Thursday, February 28, 2013

Literary Agents


-->
If you had only three minutes to pitch your book to an agent face-to-face, what would you say? It can be intimidating to put yourself on the line and try to express all the passion for your book in a few sentences, but that's what we as writers have got to do, right? Several of you asked to hear more about how my speed-dating sessions with literary agents went during the last day of my writer’s conference. Despite the long lines I met with six in the allotted hour, four of whom asked to see partials of my work.

I only just recently sent out my stuff, so I don’t figure on hearing back anytime soon, but the key to each speed-dating pitch with agents is to get the gist of your story across effectively and to hook their interest. Needless to say three minutes, half of which is taken up with their questions for you, isn’t much time. My advice would be, the more you sharpen your elevator pitch, the better off you’ll be.

Nonetheless, I had fun meeting with agents, and got some great feedback. The last agent I sat down with at the end of the hour wasn’t necessarily interested in my genre, but asked to see my work anyway, because she said I was the only person all day who had told her a story with an actual plot. So what have been your experiences face-to-face with agents? Have you found it more effective than querying over the internet or snail mail? Have you ever tried speed-dating with agents at a conference elsewhere?

33 comments:

  1. Only story with an actual plot? That doesn't bode well for the other writers!
    Congratulations on four requests though. My pitch would likely be too short as I can rattle off my book's synopsis in less than thirty seconds.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Soooo exciting, Mark. You've obviously got the people/pitching skills. I think meeting an agent face to face can be so beneficial. My agent rejected me with two books before I met her! And I honestly think meeting her made a difference with my third book. It made me more real, instead of just another number in the slush pile.

    I've never done the speed-dating thing though. My agent encounters in the past were me just being brave and cornering them in a room, LOL. I actually think I'd be more nervous with a set-up pitch session!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pitching is one thing I've never done and I'm grateful. The whole concept seriously scares the crap out of me. Talk about a pressure cooker.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I haven't pitched to agent face to face, but that's awesome about getting some requests. glad you like my playlist :) have a good day.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've pitched twice before, and it's a scary thing to do, but I find pitching live usually ends up in a request for a manuscript. I think the agents feel like if they flew all the way out to wherever the conference is, they might as well see what people have to offer. And, yeah, all they really want to hear about is the story you wrote, not how you woke up from a dream one day and just had to get those characters on the page or die.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm hoping to pitch at my upcoming writer's conference. I think it would be good for me!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sadly, the likelihood of meeting an agent face to face isn't good for me in our current location. But I've memorized what to say just in case! Because you never know--right!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mark - What a thrill it must have been! And the news about the requests for partials is great, but I am so happy for you that the one agent was willing to step out of their comfort zone because you impressed them with your story and plot! We can all learn so much from you! Thanks You!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congratulations on your four partial requests--sound like you have pitch down pat! I hope they turn into full requests!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am horrible at pitching! I liked querying better because I had time to revise my query (many times).

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congrats on the being able to send out partials and I wish you success!

    Last year I went the the SF Writer's Conference and did the speed dating. I was new to the idea of pitching and it was hard. The hardest thing, though, was that there was no one I pitched to who represented Christian speculative fiction. It was still a great experience and did get references to agents who might have been into it. The queries I sent resulted in partial manuscripts being sent, but they weren't into the genre after all.

    A year later, I think I'd be much better at it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Pitches are a beast! I congratulate you on your success. Face-to-face is best in terms of time spent waiting to see if there's any interest. You've got to be prepared, though, as you've said. In regards to "...asked to see my work anyway, because she said I was the only person all day who had told her a story with an actual plot." WOW.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mark, thanks for the follow. Love your site and movie reference above. Agents really do feel like that to me. I had my first consultation (with a published author) at an SCBWI conference in Spokane, WA recently. What an eye-opener. I found out just how important the teen 'voice' is, which apparently I nailed in the first 10 pages, but it sent me home to make sure the rest of my book matched. I also attend the SCBWI conference in Redmond, WA. I pitched my book in an open group (for practice) and was surprised when someone asked about it afterwards. Sat at a table with an agent, too, and I could tell she was making the rounds. They are just plain scary, but I am so close to seeking one now. Love the America's Cup video (what I would give to attend:) Love the 'Dad' pic too (my son has 3 little boys :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Like Alex I too am concerned about the only story with a plot remark. That really does not bode well for the other writers. But, I am super happy for you, Mark. Keeping my fingers crossed for you .Let me know ASAP if an offer of representation happens.

