Blogger: Rachel Kent
Location: Books & Such main office or at the courthouse for jury duty
This year at the Writing for the Soul writers’ conference, I was surprised to find on the first day of appointments that I only had two morning (15-minute) appointments in the first two hours of my day. The afternoon was full and my second day filled up, but I was shocked to have free time. It’s not usually like that!
During the two days of the conference, I noticed that editors and agents were often just sitting at the tables alone during meeting times. This should not be happening! These industry professionals are there for you! Tip #2: Take advantage of the one-to-one time with industry professionals. It’s a rare opportunity to talk with these people and enjoy “face-time” with them. Sometimes the personal connection you establish during a meeting is what you need to tip the scales toward publication or representation.
If the conference has a rule about the number of appointments a conferee can line up and the sign-up time already has occurred, stroll by the sign-up sheets anyway. If you see openings on the sign-up sheets, it’s appropriate to ask the conference staff if you can make an additional appointment. The editors and agents are there to meet with authors during appointment times, not to sit behind tables alone.
Another piece of advice: Even if you don’t think you’re ready for publication or an agent, you can always ask questions about what’s unique about a publishing or a literary agency or what a publisher or agent is looking for in a writer, a project, etc.
How many of you have benefited from one-to-one appointments with editors and agents?
I had some wonderful appointments at a conference in Charlotte, NC, last summer. If nothing else, they helped me realize that editors and agents are just as eager to find great writers as writers are to be found. In retrospect, I do wish I’d relaxed a little and been prepared for some industry chat beyond my own manuscript. I was so ready with my pitch that I wasn’t ready for anything else.
For years I didn’t know that writers were allowed to make appointments at the Christian conferences. It wasn’t until I went to ACFW where the appointments are automatically given to you, that I ever met with anyone. And I immediately got a request for a full, so that was very helpful. (Of course a couple of months later that house stopped publishing fiction.)
At the general market conferences I’ve been to, there is no appointment time offered. You are allowed to buy a critique (usually for forty dollars) and then you get a half an hour with the agent or editor who critiqued you. I have found these meetings to be the most helpful things, and I choose my conferences now based on which agents and editors I want input from. To have them talk about your work for half an hour is amazing.
I got as many appointments as I could at CWG WFTS. It was very helpful. You were my first one so I was definitely the most nervous! But you were also very easy to talk to. 🙂 Ended up that my appointments with editors and agents were my favorite part of the conference.
These meetings can be very helpful. I met the agent who is now submitting my novel at last years NCWA’s conference.
It’s a good time to see if you’re hook and premise intriguing to industry professionals. If not, take what they said and tweak it to make it better.
And always check the appointment desk like Rachel said. There are usually additional openings.
Great advice! At the ACFW conference last year, I was only assigned one appointment. I went to the table and signed up for another one with an editor, who then asked for my full. Sooo glad I didn’t just stop with the one appointment! 🙂
It’s so hard to just relax and be yourself at those meetings. And yet, that’s exactly what you need to do! If you go in fixated on giving the hard sell, you might miss an opportunity to make a personal connection with someone.
Aside from first meeting my agent at a conference, I also got wonderful editorial advice from Jeff Gerke of Marcher Lord Press during a one-on-one appointment. It’s invaluable to have this face time with industry professionals. Great advice, Rachel!
The first step on my “novel” journey was to sign up for an ACFW conference in my area. Editor and agent appointments were included, so I went even though I had nothing to pitch. In 15 minutes, Janet Grant gave me incredible advice about titles in a series. The editor I met was pleasantly surprised that I wanted to learn more about her publishing house and what they were looking for. I came away inspired and encouraged, and we have a professional relationship to this day.
Conferences are a great place to meet editors and agents and increase your chances of receiving an invitation to submit. I was surprised to learn, though, that many authors never follow through. Maybe they think the editor was just being polite? Most ARE polite, but they wouldn’t issue an invitation unless they saw something that intrigued them. Follow through! The worst that can happen is a pass, and even that is instructive.
I have pitched at the RWA National conference, and I learned valuable information from the editor and agent. I agree with you that it’s an opportunity writers should take advantage of.
It is stressful and scary to pitch our projects to complete strangers, but it’s also a chance to make a good impression and possibly get our books in front of people who have the power to get them published.
Hope you got out of jury duty!
Rachel, what types of things should a prospective author have with them when they go to have their meeting with an agent at a conference? What types of things are discussed and do agents often wish to see examples of the author’s work?
I haven’t had to go in to court yet, but I expect I will be called in tomorrow. We’ll see!
Salena, when you meet with an industry professional, have a proposal and sample chapters on hand. Some editors and agents want to read a sample of your writing during your appointment. Very few will take the proposal from you at that time, but it has happened in the past, so you might want to print a few copies of your materials before the conference. Personally, I like to have the author tell me about the project. Usually the author will tell me a brief summary of the book and a little bit about himself or herself. If the project is a nonfiction, I like to hear what he or she plans to do to market the story as well. Other than that, I’m there to answer questions about the role of an agent and other publishing questions.
I was surprised at the openings in appointments at the CWG conference. I took advantage and snagged a few extras. I’m glad I did. I received some really great feedback and advice because of it.
