How to Hook an Agent - May 2025
We are really looking forward to welcoming you to ‘How to Hook an Agent’ which is taking place at the Bloomsbury Publishing offices in London on Saturday 17th May.
All the key details are below, but first there’s a few things we need from you!
Breakfast will be provided, so please let us know if you have any dietary requirements and/ or allergies.
As you know, the event ends with you receiving a ten-minute one-to-one session with one of our agents. The four agents who will be joining us are as follows:
Laura Williams
Rachel Neely
Laura Heathfield
Sarah Such
If you have a preference of which agent you’d like to speak to about your project, please indicate your first and second agent preferences by sending an email to me by 6th May. We will do our best to accommodate your request. Priority will be given on a first come first served basis.
You can read the bios of our agents on the event page here, to get an idea of the work they love.
The schedule for the day is as follows:
09.00-09.30: Registration opens and welcome breakfast (a selection of fruit and pastries – plus teas and coffees – will be available)
09.30-10.15: Seminar 1 - The role of a literary agent (panel discussion)
10.20-11.05: Seminar 2 - The covering letter and how to pitch your book (workshop)
11.15-12.00: Seminar 3 - Is my book ready? The synopsis and opening chapters (workshop)
12.20-13.30: Agent one-to-one sessions
The address is as follows:
Bloomsbury Publishing
50 Bedford Square
London
WC1B 3DP
The nearest tube stations are Tottenham Court Road and Russell Square. You can plan your journey with the TFL Journey Planner here. On the day, there will be someone waiting at the door to greet you and show you to the right room, etc. If you have any specific access requirements, please do get in touch to let us know.
What do you need to bring?
We’d recommend bringing along paper/ notebook so you can take notes. You can take notes on a laptop but we can’t guarantee everyone will be able to reach a charging socket. You’ll be given a welcome event pack at the start of the day, which will include a tote bag, pen, schedule, printed agent bios and some examples of sample cover letters and synopses to take home. We will also be selling books at a reduced price for the event. Titles available will include the latest edition of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and the W&A Guide to How to Hook an Agent. We’re a cashless venue so do bring a card if you’d like to make any purchases.
What do you need to prepare?
In one of the workshops you will be having a go at writing a brief pitch for your book (some of which we can read out) so do prepare for that opportunity. We’d also recommend having a few questions ready for your one-to-one sessions with the agents, as well as being ready to talk about your project throughout the day, and during your one-to-one session.
We look forward to seeing you there!
