This event is for writers with a finished or near-finished manuscript ready to query agents and editors. Get live agent feedback, insider workshops, and limited 1-on-1 critique slots at our virtual Agent Summit.
Critique slots are limited and always sell out.
Waitlist members get early access to agent selection and pre-conference pricing ☝ (save $100+)
Agents & Editors Taking Pitch Meetings
Sasha Landauer
Writers House
Sasha represents adult fiction and nonfiction with a focus on strong voice and narrative momentum. She gravitates toward upmarket and commercial fiction as well as select nonfiction, and is not seeking children’s or YA projects.
Jesse Byrd
Moonbeam Literary & Media
Co-founder of Moonbeam Literary & Media, Jesse champions children’s and family-centric storytelling across books and media. He is especially drawn to projects that uplift young readers and support diverse voices through inclusive creative development.
Sera Rivers
Speilburg Literary Agency
Sera represents middle grade, young adult, and select adult fiction, with an emphasis on emotionally resonant, voice-driven stories. She is especially interested in speculative, contemporary, and culturally grounded work, and is not seeking picture books by authors alone.
James Mustelier
The Bent Agency
James represents adult and YA fiction and nonfiction with a strong narrative hook and sharp execution. He gravitates toward mysteries, thrillers, speculative fiction, and culturally grounded nonfiction, and is less interested in epic fantasy or overly experimental prose.
Melanie Figueroa
Root Literary
Melanie represents middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction, with a love for immersive, voice-forward storytelling. She is drawn to genre-blending work with emotional depth and crossover appeal, and does not represent nonfiction or picture books.
Josh Sippie
HarperAlley (Editor)
Josh is an editor at HarperAlley focused on graphic novels and manga for all ages. He looks for visually dynamic, reader-engaging comics and, while not a fit to acquire traditional prose manuscripts, he loves to talk story with writers of all genres.
Linda Camacho
Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency
Linda represents children’s, YA, and adult fiction across a wide range of genres, from romance and fantasy to horror and upmarket fiction. She is open to picture books from author-illustrators, but does not represent early readers, poetry, or screenplays.
Ryan Van Cleave
Bushel & Peck (Editor)
Ryan is the Editorial Director at Bushel & Peck Books, where he focuses on innovative and beautiful “kidlit” for readers of all ages. Known in the industry as The Picture Book Doctor, he is always on the prowl for fresh stories to acquire and professional connections with talented authors.
Additional Faculty
Coming Soon
Additional Faculty
Coming Soon
Registration Opens March 1
Our event includes:
Pre-Conference Office Hours
Practice your pitch with pro assistance from publishing industry veterans.
Live Agent-Led Workshops
Learn exactly what publishers are looking for, what makes a query irresistible, and how to stand out in a crowded inbox.
1-to-1 Agent Meeting via Zoom
After the conference, you’ll have a week to polish your work before submitting to your selected agent or editor ahead of your 1-on-1.
Join the waitlist to receive a confirmation email followed by updates as we add more faculty and prepare to open early bird registration.
How to Attend the Summit:
Critique slots are first come first serve and will sell out. Consider becoming a members to ensure early bird registration.
Become a Member
Get early-bird registration PLUS a year in our pro writing community
$129
annual membership
- Register 1 Week Early for Summit
- PLUS RC1 Member Benefits:
- Monthly Agent Events
- Pro Feedback Forums
Member Pricing
For serious writers actively querying their manuscript to agents and editors
$379
one-time
- Agent / Editor 1-on-1
- Self-Led Pre-Conference Classes
- Live Pre-Conference Office Hours
- All Live Event Sessions & Downloads
- Agent Redlight Greenlight
Get Membership + Summit Combo for $497
Non-Member Pricing
Attend the full conference and pitch an agent as a non-member
$579
one-time
- Agent / Editor 1-on-1
- Self-Led Pre-Conference Classes
- Live Pre-Conference Office Hours
- All Live Event Sessions & Downloads
- Agent Redlight Greenlight
Still deciding? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop.
