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Meet THe Team
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For writers who wish to be traditionally published, writing a great book is just the beginning. The next step, whether you're seeking representation by a literary agent or submitting directly to publishers, is writing a query letter to pitch your story to publishing professionals. And for many writers, those few short paragraphs can be harder to compose than the entire book. In this two-hour interactive class, novelist Lauren Thoman will discuss the elements of an effective query letter, common pitfalls to avoid, querying best practices, and a few simple ways to make your query stand out. Participants will also have the opportunity to write or revise their own query letters, and receive feedback from others. Don't worry; no finished drafts required!
• In-Class Writing Lift: Medium
• Homework: None
• Workshopping Drafts: Optional
Lauren Thoman writes speculative fiction featuring diverse ensemble casts for teens and adults. Her debut novel, the timeslip mystery I'll Stop the World, was selected for publication in 2023 by six-time Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling through her eponymous imprint, Mindy's Book Studio, and was named a finalist for the Tennessee Book Award in 2024. Kaling said she was "dazzled" by the genre-bending novel, which she called "unputdownable." Lauren's sophomore novel, You Shouldn't Be Here, was published in 2024 by Thomas & Mercer.
Born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Lauren now lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and two children in a chaotic household that includes a fluctuating number of rescue and foster dogs, and a somewhat alarming quantity of fish.
Lauren also works as a freelance pop culture writer with bylines in numerous online outlets including Parade, Vulture, and The Wrap. When she's not writing, she's probably on the hunt for tacos or coffee, poking around her flowerbeds, or buried underneath a pile of dogs.
"Lauren Thoman was an excellent teacher! Her organization, materials, and presentation were all top-notch. She was terrific at being welcoming to everyone, alternating between presenting material and group work, and encouraging participation without putting anyone on the spot. She took care of the time appropriately and made sure students were physically comfortable. The class was informative and also really fun to be part of. I'd love to take another class from her!"
"Lauren was a great instructor who was a good mix of inspiring and instructive. I would take a class with her again."
