Spring 2022

• March 13: Meet the Agents. Three literary agents in conversation about query letters, representation, and the book sale/publication process.
• April 24: Alumni on First Books & the Publication Hustle. UM program alumni will discuss their journeys from literary journal submissions to their first books. 

Fall 2021

• Erika Meitner, National Book Critics Circle Award finalist and Virginia Tech professor, gave her much-loved talk about fellowships, residencies, jobs, and whether to attend more school after the MFA
• Lissette Lopez Szwydky, University of Arkansas professor and Arkansas Humanities Associate Director, spoke about alt-academic career paths toward a tenure-track position. Here is an essay that parallels her presentation.

Spring 2021

• Rob McQuilkin, agent at Massie McQuilkin
• Erika Meitner, National Book Critics Circle Award finalist and professor at Virginia Tech
• Daniel Slager, publisher and CEO at Milkweed Editions
• Tom Mayer, editor at WW Norton
• Michael Wiegers, editor-in-chief at Copper Canyon Press