Literary agent Toni Lopopolo recently relocated her agency to the Central Coast and will be working with authors and prospective authors to help them craft tightly written fiction that is marketable. Ms Lopopolo held Executive Editor positions with Macmillan and St. Martin’s and stands ready to help writers achieve their dreams of publication. This is the first in a series to be produced in conjunction with the Pacific Institute for Professional Writing, a California 501 (c)(3) educational nonprofit.

There will be four afternoon sessions limited to eight women writers. The classes begin on Saturday, November 19 at 1 pm and run four consecutive Saturdays. They will be held in the private location. A carpool has been arranged for women coming from Ventura County.

“While visiting last spring,” Ms Lopopolo said, “I held my first Tea with Toni in Ventura and had an incredible response from attendees. Another successful Tea with Toni took place last month with several returning writers. Since I am working with the Pacific Institute for Professional Writing, I agreed to hold one here in Santa Barbara with the organization. ”

This is an interactive workshop for female writers of romance, mainstream fiction and narrative nonfiction. The focus of the group will stress story, character, point of view, dialogue, pacing, plot and writing in scenes. And most important, everything will be viewed through the MARKETABILITY lens.

Each writer must present from 5 to 10 pages of their writing to Toni and the other writers at least five days before each session, plus a story summary. Each will receive feedback from a publishing professional with years of experience in the business both as an editor, writing instructor at Temple University, as well as from writers in the group.

Additionally, Ms Lopopolo will thoroughly edit (red line) each attendee’s work. The cost is $200 for all four sessions.