Conferences can be pricey, but it was one of the first times that I got actual feedback from queries and pitches. It was a confidence booster even though that book didn’t sell right then.
Right now, I don't consider any uses of AI legitimate--especially and specifically generative AI--in the writing process, unless they facilitate those with disabilities. I would want to know if any an author used any generative AI in their work from the beginning.
I appreciate when an agent isn’t hungover (or still inebriated) during a conference, when they don’t use the time I paid for to tell me about their difficult relationship with their mother, and when they actually get back to you after promising they would.
As a writer, it was implied that those pitches that are accepted at a live pitch event were put at the top of the slush pile, which is why we pay to pitch. Is there any merit to that?
I have this belief that one day I will finish a book thats already finished, pckage it and pitch it, but im not ready. I am ready to learn about what the process is like so im less blindsided in the event i ever decided to step on that ride, so I really appreciate articles like this.
This is so interesting to read, having once been that author sat across the table hoping to be signed right there and then. One agent did actually say to me "This is the best thing I've read all day. How soon can you send it to me?" I never heard from them again, so perhaps "best thing all day" didn't mean much.
Now I have an agent, and the experience after having passed through that gate is equally interesting, because it turns out finding an agent wasn't the answer to all of my problems after all 😅
As someone planning to start pitching before too long, these questions are very helpful! I also appreciate the list of things you won't say, both positive and negative.
This is helpful in formation I wrote my book, The Diary Of Jane" more than 10 years ago I've never had a legitimate critique just friends and family and, of course, you know they're biased . I would call it a highly embellished autobiography. I never found an editor and all of the Publishers wanted me to pay thousands of dollars for them to Market me so for now it is undiscovered.
Thanks for this helpful information. What I've experienced from several (more than 2) potential agents is they ask about my following, my list of emails. One potential agent told me outright that because I didn't have a million, he wouldn't consider even reading my book. Since then, I've self-published and self-promoted with limited success. I did sign on with one disreputable guy who published and sold some. He also translated and sold many books in another country telling me none of this. I never saw $1.00 of the profits! I immediately ended our relationship, demanded he send me his remaining inventory with the cost of shipping on his dime. He said he did, and then I found him offering my book for sale on Amazon!
Any advice or comments? I'd still love a reputable agent. At this point it would help me get my books in the hands of people outside of USA. The shipping costs, even to Canada make purchasing my books cost prohibitive for many.
Could you explain more why pitching at a conference isn't a good way to get through the slush pile to have your manuscript read? Wouldn't an agent be more likely to take a look at the first ten pages of a manuscript that were pitched professionally and persuasively at a conference rather than just via a query letter?
Maybe! An agent might be more likely to quickly read sample pages after a successful pitch. But it just depends on the agent’s workflow. Do they have time to read that one query ahead of all the others or current client work? Are they rush-reading something else that week? This could happen as a result of an in-person pitch but I think it would vary widely agent to agent.
Conferences can be pricey, but it was one of the first times that I got actual feedback from queries and pitches. It was a confidence booster even though that book didn’t sell right then.
These are great point and tips. Thank you for openingbthe window so we get a view into the world.
I wonder what is a legitimate use of AI in the writing process?
At what point is a notation of AI assistance required?
Right now, I don't consider any uses of AI legitimate--especially and specifically generative AI--in the writing process, unless they facilitate those with disabilities. I would want to know if any an author used any generative AI in their work from the beginning.
Thank you for sharing these. I’m still revising but these were excellent questions to ask myself about my book too.
I appreciate when an agent isn’t hungover (or still inebriated) during a conference, when they don’t use the time I paid for to tell me about their difficult relationship with their mother, and when they actually get back to you after promising they would.
YIKES! Sounds like you've had some adventures at conferences!
Whoa. Did an agent really tell you about their difficult relationship with their mother?! That's wild.
Really great post, thank you.
As a writer, it was implied that those pitches that are accepted at a live pitch event were put at the top of the slush pile, which is why we pay to pitch. Is there any merit to that?
I have this belief that one day I will finish a book thats already finished, pckage it and pitch it, but im not ready. I am ready to learn about what the process is like so im less blindsided in the event i ever decided to step on that ride, so I really appreciate articles like this.
So going to a conference is a waste of time.
Cool.
https://marlowe1.substack.com/p/movie-reviews-october-2024
Sorry, I read, “pinch me” and thought Oh sister, this is going to be good!
This is so interesting to read, having once been that author sat across the table hoping to be signed right there and then. One agent did actually say to me "This is the best thing I've read all day. How soon can you send it to me?" I never heard from them again, so perhaps "best thing all day" didn't mean much.
Now I have an agent, and the experience after having passed through that gate is equally interesting, because it turns out finding an agent wasn't the answer to all of my problems after all 😅
As someone planning to start pitching before too long, these questions are very helpful! I also appreciate the list of things you won't say, both positive and negative.
stealing this climax question
This is helpful in formation I wrote my book, The Diary Of Jane" more than 10 years ago I've never had a legitimate critique just friends and family and, of course, you know they're biased . I would call it a highly embellished autobiography. I never found an editor and all of the Publishers wanted me to pay thousands of dollars for them to Market me so for now it is undiscovered.
Thanks for this helpful information. What I've experienced from several (more than 2) potential agents is they ask about my following, my list of emails. One potential agent told me outright that because I didn't have a million, he wouldn't consider even reading my book. Since then, I've self-published and self-promoted with limited success. I did sign on with one disreputable guy who published and sold some. He also translated and sold many books in another country telling me none of this. I never saw $1.00 of the profits! I immediately ended our relationship, demanded he send me his remaining inventory with the cost of shipping on his dime. He said he did, and then I found him offering my book for sale on Amazon!
Any advice or comments? I'd still love a reputable agent. At this point it would help me get my books in the hands of people outside of USA. The shipping costs, even to Canada make purchasing my books cost prohibitive for many.
Thanks
Could you explain more why pitching at a conference isn't a good way to get through the slush pile to have your manuscript read? Wouldn't an agent be more likely to take a look at the first ten pages of a manuscript that were pitched professionally and persuasively at a conference rather than just via a query letter?
Maybe! An agent might be more likely to quickly read sample pages after a successful pitch. But it just depends on the agent’s workflow. Do they have time to read that one query ahead of all the others or current client work? Are they rush-reading something else that week? This could happen as a result of an in-person pitch but I think it would vary widely agent to agent.
Thank you for this shortcut & usefull information.