A QUICK DECISION LED TO A REQUEST FOR 1 ST FIVE PAGES BY AN AGENT
One afternoon recently I saw an advertisement on a social media page—obviously directed to me based on my interests and online choices because the thinking machines have started their infestation of the human mind, hoping to drive us into ambiguity and irrelevance. On a whim (maybe my muse was tapping me on the shoulder) I clicked on this example of clickbait.
It trumpeted the 2024 Kansas City Writing Workshop. The presenter was Chuck Sambuchino. I
have his book Create Your Writer Platform. In fact, it is one of the titles I am utilizing in this war
effort to become a relevant and writer of renown. It took place in the middle of March in Kansas
City, Missouri.
The presentation consisted of five different blocks I found interesting.
Block one: Understanding the publishing industry in 2024—from hybrid publishing to
artificial intelligence and everything in between
Block two: Everything you need to know about literary agents and writing an awesome
query letter.
Block three: “Writer’s Got Talent”—a Page 1 critique fest
Block four: How to market yourself and your books: talking, author social media,
blogging, and platform
Block five: 10 evergreen keys to writing success.
Why not? If I’m going to get my writing out there for readers to experience, then I need all the help and instruction I can obtain. Additionally, a selection of agents offered to receive pitch sessions for anyone willing to take the plunge and sign up.
Since I signed up a few days before the event, all the agent sessions were filled. No vacancy. How do I get around this? How do I present myself to an agent—without being rude and obnoxious—when their valuable time is already taken?
After hours of obsessing about it, I decided to write a pitch sheet for a middle-grade series of fantasy adventures I have among all the other projects on which I work. Two of the stories set in the 42 KINGDOMS—The Substitute Wizard and Bring Down Ruin have won contests. The first will also appear in the anthology Gauntlets & Conches Vol. 2 coming out this spring, a collection of stories with the author Marlon Hayes where we competed against each other.
My nefarious plan was to place the pitch sheets in a convenient location where the agents would be able to pick them up out of curiosity. Turns out, I didn’t need to as the agent I wanted to pitch to in the first place had an opening. I ran up to the front at the end of Block one to secure my spot.
What is a pitch sheet? Something I have been told by authors and speakers at many conferences that a writer needs when having the opportunity to “pitch” to an agent. It is quick and simple. A one-page presentation of the product (your book) and the brand (you) being offered to the buyer (agent).
Morgan Hughes of FinePrint Literary is the agent I wanted to see my middle grade fantasy novel. I chose her because she is looking for middle grade fantasy. You can’t sell water to a fish. You have to offer something the customer/buyer is looking for. Another reason I chose her is because she says she believes books can change the world in her bio. Someone I wanted to see if we clicked. After meeting with her, I felt good.
I felt even better when she said she wanted to see my first five pages! Incredible. I put the pitch sheet together the day before the event. I was nervous. To sell to the big four (or is it five still?) publishers, you need to be represented. And yes, I want to sell to the big publishers. Getting representation is a four-step process. 1) Pitch or query an agent. 2) Send first five pages and synopsis at their request. 3) Send whole manuscript at their request. 4) Be accepted for representation. I am at step #2, hoping it is just a stop along the way to step #4.
Next steps are to make certain my first five pages are the best they can be. Take care. I have
some writing to do.
