International Market Development for Literature: In-person masterclasses
When
Tuesday 3 November 2026Where
SydneyMasterclass dates
When: 3 November 2026; 10 December 2026; 20 January 2027; 10 February 2027
About the opportunity
This series of in-person masterclasses for international publishing rights sellers is delivered by Writing Australia in association with Bold Type Agency and funded by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Create NSW provides grants, funding and support for arts and cultural organisations, professional artists and arts and cultural workers across NSW, helping to grow the arts for everyone to enjoy.
International rights is one of the fastest changing and least visible areas of publishing. These masterclasses are designed to provide practical, up-to-date professional development for rights sellers. Together, the four masterclasses provide a comprehensive introduction to the international rights landscape, from understanding global markets and negotiating contracts through to emerging issues such as artificial intelligence and the growing opportunities in book-to-screen adaptation.
These in-person masterclasses have been designed for rights professionals, literary agents, publishers and rights managers looking to develop or refresh their knowledge of international rights, contracts and book-to-screen opportunities. Combining practical guidance with real-world case studies and open discussion, each session will focus on issues rights sellers are currently navigating.
Thanks to the support of Create NSW, this series is primarily intended for NSW-based publishing professionals. The masterclasses will be delivered in person, creating an opportunity for rights sellers to meet, share experiences and build relationships with others working in what can often be a specialised and sometimes isolated area of publishing. The conversations that happen before, during and after the sessions will be as valuable as the presentations themselves.
While the focus of this series of masterclasses is on supporting the NSW publishing sector, registrations will also be welcomed from interstate participants who represent at least 5 NSW-based authors. Participants are responsible for self-funding their own travel and accommodation, if needed.
A series of webinars on global trends in international rights markets will follow in February-June 2027.
Click HERE to register for the free in-person masterclasses – places are strictly limited. Please RSVP no later than one week before each masterclass.
For any questions about the program, please contact Writing Australia at writing@creative.gov.au. 
Masterclass 1 – International Rights Fundamentals: Markets, Strategy & The Art of the Pitch
Date and time: Tuesday 3 November 2026, 10am-noon
Location: Creative Hub, Create NSW offices, 80 George Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
Topics:
• how international rights markets operate
• key English-language and translation territories
• researching international opportunities
• the role of scouts, co-agents and book fairs
• positioning titles internationally
• pitching and submission strategy
• common submission mistakes
• practical case studies from real international deals.
Every international rights deal starts with a simple question: Who in the world is the right publisher for this book?
This masterclass is a practical introduction to the world of international rights selling, from understanding how different markets operate to developing the instincts and strategies that sit behind successful rights deals. We'll look at the key English-language and translation territories, how to research publishers and identify opportunities, and the important role played by scouts, co-agents, book fairs and long-term relationships.
We'll also step through the practical side of rights selling. How do you position an Australian title for an international audience? What makes an editor request material? Why do some submissions lead to offers while others disappear into the slush pile? Through practical examples and case studies drawn from real international deals, we'll explore what works, what doesn't, and why.
Whether you're new to rights or looking to build on existing experience, you'll leave with a clearer understanding of how international rights markets operate and the confidence to develop your own strategy for taking Australian books to the world.
Speaker: Nerrilee Weir, Director at Bold Type Agency.
Masterclass 2 – Negotiating International Deals and Contracts (Translation and English Language rights)
Date and time: Thursday 10 December 2026, 10am-noon
Location: Creative Hub, Create NSW offices, 80 George Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
Topics:
• auctions vs pre-empts
• advances and royalties
• territory carve-outs
• deal strategy and timing
• practical negotiation examples
• translation agreements
• English-language rights structures
• AI clauses and emerging contract trends
• key legal pitfalls and red flags.
You've got interest from an international publisher. Now what? An offer is only the start. The real work is negotiating a deal that not only gets the book published but also protects its long-term value.
In this masterclass, we'll step through what actually happens once an offer lands on your desk.
We'll talk about auctions versus pre-empts, advances and royalties, territory carve-outs, and how different markets approach negotiations. We'll unpack translation agreements and English-language contracts, look at the contract clauses that matter most (including the AI provisions now appearing in international agreements), and discuss the legal and commercial red flags that are worth pushing back on.
