Blogger: Rachel Kent
Meetings are an integral part of writers’ conferences. You have a chance to meet with other writers, agents, and editors. Here are my suggestions for your meetings with agents (most of these tips are good for all of your meetings). Please follow these relatively simple guidelines. They will help you, I promise!
Make smart appointments: Schedule your meetings with agents who are actually looking for your type of material. Do your research before hand. (Check out agencies web sites to get a feel for the type of material they represent and the clients they represent.) Also, if you don’t have a manuscript ready, you might want to meet with a freelance writer who will critique your work rather than with an agent.
Arrive on time: I understand how difficult this can be when conference schedules are so compact, but if you miss your meeting or arrive late, you’re wasting an agent’s time and you’ve also wasted the time slot for other writers who want to meet with that agent.
Come prepared: Know what you want to say. Don’t be nervous about writing out your questions and referring to them during the meeting.
Know your story: Be able to quickly tell the entire story (fiction) or point (nonfiction) of your project (beginning, middle and end). Write out your brief description if you need to. Make every word count–and be sure to leave the agent some time at the end of the appointment to respond to your idea.
Stay within your time limit: It’s awkward for an agent to have to cut you off while you’re making your pitch. Please respect the writers waiting to meet with the agent by keeping within the time constraint of the meeting.
Carry business cards: An agent meets with so many authors that I find it helpful to have a business card with your picture on it to take back to the office.
Don’t try to give the agent your proposal during the meeting: Be sure to have copies of your proposal with you at the conference, but don’t expect an agent to request a copy of the project to take immediately. Most of the time an agent has traveled by airplane to reach the conference and there’s no room in a suitcase for many proposals. Typically an agent will ask you to mail or email a proposal to the the agency’s office. If the agent wants to see a copy of the proposal during the conference, you can give it to him or her at a meal or sometime later if you don’t have it on hand during the meeting.
Carry notepaper and a pen: Agents will usually give you some feedback on a project. Take notes on the suggestions. Believe me, you won’t be able to remember what an agent said by the end of the conference. Your brain will be overloaded with information.
What tips do you have that you could share with other conference attendees about appointments?
Great tips! It’s real easy to stay within your time limit at an agent meeting because, at least at ACFW, a person comes by to tell you that your time is over. Another thing I learned … I spent quite a bit of money on the “one sheet” … when I really only needed one copy, maybe three max. Though it was looked at, the sheet was always returned to me.
I have some one sheets from 2013 if you need some. 😉
Granted, I knew NOTHING about how many to bring
At least they look good!!
Not every conference has someone keeping time. ACFW is a special one. Sometimes the next author has to come step in or I have to say something and that is always awkward. Best for each author to be keeping track of their own time! 🙂
Great list, Rachel. Food for thought in the conference season.
* I would add this…don’t try too hard to please. Don’t be obsequious.
* As the rapper Prayz1 says, in “Can I Be Me?”,
“I ain’t tryin’ to please the gatekeeper;
I’m tryin’ to please the King.”
Love that rap quote, Andrew. Where is the value in getting through the gate if what we are and what we do doesn’t honor the King?
I would add to not be destroyed if you don’t get any requests.
Sometimes we pitch our story all wrong or the idea just doesn’t grab the agent or editor. It’s NOT a sign to give up! We can put to much weight on pitch appointments!
Agreed! Sometimes it is the right door at the wrong time, or the right time and the wrong door. Or even wrong time and wrong door.
Maybe the story or nonfiction concept is truly fantastic and you just don’t have a big enough platform? I didn’t get asked specifically about my platform, but do editors and agents ever ask that directly during the interview?
Jill, I wish somebody had told me that before I attended my first conference.
To be blunt, be careful what you eat and drink before your appointment. Like Greek food? Awesome. Have it AFTER.
Also, and I’ve said this before, for the ladies? WATERPROOF mascara.
Chocolate. 🙂
Yes!
Plenty of it!
I’ve only made two people cry–and I really don’t think I was mean. 🙂 Sometimes people are just a ball of nerves.
I cried like a tween at a One Direction concert after Mary offered representation in 2013. I was overwhelmed, overjoyed, and I have to admit, it may have been an uhhhh-gly cry. I don’t cry like a movie star.
I doubt you were mean!! Nerves are insane at pitches. In.Sane.
One of the most awkward moments for me is just before the appointment. I typically arrive at the set time to find the agent/editor still finishing up their previous meeting. It’s tough to know whether to interrupt, lurk around and clear your throat, or what. (Not a problem at conferences that use the timed appointments and a loud bell!) I’ve learned to make eye contact, give a little wave, and sit down nearby at a polite distance. That lets the editor know that I’m there, but still gives them a moment to extract themselves from their conversation.
Rachel, if an agent or editor looks at your writing sample and seems to like it, do they often ask about platform during the interview?
Great tips, Rachel. More than once I’ve been the next appointment while the previous author keeps talking. It’s easy to tell it’s awkward for everybody.
I appreciate hearing you say we can have questions written out. I’m always nervous at appointments.
Rachel, thanks so much for the tips. I especially like knowing it’s ok to write things down and glance at notes. It’s easy to get flustered and forget your own name.