5 Keys to a Successful Editor/Agent Appointment by Elizabeth Ludwig ~ Conclusion

Elizabeth Ludwig

Last week, Elizabeth Ludwig offered two keys to a successful editor/agent appointment. If you missed it, you can read it here. This week she's wrapping up with three final tips, just in time for the ACFW Conference in September. Enjoy! ~Dora

To recap: So, what can you expect from a successful appointment with an editor or agent? Well, it can mean the beginning to a long and wonderful professional relationship if your appointment leads to a request for a manuscript. It can also provide valuable insight into what the industry is acquiring, and finally, it can present you with a powerful network of contacts. With those goals in mind, I have created five keys to conducting a successful editor/agent appointment:

Key #1 to a successful editor/agent appointment? Take charge. You have a product you believe in, so conduct your appointment with confidence.

Key #2 to a successful editor/agent appointment? Do like your momma told you and study!

3. Do you remember that old Brady Bunch episode where Mike Brady gives sage advice to Marcia and Jan regarding their upcoming driver’s test and public speaking event? He told them to picture their audience in their underwear! Now, obviously, Mr. Brady never saw a Victoria’s Secret commercial, or I’m sure his advice would have been much different. The point, however, was simply to realize that the audience was human. The same can be said for sitting down with an editor or agent. Don’t view the appointment as a job interview. View it as an opportunity to get to know the person you’re talking to and open yourself up to chat. You’ll be more relaxed, and so will they!

Key #3 to a successful editor/agent appointment? Talk to the person sitting across from you. They’re human. They like that.

4. Have fun! You heard me. If you’re at a conference to meet with an editor or agent, you paid money to be sitting where you are, right? So why not look at it as a fun, learning opportunity rather than a life and death struggle to get your manuscript into the hands of a professional? After all, what are the odds that the words you speak in a 15 minute interval will actually determine whether or not your book is published? The fact of the matter is, the most that appointment can do is garner a request to see more. So get that part out of the way by telling the editor or agent what you have, and then enjoy the rest of the time. Chat about some funny thing that happened while you were at the conference, or how you’re looking forward to a particular class. You’ll become human in their eyes, and much more memorable than if you stumbled through a rehearsed pitch.

Key #4 to a successful editor/agent appointment? Enjoy your appointment and let yourself have fun.

5. Remember who you are. I wish I could say I was kidding about this one, but the most embarrassing moment I ever experienced was when I had to look at my badge in order to remember who I am! Now, in my own defense, I publish under my legal name, which is different from the name my friends know me by. So when the editor called me by my legal name, I was temporarily thrown for a loop (chalk it up to nerves). LOL! Funny as that is now, the point isn’t about who we are to others. Ultimately, what matters is who we are to God. I’m pretty sure He’s never been confused by my legal name versus my nickname, which means when He called me to write, He knew exactly who He was speaking to. My career, my future, everything I am and ever will do is in His hands. Reminding myself of this truth has been the most beneficial thing I’ve ever done when sitting down to talk with an editor or agent.

Key #5 to a successful editor/agent appointment? Remember who you are…and whose.

Dora here. Have you pitched to an agent or editor either at conference or online? 

What tips would you share to help writers release their anxiety?

Purchase Link

Ana Kavanagh's only memories of home are of fire and pain. As a girl she was the only survivor of a terrible blaze, and years later she still struggles with her anger at God for letting it happen. 

At a nearby parish she meets and finds a kindred spirit in Eoghan Hamilton, who is struggling with his own anger--his sister, Cara, betrayed him by falling in love with one of his enemies. Cast aside by everyone, Eoghan longs to rejoin the Fenians, a shadowy organization pushing for change back in Ireland. But gaining their trust requires doing some favors--all of which seem to lead back to Ana. Who is she and who is searching for her? As dark secrets from Ana's past begin to come to light, Eoghan must choose which road to follow--and where to finally place his trust.

Elizabeth Ludwig is the award-winning author of No Safe Harbor, Book One in the Edge of Freedom series. Her popular literary blog, The Borrowed Book, enjoys a wide readership. Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences and seminars where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Along with her husband and children, she makes her home in the great state of Texas. To learn more, visit ElizabethLudwig.com.

5 Keys to a Successful Editor/Agent Appointment by Elizabeth Ludwig ~ Part 1

Elizabeth Ludwig

Few things strike fear into the stout of heart more than speaking in public. In fact, according to a recent Gallup Poll, the only thing more petrifying is a fear of snakes. Is it any wonder, therefore, that writers are often reduced to stuttering, terror-stricken imbeciles when faced with the prospect of sitting down with an editor or agent? After all, any hope for a writing career rests in their powerful hands. Blowing a 15 minute appointment/opportunity could be the difference between having a manuscript published or seeing it forever banished to the realm of unused computer folders! Right?

Wrong—and if that’s what you’ve been telling yourself before every editor or agent appointment, you’ve been setting yourself up for failure. Your appointment is intended to create interest in you and your work. It very rarely (if ever) leads to a contract on a manuscript that is sight unseen.

So, what can you expect from a successful appointment with an editor or agent? Well, it can mean the beginning to a long and wonderful professional relationship if your appointment leads to a request for a manuscript. It can also provide valuable insight into what the industry is acquiring, and finally, it can present you with a powerful network of contacts. With those goals in mind, I have created five keys to conducting a successful editor/agent appointment:

1. Conduct your appointment…did you catch my use of that word? Very often, authors approach their appointments as they would a trip to the gallows—with a whole lot of fear and very little confidence. The truth is, you are an inventor with a product you believe in, and what you’re really doing is looking for the best manufacturer of your idea. Don’t sit back and expect the editor or agent to guide the appointment. Know your material well, and let the appointment be about introducing yourself first and your work second.

