Want to see a writer blanch? Whisper the words “pitch session” into their ear. Just make sure you catch them on their way to the floor when their knees buckle.
What is this feared thing? A pitch session is your 10-minute opportunity to talk one-on-one with that most elusive of creatures: an agent or editor. It’s a chance for a writer to describe their story to someone who has the alchemical ability to turn their manuscript into an actual book. Registering for pitch sessions with available editors and agents is often an extra benefit of writing conferences and workshops.
So why are pitch sessions so terrifying to so many writers?
Imagine a blind date. But it’s a blind date with the attractive, young, royal head of an obscure but rich little kingdom, where all the glories of the realm await you. But you only get one 10-minute shot to make a great impression on that royal person. And there are plenty of other people lined up behind you for that same 10-minute shot, all of them just as eager as you to land that spot in the royal family.
No pressure, right?
If pitch sessions are that nerve-wracking, are they worth it? Yes, in many cases, they’re a great option to get your story noticed.
Pitch sessions can:
- Let you meet an agent or editor face-to-face, to see if you “click” and would enjoy working together.
- Move you out of the slush-pile so that the editor/agent actually sees your manuscript (assuming they request it after meeting you). Remember, most agents receive 200 to 800 queries per week. Yes, per week. Getting out of that slush-pile is incredibly important.
- Help you practice your pitch. Even if this agent/editor doesn’t bite on your story, ask how you can improve your pitch for next time.
- Get feedback on the story and its marketability.
Are pitch sessions a guarantee that you’ll get published? No. Your writing is the only thing that will get you published. But a pitch session can move you one step closer to having an editor or agent see your writing.
Recently, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (RMFW) held their first-ever online PitchFest. Four agents and four editors participated, and nearly 60 people signed up for a 10-minute pitch with one or more of them.
In addition to the private 10-minute pitch sessions, there was a main Zoom “room,” where three guest speakers spoke to all the participants about their own publication journeys, and where participants could ask questions, practice their pitches, or report back on their pitch experience. Many writers reported that they’d been asked by the editors or agents to send in part of their manuscripts for review, and were met with enthusiastic cheers and Zoom-clapping. It was a remarkably beneficial afternoon, and a well-run digital event.
To ensure your pitch goes well, it’s important to be prepared. To help with that, two weeks before PitchFest, RMFW held an online workshop called “How to Pitch to an Agent.” The workshop, led by editor Anita Mumm from Mumm’s the Word Editorial Services, was designed to help writers refine their pitches before attending PitchFest.
Mumm emphasized that a pitch should be short—a minute or two at the most. The pitch should tell the title, genre, and word count of your story. Then it should briefly introduce the main character and their conflict. A pitch isn’t the whole synopsis, which is usually longer and more involved, and harder to keep track of in a brief conversation. Keeping your pitch short leaves time for the agent/editor to ask questions, time to discuss the books you think your story might be compared to (“comps”), and time for you to ask questions of the agent/editor.
Don’t expect your first blind date to be your last. Just as with real blind dates, it may take a lot of tries before you find a good match. So if you aren’t asked to send in your manuscript, or if you are but you don’t land a contract afterwards, don’t give up. View it as a practice run, and keep polishing your pitch for your next opportunity.
Above all, remember that agents and editors aren’t really those fancy royal people I made them out to be. They’re ordinary people, with noisy dogs and/or kids, car problems, and families they miss seeing because of the pandemic. They love books and stories as much as you do, and they can’t wait to hear about yours.
The next time you spot a chance to pitch, research the available agents/editors to see if one of them might be a good fit for your story. Then start practicing your pitch. You just might find that blind date turning into the first step on your journey to publication.