Writers in the Lodge

A mini writers conference, part of the Writers in the Park Series

Saturday, March 1, 2025
10am to 1pm CT

Information and registration for Writers in the Lodge 2025 can be found below

Registration:
Workshops are Free to Attend - Online and In Person - No registration required

For consultations or pitch sessions please register by clicking the buttons below.

Please fill out the form below to register for a consultation. SLWG Members use your Member’s Room Password to get 50% off - Under Promo Code enter the Member’s Room password.

Calling All Writers
To A Mini Writers Conference

10am - 1pm CT | The Lodge Des Peres
1050 Des Peres Rd. 63131
Online and In Person

Three Workshops
Pitch Sessions
Consultations

Workshops are Free to Attend
Paid Consultations

10 a.m. Unlocking Emotions to Strengthen Your Story
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shawntelle Madison

11 a.m. Editing That Meets Your Needs
Editor Gracie York of York Editing Guild

12 p.m. Writing Your Nonfiction Book Proposal
Literary agent Jennifer Chen Tran, Glass Literary Management

Shawntelle Madison and Gracie York will appear live, in person. Jennifer Chen Tran will join us via Zoom.

To view the workshops online, no registration is required, simply click one of the event buttons on the Home Page, Event Page, or below to join online, or participate in person at The Lodge Des Peres. Zoom meeting room won’t open until 9:45am CT on the day of the event.

Consultations and pitch sessions require registration

To watch online for free - click this button at 10am CT on March 1

Workshops at Writers in the Lodge

Workshops - 10am to 1pm CT - Free and Open to All - Online and In-Person at The Lodge Des Peres

10 a.m. Unlocking Emotions to Strengthen Your Story
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shawntelle Madison

11 a.m. Editing That Meets Your Needs
Editor Gracie York of York Editing Guild

12 p.m. Writing Your Nonfiction Book Proposal
Literary agent Jennifer Chen Tran, Glass Literary Management

Shawntelle Madison and Gracie York will appear live, in person. Jennifer Chen Tran will join us via Zoom.

Consultations and Pitch Sessions

Consultations: $40 for Non-Members, $20 for SLWG Members - Material will be reviewed ahead of the conference and include a 20+ minute consultation during the event.

Gracie York - York Editing Guild - Editing Consultation - 1st 5 pages

Andrew Doty - Editwright - Editing Consultation - 1st 5 pages

Ruth Thaler-Carter - Website Consultation

Peggy Nehman - N-K Creative - Book Cover Design Consultation

Phyllis Wheeler - Book Launch / Promotion Consultation

Pitch Sessions: $10 for 1 pitch session for Non-Members, $5 for 1 pitch session for SLWG Members

Jennifer Chen Tran, literary agent, Glass Literary Management

Jackie Kruzie, literary agent, Focused Artists

Presenters & Consultants

Jennifer Chen Tran
Glass Literary Management

pulled from Manuscript Wish List

Jackie Kruzie
Focused Artists

pulled from Manuscript Wish List

As a person of color and daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Jennifer is deeply committed to amplifying voices from persons with disabilities, BIPOC, LGBTQ, underrepresented, marginalized, and neurodiverse communities. Her ultimate goal is to work in concert with authors to create books that will have a lasting positive social impact on the world—books that inform, entertain, and inspire.

Her current #MSWL includes culinary projects, hidden narratives about an unseen aspect of the world, riveting stories about overcoming adversity, and health, wellness, financial peace, and spirituality by BIPOC, neurodiverse, and underrepresented creatives. For adult fiction, Jen is looking for contemporary fiction, women’s fiction, and upmarket fiction that features complicated, conflicted, and complex characters who are not afraid to take emotional risks, page-turning suspense, and stories–genre elements encouraged!–that keep you guessing.

In the children’s space she loves #middlegrade with heart, humor, surprises, and unforgettable but relatable characters that will make kids laugh and curious to read more. She’s always on the look-out for incredible visually-driven and graphic novel projects, and is taking on select picture-book projects with an eye toward subjects with STEAM elements, history, and stories featuring animals, nature, and natural phenomena.

Fiction:

BIPOC Literature, Bookclub, Children's, Commercial, Graphic Novel, LGBTQ, Literary, Magical Realism, Middle Grade, Picture Books, South Asian Literature, South East Asian Literature, Speculative, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult

Non-Fiction:

Art, Business, Cookbooks, Feminism and women\'s issues, History, Illustrated, Journalism, LGBTQ, Memoir, Psychology, Relationships and family, Science, Self-help, Sports, Travel, True Crime, Wellness, Witches/Witchcraft

Adult Fiction:

• Cozy

• Historical Fiction

• Horror

• Paranormal

• Romantasy

• Speculative

• Supernatural

• Western

• Women’s Fiction

• Young Adult/New Adult

Preferences: 

I love grounded speculative fiction where characters must keep their abilities hidden as they strive to right wrongs and exist in a world where fear of the unknown and misunderstood is prevalent. I love witches but not a big fan of vampires or werewolves.

​I have a soft spot for historical fiction with dual timelines where events from the past impact the present.

I am a sucker for stories with a romantic element and enjoy when budding romances develop organically throughout the story. ​

I would love to find a cozy mystery series.

​I am very selective with Young Adult and New Adult titles. I want books that tackle tough topics and speak to those who feel invisible. I am not a fan of dystopian stories where a teenage “chosen one” is responsible for saving the world.

I welcome diverse characters and would like to see more main LGBTQ+ characters in a setting where they exist without scrutiny and their sexuality isn’t the main issue but simply a component of the story.

Children’s Fiction:

• Board Books

• Chapter Books

• Middle Grade

• Picture Book

Preferences:

In Middle Grade I look for books that put kids in the driver’s seat and create lifelong readers.

​In BB & PB I like punchy fast-paced kid-focused books with no heavy moral. As a formal children’s librarian, I look for fun read-a-louds perfect for storytime.

I am not a good fit for:

• Memoir

• Religious Themes