How To Talk to An Agent by Catharine Bramkamp
Let’s welcome back monthly columnist Catharine Bramkamp as she shares with us “How To Talk to An Agent.” Enjoy!
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For a few years I served on a subcommittee for the Women’s National Book Association. Our job was to help authors craft their pitch to literary agents. We called it Pitch-O-Rama and it was essentially how to sell your book in five minutes.
How to Sell Your Book in Five Minutes
We created this specifically for the annual San Francisco Writer’s Conference, during which authors can schedule meetings with agents from around the country. It’s a wonderful opportunity for writers.
And when we say wonderful opportunity we really mean it’s five minutes of utter terror.
Which is why I volunteered to coach the sessions. Authors say they want an agent to represent their soon to be bestselling book, but actually summarizing their project and saying it out loud TO an agent? YIKES!
You are thinking, how hard can it be to explain your work? Harder than it looks.
What all the coaches found was that too often, when asked about their book, author launches into a lengthy and detailed description of the plot.
The whole plot.
Including the motivations of secondary characters coupled with a fifteen minute world building lecture.
Which is why I drink.
Literary agents are in the book selling business. They sell your MS to the publisher who in turn, sells your book to bookstores who in turn sell your book to the reading public. On the way, everyone involved hopes to make a little money.
With that in mind, how can you convince an agent to take a risk on you and your book?
In eight minutes?
(I’m not exaggerating for dramatic effect, this year, the agent pitch sessions lasted exactly eight minutes.)
Suggested Pitch Outline
The pitch outline I recommend:
- Say Hello.
- Announce the title of your book.
- What is it about (including the resolution)? And this is different from describing the plot. The plot is how, the story is what.
- That the novel is finished (it needs to be finished).
- How is the book different from all the other books in the genre?
- Why are you the right person at the right time to write this?
If you have more than one book, tell them!
But do not pitch the series, focus on the first book in the series.
Here’s a handy example of a pitch to a literary agent:
“Hi [agent’s name here]. My name is [Author on the Verge of Fame] and I just completed my first book – [Super Fantastic Fantasy Novel].
This book highlights and celebrates strong young women as represented by my heroine, Venda of the Dragons who struggles through many life threatening adventures to reclaim her rightful throne.
It’s finished at 108,000 words.
Much like Game of Thrones there are possibilities for sequels which I’m excited to write. Unlike Game of Thrones, this book has less violence and more uplifting fantasy moments.
I am the person to write this since I work with disturbed children and encourage their healing through fantasy stories. I took much of their ideas and crafted my world based on their experiences.
Does this sound like it’s right for you?
(Stage direction: shut up and let the agent ask questions).
If you are writing a non fiction book you can spend another few seconds on your credentials, and your outreach.
In person, this is enough, your goal is to hear an agent to say, “Hey that sounds interesting enough, send me your first three chapters.”
That’s the win!
You are golden, you have lunch time bragging rights.
You say nothing more.
You will follow up after the conference.
Send an email with the chapters attached in a Word Docx file.
When you follow up, include a couple of ideas for book promotion as well as a quick sketch of your audience.
(Young female readers looking for a relatable heroine).
Do that, and you are possibly on your way.
Why Wasn’t I Picked?
Agents are patient, wonderful people committed to finding and promoting great literature.
They are on your side.
So if they say that a book isn’t right for them, they mean it’s just not right.
Maybe their go-to publishers already have three dragon books in the queue.
Maybe they are looking for an adventure featuring a boy and his horse. You may not know.
But if an agent passes, it’s not about your work it’s about timing. Which absolutely sucks, but that is the game.
And what if the agent says yes?
Shut Up And Take the Win
Before one of my clients arrived at the conference, she carried a copy of her well researched, edited, perfect agent pitch.
During the first day of the conference, she sat in on a workshop during which the presenters suggested that authors should not sell their book, they should focus on selling themselves.
Panicked, she spent that night rewriting her pitch and rehearsing into the small hours of the morning. But she was ready!
When her interview time came, she sat before her chosen agent, with just enough time to deliver her name and the title of her book before the agent said, “I totally know you, and what you are about, would love to work with you. Send your pages to me and I’ll forward them to Nic who will love this project.”
Stunned, my client vacillated between delight, and with five minutes left in the interview, badly wanting to deliver her re-worked pitch.
But because she was prepped, she stopped talking and instead thanked the agent with a promise to send the pages immediately.
Moral of the story: No matter how hard you rehearsed, shut up and take the win. (And congrats!)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Catharine Bramkamp is a successful writing coach, Chief Storytelling Officer, former co-producer of Newbie Writers Podcast, and author of a dozen books including the Real Estate Diva Mysteries series, and The Future Girls series. She holds two degrees in English and is an adjunct university professor. After fracturing her wrist, she has figured out there is very little she is able to do with one hand tied behind her back. She delights in inspiring her readers.
Be sure to check out Catharine’s previous articles on Writer’s Fun Zone here.
