Perfect Pitch Part Two

So who do you pitch to? This is where doing some research comes in handy. Find out what agents and/or editors are going to be at the conference you’re attending and then do your homework. Check out any bios that may come with the conference brochure. Look them up online. One surefire path to failure is to pitch your medical thriller manuscript to an agent who only represents children’s and young adult’s fiction. Or nonfiction. Find someone who stands a chance of being interested in your work.

This next tidbit is one of the hardest to swallow. You do not have to sign with the first agent who asks to represent you. I know, I know. We’re so desperate that when someone…ANY one…shows an interest we jump on the chance. But this is where going to a conference and pitching is so great. We get to actually meet the person we’re pitching to. You can get an idea of whether you like him or her and whether you feel as though you can work closely with them. Look at this way, if one agent liked your work well enough to ask to represent you, another one will come along that does, too.

One last nugget on this subject. Read Miss Snark’s blog (although she’s on vacation until May 5th which makes it a perfect time to read all the old posts and catch up). Read the Evil Editor's Blog. Read the Rejector's blog. Read Pub Rants. These are all great sources of inside information, especially Miss Snark who is also a great source of entertainment.

If you’re coming to the Pennwriters Conference, track me down and say “hello.” Now, I’m going to bury myself in my fourth revision of my opening scene of Chapter One. I’m not coming up until I have something on paper that doesn’t stink worse than Sammie’s litter box.