Face To Face Pitching

[Dan Jones]

Following @Tirellan's post I subbed to DHH and this evening received an email confirming I was successful, and have been invited to a pitching session with Harry Illingworth, DHH's resident SFF rep.

After the initial rush of good vibes, I got to thinking: this pitching session is only 10 minutes long. Seeing as DHH have already seen my first three chapters and synopsis, what on earth will we be most likely to talk about? Has anyone here done one of these things before? Has anyone navigated one successfully?

 

[HareBrain]

Congrats on getting in, and ... yeah, wish I could be more help.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Fraid I can't help. I have pitched Inish to a film producer once though and I think being really clear on your product is key.

 

[The Judge]

I've done a face-to-face pitch which was well received, but I came to that cold, ie the chap knew nothing about me or the novel in advance, so it was a question of having something good and punchy that caught his attention. After that, he asked me a few questions and I asked him some about the firm, he gave me a card and told me to send chapters to him, and that was it.

Presumably this guy will have read your 3 chapters and synopsis already, so I imagine it's then more of a "Why should we take you on?" conversation so I'd suggest making that the big part of what you say. But just in case, it might be an idea to produce a short pitch anyway -- mine was only 180 words -- together with some points about the novel generally.

Congratulations on getting the pitch, and good luck!

 

[Serendipity]

Congrats n getting the chance to pitch... fingers crossed for you.

 

[Dan Jones]

I imagine it's then more of a "Why should we take you on?" conversation so I'd suggest making that the big part of what you say. But just in case, it might be an idea to produce a short pitch anyway -- mine was only 180 words -- together with some points about the novel generally.

Yeah I imagine this will be the case, and it will be more of a business-orientated type conversation, which suits me fine actually. I'm assuming that any serious notes about editorial would only occur if they took it further - I reckon the pitch is really to gauge whether the product is worth pursuing and the author is somebody they can realistically have a business relationship with.

Your advice on a short pitch is probably still worthwhile though - my novel is unfinished so I will probably take along some sort of storyboard (H/T @The Big Peat) to flesh out the synopsis and show that I'm not just winging it.

Anyway, thanks for the well wishes, everyone. I'll report back on the experience after it's done (it's on the 27th November in London).

 

[Susan Boulton]

Congrats, Dan, and fingers crossed for you. My advice, (having done it once), is know your story backwards, and know where you think it fits in the genre. In fact, treat it as a job interview, which in fact it is.

 

[Hugh]

I have no experience of the publishing world at all, so.....

I have attended many many meetings though where people at all levels of seniority were supposed to have read stuff and had done nothing of the kind, to my complete amazement. Despite your having sent off these chapters I'd go in with the assumption that they may have only looked at them cursorily, and that the real decision-makers have barely glanced at them. If it's a ten minute slot there may be several other ten minute slots for other people, so impressions are important. I'd have rehearsed well so I can speak coherently while making eye contact (I have to rehearse/memorise as my natural tendency is to space out and be vague while looking at the ceiling). And if it turns out they have done their homework, that can be a pleasant surprise.

May it go ever so well!

 

[Dan Jones]

Thanks Hugh and Susan!

I'd have rehearsed well so I can speak coherently while making eye contact (I have to rehearse/memorise as my natural tendency is to space out and be vague while looking at the ceiling). And if it turns out they have done their homework, that can be a pleasant surprise.

I'll certainly do my homework on my book, and probably do some sort of rehearsed pitch as TJ suggested.

I've been, er, fortunate enough to have been made redundant recently (but I have just got a new job, so it's ok), so I've got a recent glut of experience in doing job interviews. Maybe fate is trying to tell me something?

 

[The Big Peat]

Possibly (probably) talking out of my aris here but to me the biggest challenge here sounds like know what exactly they want. Do they want you to pitch the book as a work of art? As something that will sell? You as an author? You as a person? All of those things in 10 minutes? I think you're going to want to be fairly nimble on your feet to respond to what they do actually want.

Anyway, you've had my actual best advice (read the Terry Rossio column here for anyone else) and lets not pretend that I know anything of pitching save when it comes to tents, so I'll shut up now.

 

[Dan Jones]

know what exactly they want.

Yes, I did prod a little more today, and the most I got from them was "It’s more for you to pitch your entire novel (in whatever depth you like) to Harry, and have him give you some feedback which will help your work be the best it can be." Which makes it sound like nothing could come of it business-wise, but I doubt that's true, otherwise why would a commercial entity do such a thing?

