Monday 27 July 2015

So You're Pitching at the RWA Conference...



with Marilyn Forsyth


Image courtesy of sidelinedtrilogy.com
I can’t believe I’m about to air this publicly, but the first time I pitched at a conference and sat down opposite an agent, the opening words out of my mouth were ‘I’m not really sure why I’m here’.


Bah-bow! With a roll of her eyes, she replied, ‘Then you shouldn’t be here. ’Bye.’


Result: shortest pitch session evah! (But, dammit, she was right.)


What did I learn? That you should read everything you can find on the editor/agent you’re pitching to. Know what they’re after and ensure that’s what you’re offering them.



Also, act confident (even if you’re shaking in your boots). Editors/agents are people just like you, but even the nicest ones don’t have time to hold your hand through a 5-minute pitch session.


Image courtesy of forums.mtbr.com
Between that conference and the next, I studied up on pitching. I wrote notes outlining the GMC of my main characters and all the major turning points in my book, then whittled them down to a 3-minute oration which I memorised word for word. I was nervous as all get out but hid it well (I think…). After introducing myself to my requested editor, I launched into my speech. It was going well until, mid-recitation, she asked me a question. Boy, did that throw me! I had my trusty notes but I’d lost my place and spent the next precious 30 seconds trying to find it.


Result: I ran out of time to finish my pitch. I was asked to send 3 chapters (but I suspect it was a pity offer and I didn't hear from her again).


What did I learn? That there’s a huge difference between verbal and written communication. Practise your pitch until it sounds as natural as if you’re talking with a friend. The editor/agent knows your story will end happily; what he/she wants to hear is how and why your characters fall in love, and the conflict keeping them apart.


Keep your pitch to just over 1 minute. Yes, one minute. Don’t try to cover everything. Treat it like speed-dating—intrigue the editor/agent just enough to leave him/her hungry for more and wanting a second date i.e. a request for the full ms.


My Pitch dot points
My last pitch took place at the 2014 conference. With everything I’d learned from my previous attempts, I went in acting (and almost feeling) confident. I’d researched the publisher to ensure my book was a good fit, read up on what the editor was looking for, and honed and practised my pitch to within an inch of its life.


Result: A request for the full ms!


What did I learn? Persistence pays off. Yeah! Twelve months later, my dream is about to become reality. Early next year my debut book will be published by Harlequin Mira!



So, to summarise:

Image courtesy of tinaquaruss.wordpress
1. Look professional by dressing nicely, and try not to be too self-conscious.

2. Start with title, genre, word length.

3. Move on to elevator pitch/tag line, describe MCs and their goals/conflict (dot point notes on cards), and be prepared to confidently answer any questions about your book baby.

4. State how your book fits the publisher’s line and what gives it that point of difference.

5. Thank editor/agent.


Go get ’em! Good luck!


Do you have a story to share about pitching? Or any added advice? Love to hear it.



Public Domain


I Love to Love Buzzfeed Quizzes on Facebook (one of my many forms of procrastination). Who knew I was Vincent Van Gogh in a past life!


I Love to Laugh out loud. Check out my Pinterest page at https://www.pinterest.com/marilynforsyth/fun-stuff/ to see what makes me lol.


I Love to Learn by entering RWA writing competitions. The feedback I've received over the years has helped me achieve my ultimate goal. Big thanks to all you volunteer judges out there.

18 comments:

  1. Hi Marilyn. Great post. Pitching is daunting on the first attempt, isn't it? Gets easier with each new attempt. Nerves are a biggie for me and the best advice I ever got was to just be myself. That helped break the barrier I'd put between me and the editor. Also to show that I'm passionate about my story. If a writer doesn't love what they write it shows in both the writing and when the writer speaks about it. Would an agent or editor be interested then? Why would they? Confidence, passion and knowing the GMC are the points I value when pitching.

