When you find out, tell me. I just returned from a small writers' conference that I usually enjoy. This year, they lost my registration so I walked around with a handwritten name tag no one could read and had no pitches scheduled since no one knew I was coming. Two very nice people donated pitches to me. I had prepared to sell my Regency series of which six books are written. The first pitch session with a young agent went like this: I am looking for representation for my Regency series.... Her: The Regency market is dead. Pitch something else. So, I stumble through a pitch for a contemporary I finished last week, A Trashy Affair. Her: It sounds funny. I don't like funny. Needless to say if she doesn't like the Regency period and hates funny, we would never have gotten along, so no loss on either side there.
Next up, I pitched to an editor. Since I'd just been told the Regency market is dead, I went with the new contemporary and did a better job this time. She was very nice, gave me some pointers, but did not ask to see the book. We got on the subject of my football romances, and she advised me to keep on writing those which of course I intended to do anyhow. I left that pitch with a smile since several years back I was told no one would buy a sports romance.
Okay, I have strung you along listening to my woes. Here is what most of them seemed to want this year: short Harlequin type romances that could be sold easily and published quickly, and books like The Help, though I found it odd they would be looking for that at a romance conference. Since I grew up in a small Pennsylvania town where everyone did their own housework, I'm not likely to write one like that either. Best advice received: If everyone in your writers' group is writing the same sort of thing, that market is already overcrowded.
And so I add to my list of topics agents have told me they can't sell: A Regency series, funny books, 18th century stories, 1920's novels, and sports romances. Do not believe it.
Showing posts with label pitching to agents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pitching to agents. Show all posts
Monday, March 5, 2012
Monday, March 14, 2011
Why Attend?
I've just returned from attending the NOLA Stars Conference in Shreveport. I go nearly every year to this small, friendly gathering with great craft lectures and best of all, a nice array of agents and editors who will take pitches. With two books out and another contracted, I believe I know my craft, but you can always learn more. This year's best hint - when hyping your romance novel to a mostly all male group mention one thing that interests them in your book like tractors or airplanes, and you will get some sales. I guess I should challenge them to check my football research in Goals for a Sinner and Wish for a Sinner. And I will next time. Since several men have read the first book, including my wonderful son-in-law, I know I got facts right and also have been complimented on that.
But mostly, I go to pitch my latest work, ever hopeful of finding an agent. Although I possess the gift of gab as my mother always says, I have as much trouble as anyone pitching to an agent. I do get the clammy hands, the sick stomach, and worst of all, if I lose my thread, I babble. This year, my first pitch to a fresh and friendly young agent went beautifully. I presented a humorous Regency series I have been working on, The Longleigh Chronicles. Feeling very confident of my pitching skills afterward, I made the big mistake of pitching a complicated reincarnation story in the afternoon. Lost in my own words and babbling, the agent finally cut me off very kindly. She said just to send her the book as an e-mail attachment. I apologized for my rambling, and she pointed out that often great pitches did not yield great books, but even poor pitches sometimes resulted in good submissions. Bless her! I truly don't know if either one of these fine agents will take me on as a client. Most likely not. The odds are not high in this business. But, every year, I go pitching again because you have to keep trying.
Besides, I won a big raffle basket of books and got an unexpected trophy for my two books with e-publishers. I also had a nice lunch and met lots of interesting people, well worth the four hour drive and the modest registration fee. So check out the smaller writers' conferences near you and give them a try.
But mostly, I go to pitch my latest work, ever hopeful of finding an agent. Although I possess the gift of gab as my mother always says, I have as much trouble as anyone pitching to an agent. I do get the clammy hands, the sick stomach, and worst of all, if I lose my thread, I babble. This year, my first pitch to a fresh and friendly young agent went beautifully. I presented a humorous Regency series I have been working on, The Longleigh Chronicles. Feeling very confident of my pitching skills afterward, I made the big mistake of pitching a complicated reincarnation story in the afternoon. Lost in my own words and babbling, the agent finally cut me off very kindly. She said just to send her the book as an e-mail attachment. I apologized for my rambling, and she pointed out that often great pitches did not yield great books, but even poor pitches sometimes resulted in good submissions. Bless her! I truly don't know if either one of these fine agents will take me on as a client. Most likely not. The odds are not high in this business. But, every year, I go pitching again because you have to keep trying.
Besides, I won a big raffle basket of books and got an unexpected trophy for my two books with e-publishers. I also had a nice lunch and met lots of interesting people, well worth the four hour drive and the modest registration fee. So check out the smaller writers' conferences near you and give them a try.
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