Anyway, I am figuring out various ways in which to frame, sell or pitch the book, as well as the other WIPs I have secretly and safely stashed away. In my aris.

 

[Steve Harrison]

Congratulations, Dan.

I went to a 'speed pitching' event with TV and movie producers a few years ago. The thing that struck me the most was that these people really want to find something exciting. They are desperate for great material and primed to like what you tell them.

After the intros, I told them I'd written 'x' and their reaction showed me they hadn't read the material that got me to the pitch. I mistakenly assumed they would remember, but then realised they must have seen so much stuff it was hard to retain. Then they asked, "what's it about?" It was great fun chatting about my work - I'm sure my wife was glad to have a night off from my jabbering - and although I didn't succeed, it was a great experience and I got a few script requests and contacts.

Oh, and we only had three minutes with each producer and that was tight, so 10 minutes means you don't have to rush.

Good luck!

 

[Dan Jones]

Cheers, Steve!

Them not remembering each individual sub makes sense actually (I'm guessing DHH would have received a lot of subs for this), so having to "re-pitch" is a good idea. I'm sure it'll be a great experience, and even if I don't succeed in getting representation, it's more contacts and experience under my belt, and I may well meet some other authors there, too.

 

[Heir]

I've done a face-to-face pitch which was well received, but I came to that cold, ie the chap knew nothing about me or the novel in advance, so it was a question of having something good and punchy that caught his attention. After that, he asked me a few questions and I asked him some about the firm, he gave me a card and told me to send chapters to him, and that was it.

I had the same experience this year, but I got to pitch to three agents one after the other. Unfortunately, none of them really represented by genre (YA Fantasy), but they all had very good things to say about what I had told them.

I had literally no structure, or rehearsed lines. I just winged it, but I'm very good at explaining things, so that's not applicable to everyone.

I can only really suggest what has already been said. If they've already seen part of it, I imagine they'll be more interested in getting a feel for this new writer they may potentially take on. And what your understanding of what you've written is, and how well you understand the market you're trying to slot it into.

 

[ralphkern]

I would suggest rehearsing a clear, concise elevator pitch (Tease them and get them biting) followed by a longer expansion on the characters and plot summarising the whole plot (don't tease them, they want the whole story and you've delivered on the elevator). Get them buying into both early.

If you can bring concept art etc, do that.

Something which is crucial, but often overlooked.

You will also need a summary of yourself: A VERY short precis on the non-relevant non-writing stuff. A longer, section on what you bring to the table both in terms of writing (Are you published or self published anywhere? What are sales like? Have you won any challenges or comps etc?). If your book exhibits any subject-expert matter and why you are authorative on it. A realistic expansion on your output capacity. Your network relations and any community firepower you have. If you have 10 minutes, try to keep that part very much the minority but remember you are selling yourself as a client as well as your books and lets be blunt, no matter what they say, they care far more about how much money you're going to bring them over your story.

 

[Phyrebrat]

You need a dance number if it’s face to face.

Seriously, I need to finish and polish a good novel so I can start pitching. I miss out on all these things...

pH

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Ralph is right - you need to sell yourself too. I punch above my weight because I am so used to having to do that for my consultancy. I say yes, I can do this, I am this and deal with the fall out later You have the balls to do that too. You're Dan. Here's what you can offer....

 

[Cathbad]

I'm still in shock. Face-to-face? Really? This is something I'd never heard of between an author and a traditional publisher!

 

[EJDeBrun]

I've pitched a few times for various things and I agree with a lot that's been said before: assume that this guy knows nothing about your work, be personable and know your material. The other things I would add is that 10 minutes is actually a really long time for these things, so be sure to take it slow and breathe. A calm composure will probably impress the agent more than anything else after all the other nervous wrecks he'll be meeting. And have questions for the representative as well.

Also I would totally have the story hammered out so that you could summarize the whole thing. You might not have anything written, but not a lot of places will take something that doesn't even have an ending.

As far as summary book stuff, I use all the screenplay pitch hints on the internet. log lines, tag lines. They have a bunch of formulas that can make most things short and exciting. And then practice that.

And yeah, what Jo said. Sell yourself as a "I can do it" even if you have no clue what they're asking you to do! You're getting this guy's attention for 10 full minutes. Might as well take advantage!

GOOD LUCK.

 

[Boneman]

And be ready for the dreaded question: "where do you feel your book fits in with DHH?". Make sure you know a few of their published works, perhaps. And the very best of luck!!