12 Tips for a Successful Editor/Agent Appointment
by Roxanne St.Claire and Mia Crews

  1. Before your appointment, take a deep breath. Relax. This is a person, not a monster. And this person would not be here if they didn't WANT to meet new writers.
  2. Do a little research. Try to attend the seminar given by the editor or agent you are scheduled to meet prior to your appointment. You will definitely get an idea of what they like and can be sure to position your work appropriately. Find out what books they have recently published/sold and READ them.
  3. You will only have 5 or 10 minutes to pitch your story. Prepare a brief blurb about your story. Go to a TV guide or the back cover copy of your favorite book and write something similar for your work in progress. Practice writing a pitch on the back of a business card to limit your space. Start with a one-sentence synopsis, using movie terms if possible, such as "Pretty Woman meets King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable." Add two more sentences to describe the most salient characteristics of your hero and heroine and their conflict.
  4. Be prepared to point out which market your novel appeals to; whether your book is similar to any particular famous novel or recently successful one, and then how it differs, especially those published/sold by the editor/agent you are meeting with.
  5. Rehearse - out loud. In front of a mirror. In front of a friend. As many times as you can. Don't memorize it because it will sound canned and insincere. You can refer to your notes as often as you want in your appointment, but don't read verbatim.
  6. Take your business card, but do not take your manuscript, synopsis or partial with you. Do be prepared to be honest about the stage of your WIP (complete, about to be complete, just a glimmer of a great idea…although this one is not recommended at the "meeting" stage).
  7. Be prepared to present a brief highlight of your experience. Include any writing you've done; professional experience that is key to what you've written; involvement in RWA; contest placements and wins. No more than 30 seconds on you, though.
  8. Be polite, professional and listen! Give the editor or agent a chance to respond. It can give you great insight into what they like about your idea - and you can include that in the cover letter later.
  9. If they don't ask to see your work, don't take it personally. This is a business. They might not be looking for Native American time travels now. Perhaps they know of another editor within their house who might be interested or an agent can tell you what kind of stories she thinks are hot right now.
  10. Treat the appointment as an "in person" query letter. If they like your idea and want to see your work, be honest with them about how quickly you can send it. When you send material in, mark it "Requested Material" and remind them in the opening of your cover letter that they requested it at your conference appointment.
  11. Don't be a GROUP HOG. In a group setting, the editor/agent and your fellow writers will probably remember one thing about you and your story: you hogged the floor. Take your 5 - 10 minutes (maximum) and pass the baton to the next person. Do not comment, roll your eyes or otherwise respond to any other pitches as they are presented.
  12. Take another deep breath. They know you're nervous. They know this is your baby. They are looking for the next big thing...and it could be you!

About the Authors:

Roxanne St. Claire is Program Director for STAR, responsible for arranging speakers and events for monthly meetings. She writes contemporary romantic suspense for both category and single title. Prior to starting her career as a romance novelist, Roxanne worked as a public relations executive for 18 years. During that time, she held the position of Senior Vice President of Hill & Knowlton, one of the largest PR agencies in the world, and also ran her own consulting business, providing communications services to Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations and celebrities.

Mia Crews is STAR's Immediate Past President, the Editorial Director of STAR's newsletter, The Launch Pad, and author of five Silhouette Romance novels under the pen name Mia Maxam. Mia's writing credentials include eight years as a newspaper correspondent, five years as a corporate writer in the semi-conductor industry and is former owner and president of Lexis Publishing. She is currently a political campaign and speech writer for several Florida elected officials and is working on a contemporary single title manuscript of her own.

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