Writers Information: July 2009

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Swops anyone?

Hi Spinning Gold Writers,

We have been talking about a swops table idea....Bring five of your books and swop them for another writers books....

What do you think? Would you like to participate? Do you see any problems?

Let us know by emailing us at spinning.gold09@gmail.com

Pitch Slam

This is your chance to talk to a captive editor or agent. You will have 3 minutes to pitch your fabulous idea/finished book/partly finished book.

Cost: $10 to participate, pay at the conference. (Note: this fee gives you the chance to make several pitches to different editors/agents).

Bookings:
You confirm your booking when you pay at the conference (on a first come, first served basis.) The sessions will run in a similar way to how meet the teachers sessions are run. Each editor/agent will be in individual rooms so it will just be you and that person for 3 minutes. A bell will ring at the end of the time. Please leave on the bell.

Participating Publishers:
Random House
Longacre Press
Scholastic
HarperCollins
Penguin
Mallinson Rendel
Huia

Agents:
Frances Plumpton from Richards Literary Agency, Auckland
Fiona Inglis from Curtis Brown Agency Australia

What to Expect:
The editor/agent will probably not give you any feedback, they may simply say thank you, and that they have your card if they wish to contact you. This is your chance to sell your book, to grab their interest and make them want to know more in which case they will get in touch with you using the details on your card.

What to Bring:
Your business card. That’s all. Nothing else except yourself and your well-polished, practised pitch.

Preparation:
Before the conference check out each publisher’s website to see if they publish the type of book you are pitching. We may have to limit the number of times people can pitch, depending on how many people sign up.

Make sure you have business cards, and bring enough with you.

Practise what you want to say. Cut to the chase and get straight to the point. Sit the family down and make them play the role of editor/agent. Your pitch is going to have a much greater chance of impressing if you have worked it out and practised it beforehand. Time yourself so that you ensure you are able to make the pitch within the timeframe.

Suggested Format:
One concise sentence saying what your book is about.
Say who the intended audience is.
A short synopsis of the plot.
A brief description of the main character.
Say what is special or different about your book.
Say why your book would be a good proposition for them.
Prepare any questions you want to ask.
Ask if there is anything they would like to ask you.

Thank them, and leave when the bell rings.

Writers Information

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Swops anyone?

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Pitch Slam

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