Thank you Rachel! 🙂
Conference appointments have been vital in my career. At my first conference (Mt. Hermon) – I submitted my ms for critique. Both my critiquers said, “Go talk to editors & agents NOW!” I was terrified but I obeyed. You don’t say no to Lauraine Snelling 🙂
I’m thankful I obeyed. I had many appointments over the years, resulting in many requests – and ultimately rejection letters. But each appointment boosted my confidence. When the market flipped and historicals were “cool” again, I felt comfortable talking to professionals. My conference submission and appointment led to my first sale.
Last September, I sat on a conference-bound plane, cranberry juice in hand as I mentally recited my pitch over and over. And over. Until I couldn’t remember my main character’s name. No, it wasn’t actually that bad, but close. Brandilyn Collins helped me by encouraging me to pitch my book to her “editor face,” which I can assure you was a lot scarier than any of the real editors’ faces. I was still pretty freaked about my first appointments, though.
What changed everything for me was when I met Ami McConnell and she hugged me. All I could think was, “This woman has edited every one of my favorite books.” Colleen Coble introduced us and told Ami that (overachiever that I am) I registered for the ACFW conference within hours of it opening so I could secure an appointment with her, and I guess Ami was surprised.
That was the first time I realized editors and agents are real people–not just catalysts of terror–who genuinely want to see writers succeed. Suddenly, having a conversation with them seemed so much easier than pitching my project like it was some kind of book report!
I’d encourage everyone who has the opportunity to speak with editors and agents to take that opportunity, even if it isn’t to pitch. Glean as much as you can from their knowledge, because they don’t have to be investing so much time helping writers, but they do anyway.
The appointments at CWG were awesome. I, too, was surprised at the number of open slots left. I took an extra appointment which resulted in a request for a proposal so that was encouraging. I also received great insight from the editors and agents I talked with, including Janet Grant. I’m eager for my next conference now. =)
The agent and publisher meetings are one of the aspects of conferences I’m most excited about. I haven’t had the opportunity to participate in these meetings yet, but I’m so looking forward to doing so. Everyone’s comments here are quite helpful! I’ve often heard how we writers need to relax and remember the agents and editors are all actual human beings, too! 🙂
Ah, Rachel your post grabbed me. Yes, yes, yes, take advantage of every opportunity! Agents don’t bite. They do nibble, so I carry a supply of no-melt chocolate with me at all times. This is not bad advice.
Seriously, at one of my first ACFW conferences I’d signed up to meet Wendy. She was new, I was aspiring and gnashing my teeth. Since I’ve got big teeth, this WAS NOT PRETTY. Then they did an agent panel. And THEN… they announced that if you think your blind choice for a meeting wasn’t in your best interest, you could CHANGE… Gulp.
So I did. I changed my appointment with Wendy to someone else.
And then Wendy stopped me in the hall the next morning and said she was looking forward to meeting with me, that she’d heard lots of good things about me and my writing.
Oh my stars. Gulp. Gulp. And more gulp.
Fast forward three years later. The call comes. My friend says: Call or e-mail your dream agent NOW.
I interrupted Wendy’s vacation in Alaska and we’ve been pumping out books for 18 months now. Seven books and counting, so I’m living my dream in fast-paced fashion and loving it.
The point? It’s good to take advantage and learn all you can because you never know which opportunity will lead to THE opportunity. And since I’m kind of famous for wrong turns, it’s pretty nice to have Wendy keep me on the straight and narrow.
Great post, Rachel!
The appointments I’ve had at conferences gave me an enormous boost. Even before I had something to pitch, they helped me understand the business, and like many have said before, they helped me understand they are just regular people with a different knowledge set.
I am always tickled when somebody asks me about something I love (usually it’s books, go figure!). I can talk for hours with pleasure about things I know and love – especially if it’s helping someone else.
This is a key concept to remember when walking into those appointments – hands sweating, knees wobbling. 🙂 I can’t wait ’til my next conference!
I made 2 extra appointments once Jerry said that there were more available. The connections I made were priceless. All I met with were interested in receiving a full proposal and sample chapters (and one even more than that). It was an over-the-top experience. I’m so grateful for you, the professionals, making yourselves available. Blessings!
This is such great information! I’m going to a conference in May and am pre-signed for some publishers. Right now I have a question mark about what I’m doing, which can easily lead to ‘rabbiting out of the appointment’. This posting and comments have taken the edge off those feelings.
I’ve been published before (4 children’s picture books), but it was from 1984-1987. The books have been re-issued this year (by me). Does it make sense to take the books to show at the appointment, or do I even mention them? They sold well during their shelf life and I do have manuscripts I can send them if they ask.
Donna, you should mention that you have had four picture books published. I don’t think you need to bring them unless they are what you are pitching.
Another great post. In person I haven’t signed up, but that’s because the agents at the conference don’t publish the genres I write. I really need to find a conference I can afford to attend where I could meet with someone.
I had a pitch to a publisher at an online conference last year, and she expressed interest in the manuscript, so after numerous revisions to the manuscript, cover letter, and synopsis, I am emailing it to her this weekend.
Hi I and My wife are at the wtp conference wondering what to do , this is our first…. my wife is so shy and I am trying to encourage her to get out and talk to you guys… I liked your suggestions