    ReplyDelete
  15. whoah thіѕ weblog is wonderful i lοve
    studying уour posts. Stаy up the gοod work!

    Yοu unԁeгstand, manу peгsons aгe looking round for this information, you could aid them grеatly.


    My web blοg ... dumpster rental connecticut
    My page :: connecticut dumpster rental

    ReplyDelete
  16. Doеs your blog hаνe a сοntact ρagе?

    І'm having problems locating it but, I'd lіke to
    senԁ you an e-mail. I've got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it expand over time.

    Feel free to surf to my blog trash dumpster

    ReplyDelete
  17. If sοme one needs expert view about blogging aftеrωard i suggest hіm/her to раy a quiсk visit this
    web sitе, Keep uρ the nice job.

    Hеre is my homeраge :: dumpster rental service

    ReplyDelete
  18. {
    {I hаve|I've} been {surfing|browsing} online more than {three|3|2|4} hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. {It's|It
    is} pretty woгth enοugh for mе.
    {Іn my opinion|Pегsonаlly|In my νіew}, if all {webmаsters|sitе ownеrѕ|ωebsi

    Here is my web-site - palm trees

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have never tried speed dating in any format as I know I would never come across as I really am. I'd act like some tongue tied lulabelle! This is a very interesting piece and I could do with some useful tips on getting more out of writing.

    ReplyDelete
  20. This sounds like a great opportunity. A novel without a plot? Yikes! I really need to work on my "elevator pitches." So far, my queries have only been via email -- but I need to be more consistent about getting them out there.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I've never had to give a pitch face to face, but I can imagine it would be tricky.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ρгеtty! Thiѕ hаs bеen a reаllу ωonԁегful article.
    Many thanks for ρroviding this infοrmаtiοn.


    Feеl free tο visit my sіte: rental trash dumpsters

    ReplyDelete
  23. My brotheг rеcоmmendеd I might like this blog.
    He uѕed to be entirеly right. This publish actually mаde mу day.
    Υou can not іmaginе simply hοw so much time I had spent
    for thіѕ іnformatіon! Thank you!



    Review my ѕite :: dumpster rental ct

    ReplyDelete
  24. Yоur ѕtyle iѕ ѵeгy unique in comрагison to other pеορlе I hаve read stuff fгom.
    Thanks for pоsting when уou have the οppοrtunity, Guess I'll just bookmark this web site.

    Here is my page - dumpster rental ct

    ReplyDelete
  25. You mаde some deсent pοints there.
    I loοked оn the internet to learn moгe about the іssue anԁ found most indіviduals will go alοng with your viewѕ on this ѕіtе.


    Feel free to visit my web site roll off dumpster

    ReplyDelete
  26. Apprеciate thiѕ post. Let me try it оut.


    My wеb ѕite dumpster rental service

    ReplyDelete
  27. What's Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I'vе discoveгеd It absolutely useful and it
    has helped me out lοaԁs. I hope to contribute &
    aiԁ different customers liκe its аiԁеd me.
    Gгеat job.

    Visіt my web blog roll off dumpster

    ReplyDelete
  28. Ηеуa this is kinԁa of off tоρiс but I wаs wanting to
    κnоw if blogs use WYSIWYG editors οr
    if you have to manuallу codе with HТML.
    I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Here is my blog post ... yard dumpster

    ReplyDelete
  29. I've never pitched in person before. I've done some queries, but that's a different animal I suppose. I do have my one sentence pitch, but that's about it.

    Good luck, sounds like you're on your way.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks for sharing your two cents everyone:) It's interesting to hear the full gambit of experiences, some who have never pitched and others who have. Ultimately, it comes down to the writing, but I figure pitching reflects that in its own way. I'll have some more posts going forward about other great nuggets I learn at the conference, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I've done some speed pitching before, where I had a minute (yes, 60 seconds) to pitch my book. The surprise? I found that so much easier than the ones I'm given 5 minutes. I didn't have TIME to be nervous, or chit chat (I'm not the chit chat kind of person). Of course, you have to make sure you have one awesome pitch and hook them off the bat!

    Congrats on getting the requests and good luck!

    Oh, and thanks for following me! :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. What a wonderful anthology and cause.

    ReplyDelete