Monday, May 11, 2015

Conference Stalker

After a week and a half to catch my breath, I can turn my mind from The A to Z Challenge and start looking forward to the Pennwriters Annual Conference being held in Pittsburgh this coming weekend. I'm beyond excited.

Conference are all about networking. Many of the writers I know met their agent or editor at a writing conference. Pennwriters, like many conferences, offer chances to sign up for a one-on-one meeting with the agent or editor of your choice. But that's not the only or even the best way to meet those people who hold such power over your career.

First off, do your research and know if the agent or editor you set your sights on is likely to be a good fit for your  work. Look at their website and check them out on Twitter and Facebook. See what authors they've worked with. Are they part of a big organization or the head of their own smaller press or literary agency? Do you want one based in New York or closer to your home? Lots of questions to ask yourself. Are they long established or just starting out and perhaps willing to take on an unknown writer?

Most agents and editors will lead at least one workshop or take part in a panel with their peers. Attend the sessions given by your target agent or editor. Sit near the front, take notes and prepare some questions. Act and dress professional for the entire conference not just during your face to face meeting.

Often mealtimes mean finding your own seat. Try to get one at the same table as your target. Don't pitch your book unless they ask. This is the time to have your short elevator pitch ready. Or cozy up to the bar with that elusive agent or editor. Again, be friendly, not pushy. They won't be offended and will appreciate a free drink. Conferences are mini-vacations for them with some work involved. They want to find the next great bestseller. Make sure they want to work with the interesting, professional they met over dinner or drinks.

And don't expect too much. They're unlikely to sign you on the spot. They don't want any hard copy to carry on the plane home with them. But they might ask you to email it to them or submit it to their agency or house. You might find you don't click with the person you stalked for two days. At least you learned before anything was signed that you weren't a good fit.

My very first appointment with an agent at my very first writing conference was a huge shock. I can look back on it and laugh now but I was stunned at the time. The agent was very well-known in the field and I was excited to meet her in person. My appointment was her first one after lunch. She came in almost five minutes late to the room where I waited. She carried a drink in one hand, with the amber liquid sloshing over the sides as she set it down. Her slurred words made almost no sense. I couldn't believe it. I'd been so nervous and here I was, faced with a drunk who wouldn't even remember my name after I left. Very disappointing but it also taught me to remember that those agents and editors are just people too.

"Great people know how to take care of their people. For a great person does not become great by themselves."  John Maeda

Have you ever pitched your writing to an editor or agent face to face? Was it a good experience? Do you have more suggestions of how to stalk an agent or editor at a conference? Care to share your worst experience at a conference?

47 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

I hope all goes well at the conference and a good time will be had by all

Yvonne.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I can't believe she was lit so early in the day!
Some fine tips.
Hope the conference is awesome for you.
And you might want to stop by today...

M.J. Fifield said...

I've never pitched in person. I imagine if I were attending a conference where that could happen that I'd be practicing like crazy and breathing into a paper bag.

Enjoy the conference!

Maria Zannini said...

I've pitched to agents but I stopped after I watched the process with others. Although some had stellar pitches, agents by and large were so distracted and/or uninterested except when dinner was being served. That's when they came back to life. Maybe they just do it for the free ride. But I never pitched again after what I witnessed.

Now if you can share a meal with them, you'll have a better chance pitching than at an actual pitch session. I imagine after back to back pitches, it all sounds the same to them.

Pat Hatt said...

haha so stalk them out, just in a less than conspicuous way? Got it.

Christine Rains said...

Have fun at the conference! I've always wanted to go to one. Hopefully I'll get the chance within the next couple of years. I've never pitched in person, and I get anxious just thinking about it!

Chrys Fey said...

This conference sounds like it'll be a blast. I've never been to one...yet, so I appreciate your advice.

Have fun!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm counting on it.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I can't thank you enough today. Can't wait to put that proudly on my blog.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

It was nerve-wracking the first time.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I think there are some who are there for the free weekend away from work but I've met some very professional ones too.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Yep, sneaky stalking will be done.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

You would probably tear up a pitch session. And you already have accomplished so much, they'll be impressed.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Conferences are so fun This one is extra special.

cleemckenzie said...

Agents are just people. Some are good. Some aren't. That had to be quite an experience. Hope the Pennwriters will be great for you.

betty said...

Sounds like a great adventure for you to undertake; hope you accomplish that which you might want to accomplish there :)

betty

Robin said...

Wow. That would've been a blow. I imagine being *so excited* only to discover that this isn't going to work out well at all. BUT, as you say, better to know Before rather than Later. Great tips!

