For a long time, many writers have believed that who they know is essential to getting published (hint: knowing people doesn’t hurt, but what you really need is a great book and some luck). In pursuit of getting to know people, those writers who can often head to conference where they can study their craft and the publishing business, as well as get to know other writers, agents, and editors. For many people, conferences are really fantastic things, but not everyone has the time, money, or ability to travel to conferences.
Enter: The Internet.
Do you want to learn about craft? Participate in pitch events with editors and agents? Find other writers you can use as critique partners? Yup, the internet can do that. There are a ton of events now, more than I could list, but here is a partial list of special events in which our agents participate:
- #pitmad – If you are a writer on Twitter you probably know about #pitmad, a day-long event where writers pitch their manuscripts to agents and editors. If an agent or editor favorites your pitch, you email them what they ask for (typically for agents the query, synopsis, and 10 pages, or something similar). Easy peasey, and a number of writers have found agents or small press deals through #pitmad. Our agents tend to drop in and out as they have time. The next date is not yet scheduled
- Pitch Madness – This is a whole big thing, where authors can get mentors to help them polish their work, which then goes up to be requested by a panel of agents. Emily has been participating in the agent round. The next date is not yet scheduled
- WANACon – Really want to the conference experience, but just can’t get to one? Well, WANACon is all online on February 21st and 22nd, 2014 and has craft and business presentations as well as pitch sessions. Jen will be taking pitches at WANACon, although the schedule is not yet live.
- #WFpitch – This coming Thursday at 7pm Eastern there will be a special pitch event just for writers who have manuscripts that fall into the genres of book club or women’s fiction. It will be similar to something like #pitmad, where writers will write up a pitch on Twitter, use the #WFpitch hashtag, and email information to agents who favorite the pitches. Jen will be participating and Emily may as well.
Obviously we all still accept pitches via email, but we are hoping we’ll see you around the interwebs as well.
