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Photo by Ted Lynn
Photo By Ted Lynn
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Q:
I'm meeting an editor and an agent at a writers' conference.
How do I impress them?
A:
The 8-point answer from Kay Lewis Shaw of Remington Literary
Agency, with additions and expansions from your editor.
Don't be nervous. Though it's perfectly natural to feel some
jitters as you prepare pitch copy, stay determined to get the
presentation finished and rehearsed. The jitters will disappear
as soon as you start talking.
Dress
neatly. Don't wear jeans or T-shirt. You don't have to be a
fashion plate (you're an artist, after all), but your clothes
must be neat, clean, and comfortable (to you). It’s hard enough
to face an editor or agent, so you don't want clothes that are
too tight, too fancy, or too constricting. Remember, you're
talking business to a business person.
Introduce
yourself in a friendly, but business-like manner. Say what you
have to offer (using the correct pitch format). Always carry
and offer a professional-looking business card (without
flowers), that includes your name, address, phone, fax, e-mail,
and website (if you have one).
Don't
overwhelm the editor/agent/publisher with excessive talk. Allow
him or her to ask questions.
Know
what you've written and where it would be located in a
bookstore. Walk into any Barnes & Noble, Borders, Walden, etc.
and take a good look around. If your book doesn’t fit under one
of the category signs, rewrite your book.
Approach
the buyer or representative with only a verbal pitch and copy of
no more than two pages (one is best). Bringing a four-inch-high
book manuscript or complete screenplay with you can squelch a
thoughtful hearing faster than having green worms in your
teeth. These people want no more than to hear your idea. If
they like the ‘sound’ of what you’ve written, they’ll say, "Send
it to me."
Be brief and concise. Three sentences should
be enough for your primary verbal pitch. You may want to
elaborate in the one/two-page hardcopy. You will definitely want
be prepared to answer questions about the setting details,
marketing niches, audience numbers, endorsements you intend to
pursue, current books that could compete for the same bookstore
shelf space, your qualifications/expertise for writing this
book, and any other pertinent info.
Is your work finished? If it's fiction, the manuscript needs to be completed, polished, in the proper format, and ready to mail.
(See EVERY PAGE PERFECT for format and protocol.) If you’ve
written a screenplay, he or she will probably want to know if you have others completed. If your project is a nonfiction book,
be prepared to mail the entire proposal (which can be over 100 pages long), and give details on the research you've done (cite references, experts), endorsements (already promised or being pursued), the
alternative markets (like corporate sales), and your deadline.
Finally— Be polite. If they reject your idea, say, "Thank you
for your time." You might also ask if they have any ideas about
where this work might find a home or who might be interested in
getting a query.
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