Live workshopHow to Write a Synopsis (that gets past an agent’s slush pile)
Join literary agent Jessica Berg for an inside look at how to write the synopsis agents actually want to read.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 13, 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!)
If writing a synopsis makes you want to throw your laptop across the room, you’re not alone.
Jessica Berg of Rosecliff Literary receives 150+ queries every week. She rejects 90% on page one. Only about 2% get requested. In this workshop, she's opening up her actual inbox and showing you what she sees — real rejections, real winning hooks, and a completely different way of thinking about your opening pages.
Because here's the thing: crafting first pages that get requested is a different skill set than writing your novel. There are specific elements agents are scanning for, and this workshop teaches you what they are and how to get them on the page.
Learn what makes agents stop reading your first 10 pages, what makes them keep reading, and exactly how to fix your opening so you get that full manuscript request.
In this 2-hour on-demand workshop, you'll learn:
The top 5 reasons Jessica rejects — with real examples from her desk
Real openings she passed on vs. openings she requested, side by side
4 hook tactics that create instant curiosity
How to find your manuscript's real starting point
What "voice" actually means to an agent — and how to develop yours
How to build tension that holds even in quiet scenes
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 her here.
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