Last night I worked on tweaking my query letter for Dark Seduction. I'm going to read through it again with fresh eyes since I was exhausted last night, but I'm hoping that the letter is polished. I also need to read through my synopsis and see if there is anything I need to change in that. If not, then I can send to the editor who I pitched to at the conference.
Except...
I also need to work on Seduction Ignited's query letter and synopsis. Hopefully I can work on those today, but I don't want to rush it and send sub-par work. The Guardians deserve the best effort I can give them.
My wonderful hubby is home with me today, and since I hardly get to see him, I definately want to spend time with him. So, we'll see if I get any writing done today, but hopefully I can crank out something.
Showing posts with label Pitch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pitch. Show all posts
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Pitching
On the heel of my last post, I figured I'd talk about my pitch at the conference. I originally intended on pitching my first Immortal Guardians book, Dark Seduction, but after a few suggestions from other people, decided to pitch the second one - and yes, I'm about to finally tell you the title - Seduction Ignited.
Let's just say, I learned a lesson.
If your first novel in a series hasn't been published, then that is really the only one you should be pitching.
The editor that I pitched to yesterday stopped me about a minute into my pitch (embaaarrrraaasssssiiiinnng), and told me to pitch the first one. So, I stopped, switched the focus of my mind, and pitched Dark Seduction. I'm still trying to decide if maybe this was a blessing in disguise, because normally, if I'd just pitched the first one in the series, then she likely wouldn't have known about the second.
Why is this important you ask?
Well, you see, because she was at least aware that a 2nd one existed (and it came up that there are several more on the way), she asked for partials on BOTH novels! Now, I'm not saying that it will go anywhere. It's hard to assume anything when there is a 95% rejection rate, but I can say that I'm excited that she was interested not only my novel(s), but the series.
I can only hope, at this point, that she enjoys my writing style and loves the Immortal Guardians every bit as much as I do.
Let's just say, I learned a lesson.
If your first novel in a series hasn't been published, then that is really the only one you should be pitching.
The editor that I pitched to yesterday stopped me about a minute into my pitch (embaaarrrraaasssssiiiinnng), and told me to pitch the first one. So, I stopped, switched the focus of my mind, and pitched Dark Seduction. I'm still trying to decide if maybe this was a blessing in disguise, because normally, if I'd just pitched the first one in the series, then she likely wouldn't have known about the second.
Why is this important you ask?
Well, you see, because she was at least aware that a 2nd one existed (and it came up that there are several more on the way), she asked for partials on BOTH novels! Now, I'm not saying that it will go anywhere. It's hard to assume anything when there is a 95% rejection rate, but I can say that I'm excited that she was interested not only my novel(s), but the series.
I can only hope, at this point, that she enjoys my writing style and loves the Immortal Guardians every bit as much as I do.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Holy Crap!... and then, not.
Wow, I got really excited today. I looked in my email and saw a message from the agent that I pitched to (and submitted my 10 pages with synopsis).
HOLY CRAP, right??
Haha, not so much. It was the autoresponder coming through saying that she got my submission. I guess I'm just playing the waiting game now. *pout.
HOLY CRAP, right??
Haha, not so much. It was the autoresponder coming through saying that she got my submission. I guess I'm just playing the waiting game now. *pout.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
The Pitch
Dun, dun, duuuun (scary music).
The Pitch...
Could there be scarier words when it comes to an author? I doubt it. Well, except for the dreaded "Your book sucks."
For weeks I've been trying to write my synopsis, perfect my first 3 chapters, write my cover letter (which I kicked ass at by the way), and type up my pitch.
At first, I tried to use my cover letter as my pitch, but it filled a whole 2 minutes instead of the minimum of 4 that I need to fill. So, scratch that one! Instead, I started using parts of my cover letter (because again, I really did kick ass at writing that thing up), but I had to make it flow a bit better for the way I talk. I didn't want to go in there and sound like I was reading something. I wanted to be bright and cheerful and... me.
Welllllll.... nothing really goes as planned, does it.
I had the hardest time memorizing my pitch. Even in front of my wonderful husband, I would freeze up and giggle. (Yes, I'm a giggler). I started to panic.
I can't do this, holy crap I'm going to puke on the agent...
So, my friends and I get to the conference. On and on, I kept memorizing my pitch, and I finally got the dammed thing memorized. I had it flowing well (in my head), and I thought that maybe I could really pull it off! Yeah, not so much... As soon as I tried it outloud (meaning on the phone with my husband while trying not to look at my cheat sheet), I blew it.
