Conference Basics - Author/Agents

Conference Series Basics and Agent/Author Collaboration

Presented by Mary Andonian and April Eberhardt

(Mary Andronian is the top person in charge of putting the conference together.
April Eberhardt is an agent. This was the beginning presentation designed for attendees who had never been to the conference before.)

Pitch practice: Don’t try anything new. Be yourself. Don’t worry about memorizing.

(A pitch is a ten-minute face-to-face presentation one-on-one with an agent or publisher. It provides an author a chance to go the next step in the agent/author book selling process by meeting face-to-face rather than using the traditional technique of querying the agent. The chances of having your material requested to be seen by at least one agent in the conference is 50-60% as opposed to approximately 1% by using the traditional technique of query letters.)

Network Platform: (credibility in market as to how you can get a following)

Pitching:
2 minutes pitching
8 minutes Q&A

Strategies:
1) I wrote a ____ # of words and length.
2) Genre

If they have an objection turn it into an opportunity.

Goal: Be good enough to advance the sale process – (not trying to get a contract here – just trying to get them to ask to see more of your work)

Dossier:

1) Binder
2) Business Cards
3) Biography
4) Cover Letter
5) 1st 30 pages or what they ask for

For attendees who are asked for their material at this conference:

Attn: Willamette Writers
Requested Material

Agent will read this. Without this it is almost certain to go in slush file.

Volunteering is a good way to minimize cost of conference. – For every class period you do volunteer work you are given a free class to attend. The conference price is $430 so this is a good way to be able to minimize the conference price.