Conference
Query with Confidence: How to Write and Submit a Query Letter
Apr 14th & 28th, 2026
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📚 Overview
Your query letter is often the first impression you make on a literary agent — and a great one can open the door to representation and a publishing deal. With guidance from editor Meg Toth you’ll learn how to write a clear, compelling query letter that will stand out in a crowded inbox.
In this two-day workshop, Meg will walk you through each part of a query letter, from the opening hook to your closing sign-off. You’ll also learn how to choose and polish sample pages that give agents a reason to keep reading — even when they're handling hundreds of submissions a day. There will also be an opportunity to submit your own query letter for live feedback (limited spots available).
The event takes place over two days, on April 14th and April 28th.
🎓 What You’ll Learn
Schedule
April 14th, 2026 • 3pm - 4pm EDT
Session 1: How to Craft a Query Letter
Want to understand what makes a query letter work? This focused workshop breaks down the key elements – hook, pitch, structure, and tone – using clear examples and templates. We’ll study real samples to see what stands out (and why), giving you a practical blueprint for strong, effective queries.
April 14th, 2026 • 4:15pm - 5pm EDT
Session 2: Submitting Pages
You know the basics of query letters, but what comes next? This hands-on session opens with a discussion of best practices for submitting pages – what to include, how to format, and how to present your work professionally. Then we will dedicate time to working on your letter (drafting, revising, or refining) or your first pages, applying everything you’ve learned in real time.
April 28th, 2026 • 3pm - 3:45pm EDT
Session 3: Query Letter Live Editing
In this interactive session, we’ll live-edit participant letters together – breaking down what’s working, what might need more work, and how small changes can sharpen clarity, voice, and impact. By revising together, we’ll see the decision-making behind effective queries and learn how to apply those same strategies in our own work.
April 28th, 2026 • 4pm - 5pm EDT
Session 4: How to Find the Right Agent For Your Book
Not sure where to start your agent search – or how to stay organized once you do? This session walks you through finding agents who are the right fit, understanding submission guidelines, and tracking your queries with clear, effective practices. Learn how to research strategically, submit professionally, and manage your responses so nothing slips through the cracks.
Speakers
Meg Toth
Writer and Editor
Meg Toth is a writer, an Assistant Editor/Reader for Conjunctions Magazine, and the founder of Birchwood Editing. Her short fiction — which has appeared in such venues as The Massachusetts Review, The Idaho Review, Pithead Chapel, and Barrelhouse — was nominated for the 2025 & 2024 Pushcart Prize and the 2024 PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers. You can hire her as an editor on Reedsy.
