tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post6420584347826460032..comments2024-02-23T05:16:12.783-05:00Comments on VOICES FROM THE HEART: How to Make the Most of Your Pitch OpportunityMona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-61127970524794247072010-07-13T09:51:49.524-04:002010-07-13T09:51:49.524-04:00This is a very timely blog. Although I am not atte...This is a very timely blog. Although I am not attending Nationals this year, I have pitched at other conferences. I have the pitch down, but it's the nerves that's the real problem. I do think that the shorter the pitch, the better.Josiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05930730661273079224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-5172544382080735682010-07-12T11:24:35.724-04:002010-07-12T11:24:35.724-04:00At my local RWA meeting, our president reminded us...At my local RWA meeting, our president reminded us that whoever we are pitching to would like to be treated as a person. Chit chat such as how was their flight or if they seen Disneyworld, etc.shows you care. It also helps disfuse the nerves.morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817293003630581559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-79158853178499163122010-07-11T23:05:05.144-04:002010-07-11T23:05:05.144-04:00Thank you all for the kind comments. In answer to ...Thank you all for the kind comments. In answer to Lynda's question, I have always been told to pitch one book, and then, if they ask you what else you have, you can talk about the others. So I would just mention the genre of the book you are pitching and not worry about anything else.Clarissa Southwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07999713155443152791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-92117091926884477432010-07-11T22:01:12.521-04:002010-07-11T22:01:12.521-04:00Thank you Clarissa. I remember I was always so ner...Thank you Clarissa. I remember I was always so nervous in front of the editor. Even after rehearsing my few lines for a month, I would black out and had to read them. But the editors often try to put you at ease. So after giving my two-minute pitch, I am usually relaxed.Mona Riskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-84649368365651214592010-07-11T21:54:24.730-04:002010-07-11T21:54:24.730-04:00Excellent advice. Thanks for sharing, Clarissa.
V...Excellent advice. Thanks for sharing, Clarissa.<br /><br />VictoriaVictoria Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08001679068146597047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-85775078007749259332010-07-11T20:28:44.905-04:002010-07-11T20:28:44.905-04:00Great advice, Clarissa. I've only pitched onc...Great advice, Clarissa. I've only pitched once and got the request for a partial, and I hightailed it out of there so fast so she wouldn't change her mind! *laugh* I hope I'm a lot more cool at Nationals.Abigail Sharpehttp://donthangupthequill.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-34536549113618708892010-07-11T17:33:15.295-04:002010-07-11T17:33:15.295-04:00I agree! Great advice, Clarissa. However, do you...I agree! Great advice, Clarissa. However, do you think you're pitching yourself as much as your manuscript? Take me, for example. I finaled in the historical category, but write mostly contemporary. Can I tell the editor/agent that I write erotic romance, never mind the time period, or have I put myself in a box?Lynda Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14261358642804624433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-145148956788924352010-07-11T15:58:43.408-04:002010-07-11T15:58:43.408-04:00Thanks for your good advice. I do have a pitch se...Thanks for your good advice. I do have a pitch session with an editor and am a bit nervous. Not that I don't know my story and love my characters, but because it is something new to me. I have my pitch ready, but am counting on my ingenuity to fill in where my memory doesn't!Paisley Kirkpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06401039126457210324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-29870151501577631982010-07-11T15:50:20.000-04:002010-07-11T15:50:20.000-04:00Clarissa, this is great info -- I wish I'd had...Clarissa, this is great info -- I wish I'd had it back when I was doing pitches! LOL Of course, I think it also works well for telling potential readers about your story too. Thanks for sharing!Donna Cummingshttp://www.AllAboutTheWriting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-48094969179870670072010-07-11T15:18:46.754-04:002010-07-11T15:18:46.754-04:00Remember agents and editors are people too. They w...Remember agents and editors are people too. They want to love your story. Let your love of your story come through in your pitch. Smile. Be upbeat. Be enthusiastic about your plot and your characters.Jill Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10754506629717417267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-76011241964990542132010-07-11T13:27:51.974-04:002010-07-11T13:27:51.974-04:00Great advice! Thanks for sharing.Great advice! Thanks for sharing.Gillian Laynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15772849187702478349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-24347441214427598062010-07-11T12:55:31.944-04:002010-07-11T12:55:31.944-04:00Jeannie,
Do you mind giving us a link to your wor...Jeannie, <br />Do you mind giving us a link to your workshop? I'm sure our readers will be interested in learning about it.<br />Thanks.Clarissa Southwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07999713155443152791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-4919956387784986252010-07-11T12:29:45.230-04:002010-07-11T12:29:45.230-04:00I teach a pitching class, and you are right on the...I teach a pitching class, and you are right on the money. If your pitch doesn't match the tone of your book, you lose out the minute you send the requested material, if they don't like the voice you write in. <br /><br />Creating a pitch - and I usually focus on the one-sentence, eight-second pitch - can be a difficult process, but so important. I work with authors, especially in June and July, before National, to make sure they have the best pitch, whether it's for an appointment, a chance meeting in an elevator or at a seminar, where you might be sitting next to the next "big" editor or agent.<br /><br />JeannieJ.P. Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00384368396647737562noreply@blogger.com