Panicking... Shaking... Sweating... Urge to puke building.... This is going to suck.
So, my time comes up, and it is time for me to pitch. I walk to the elevator and hit number 6 to go up to the suite for the pitch appointments. I feel sooo sick. I'm going to screw up this chance and I'll never try it again...
I get to the suite, and sit down. The agent took a quick break to grab some food, which left me some more time to rehearse my memorized pitch in my head. My shirt was sweaty under my pits and I just knew I would die if I eff'd this up. The agent walks in and sits down, and the strangest thing happened.
A calm came over me. Now, really its the strangest thing. Every time I go in for an interview, I'm nervous as hell before it. But as soon as I actually see the person I'm meeting with, I calm down. Cue "me."
I smiled. I introduced myself. Introduced my novel as Dark Seduction, and that its currently 100,000 words. Yes, I said currently, I couldn't help myself. You just never know if you need to add a little or take a little away. The only thing I said to her that I actually memorized is my hook line. Everything else I pulled out of 'Calm Kristie's" mind, and I nailed it! The agent actually liked my idea and asked me to send the synopsis along with the first ten pages of my novel.
And here I thought I was going to puke on her and screw the hole thing up. I guess things never go as you planned. Sometimes they are better!
The Pitch...
Could there be scarier words when it comes to an author? I doubt it. Well, except for the dreaded "Your book sucks."
For weeks I've been trying to write my synopsis, perfect my first 3 chapters, write my cover letter (which I kicked ass at by the way), and type up my pitch.
At first, I tried to use my cover letter as my pitch, but it filled a whole 2 minutes instead of the minimum of 4 that I need to fill. So, scratch that one! Instead, I started using parts of my cover letter (because again, I really did kick ass at writing that thing up), but I had to make it flow a bit better for the way I talk. I didn't want to go in there and sound like I was reading something. I wanted to be bright and cheerful and... me.
Welllllll.... nothing really goes as planned, does it.
I had the hardest time memorizing my pitch. Even in front of my wonderful husband, I would freeze up and giggle. (Yes, I'm a giggler). I started to panic.
I can't do this, holy crap I'm going to puke on the agent...
So, my friends and I get to the conference. On and on, I kept memorizing my pitch, and I finally got the dammed thing memorized. I had it flowing well (in my head), and I thought that maybe I could really pull it off! Yeah, not so much... As soon as I tried it outloud (meaning on the phone with my husband while trying not to look at my cheat sheet), I blew it.
Panicking... Shaking... Sweating... Urge to puke building.... This is going to suck.
So, my time comes up, and it is time for me to pitch. I walk to the elevator and hit number 6 to go up to the suite for the pitch appointments. I feel sooo sick. I'm going to screw up this chance and I'll never try it again...
I get to the suite, and sit down. The agent took a quick break to grab some food, which left me some more time to rehearse my memorized pitch in my head. My shirt was sweaty under my pits and I just knew I would die if I eff'd this up. The agent walks in and sits down, and the strangest thing happened.
A calm came over me. Now, really its the strangest thing. Every time I go in for an interview, I'm nervous as hell before it. But as soon as I actually see the person I'm meeting with, I calm down. Cue "me."
I smiled. I introduced myself. Introduced my novel as Dark Seduction, and that its currently 100,000 words. Yes, I said currently, I couldn't help myself. You just never know if you need to add a little or take a little away. The only thing I said to her that I actually memorized is my hook line. Everything else I pulled out of 'Calm Kristie's" mind, and I nailed it! The agent actually liked my idea and asked me to send the synopsis along with the first ten pages of my novel.
And here I thought I was going to puke on her and screw the hole thing up. I guess things never go as you planned. Sometimes they are better!
RWA Conference
Wow! I just got back from the Heart of the West RWA Conference.
It. Was. Amazing.
I learned so much at the conference:
Tips on discipline, marketing, pitching, querying... You name it, they taught it.
There was an incredible panel of agents, editors, and publishers there. Even a buyer for Borders was there to tell us about what is currently selling. So I've decided to start this blog and start keeping track of the processes entailed in writing, pitching, querying, et cetera, et cetera.
It. Was. Amazing.
I learned so much at the conference:
Tips on discipline, marketing, pitching, querying... You name it, they taught it.
There was an incredible panel of agents, editors, and publishers there. Even a buyer for Borders was there to tell us about what is currently selling. So I've decided to start this blog and start keeping track of the processes entailed in writing, pitching, querying, et cetera, et cetera.
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