Betsy Lerner gives talks, workshops, and on-line discussions on all aspects of the publishing process. As an author, former editor and agent, she has worked in publishing for 25 years. She began her career as an editorial assistant at Simon and Schuster and then worked as an editor at Ballantine, Houghton Mifflin, and finally as executive editor at Doubleday. Now she is a partner with Dunow, Carlson and Lerner Literary Agency.
She has given talks and workshops at Columbia University, Harvard University, Yale University, Pratt Institute, The City College of New York, Emerson College, Goucher College, Breadloaf Writers Conference, Radcliffe Publishing Course, Goddard College, Tin House Summer Conference, Miami Book Fair, LA Times Book Fair, Florida Writer’s Conference, Denver Publishing Institute, Lighthouse Publishing Conference, Aspen Writers Conference, William Patterson University, Holy Cross College, University of North Texas, RJ Julia Booksellers, Salon.com, BarnesandNoble.com among others.
Frequently requested topics include:
- How to get an agent
- How to write a query letter
- How to write a proposal
- What should I expect from a publisher?
- Titles Workshop – what is my work really about?
- First Page Test – how to keep people reading
- What should I look for in a contract?
- Should I hire an editor, self-publish, e-publish?
- Self promotion – do I need a blog, website, facebook; should I tweet?
- After I get an agent, what’s the process?
- After I get a publisher, what’s the process?
- Should I get an MFA?
- What if my agent stops returning my calls?
Please contact her to set up a program for your school, conference or writer’s group.
