Article: Pitching Your Novel

May 2010

Vol. 1, No. 5
Spring Training: The Fine Art of Pitching

by Christina Arbini

Copyright © 2010 Christina Arbini

First pitch
It’s spring, and you know what that means, Spring Training! Time to start practicing your pitch and hitting those homeruns. Okay, so I’m not talking about baseball, but rather a very important part of self-promotion for the author. With a lot of writers’ conferences gearing up for the summer, now is the time to get prepared for the dreaded pitch appointments. Whether you’re facing group or individual appointments, pitching at conferences is a very valuable way to get yourself and your book in front of an acquiring agent or editor. Of course, with as many writers that these agents and editors are scheduled to see in a day, the reality is they won’t remember every single person they meet with. But then again, sometimes they do. And in those cases, you want to be sure you’re remembered in a positive way, and aren’t one of the ones used as an example of “what not to do” on a blog or in a workshop they may do later.


stopwatch timerIndividual pitches are typically 10 minutes long and consist of a one-on-one appointment between the author and agent/editor. It can be a source of great anxiety, but is also a great opportunity to have the agent/editor’s full attention, not only giving you a chance to pitch your book, but also a chance to make a personal connection.

Group pitches are becoming more and more standard at writers’ conferences with the increased demand for these appointments. Although I much prefer the individual appointments, I’ve still had some decent experiences with groups. It’s always interesting to hear what types of books others are writing. However, this typically only works when everyone knows the basic dos and don’ts during a pitch appointment.

I will preface this advice by saying I have no secret insider knowledge based on likes and dislikes of the editors and agents. But, I do have a lot of experience with pitching in general, especially when it comes to how not to tick off your fellow writers in your pitch group. The following is taken from my own experiences with fellow writers during pitch appointments over the years.

    1.  Have your pitch prepared ahead of time. Yes, I know this seems like common sense, but you’d be amazed at the number of people who come in and wing it. Group pitch times typically only allow a couple minutes for each pitcher and that time flies by when it’s your turn.
    2.  Prepare two pitch versions — “back copy blurb” version (which is usually a couple of paragraphs) and an elevator pitch (a couple of lines). The “back copy blurb” should introduce the hero and heroine in a line or two, then include their motivation and conflict. It gives enough overview of the book that helps the book to resonate with the agent/editor. It’s also a good idea to have the elevator pitch printed on the back of your business cards, so when you give the agent/editor your card, it will be a great reminder to them of your pitch.
    3.  Situate yourself in the middle. Most group appointments are comprised of 5-8 people sitting across the table (or around the table) from the agent/editor. This way, if you end up with a “runner” (more on that next) on one end or the other, you will still have a chance of giving your pitch before time runs out.
    4.  Don’t be a “runner!” If you have completed Step #1, you won’t have to worry about this. A “runner” is the one or two people who run on and on as they start describing their story from page one and don’t know which high points to focus on, but instead spew out information as it pops into their head, which ultimately sucks up nearly the entire 20 minute appointment. If you see people fidgeting and shooting you the stink eye, you know it’s time to shut up. Remember, agents/editors are usually too nice to cut you off, but your fellow pitchers often have no problem sending you signs.
    5.  Gauge the timing of the appointment. Be aware of how long you are speaking to keep within your allotted time. If other pitchers are using up too much time, that’s when it’s critical to have a strong elevator pitch ready, so you at least can deliver a version of your pitch before the moderator ends the appointment. This has saved me many times!
    6.  Be authentic, be yourself. Be sure to portray yourself authentically. Whatever you do, never mock up a fake book of the sensational, next best seller that you’re pitching, and then stand it up on the table facing the agent/editor throughout the entire appointment (yes, this did happen), letting it sit there like the big pink elephant in the middle of the table. Trust me, this won’t make the agent/editor sit up and gush about how wonderful your book title and author name look on a cover, so they’ll beg to sign you right there and then. Plus, your fellow writers will retell this story year after year whenever the topic of appointments arises.
    7.  Remember the agent/editor is just a person like you. They want to be treated respectfully, but not gushed over. While you want to connect with them, make sure small talk doesn’t eat into the actual pitch time. Agents/editors probably won’t remember your witty banter later, but they might remember it if one of the writers sitting next to you jabs her pen into your thigh under the table to stop you from wasting precious time.
    8.  Breathe. It’s just a pitch. As mentioned above, you probably won’t be remembered (only because they hear so many pitches during the conference). Short of jumping up on the table and acting out your pitch through interpretive dance, you’ll no doubt be a blur of faces to them once the conference is over. Oh, and that means interpretive pitches are also considered taboo, just in case you were wondering.
    9.  Always opt for pitching over Q&A. If given the choice to either pitch or take Q&A about the publishing industry or the agency, don’t waste this time by voting for the latter. Occasionally, the agent/editor will give this option, but the reason people sign up for these appointments is for the valuable pitch opportunity. If you don’t want to pitch, don’t sign up—simple as that. You can always find the other information online.
    10. Finally, RELAX. The pitch appointment is not a make or break deal for your writing career. Practice your pitch. Read it off note cards if you are concerned you might forget it. Speak slowly and clearly. Make eye contact with the agent/editor. Smile. And give your fellow writers respect during their turn.
Pitch appointments can be fun. Trust me, the more you do, the easier it is. And while you can’t control how others conduct themselAlice Park es Gogoves during these appointments, you can be assured knowing that you remained cool, confident and professional. But above all, do try to keep from jabbing any sharp objects into the person next to you under the table when they break all of these rules. After all, you can always kill them off in your next book.



Christina Arbini is actively writing and seeking publication for her own fiction novels. She is also a long-time member of RWA National, as well as several local writers chapters. You can find her online at www.christinaarbini.com, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. Read her complete bio [here].



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