From the Pamlico Writers Conference

 

Do you have a book manuscript ready but haven’t made successful contact with a publisher? A brief meeting with a publisher could change your writing career — or at least give you the opportunity to meet and exchange contact information.

Friday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for a $10 fee given directly to the publisher, you may make a seven-minute, face-to-face pitch of your writing project to a publisher. You’ll sign up at the theater entrance and go immediately to the Pitch-the-Publisher area for your presentation.

Three publishing houses will be represented (subject to change):  Jacar Press — Richard Krawiec publishes poetry, and with Sable Books — fiction and non-fiction —http://www.jacarpress.com/; Longleaf Press, part of UNC Press publishes poetry and fiction — Robin Greene and Michael Colonnese — http://www.methodist.edu/longleaf/index.htm;  and Press 53 — Poetry and short fiction — http://www.press53.com/.

The Friday 6 p.m. event also features a public finger-food reception, keynote speech by Jill McCorkle and open mike for writers. The evening event fee is $10.

The Saturday all-day writers conference event features a panel discussion, morning and afternoon classroom sessions with writers and educators, and a 1 p.m. address by Emily Louise Smith, director of the Publishing Laboratory at University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The conference will conclude with the Awards Ceremony for the Pamlico Writing Competition.

Details and registration for the Pamlico Writers Conference are made online at www.pamlicowritersconference.org. In-person registration will also be held at the Turnage Theater box office during regular business hours or at the start of the Friday (6 p.m.) event ($10 fee) and Saturday (8:30 a.m.) event ($49 fee).

 

 

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Making a pitch successful
1. Research and choose the publisher who best fits your needs. The more you learn the better your chances of success.
2. Dress for success, not just your clothes but your attitude: be confident, be prepared.
3. Make your presentation concise. Know your work and where it fits in the market. Know your word count, genre/subgenre, audience, location or time period.
4. You should be able to sum up the project in two or three sentences. Highlight goals, conflicts and personality for a novel. For non-fiction, give your credentials and your market.
5. Practice in front of a mirror with a timer. Make your pitch simple, clear and irresistible. Preparation is the key to success.
6. Your writing project should be finished or nearing completion.
7. Be excited about your work. Is this something you would want to read?
8. Be prepared for criticism and suggestions. Be willing to accept rejection. Not every project fits every need.