The reality is, there’s a TON of information about how to write a pitch online.
The biggest thing is to workshop a few and see what resonates with people.
But I want to talk about some of the less-talked about parts of a pitch event.
When I was last querying, I did a pitch event where I got to pitch to 4 literary agents.
All 4 of my pitches resulted in requests (3 full requests and 1 partial). I eventually signed with a literary agent I pitched at that event.
But that’s not all pitch events can be good for…
Pitch events can also help you learn
- how to talk about your book
- how to pitch your book
- and even find more clarity on what your story is and how to present it.
Logistical tip for virtual events: I read all of my pitches right off my screen. Of course I practiced them so they sounded natural, but don’t feel like you have to memorize anything.
REMEMBER: THE PUBLISHING WORLD IS INSANELY SMALL.
- Be polite.
- Be courteous.
- Show your personality.
Agents will remember you and they ABSOLUTELY TALK ABOUT writers.
Make sure you’re putting more people in your corner.
If they decide to pass, that’s NOT a reflection of your or your story. It’s a reflection of their personal taste and what they think they can sell.
You DO NOT want an agent who can’t see your book.
If they don’t have an editor looking for what you’ve written, it’s a waste of your time to sign with them.
BUT…if you seem like a nice person, they’ll back you and maybe be able to help you out in the future! (more on that later)
So here’s how I structured my pitches (and would again if I took part in an event).
Feel free to take this advice or not. Totally up to you!
1. Start with a human moment.
Don’t dive right into your pitch.
It’s going to feel like you don’t have time…but you do.
At least half of the benefits of a pitch event is showing the agent you’d be a great person to work with.
They can’t get that from reading your slush pile submission!
I’m not suggesting you take your whole time finding out about how their day is, but a simple question and some polite back and forth will go a long way in showing you’d be good to work with.
- Say hello.
- Ask how their day is going.
- Thank them for taking the time to take your pitch
2. Why are you pitching them?
Find something–anything in their preferences, their manuscript wishlist, an article they wrote, etc..
Explain WHY you think they’d be a good fit for your story.
Here’s an example of one of my pitches:
I’M EXCITED TO SHARE THIS PROJECT WITH YOU BECAUSE…
I really love that you’re interested in representing AUTHORS not just BOOKS because I’m hoping to build a long writing career. After reviewing your interests, I think you’ll enjoy the twists embedded in this story. Some of your favorite thriller authors (Riley Sager and Gillian Flynn) had a major impact on my writing style. You will likely see their influence in this manuscript. AND I HOPE this sounds like something you’re interested in.
3. Use a SHORT pitch to start
I thought of this like a Twitter (X) pitch contest.
What can I say to entice agents to pay attention?
This is NOT the only thing you’ll share about your story.
Instead, it’s just the highest tension/question for your story.
Think about this as translating…
- You hook
- Your inciting incident
- Your stakes
…into a short sentence (or two)
I tried to share…
- the conflict in the story
- the stakes
- served as my unique selling proposition (what made my book unique in the market).
My hope was that agents who heard this would immediately be interested in my story.
It shows I understand what a thriller should have, but I’ve given a unique spin on the story.
And, if agents are taking lots of pitches that day, it might help yours stand out.
4. Go into your story stats
- Genre
- Word count
- Comps
This will help frame the story for the agent.
5. Your story’s pitch
This is where I used my query letter, but shortened it.
They don’t need to know everything.
I was sure to hit the important parts of any story pitch:
- Character
- Stakes
- Conflict
End with a cliff hanger…it’ll entice agents to ask for your work.
6. Your bio
Keep it short! (See what I did there?)
7. Have a clear end to your pitch
Decide what you’re going to say when you’re done.
Coming up with something beforehand will avoid the awkward silence at the end of your pitch.
Here are a few examples:
- Are there any questions or anything I can answer about my story or my background?
- I’d love to send you my query and pages if this sounds like something you’re interested in.
8a. If they request your work, GREAT! Now what?
Don’t leave…yet.
Make sure you know…
- What they want you to send
- Where they want you to send it
- When they want you to send it
8b. If they pass, that’s NOT THE END
Here are some questions you can ask them if they politely pass on your pitch:
- Are there any agents you know of who might be a good fit for this story?
- How do you feel this story fits in the marketplace?
- Was my pitch/query clear?
- Do you feel like I explained the [character, stakes, conflict] in a way that made sense to you?
- Do you have any suggestions for how I can revise my pitch?
9. Have some time? Ask some questions!
Here are some I brainstormed:
- Tell me a little bit about your agency- What’s it like working at an impressive, legendary, new, boutique agency like (AGENCY).
- I know you’re a writer, too. Where are you in your writing process?
- I’ve read your MSWL and website, but is there something you’re looking for now?
- What do you see as the marketable length for an adult thriller
- Can you talk a bit about your agenting style?
10. Wrap up
Have a stock response you can use to get out. (I didn’t have this planned on my first pitch and it made for a very awkward goodbye).
Anything like:
- I know you have a long day so I’ll give you a few moments to catch your breath your breath before your next pitch
- Thanks so much for taking the time to listen and share your insights
- This has been great, I was very nervous but you’ve been really nice
- I’m looking forward to you reading my
Bonus Step:
After you’re done with a pitch, make a few notes on how it went:
- What worked?
- What didn’t?
- When did they seem most intrigued?
- What advice did they share?
You’ll think you’re going to remember it.
But you won’t.
Your mind is going to be racing a million miles per hour.
Do yourself a favor and jot it down somewhere!
Conclusion
So there you go. Everything you need to pitch, that you won’t find on most pitching advice articles.
Are you attending a pitch event? Comment below which one to help your fellow writers find an event they can attend!