See What Past Attendees Are Saying:
Conference Schedule:
The DNA of a Compelling Chapter 1
Self-Paced | Turn in Pitch & Pages by April 4, 2026 An agent is about to read your opening scene. If your first sentence, paragraph, and page don’t hook them, the rest won’t matter. Learn what agents look for in an opening chapter, from character introduction and inciting incident to narrative voice and closing tension. You’ll have tips and tools to ensure your first chapter compels them to turn the page.Optional Office Hours
Scheduled Bi-Weekly Want to test-drive your pitch or a page from your manuscript? During Optional Office Hours, you can bring a page to read aloud, share your pitch, or ask craft and industry questions in a supportive group setting. Our team will offer live feedback and quick-hit advice so you leave with clear, actionable next steps to prep for the conference.Saturday, March 28, 2026
Session 1: Story Ideas That Sell
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EST
Are you squeezing the most out of your big story idea? Before you type a single word, your story needs a concept that lines up with what publishers and readers love. In this session, we’ll break down the traits of commercially viable book ideas. Whether trendy or timeless, you’ll learn how to frame your concept so agents and publishers instantly see its potential in the current market.
Session 2: From Logline to Jacket Flap
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST
Your logline and jacket copy can make or break your pitch. This session shows you how to distill your story’s heart into a one-sentence hook, then expand it into a compelling pitch that would make a reader pull your book off the shelf. We’ll work through real examples to show how small changes can make big differences in grabbing attention.
Break
Noon. – 1:00 p.m. ESTAgent Red Light Green Light
1 – 2:30 p.m. EST
Take a peek behind the curtain of an agent’s decision-making process as our agent panel reads through participants’ initial pitches. In this high-energy session, agents will share whether they’d request more or pass—and most importantly, why. The panel will read as many pre-submitted pitches as possible, selected in conference sign-up order.
Session 3: All About Queries
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. EST
In a winning query, every element of the pitch package works together as one irresistible submission. In this session, we’ll walk through how to organize and polish these elements so that they complement each other and make the strongest case for your book. You’ll learn to highlight your story’s unique appeal without overselling or underselling your work.
Session 4: Getting to YES
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. EST
Exactly zero percent of writers have gotten a book deal without some early rejection. Let’s break down the rejection cycle and what gatekeepers really mean by different kinds of feedback. We’ll include some final tips with questions to ask (and others to avoid asking) during your agent your 1-on-1.
Ask Us Anything: All Your Questions Answered
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. EST
Got questions about querying, pitching, or navigating the industry? This open Q&A is your chance to get answers directly from our workshop leaders. Bring your most burning questions and leave with clarity.
Work on Your Pitch!
5:00 p.m. – ???
Now it’s your turn. Take what you’ve learned throughout the day and refine your pitch in preparation for tomorrow’s one-on-one agent session. Please note: The agents will have read your initial pitch and first pages. They’re expecting to discuss both and/or to critique your revised pitch live. We’ll be standing by with open office hours and our fingers crossed for you.
Saturday, April 18, 2026
1-to-1 Pitch Sessions
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. EST This is your moment. You’ll have a 15-minute private Zoom meeting with your pre-selected agent, who will have already read your pitch and sample pages. They’ll provide direct, actionable feedback on your work and, if they’re intrigued, may request more. Either way, you’ll walk away with verbal and written insider insights to strengthen your path forward.Presented by: Readerful & RC1
Ready Chapter 1 is a worldwide writing community turning the next generation of storytellers into market-ready writers. This year, we welcome Readerful as our event sponsor. Readerful is a new digital publishing platform launching in 2026 where any writer at any stage can post their stories, build an audience, and turn fans into funders BEFORE the book is published.
Beginning Writer
- "I don't know what story to write."
- "I'm working alone and losing steam."
- "My friends love my work but editors ghost me."
- "I've rewritten this novel 5 times with no requests."
- "I'm stuck in a cycle of rejection."
Market-Ready Writer
- "I have a market-fit story no one else can tell."
- "I found a supportive tribe of serious writers."
- "I know exactly what to revise and how."
- "I'm pitching polished work and getting requests."
- "I'm on a direct path to agents and editors."
Recent Sales by RC1 Writers
Publishers acquire books that are READY. Everything about the RC1 ecosystem pushes our writers to develop fresh, market-ready stories. It’s why top agents and editors actively engage with our community. We deliver the talent they’re looking to publish.
