April 18-23, 2026
Publishing Week is The Story Center’s annual week-long intensive series of programs where experts guide aspiring authors through the process of publishing.
What Literary Agents Want
Saturday, April 18th 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Join Literary Agent, Sorche Fairbank in a collection of programs that will give you the tools to pitch and describe your book to prospective agents and publishers, including a query letter review session in the afternoon.
How to Talk About, Write About, and Get People Interested in Your Book
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Sometimes it feels easier to write a book than it is to effectively and confidently pitch one. This interactive workshop held by literary agent Sorche Fairbank of Fairbank Literary Representation will cover how to talk (and write) about your book in one sentence, in one paragraph, and in one page. We'll go over uses for each, from logline/elevator pitches to query synopses and (for DIY authors) book jacket descriptions, metadata, press releases, Amazon descriptions, and more. You will leave the session with tools to help talk about your book no matter if you’re looking to catch the attention of an agent, nail the elevator pitch, or draw more attention online to your self-published book.
For Class: Bring two versions of your one-line description to class. Bring paper to write on, or a laptop if you’re more comfortable working electronically. Be prepared to have your material workshopped with the group.
Query Letter Boot Camp
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Whether you have been sending out your query to no avail or are intimidated by the thought of writing one, this class is for you. Agent Sorche Fairbank of Fairbank Literary Representation will provide an overview on the shelf-life of a query, dissect its four most important components, diagram the essential elements of a query’s synopsis, identify the five most common mistakes authors make in their queries, give insight and tips on how to stand out in the slushpile, read through examples of compelling queries, and provide a review of query Dos and Don’ts. After covering the basics, there will be an opportunity to receive feedback on and re-work your query letter. Students will leave with the framework for a strong query letter that gets an agent’s attention, plus take-home notes and class handouts.
For Class: Bring two copies of your query letter and means to work on revisions (pen and paper, or laptop).
Basics of Book Interior Design (Zoom)
Monday, April 20 | 6:30 p.m.
Join book publishing professional Frances Fragela to learn about the basics of book interior design and layout. Whether you are a self-published author looking to design your own book interior or collaborating with a designer, this program will provide insight on basic design concepts and book interior layout.
Woodneath Press Book Launch: Matters of the Heartland
Tuesday, April 21 | 6:30 p.m.
Join us to celebrate the release of Woodneath Press’ newest title, Matters of the Heartland: A Romance Anthology! Enjoy refreshments while listening to readings from this collection of fiction short stories written by local authors. This event is offered in partnership with Monstera’s Books and will be followed by a book sale and signing. Please note this program will take place in person at the Auditorium at Woodneath Library Center.
Publishing Options and Opportunities (Zoom)
Wednesday, April 22 | 6:30 p.m.
How do you pick a publishing option that works best for you? How can you recognize if a deal is the right one to take? Join Story Center Publication Manager Kyndall Tiller as she discusses the different publishing models: self-publishing, ePublishing, hybrid, independent, and traditional. This class counts is part of the Written Storytelling Certificate Program.
Copyright Basics (Zoom)
Thursday, April 23 | 6:30 p.m.
Learn the basics of copyright law, what rights copyright holders have, the exceptions to those rights, and the proper application of fair use from Chris LeBeau, a member of the faculty for the University of Missouri’s School of Information Science and Learning Technologies. This class is part of the Oral and Written Storytelling Certificate Programs.