Atlanta Writers Conference, Day 2 - The Pitch

In which I meet other writers, and pitch!

Photo by Chris Moore on Unsplash

On Friday and Saturday, I went to the Atlanta Writers Conference. It’s a really well-organized conference. I listened to some reputable agents and editors, talked to a lot of fellow writers, and learned a lot about this entire process. I’m on the right track.

I had a query letter review session with 2 agents. They suggested that the one dense, long paragraph in my query letter was “too heavy.” They were moved by the accounts, but it’s so much that it made it difficult for the reader of the query to breathe. They suggested I break it up, perhaps along a 3-part story arc and emphasize the hope and redemption that comes from it all. It was very good advice, as one of the agents early int he manuscript review described my query as a “horrible litany of drama and pain” that would probably not offer anything to a reader.

On Saturday, I had two manuscript review sessions and a pitch. The first manuscript review was with someone who I wanted to work with. She actually LOVES my use of T.S. Eliot. She seemed like someone I could work with. She wants to me to look at the beginning section again and perhaps elaborate on my relationship with my brother - is it more than just physical resemblance? I actually do talk about our relationship more in part II - she just hadn’t read that far in the sample pages she got. She said, give it a month and then send her the pages with a few more additional chapters. I take that as a good sign! It’s a chance, at least. The meeting was virtual and was only 13 minutes long, and it went so fast. But without being pushy I asked, “Do you want me to send you additional pages?” So I was proud to step up to the plate with that.

The second manscript review was with the guy who called my work “a horrible litany of drama and pain.” He praised my writing. He tried to turn his very negative comments into a positive. He didn’t seem to have a sense of the work at all. But I think he’s missing out and looking for other kinds of works. So be it. I have things I want to say about that agent, but I think I’ll leave it at that. It’s a small community in the publishing world.

The pitch session went well, also very fast. I pitched to the agent. That went quite well, I think. I’m not sure if I’ve convinced her. She saw a revised copy of my query based on the query review feedback. It’s still not quite right. I assured here my book reads more positively and lighter than the query letter’s heaviness. She said to note that in the query letter itself.

We hit a lull in our brief conversation and I asked directly if she wanted me to send her pages. She said to send her 3 chapters. Since that would be only about 5 pages, I told her my work is experimental. So she told me I could send her 50 pages! That’s great because she’ll be able to see writing into part III. I think that is a fair shot to get my work in front of her.

I also discussed with her an idea for my next project - and she thought that was quite promising. I’ll be developing that next. More to come in the future.

It’s not guaranteed, of course, that she’ll accept my memoir, but sending 50 pages gives me a shot.

I was on the waitlist for a pitch to an editor from Simon & Schuster. Unfortunately, I landed at #2 on the waitlist after being #7. She doesn’t take pitches except from agents, so I won’t be able to get in front of her, but I thought she might be a good fit as well.

There were several other agents I met at the conference who I learned like memoir and that I felt I could work with. I will send queries to them.

The panel presentations and Q&A panels were enlightening as well. It’s a good conference. It was kind of expensive, but it’s up to me now to make sure that it was money well spent and turn this opportunity into gold.

That’s all for now. This will be a light week. It’s finally time for a vacation. I’m done editing for a while, and time to start working on other projects and things I’ve neglected.

We’re 3 1/2 months away from moving from Atlanta to Seattle. Summer is approaching.

Wherever you are, I hope you are well and thriving.

Thanks for reading.

For me, I’ll….

Just keep writing!