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    1. Just being yourself is great advice, Enisa. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who worries way too much about how I present to others when I first meet them. My clever son advised me to concentrate on really communicating rather than being side-tracked by my own self-awareness. I try to put that into practice all the time, now.
      Are you pitching at the RWA conference next month?

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    2. Yes. Lucky enough to have appointments.

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    3. Good luck with those! If there's anything I can do to help, please just ask.

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    4. Very generous of you, thanks, Marilyn.

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  2. What wonderful, practical advice Marilyn. So easy to follow your simple and yet totally relevant points. So many people try to complicate the pitch and clog it with details. Sometimes less is simply more...

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    1. Thanks so much, Malvina! I really hope others find it useful, too. You know, when you're pitching, by the time you sit down and exchange pleasantries, it seems half your allotted time is over. Sticking to the GMC of your story (and being passionate about it, as Enisa mentioned above) will hopefully be what persuades the editor/agent to request to see more.

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  3. Great advice Marilyn. I was working on my pitch last night but now I realise I may have still need to do some work before conference. Do you think you need a High Concept and a Tagline for a pitch or is one enough? Also, would you pitch differently to a an agent than you would to an editor?

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  4. Hi Cassandra, thanks for dropping by. The way I understand it, the High Concept is a hook to secure the editor's interest. For my yet-to-be-named debut book, mine was: 'My book is based around a Reality TV show; think Farmer Wants a Wife meets The Bachelor'. I then followed it up with the tagline/logline: 'A lonely pearl farmer with a tragic secret falls for a career-girl on a match-making RTV show. Problem is, she's not a contestant - she's the show's PA.' That's my understanding of those terms, and I think both are important in a pitch.
    As for pitching differently to an agent than you would to an editor, following my first disastrous effort, I haven't tried for an agent again, so I'm not the best person to ask, but I would think that both editors and agents are looking for the same thing - a dedicated writer, passionate about her work, and with a lot of stories to tell.
    If there's anything I can do to help you with your pitch, please just ask.

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  5. Oh ouch, Marilyn, on your first pitch, but thanks for sharing. It is a real good example of preparing for pitching and pitching when you're ready to. As you can see from your second pitch.
    Looking forward to catching up at conference!

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    1. Hi Eleni! Thanks for the commiserations. It happened a few years ago, now, but I still cringe whenever I think about it (and hope I never run into her again). Anyway, really looking forward to the conference and to catching up with you, too. xx

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  6. Hi Marilyn, thanks for sharing your very scary pitch stories. I had no idea how hard that would be. You really have to sell yourself... and your story don't you. Good on you for not giving up. Look where your persistence got you... published! Woohoo.

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    1. Hi Karen! Persistence is SO important. You hear that advice so many times from authors but that's because that is what it takes to achieve your dream. But you know that already, don't you? ;)

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  7. Hi Marilyn, thanks for sharing your wonderful advice and your experiences. I've yet to do a face to face pitch but I know that I'd be terrified. :D

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    1. Thanks for dropping by, Nicole! Yep, putting ourselves out there is difficult for us introverted writer-types, that's for sure! It's a huge deal to pitch for most of us, but the opportunity provided by the RWA conferences to have our book babies introduced to such a great selection of fab editors/agents is way too good to miss.
      PS. I'm in the middle of McKellan's Run, and really enjoying it.

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    2. I was toying with the idea but I don't have anything ready yet - I'll try and be more prepared next year. I'm so happy that you're enjoying Mac's Run, thanks for picking it up. :D

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  8. Awesome article Marilyn! I won't be pitching this year but I've been told that RWA has re-opened their pitch session sign up for this year's conference. Something quite unprecedented, so to those out there hemming and hawing over whether to 'do it' or not...TAKE SOON TO BE PUBLISHED WITH HARLEQUIN MIRA AUTHOR, MARILYN FORSYTH'S ADVICE AND GO SIGN UP!!

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  9. Hi Dee! Yes! Pitching at the conference is such a great way to cut out those months of frustration waiting for a response from a publisher to a query letter. It only happens once a year. Just do it!

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