PITCHING TO AGENTS: WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
Pitching to agents is a big draw at writers’ conferences. Thousands of aspiring writers pay an extra premium above the conference cost to pitch their unpublished manuscripts to agents and editors. The slots are limited, and they sell out fast. What are the odds for writers pitching to agents to get representation? The lack of information regarding their rate of success raises this question. Lack of Information Some agents have acknowledged the difficulty of telling writers face-to-face that they aren’t interested in their work; it’s easier to tell them to send their manuscripts. The writers think they have a leg up because of their pitches, but the truth is that their manuscripts end up in the slush pile with hundreds of others. The pitches they paid for don’t give them an edge. What Happens During Pitching Sessions? Pitching sessions are like speed dating on steroids. Authors seeking representation are given …