Lexi asked me to say more about the “Pitch.” For those of you who don’t know, a “pitch” is a soccer (or for Lexi, a football) field. It is 90-120 meters by…. It is also what an ale brewer does with the wort….
A “pitch” is the selling of a writer and his (or her) work to an agent or publisher. The pitch is akin to speed dating for writers.
The speed dating analogy seems apt. Each of you are considering having a relationship. If there’s a good fit you will become a team. You will write and do some promotion and allow her (or him) to do her (or his) job which is trying to make the most for your writing. She (or he) will take 15% of everything you make forever.
I am not an expert. I have been only to conferences hosted by the Las Vegas Writers and the Willamette Writers. Their formats varied slightly. Willamette has non-fiction, novel, and screenplay pitching. I don’t recall what LV had beside fiction. All I can do is give my impressions and I’ll use the WWC since it’s my most recent experience. I did a bit of prep before the pitch:
- Know the agent’s preferences and specialties. You need to know your audience for a pitch—don’t pitch a horror book to an agent specializing in children’s books.
- What is the book about?
- Why are you the person to write this? What makes you qualified?
- Why now?
I took a résumé folder with my business card attached, the first five pages of my novel enclosed, the working title on the front, and no illusions about going all the way. While I had no illusions, I had hope. There are authors who have gotten book deals from these events. An agent’s want is simple: “The truth, brilliantly told.”
Before the pitch session I waited outside the meeting room along with thirty or so others. Inside, the agents sit, one to a table, waiting for the next writer. When the doors open, I was carried along through as if the dam were breached and I was a cork on the pond. Pitchers have ten minutes, from the moment the doors open, to tell the agent they’ve signed up to pitch to, why you’re the one his (or her) agency simply must sign.
After I sat down, I introduced myself, handed the folder to the agent, and gave him/her a quick synopsis of the story and why I was qualified to write the story: “The God of Trees is an eco mystery-thriller about a forester who wants to continue logging but an eco-terrorist group stands in his way. I’m a forester with thirty years of experience with the California Department of Forestry.” We chatted a bit after that about the current climate about environmental topics. One agent asked to see one hundred pages, the other requested the first three chapters.
I don’t think anyone should read too much into this. By the agents using a writing conference to screen potential writers they know that the writer is serious enough to plunk down cash for the opportunity to be listened to.
By asking to see a sample they don’t have to say no directly to the writer’s face. The chance of landing a contract with an agent and then with a publisher is slim.
After ten minutes, the doors opened and border collies nipping at my heels herded me out.
For more about pitching your work see:
- Writing-World.com “The Perfect Pitch: Pitching to Agents at a Writing Conference” by Sue Fagalde Lick
- Writing-World.com “How to Pitch Your Book at a Writing Conference” by Cynthia P. Gallagher
- Paperback Writer’s Blog; “Novel IV: Pitch.” Though this is about pitching a book you want to write, there’s useful stuff.
- Right-Writing.com; “Make the Perfect Pitch: The Novel Query.”
Nullius in Verba 
Thank you, Norm, that’s just what I wanted to know in satisfying detail. I will copy it and file it away for possible future use.
Now I’m going to have a look at your links.
I have often wondered how much of these folks’ income derives from attending these conferences. I imagine that at the least their accommodations and food are provided? The miserable skeptic in me (Scots ancestry is to be blamed) can’t help but think that these shindigs are at least largely a way to extract funds from writing hopefuls and give people in the industry an equivalent of the Time Share Free Weekend where the actual cost of attending is submitting to a sales pitch one has little if any intention of succumbing to. As I have only attended the sorts of soirees where the speakers speak, the audience listens and applauds and gets to ask the odd (sometimes quite odd) question, I could be way off base and would be grateful if you would set me right.
I think there is something in our core that wants to see another person and, in a small way here, take their measure. I think it’s more than our language on paper but also our vocal and our body language.
As to the thrill of traveling to overly air-conditioned accommodations, unless it’s the Maui Writer’s Conference, I don’t think that’s a great draw. As BB King sings, the thrill is gone.
Hi Alan. I think I can answer your question. Many of these conferences do pay our (I’m a speaker) expenses (travel, hotel, and some meals), but there are several that don’t offer a dime. I can assure you that most of us spend way, way more than we receive.
For most of these events the faculty is on their feet from around 8:00 a.m. until 9 or 10 at night, every day during the conference. During that time we are conducting workshops, speaking with writers, answering questions, reading manuscripts, answering questions, signing books, and answering questions. Oh, did I mention that we answer a lot of questions.
We do all this hoping to make new friends and to sell books. The agents and editors who attend do the same. Their purpose is to find the next great author who will make them both a ton of money.
The writers who attend writer’s conferences are the big winners. They learn ways to hone their craft from the pros, and they make valuable contacts they would not normally have the opportunity to meet. It’s a win-win situation for the attendees.
I sold my first book during a writer’s conference. I just sold another book to an editor I met during another conference.
I hope this answers your question. Better yet, I hope to see you soon at a conference.
By the way… Hi Norm. it was great seeing you again this year.
Lee,
Thanks for putting me straight. ROI is always a consideration and I just wondered how much money most agents, editors and other “pros” can spend in pursuit of the next big thing without losing their shirts, especially since so many of the choices they make turn out to be duds.
Hey Lee!
Fancy meeting you here. Thanks for dropping by. Your new book, Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for Writers, is great, and Ive put up a link to your site.
Lee, it was great seeing you as well.
Lee Lofland, for those of you who’ve not had the pleasure of meeting him, is a former sheriff’s detective. He has a disturbingly funny story called Takin’ Bacon on the Lipstick Chronicles blog ( http://thelipstickchronicles.typepad.com/the_lipstick_chronicles/2007/08/takin-bacon.html )