A writer’s journey to publication often involves attending
conferences where one can bond with people who share the same passion, learn more
about the craft of writing, and meet with professionals in the industry. It’s
exciting to get an appointment with a dream agent or a favorite publisher. But
it can also be a nerve-wrecking experience. Author Keli Gwyn offers comfort
and encouragement by sharing her personal stories. ~ Dawn
My
Top Two Tips for Dealing
with
Pitch Session Jitters
by Keli
Gwyn
What two words can give a writer the heebie-jeebies quicker
than any others?
Pitch session.
Yup! The pressure to pitch perfectly can be intense.
So, what’s a writer to do?
I’ve come up with two tips I learned as a result of my
flub-ups.
1.
Forget the advice about first impressions being your one opportunity to wow a
publishing pro. It’s not true. They know we don’t know
everything when we begin writing. They know we grow. And they will give us
second chances.
Back in my florescent green newbie writer days, I queried an
agent. The story wasn’t ready. I know that now, but at the time I was clueless.
The agent sent a well-deserved rejection.
Two years later I met the agent at a conference. She invited
me to tell her about my work-in-progress, stared long and hard at my nametag,
and asked, “I rejected you, didn’t I?” I gulped, certain I’d lost any chance of
interesting her in my story.
Once I regained the use of my vocal cords, I said something
clever like, “You remember that?” She smiled and said, “We don’t forget.”
Great, I thought. Scratch that agent off my list.
What came next blew me away. The agent handed me her
business card and invited me to send her my story when I finished revising it,
proving I hadn’t burned any bridges after all.
2.
Remember that publishing pros are people, too. Nice
people. Understanding people. People who will cut us slack even if we make
utter fools of ourselves.
During the Q&A portion of a publisher spotlight, I asked
a question. One of those questions,
the kind that caused the editor’s face to freeze and the room to become library
quiet. The editor responded, saying the information I’d requested was
confidential. Oops!
In an effort to redeem myself, I tried rewording my question
in a more acceptable way. I blew it worse than before, being told my question
was out of line. I slunk out of the spotlight with one thing on my mind: I had
a pitch session with that very editor the following day.
The next morning I sat across the table from the editor,
wondering if she remembered me. She began by saying she’d seen me at the
spotlight. Yikes! I apologized, explaining that I hadn’t meant to ask about
something that was off limits. She said it was fine and that she just felt
badly that she couldn’t answer me. I’m sure she heard my sigh of
relief.
That pitch session ended up being one of my best ever. And I
learned a valuable lesson. Mercy exists—even in the publishing industry.
Pitch sessions can bring about the jitters, but these tips,
coupled with plenty of prayer, might help keep them at bay.
Questions for You
Have you ever blown it in a pitch session but had good
things happen in spite of your less-than-stellar performance?
What are some of your best tips for dealing with pitch
session jitters?
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Keli Gwyn writes
stories that transport readers to the 1800s, where she brings historic towns to
life, peoples them with colorful characters, and adds a hint of humor. A
California native, she lives in the Gold Rush-era town of Placerville at the
foot of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. When she's not writing, she
enjoys strolling past stately Victorian houses in her historic town, burying
her nose in reference books as she unearths interesting facts to include in her
stories, and interacting with other romance readers.
