Live workshopHow to Write a Book That Stands Out in Today’s Market (Without Chasing Trends)
Join literary agent Jessica Berg for a practical framework for writing something that belongs in today’s market AND couldn’t have been written by anyone else.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1 - 3pm ET
WHERE: Zoom (Can’t make it live? No problem! You’ll get the recording!)
COST: $79 ($59 early bird available for the first 48 hours!)
“Write to the market” is some of the most common — and most misunderstood — advice in publishing.
Chase trends, and your book will feel derivative (and the trend will be over before you finish drafting). Ignore the market entirely, and agents won’t know who buys your book or where it lives in a bookstore. Both paths lead to rejection — and neither is what agents actually want.
The truth is, the questions querying writers should be asking aren’t about trends at all. They’re about craft, category, and distinction — and those questions have real answers.
In this two-hour workshop, literary agent Jessica Berg of Rosecliff Literary will give you a practical framework for understanding what “the market” actually means, how agents and editors evaluate market fit, and how to make your book distinct without making it unsellable.
Plus, we’ll share the structural fundamentals agents expect you to know before you query: word count ranges by category, standalone vs. series, POV and tense conventions, and pacing expectations by genre.
In this 2-hour, hands on workshop, you'll learn:
What “the market” actually means — it’s not trends; it’s category, readership, and commercial viability
How agents and editors think about market fit — and how to use Publishers Marketplace, MSWL, and bookstore shelving as research tools
Why voice is what makes a market-aware book feel fresh instead of derivative — and how to audit your own voice for the places you go generic
How to read like a writer — reverse-engineering your comps to solve the exact craft problems you’re stuck on
Concept overlap vs. execution overlap — why “my idea sounds like another book” isn’t automatically a problem (agents buy execution)
The “yes, but” exercise — how to articulate what makes your premise yours, sharply enough to use in a query letter
Meet your teacher
Jessica Berg is a literary agent and author passionate about nurturing unique voices in publishing.
As an agent with Rosecliff Literary, she focuses on character-driven stories and high-stakes narratives, helping authors navigate the industry. Her own fiction explores identity, generational trauma, and relationships.
A multi-nominated writer with an MFA from Spalding University, Berg is a member of the AALA and EFA. She also provides developmental feedback for Writer’s Digest, Uncharted Magazine, and Fractured Lit. She is represented by Amy Collins of Talcott Notch. Find out more about herhere.
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