Begins Saturday, August 15, 2026

Live Seminar via Zoom from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET

🌍 Class Times by Time Zone: Los Angeles (PT): 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM / Chicago (CT): 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM / New York (ET): 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM / London (BST): 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM / Berlin (CEST): 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

*A recording of this seminar will be made available to enrollees.

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.

Instructor Bio

Instructor Mark Owen Gottlieb is a highly-ranked literary agent in overall deals and other categories. Using that same initiative and insight for identifying talented writers, he is actively building his own client list of authors. Mark Gottlieb is excited to work directly with authors, helping to manage and grow their careers with all of the unique resources that are available at book publishing's leading literary agency, Trident Media Group. During his time at Trident Media Group, Mark Gottlieb has represented numerous New York Times bestselling authors, as well as award-winning authors, and has optioned and sold books to film and TV production companies. He previously ran the agency's audiobook department in addition to working in foreign rights. Mark Gottlieb is actively seeking submissions in all categories and genres and looking forward to bringing new and established authors to the curious minds of their future readers.

Who is this class for?

This online writing seminar is for nonfiction writers at any stage who want to understand how publishers actually evaluate proposals beyond the strength of the idea itself. Whether you're building a platform, preparing a book proposal, or wondering why a well-crafted pitch hasn't gained traction, this session offers essential guidance for navigating the nonfiction marketplace.

What to expect:

A strong nonfiction idea isn't enough. Editors buy authority, reach, and relevance—and this live Zoom seminar with literary agent Mark Owen Gottlieb explains how those elements actually function in today's publishing market.

This online writing class demystifies platform—what counts, what doesn't, and how it's evaluated by agents and editors. Mark will clarify how authority differs across nonfiction categories and explain why timing can make or break a deal. You'll examine what successful nonfiction pitches do differently and why some smart, well-written proposals still fail to secure acquisition.

Whether you're a first-time nonfiction author or a seasoned writer looking to refine your approach, this seminar will give you the insider perspective needed to position your project for success in today's competitive publishing landscape.

What are the writing goals?

In this seminar, students will gain a practical understanding of how publishers define and measure platform in 2026, the difference between expertise, authority, and credibility, how to assess whether a project's timing is "too early," "too late," or perfectly positioned, and how agents strategically position nonfiction projects for acquisition.

COURSE OUTLINE

Session: Pitching Nonfiction: Platform, Authority, and Timing

• How publishers define and measure platform in 2026
• The difference between expertise, authority, and credibility
• When a project is "too early," "too late," or perfectly timed
• How agents position nonfiction projects for acquisition
• Q&A with literary agent Mark Owen Gottlieb

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• A clear understanding of how publishers define, measure, and evaluate author platform in 2026
• Insight into how authority, expertise, and credibility function differently across nonfiction categories
• The ability to assess whether your project's timing aligns with current market demand
• Practical knowledge of how literary agents strategically position nonfiction projects for acquisition
• An understanding of why some well-written nonfiction proposals fail—and what successful pitches do differently

TESTIMONIALS:

"To find someone in the publishing world these days who possesses such style and grace…a throwback. Crown moldings and brass door knocker in a world of prefab housing." — Lesley Kagen, New York Times bestselling author

"He is professional, knowledgeable, and deeply cares about the careers of his clients. …I'm lucky to have Mark in my corner!" — Alan Hlad, USA Today bestselling author

"My writing career never would have advanced as fast or as far without Mark's help." — James Breakwell, bestselling author

"He goes above and beyond his work expectations by cultivating caring relationships with his clients, always expressing empathy and patience. He is kind, supportive and knows what he's doing." — Ruby Karp, author of Earth Hates Me

"Saturday's class opened my eyes to the mistakes of my query submissions, which boil down to two crucial elements: word count & comps. Soliciting a bloated manuscript with no comps outside of a couple of 20+ year-old movie references advertised a novice understanding of the publishing industry, making me a rightful candidate for the rejection pile." — William W., Workshop Student

"Thank you, Mark, for this wonderful workshop!" — Diane G., Workshop Student

"You gave me enough writing technique and marketing information to feel like I can get started with confidence. Thank you!" — Workshop Student

"Thank you for being so diligent, so focused and so professional in your approach to the class. I found the whole experience exceeded my most optimistic expectations." — Workshop Student

"I wanted to thank you for your time this weekend for the Hook and Query writing seminar. It's hard to know from reading articles alone what a query letter or pitch should look like." — Jed H., Workshop Student

"It was my absolute pleasure to meet you virtually on Saturday! Thank you for the wealth of detailed information and on-the-spot, yet carefully crafted critiques you shared with each of us—the experience is treasured, and invaluable." — Mica K., Workshop Student

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Tuition is $99 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

• Instructor: Mark Owen Gottlieb
• Begins Saturday, August 15, 2026
• Class will meet once via Zoom on Saturday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
• Tuition is $99 USD.