Workshops
Perfecting Your Pitch: How To Land an Agent at the Washington Writers Conference
By Amanda Glensky, WIW Intern
On April 12, published writer, novelist and agent Cindy Gallagher shared her “before, during and after” steps of a successful pitch session at the WIW Workshop “Perfecting Your Pitch: How to Land an Agent at the Washington Writers Conference.”
“These pitch sessions really are golden moments and you want to make the most of them,” Gallagher said.
As a guideline, she referred to her article, “Ten Tips of Consultation,” published in ByLine Magazine. In addition to the 10 tips, she said that it is sometimes necessary to break the rules, urged writers to use a variety of resources to track down lost agents and advised the best way to pitch an autobiography.
Do Your Research
Research the agents coming to the conference. Familiarity with the agency and what it generally accepts will help ensure that you don’t waste time with agents that may not meet your needs or be a suitable match. Gallagher recommended the “Guide to Literary Agents,” published by Writer’s Digest Books, a regularly-updated collection of agent information. Among other useful information, the book reports who is doing what, what they want and how open they are to getting new clients. A list of agents that will be at the Washington Writers Conference is listed here.
When you meet an agent at the conference, let them know that you have done your research. As Gallagher writes in her article, “Nothing turns off a literary agent faster than an ill-prepared writer.”
Make a Pitch Sheet
Bring a one-page pitch sheet to the session. A pitch sheet has the title of the book in bold at the top of the page and the byline written underneath. Include a short synopsis of the book, a photo of yourself and a brief biography of you as a writer.
Include a log line. The first two to three sentences of the synopsis should be the “log line,” a brief description of the story that will answer the question: “What is your book about?” Having trouble summarizing your book into two sentences? Pick up any book and read the synopsis on the back cover. The log line is usually in the first few sentences.
Make it look professional but use some color—the pitch sheet should make you stand out from everyone else the agent meets that day. However, don’t be offended if you see it being thrown out. Most agents prefer not to carry bunches of papers.
The pitch sheet is also a great way to engage the agent in conversation.
Be Professional During the Interview
Dress nicely and refrain from gum, cigarettes and candy. Pay attention to your own body language.Look confident because your professionalism will make the first impression. “You have to shine on demand basically. That’s not easy to do and it takes practice,” Gallagher said.
Aside from body language, it’s important to anticipate what the editor or agent will ask and then give suitable responses. Spin answers to your advantage (“My biggest fault is that I’m a perfectionist.”), but don’t be cocky. Rather, be humble, but still confident in yourself. Don’t tell the interviewer, “I don’t think this manuscript is that great, but you can look at it.”
Plan on How to Initiate the Conversation
Share a specific reason why you scheduled the appointment, since this is a great way to break the ice. Or break the ice with a question. When you introduce yourself, shake the agent’s hand and say something like, “How are you finding the conference?” Beginning with a simple question can help you to relax. Most agents are approachable and will often initiate the conversation for you.
It’s also a great idea to tell the agent if someone recommended you to him. However, if the friendly chit chat lasts longer than it should, be sure direct the conversation back to the interview. You’re paying for this session, and you want to get the most out of it.
Actively Participate in the Interview
Ask questions and be prepared to answer them as well. A question to consider is how will you promote your book? For this, think of specific blogs, articles and other media where you would like to focus your marketing. Subscribe to free online newspapers or do a google search for information about book promotion. Keep an eye out for books similar to yours and study how they are being marketed.
Write some of your planned answers on a note card to practice before you go in. It’s also beneficial to practice the interview with people you know so it will be less nerve-racking.
Get the Agent’s Business Card
If the agent does not have a business card, make sure to get his name (remember correct spelling), professional position and the company’s name and address. Write a thank you note, even if the agent rejected your proposal. Keep this contact information for future reference. It never hurts to have your business card ready as well.
Take Advantage of Constructive Criticism
If the agent rejects your pitch, ask him or her about any other agencies that might be interested. Ask why he or she refused your work and use it as constructive criticism for the next pitch session. “Remember that every consultation is a learning experience,” Gallagher writes in her article. “The more practice you have dealing with the myriad personalities comprising the literary world, the less intimidating they become.”
If the agent is rude or unprofessional, fill out a comment sheet. Conference managers read them and value your opinion to make improvements, such as not inviting back the agent. Keep in mind that the way an agent acts in a pitch session can tell a lot about the way he conducts business.
Don’t Be Too Pushy
Don’t refuse to accept “no.” Remember that someone else is waiting for a consultation after you, and you don’t want to take up their time or annoy the agent. The agent will tell you on the spot if he is not interested any further. If he likes your pitch, he will ask you to keep in contact or send him the manuscript.
Remember that an agent at 9 in the morning will be more alert than one at 4 in the afternoon. If you are one of his last appointments of the day, plan on writing to him later to remind him of your pitch and session.
Write a summary after each meeting, including important points and advice so that you can refer back for future sessions. Chances are, you will be seeing many agents and don’t want to forget their valuable advice.
Don’t Mistake Nice for Acceptance
Refrain from excitement until there is definite positive news. “Resist the temptation to turn cartwheels when someone says you’re a good writer,” said Gallagher. In her article, she advises against “building up your hopes so high that a rejection will be devastating.”
Control Your Nerves
Don’t lose your cool. A 10-minute consultation can be nerve-racking and daunting. But keep in mind that it’s just one consultation. “This is not the end of my career, these people are not going to make or break me,” Gallagher said.
Bringing the Manuscript
Don’t bring the manuscript to a day conference. Most likely, the agent will not have time to read it and you will not want to lug it around all day. Wait until the agent asks you for a copy and mail it later.
Finding a Long Lost Literary Agent
Be creative. It takes awhile, but Gallagher said that there are many ways to track down the agent you are looking for—it just might take a lot of phone calls. Also, try searching for agents at www.absolutewrite.com and www.agentquery.com. For a list of editors to avoid, go to www.predatorsandeditors.com.
Pitching an Autobiography
When pitching an autobiography, don’t initially say that the book is about you. Start with saying, “This book is about a person who...” and intrigue the agent before telling him that it’s an autobiography.
The Professionally Edited Manuscript
It’s a good idea to pay an editor to edit your manuscript only if you are certain that the editor is good or if you can pay for the service. Gallagher suggested joining a critique group.
The 28th Washington Writers Conference, “Living on Words: Get Inspired, Get Writing…Get Published,” will be held Saturday, June 9 at the Cafritz Conference Center at The George Washington University. Log on to www.washwriter.org and look at the “Conference” section on the homepage for more information. Review the list of agents, their biographies and the agency they work for. Good luck at your agent pitch sessions at the conference.
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