once a purchase has been made, registrations are not refundable and cannot be transferred to a different class or event. No exceptions will be made. If you purchase a registration and then find you cannot attend the class or event, someone else can attend in your stead. Simply contact us at wlt@writersleague.org and let us know the name and contact information for the person who will be using the registration so that we can update the class or event roster.
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Anti-Harassment Policy
The Writers’ League of Texas is dedicated to providing harassment-free spaces for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Violating these rules may result in expulsion from WLT programs without a refund at the discretion of the WLT staff.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Comments that reinforce social structures of domination (related to gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, or religion);
- Sexual images not appropriate for the specific subject of the public discussion;
- Deliberate intimidation or stalking;
- Harassing photography or recording;
- Sustained disruption of discussions or other events;
- Unwelcome sexual attention;
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.
Enforcement
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the event with no refund. Event organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants. We expect participants to follow these rules during all events and event-related social activities.
Reporting
If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. Reports can also be made via email at wlt@writersleague.org. We’ll handle any and all reports as respectfully as possible. You won’t be asked to confront anyone, and we won’t tell anyone who you are.
Accessibility Policy
Closed captioning is available for all online classes and special events.
The WLT is committed to making its programs & services accessible to all writers. Please contact us at wlt@writersleague.org or at 512-499-8914 for more information or to discuss accommodations you may need.
Credit Card Transaction Handling Fee Policy
All credit card transactions will incur a 4% handling fee. If you’d prefer to pay by check for membership, a class, or an event, you can use the provided forms on the membership or event pages and mail to: WLT, P.O. Box 14355, Austin, TX, 78704.
Writers’ League of Texas classes and workshops are also funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts – Investing in a Creative Texas. For more information, go to www.arts.texas.gov.