For today’s Work In Progress Wednesday, I thought I’d share what I’ve been working on in regards to the manuscript I finished in November.
Pitching!
Next month I’m attending the DFW Writer’s Conference and I am so excited. The sheer number and quality of agents that will be in attendance is amazing. It will also be the first time I am pitching my novel in person. Verbally. (Gulp.)
Now I am a writer, so of course I would feel more comfortable expressing myself in writing. But I also hosted television shows for my college campus channel and a live dating show on a stage in front of a packed LSU crowd. I should be able to handle myself in front of agents, especially when I’m talking about something I love. Right?
Well there comes the hard part. I love my manuscript. I want other people to love it. In writing, an agent can get a sample of my writing style and talent (if my summary is well written and in a similar tone to my manuscript, which it is). I can make sure I point out why I chose to query that particular agent, let them know a little about me, and then get in those first few pages of my manuscript. I know I’m not leaving anything out.
In person? Verbally? In a conversation with give and take and no set direction? It’s unpredictable. Sure you can plan, but there are no guarantees that you will remember to cover everything you think is important, while also coming across as charming and a wonderfully fun yet serious writer. Unless you read from cue cards or a script, which I do not recommend.
So yeah, I’m nervous. What if I focus on the wrong aspect of the story for the agent I’m pitching? How do I put the best spin on my book without rambling and without sounding completely robotic?
While I am still very much working on my pitch, I have gained confidence this week from my research. (Have I mentioned before on here that I am an obsessive researcher?) So here are my favorite tips that I’ve learned this week (And be sure to check the bottom of the post for my favorite resource for pitch preparation!):
- Begin your pitch letting the agent know your novel is finished, the category/genre it fits into, and the word count. That lets them know right away that you are ready and puts them in the right frame of mind for hearing about your book. You don’t want them listening to the description and thinking it is a romantic comedy when it is actually a thriller. (ie: THIS AMAZING NOVEL is a YA 70,000 word Contemporary about . . . )
- lead with your main character and the story problem, question or choice they face
- Make it short, do not include every Tom, Dick and Harry in your book. Focus on the main story line and say it in as few words as possible. Then stop talking. Give the agent time to ask questions or at the very least, gauge their interest in what you’ve told them so you now how to tailor the rest of the conversation.
- Research the agent you are going to pitch. Know what they are interested in and make sure you mention that in your pitch–let them know you have done your homework and you know they are perfect for your book because X,Y,Z. If the agent loves romance and that is a main focus of your book, focus on that. If the agent prefers more issue books, make sure you talk about that.
- Remember this is a two way street and hopefully you are forming a relationship with this person. Ask them questions, too. And if you have time, make some of those questions be about the conference you are both attending or something that is just friendly and let them know you aren’t “Super Intense All The Time” person. You are passionate about your craft, but you are still a wife, mom, woman, fellow human.
- Know how you need to be prepared. Some people just need to have an outline and can memorize that and wing it. Others, like me, write it all out and practice that over and over. Now I do not go in and recite like a trained parrot or something, but by practicing the feeling of the words, making sure they sound natural and conversational, I feel more confident in presenting in a natural way and will remember key phrases easier that I can then hopefully remember and throw into the real pitch when I get nervous and forget the name of my own book!
- Be prepared to answer questions like: What type of readers will your book appeal to? How will your book stand out on the shelf/in today’s market?
- Remember that the cute words you use in your query may sound completely corny when said verbally. Make sure it sounds natural. Make this a conversation.
- Aim for your pitch to last 60 – 90 seconds. Give them your log line, make sure you introduce your main character, tell them what the story is about, maybe compare it to another popular work so they clearly understand ( I read a post from Vicky Dreiling, the author of How To Marry a Duke and she said described her book as ‘The Bachelor set in Regency England, but without the hot tubs and camera crews! Not only did I love this pitch–and the agents did, too–but I then had to go and buy her book on my new wonderful Kindle!)
- Don’t be afraid to use personal stories in your pitch. If you wrote this book for a certain reason, if you have a particular connection with the theme, main character, setting, or premise, include it. Look the agent in the eye and get real for a quick moment. Remember again, this is a conversation and the person you are talking to–while being potentially important to your career–is also another person who has their own personal stories. Make a connection!
- If there is time at the end, don’t be afraid to ask them additional questions. You are trying to figure out if this will be a good relationship for the both of you. Ask how your pitch was and if they have any suggestions for improvement. Ask about their recent sales in your genre. Ask about their style and approach to the agent/author relationship.
- Bring a bottle of water with you in case you get nervous. Not only will it refresh you but it will give you a few moments while drinking to collect yourself.
My favorite resource I’ve found in my research is Pitch University. This is a must visit site for all writers! Make sure you get caught up on all the lessons from the past month and then jump in the fun!
I just saw that my excellent Critique Partner and writer buddy, Natalie at Pen to Publish also posted about this topic today. She has a PR background and is actually the one who steered me to Pitch University. Check out her thoughts, too!
Do you have any pitching tips? Any personal stories you can share about your own pitching experiences? Any suggestions? Anyone else going to the DFW Writer’s Conference?
Happy Writing!
