Blogger: Rachel Kent
Location: Books & Such main office; Santa Rosa, Calif.
I served on faculty at the ACFW conference last week, and I’m happy to report that it was a wonderful event with so many blessed moments. Today I’d like to reflect on my conference appointments. Most of them were wonderful, and it was a joy to meet with each person.
That being said, I do have two suggestions for all of you who might be pitching projects in the future:
1) Be comfortable with talking about what you’ve written. For those of you who write fiction, you should be able to rattle off a brief synopsis–beginning, middle, and end–covering all the important twists and turns in your story. If you can talk easily and with enthusiasm about a manuscript you’ve written, I’ll be much more likely to catch the vision. I can hear much more than an elevator pitch in a 15-minute meeting.
#2 is somewhat related:
2) Don’t just memorize your one-sheet and recite it. You’re handing that paper to me, so I’m able to read it on my own. I want to hear details from you because you, the writer, are sitting with me for 15 minutes. It’s exciting for me to get to meet with the creator of the work! I’d love to hear why you are passionate about the project, and that’s so much more than a brief paragraph. The personal meeting should be more for both of us than a query letter-type experience. You can email me a query without coming to a conference, and I can offer you immediate feedback on your idea if you share more with me than a short paragraph.
It’s a lot of fun to meet with you in person, and I look forward to serving on faculty at conferences in the future.
Do you get nervous before conference appointments? What kind of preparation do you do before your meetings?
What do you think is important to include in that 15-minute conversation?
Wow! Very timely topic again. I’ll be meeting with agents for the first time next month. I’m petrified and excited all at the same time. 🙂
I’m sure I’ll be a wreck, but I feel like I’m doing all I know how to do to prepare (suggestions are welcome). I have my pitch ready, which included a brief mention of my marketing plan. I’m in the process now of reading more of the titles the house represents in the picture book genre, and I’m compiling a list of comparable titles.
What I feel is important to convey during the meeting is that you see writing as a business, as well as a creative outlet. Market research and promoting your work isn’t always fun, but it shows your commitment to succeed. And like you mentioned, passion for your work must be evident. If I’m not excited about my work, how can I expect anyone else to get excited over it?
Thanks for another helpful post, Rachel. I really appreciate it.
I’ve only gone to one conference, but I was incredibly nervous! I had my one-sheet ready and I pretty much memorized it for my agent appointments (thank you for pointing out that no-no, Rachel!). I’ll do it differently next time.
I couldn’t make it to this year’s conference, but I’m looking forward to next year, where I will be taking this advice. Thanks for the post!
Awesome tips, Rachel! Wish I could have gone.
The first time I attended the Mount Hermon conference I was amazed to discover that editors (there were no agents in the CBA back then) were ordinary human beings who didn’t glow in the dark. The “important” people at conferences aren’t scary but they appreciate being appreciated and being treated with consideration. Having a brief to-the-point presentation prepared is one way to do that.
Good advice. Really, I’d be so nervous, I’d probably memorize my query. But I am so passionate about my book, I’d really want that to shine through.
Thank you for sharing this.
The whole idea of getting a novel’s-worth of information distilled into 30- to 60-seconds is a bit daunting.
I appreciated it, during the agent appointments, when the agent read the one-sheet, then asked questions about the plot. That encouraged me, and helped me talk excitedly about my plot.
As far as pitching verbally, the idea is still daunting to distill 80,000-100,000 words into a one-minute pitch. However, it really helps you, as a writer, to do so, especially once you have the story finished.
Blessings,
Voni
I enjoyed sitting at your lunch table at conference. Too bad it was so noisy. I just wish those across the table could have heard what you had to say as well.
Thanks for the tips, Rachel. I’ll be sure to take them to heart. The idea of a pitch appointment scares me to death, but with your advice in hand, I’ll be better prepared when that time comes! 🙂
Voni, you have 10-15 minutes total, so feel free to take longer on your pitch. The 30 second elevator pitch isn’t really relevant for an author/agent or author/editor appointment. It’s more useful for those meetings during lunch or dinner.
Sharon, I enjoyed meeting you as well!
Janet, I laughed out loud when I read your comment. I’m so glad I don’t glow in the dark!
I am more accustomed to the 15 minute appointments where the editor has already had a chance to look over my work, like they do at the Mount Hermon conference, so I really struggled with these appointments at ACFW. I really appreciated it when one editor (after reading my bio)stopped for a moment, looked me in the eye and asked me about my new dog. It startled me, made me laugh and we spent a comfortable few minutes chatting about dogs before getting back to business. That put me at ease and reminded me that she was a real person.
Your advice is great, Rachel. So many people tell us about that one-minute elevator pitch, but no one mentions what to do with the other 14 minutes of the appointment. Thank you!
I think it’s important to make sure the editor/agent represents whatbook, your pitching. I’ve been to many appointments where a writer was discouraged because the editor/agent didn’t request their but told them it was because they didn’t represent/publish that genre.
Here’s a link to NorthWest Christian Writer’s Ass. blog w/ tips for editor/agent appointments.
http://nwchristianwriters.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/make-the-most-of-your-editoragent-appointment/
I think I should have spelled out Association in the above comment, sorry for the abrievation that doesn’t look very nice. Blushing big time.
I was actually thinking of using index cards so I can keep my unfocused mind from getting all tongue-tied. I know my book, my characters, the twists and turns, and even the history of my world, my characters.
These are great tips, Rachel. My girlfriends and I practiced pitching to each other, and it made all the difference. I immediately saw the problems in my pitch, and it helped me relax after I’d gotten their feedback. Although, I’m sure I was still rather nervy! Glad you had a safe trip!
I’m not sure I’ll ever have the chance to go to any conferences where I can pitch to agents, but I would love to have the opportunity. Is there a site that has information for the next few months? I’m stuck in Iowa, so my chances are kind of limited.
Thanks for the important tips, Rachel!
Great article, Melissa. Thanks for sharing it.