More importantly, we'll talk strategy. When is it worth asking for more? When is a lower advance actually the better deal? How do you know when to hold your ground and when to compromise? We'll look at how experienced rights professionals approach these decisions and why there often isn't one ‘right’ answer.
Speakers: To be confirmed.
Masterclass 3 – AI, Rights & Publishing Practice: Contracts, Ethics and Workflows
Date and time: Wednesday 20 January 2027, 10am-noon
Location: Creative Hub, Create NSW offices, 80 George Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
Topics:
- the current landscape of AI and publishing
- use of AI in
- Editorial
- Translation
- Audio
- contract clauses (a deeper dive)
- ethical usages of AI
- practical workflow tools for rights sellers using AI, including rights tracking, contact databases, insights from Australian rights deals, productivity
- a more informal, ‘safe’ space to discuss working practices and strategy sharing (within ethical guidelines).
AI is reshaping all aspects of publishing on an almost daily basis. This masterclass explores what AI really means for rights professionals. We'll examine how publishers around the world are using AI, how contract clauses are evolving, where the ethical lines are being drawn, and what rights sellers need to know when negotiating with publishers in a rapidly changing landscape.
We'll also look at practical ways AI can support your own workflows – from research and rights tracking to market intelligence and productivity – while protecting authors’ copyright, confidential material and maintaining best practice. Along the way, we'll create space for an honest discussion about where we each draw the line, and how our industry can navigate these changes together.
Speakers: To be confirmed.
Masterclass 4 – Beyond the Book: Film, Television and International Breakout Success
Date and time: Wednesday 10 February 2027, 10am-noon (workshop to follow on the same day, see details below)
Location: Creative Hub, Create NSW offices, 80 George Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
Topics:
• how film/tv adaptation can drive international publication sales and licenses
• streaming platforms changing discoverability
• the difference in pitching adaptation rights vs publication rights
• challenges in knowing the film market and who’s acquiring rights
• an overview of Screen Forever, ACCS and Books at MIFF.
A screen deal can change the life of a book. A Netflix adaptation can drive translation sales across multiple territories; a film option can put a previously overlooked title on the radar of literary scouts; and serious screen interest can reshape the way a book is pitched internationally.
But film and television rights are not simply another version of publication rights. They involve different buyers, different timelines, different expectations and a very different kind of pitch.
This masterclass looks at how adaptation rights can support international publishing success, how streaming platforms have changed discoverability, and how to identify which books genuinely have screen potential. We’ll look at the difference between pitching to publishers and pitching to producers, the challenges of understanding who is acquiring rights in the screen market, and the practical pathways that help rights sellers get in the room.
We'll also look at industry events including Screen Forever, ACCS and Books at MIFF, and how they can help rights sellers build relationships and connect with the screen industry.
Speakers: To be confirmed.
Workshop – Book-to-Screen Contracts: Practical Discussion & Problem Solving
Date and time: Wednesday 10 February 2027, 1.30-3.30pm
Location: Creative Hub, Create NSW offices, 80 George Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
Following on from the Beyond the Book masterclass, this small-group workshop provides an opportunity to take the conversation one step further.
Designed as an informal, confidential roundtable rather than a presentation, participants are invited to bring current questions, contract clauses and practical challenges relating to film and television rights for discussion. We'll take a closer look at option and purchase agreements, work through real-world examples, and explore common negotiation issues, agreement structures and commercial considerations in a supportive environment.
This session is intended to be highly practical and participant-led. While maintaining full confidentiality around current projects and negotiations, it offers a rare opportunity for rights sellers to compare approaches, share experiences and discuss the kinds of questions that rarely have a single ‘right’ answer.
Facilitator: Nerrilee Weir.
Eligibility
Registration is open to Australian publishers or literary agents who publish or represent a minimum of five NSW-based authors with titles in the areas of fiction, narrative non-fiction, poetry, or children’s books (i.e. creative writing). Participants are responsible for self-funding their travel and accommodation to the classes. Self-published authors are not eligible to apply.
Register to attend the masterclasses
Click HERE to register for the free in-person masterclasses – places are strictly limited. Please RSVP no later than one week before each masterclass.