Key #1 to a successful editor/agent appointment? Take charge. You have a product you believe in, so conduct your appointment with confidence.

2. Think back to grade school. What were the two words that made you break out in a cold sweat faster than a teenager at their first dance? 1. Pop. 2. Quiz. Right? And do you remember why they made you want to cry like a little girl? Because you didn’t study! But if you took the time to actually research the material, hearing the teacher utter the dreaded words was no big deal. In fact, your score was usually so high, you ruined the curve. What a difference studying can make not only to test scores, but to a person’s overall attitude. The same can be said for researching publishing houses. When you know what an editor is looking for, and what kind of books their house is currently publishing, you can approach them with a lot more confidence because you know your manuscript fits within their guidelines.

Key #2 to a successful editor/agent appointment? Do like your momma told you and study!

Dora here. What frightens you the most about pitching your book to an editor/agent?

Make sure to join us next Thursday when Elizabeth offers three more keys to a successful editor/agent appointment. See you then!

Purchase Link

Ana Kavanagh's only memories of home are of fire and pain. As a girl she was the only survivor of a terrible blaze, and years later she still struggles with her anger at God for letting it happen. 

At a nearby parish she meets and finds a kindred spirit in Eoghan Hamilton, who is struggling with his own anger--his sister, Cara, betrayed him by falling in love with one of his enemies. Cast aside by everyone, Eoghan longs to rejoin the Fenians, a shadowy organization pushing for change back in Ireland. But gaining their trust requires doing some favors--all of which seem to lead back to Ana. Who is she and who is searching for her? As dark secrets from Ana's past begin to come to light, Eoghan must choose which road to follow--and where to finally place his trust.

Elizabeth Ludwig is the award-winning author of No Safe Harbor, Book One in the Edge of Freedom series. Her popular literary blog, The Borrowed Book, enjoys a wide readership. Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences and seminars where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Along with her husband and children, she makes her home in the great state of Texas. To learn more, visit ElizabethLudwig.com.

Making Your Fifteen Minutes Count

More research is involved in becoming a published writer than just gathering facts for your story. You also need to know which editors or agents to meet with at a writer's conference, and how to pitch your story within a short window of time.

I asked Cindy Sproles, Executive Editor of Christian Devotions.us, to share her thoughts on how writers should use their fifteen minute conference appointments. - Sandy

Cindy: The fifteen minutes an author is given in the presence of an agent or publisher is vitally important. Learning to make the most of this time should be a defining moment for the author. Agents should walk away with a “memorable” moment.

Take these tips and make your fifteen minutes of fame last a career:

·        Write your pitch and practice it. You should be about to bolt from a dead sleep and recite your pitch.

·        Bring business cards and one-sheets and proposals to your appointment. Never attend a conference without business cards. Hint:  Take your business card to the next level…add a photo. A photo helps the agent/publisher place a name to a face.

·        Get a professional email address. Consider an email address with your name, i.e., Jondoe100@gmail.com. An email address containing your name helps agents/publishers recognize you. TickyToes@gmail.com is not helpful nor is it professional. Build a successful platform by beginning with a nice email address.

·        Practice professionalism, handshake and greeting. Jot down questions in advance so you are able to present your work effectively and concisely. Agents appreciate those who are prepared and courteous of their time.

·        Be familiar with the agent/publisher and what they represent. Don’t offer a non-fiction editor a fictional work. This is a waste of their time and yours. Do your homework prior to your appointment and choose your appointments wisely. There is little value in presenting your work to an agent/publisher who does not deal with your genre.

·        Be prepared. Have your information ready when you arrive at your appointment. Time is valuable. Don’t spend it upside down digging in your brief case. Carry one business card, a one-sheet and a proposal. Offer the business card, and give the remainder only if the agent/publisher requests it.

·        Don’t argue. Agents know their business. If they say a WIP is not ready, take heed. Writing is subjective. Show your work, listen, and walk away leaving a good impression. Even if you don’t agree. A good impression will get you a second look…arguments scream, “Stay away!"

·        Simple discussion. If you do not have a finished piece, that’s fine. Choose an agent/publisher with whom you can discuss publication and market needs in your chosen genre. Again, prepare questions in advance, take notes as they answer. You’ll receive a wealth of information.

·        Say thank you. Ask for their business card and send a thank you note. Agents/publishers sit through hundreds of interviews and are rarely thanked for their time and attention. Be the one to set a new precedence. It shows your sincerity and it’s a vote of confidence for the professional.

A lot can be accomplished in a fifteen minute appointment. Make the time count and you’ll forge valuable and long lasting contacts in the publishing world.

~~~

Cindy Sproles is the Executive Editor of ChristianDevotions.us. She is an author and teacher as well as a popular conference speaker. Cindy is the co founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and serves as the Devotional Acquisitions Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Her new book, New Sheets – Thirty Days to Refine You Into the Woman You Can Be quickly becoming a mover and shaker in unique devotionals.  Cindy co writes the popular He Said, She Said devotions and serves as co host of Christian Devotions Speak UP!, the syndicated blog talk radio show for Christian Devotions. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com and www.christiandevotions.us.

For your last writer's conference did you do your research beforehand? Did you take the time learn what each agent or editor wants during an appointment and choose the proper person to meet with? Have you done most of the things Cindy recommended? What was your experience?