It started with Susan Breen and it didn't end there. The New York Pitch Conference now boasts a great track record for assisting aspiring authors in getting their novels published with major houses.
RECOMMENDED CRAFT BOOKS
What if - Do one exercise a day from "What If?" and you'll be writing for more than a third of a year. The book is packed with 115 exercises. Indispensable.
The Art of Fiction - Because Gardner strives for "higher art", his musings and instructions for the beginner go much deeper than ordinary how-to books. A must for all novel writers.
Bird by Bird - Lamott's suggestion on writing the novel is down-to-earth: worry about the characters, not the plot. Writing is more rewarding than publication. Easy for her to say?