Hart Johnson said...

Best of luck to you with your conference! Man, the idea of having to network and promote myself stresses me out so bad. I want to go to some writer's conferences, but much more to meet people in person who I've already met online-that I like. Selling myself, though, not so much.

Rachel Pattinson said...

Good luck at the conference! I'm always too scared to go to conferences - the idea of pitching my idea to someone makes me cringe, and yet, it's something that one day I'll probably have to do. Great advice :)

Karen Jones Gowen said...

These are all great tips and I hope you enjoy the conference! I've gone to a couple as en editor to be pitched to and my advice is to be friendly. Take some time to be real before plunging right into the pitch. Don't be afraid to tell them how much you appreciate their work and admire their company (do your research in advance so you know what they do!) Don't be afraid to say how thrilled you are by this opportunity to pitch your book to them. Then let them say, "What do you have?" rather than breathlessly plunging into your summary at top speed.

J E Oneil said...

I've never done a face to face pitch. It scares me enough just doing a query! It doesn't seem like those cons are great places to pitch anyway. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to learn. Just maybe it's not a time to query.

S. L. Hennessy said...

I've pitched to four agents, and it was the scariest thing ever! I'm sure it gets easier with time though.

Jemi Fraser said...

Wow - no matter who you are, being tipsy or worse at an event is awful!!
Pitching would be scary - but I think it's a great idea!

~Sia McKye~ said...

First, Congratulations on your You Rock award. I think you do!

Yes, I've pitched to agents and aquiring editors. Not set up appointments but in groups around the bar and dinner. I was with friends and was "pushed" you might say. But the one I remember the most was literally getting into the elevator with an aquiring agent, who I knew, we had been laughing and joking at dinner and she had bought several of my friends' MS. So in the elevator, she says, you write too, don't you? I do. So tell me about your stories. Shocked me by asking for my MS--of course she was interested in the one I was working on but hadn't finished.. But then I got sick. So all that was postponed.

Still, it was fun and I learn so much from conferences.

Sia McKye Over Coffee

SpacerGuy said...

Alex told us you won the you Rock award, my heartfelt congratulations Susan!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

They are just people. Remembering that helps with the nerves.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Mostly I'm going to network and meet some interesting writers.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I was such a newbie at the time. I was horrified.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I enjoy meeting new people at the conference but I would love to go to one where I could meet my blogger friends.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Conferences are so much fun. You meet so many people like yourself no matter where you are in your career.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

That is such good advice. I guess editors want to know you as a person as much as a writer wants to know the editor.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

There are always good and bad experiences to be had. I've met some very nice agents and some who seemed to just be having a good time and only socialized with other agents at the bar.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I don't know if it gets easier. It's all about how much you have on the line.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Afterward, I heard that tipsy was the agent's normal working condition.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Thanks, Sia. Alex is so generous.
Oh, an actual elevator pitch. I found my very first critique partner on an elevator at a writer's conference.
I'm hoping for some group time around the bar or a dinner table to pick a few of the creative minds attending.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Thanks, Spacerguy. I feel very honored.

Shannon Lawrence said...

All great tips! One of the things we remind people of is that they want to find good authors as much as you want to find a good agent. Be respectful, be professional, and be ready to pitch!

mshatch said...

I haven't had the opportunity yet to attend a conference but this is good advice for when I do!

Tamara Narayan said...

I went to a conference to pitch to editors. It was terrifying, but I got great practical advice from our pitching coach. I did get a request for a partial from one of the editors. Nothing came from that, but her words of encouragement meant a lot.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Just people, is such an important thing to remember. We look at them in awe, but they put one sock on at a time, just like we do. Great post, Susan.

Sandy said...

Enjoy and hope it's successful for you, might be tough timing so soon after the a-z challenge. Whew.
Sandy at Bridge and Beyond

The Armchair Squid said...

Best of luck with the upcoming conference adventure. I hope you make some fruitful connections.

Denise Covey said...

I wish you every success at the conference. Those formats scare me half to death. Network! Network! Network! But needs must, eh? :-)

The Happy Whisk said...

Glad you're excited. Enjoy.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan - Conference Stalker you be!! Ah well after that first try - it's easy to join the race now ... wonderful to be able to join in and learn from others, support others, as well as be supported yourself - enjoy it .. cheers Hilary

Unknown said...

I wish you every success at the conference. Those formats scare me half to death. Network! Network! Network! But needs must, eh? :-) famous quotes

Unknown said...

I wish you every success at the conference. Those formats scare me half to death. Network! Network! Network! But needs must, eh? :-) famous quotes