Posted by Heather on May 15, 2013 in
GUEST POSTS,
WRITING TIPS 
http://under30ceo.com/
Today we welcome publishing attorney and mystery author Susan Spann back for another session of Ask #PubLaw – a summer series where authors can get publishing legal questions answered!
Today’s question and answer addresses:
“How does an author or artist secure a trademark?”
This question referenced an original logo the author created, but authors can also trademark a series name (meaning the series title – individual book titles cannot be trademarked) or, in the case of independent authors who create small publishing houses and/or imprints, the publishing house’s name, imprint, and logo can also be trademarked.
By law, a trademark is a word, name, symbol (logo) or device used or intended for use in commerce to identify and distinguish the mark owner’s goods from those sold by others.
In English: a trademark is “consumer shorthand” to identify the source of goods.
In the United States*, trademarks are protected by both state and federal law. State laws differ with regard to protection and registration, and they don’t offer nationwide protection (or much protection over the Internet). When most people talk about U.S. trademarks, they mean a federal trademark registration with the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office – the only type of registration that lets you use the registered trademark symbol [®] after the mark.
You obtain registration for your trademark by filing an application online with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (http://www.uspto.gov/) and paying the relevant application fees.
Anyone can apply for a trademark – U.S. citizens, foreign nationals, and entities like corporations and LLCs can all own registered trademarks.
The application itself is fairly straightforward. Section 1 asks for personal information about the applicant (that’s you). Section 2 asks about whether an attorney is filing the form, and if so, asks for the attorney’s information. Section 3 asks for information about the mark, to ensure that the mark is a proper subject for registration, and also requires the applicant to choose a “class of goods” the mark is used to represent and to attach a “specimen,” which means one or more images (in .jpg or .pdf format) showing the mark in use in commerce. Finally, Section 4 requires a signature and payment of the relevant fees (which are $275 per class of goods if the applicant has enough information to use the most complete filing form).
While an attorney is not required, many authors find benefits in hiring an intellectual property attorney to file the trademark application on their behalf. In addition to understanding the application itself and knowing about which classes of goods the application should include, a trademark attorney is often better equipped to respond to questions the PTO may ask during the application review and registration process. Many attorneys handle trademark registration on a flat-fee basis, which means you pay nothing extra if the PTO does have questions about the mark. That said, many people do apply for trademarks without legal representation – it’s mainly a question of your comfort level with the application and the process.
The two most common questions which arise from the filing process are:
1. How do I know whether my mark is a proper subject for protection? And
2. How do I choose the proper class of goods?
Since today’s Ask #PubLaw is already running long, we’ll finish the discussion by answering those last two questions next Wednesday, here at Between the Sheets!
Big thanks to Heather Webb for hosting me on Wednesdays this summer – and if you have a question about this or any other publishing or intellectual property-related legal topic, please ask in the comments – I’ll try to answer them all before summer is through!
*Apologies to the non-U.S. readers – most countries have trademark formalities similar to those in place in the U.S.A., but I’m not licensed to practice law in foreign nations so I’m forced to restrict my discussion to U.S. law.
About Susan Spann
Susan is a publishing attorney and historical mystery author. Her debut novel CLAWS OF THE CAT (Minotaur) releases July 16, 2013. When not writing or representing clients, Susan enjoys traditional archery, martial arts, horseback riding, online gaming, and raising seahorses and rare corals in her highly distracting marine aquarium. She still consumes books – almost as avidly as spicy Thai dinners. Susan lives in Sacramento with her husband, son, three cats, one bird, and a multitude of assorted aquatic creatures. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, the Historical Novel Society and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Association and is represented by literary agent Sandra Bond of Bond Literary Agency. For more information, contact her at her website HERE or on Twitter.
Posted by Heather on May 10, 2013 in
CONTESTS & HOPS,
WRITING TIPS 
In Part 1, we talked about author voice and how to peel away layers of our identity to get to the juicy stuff–the unique voice in all of us. Today we’ll tackle character voice.
So how do we make our protagonist’s voice grab our readers by the throat?
We mold and shape their voice through their…
Words
What your characters say, the expressions they use, differentiates them from others. JUST LIKE IN REAL LIFE. I’m a thirty-something, middle class woman. How I speak is vastly different from a poor, male teenager from the Bronx. Your characters should not sound like you, they should sound like themselves.
Thoughts
What does your protagonist think about? I think about my kids and spending quality time with my husband. I worry about juggling family life and work. I yearn for success in my career, for spiritual fulfillment in whatever form that takes. Our boy from the Bronx thinks about school, the hot girl with pink sneakers in biology, or basketball practice. He worries about dodging the bullies on the corner and having enough money for lunch. He yearns for graduation, for basketball to somehow carry him far away from his run-down home, and to have all the things he doesn’t have. Again, different worlds=radically different thoughts. Tailor your protagonist’s inner voice to their situation.
Actions
How does your protagonist react in certain situations or settings, or to others? Consider their history. If Jane survived abuse and is an adult woman trying to find herself, she may be skittish around men. Or maybe Jane’s angry as hell and burns things and has loads of piercings. The cool thing is, you get to decide how your character reacts, but it’s important to keep those reactions consistent and true to the personality you’ve contrived for them. In either case, your protagonist’s actions and reactions are a strong component of their voice.
Word View
How does your protagonist view the world? They may have come from a crappy, hard-knock background, but maybe they’re a warrior, a survivor. They see life’s letdowns as a challenge—something to conquer. Life is a game of chess and they’re going to play and win. Or maybe they’re the victim of their own destiny. They complain and whine and want everyone to feel sorry for them, to lavish them with attention. Life is out to get them. The way a character sees the world around them, how they understand (or don’t) the people around them, AND how they deal with it feeds into their voice.
Now that we’ve talked about author voice and character voice, I’d love to see yours at work!!
It’s All in the Voice Contest
Post the first 250 words of your novel to your blog, hop around and give feedback to others May 16t and 17th, and submit your final version by midnight, May 18th. Winners of the most grabby voice will WIN PRIZES!!! Prizes include: an author marketing phone consultation with bestselling, self-published author Leia Shaw, FREE editing of your first 15 pages from moi (a $50 value), free books, and more! Sign-ups go live MONDAY, MAY 13th. Stay tuned!
Posted by Heather on May 1, 2013 in
GUEST POSTS,
WRITING TIPS http://under30ceo.com/
I’m psyched to announce a new program called #PubLaw! Every Wednesday for the duration of the summer, Susan Spann, author of CLAWS OF THE CAT and publishing lawyer, will break down our burning questions about author contracts—both indie and traditional—and other highly HELPFUL information authors need to know to survive the ever-shifting waters of the publishing world.
We WANT to hear from you!! Please leave any legal publishing questions you have in the comments and Susan will tackle them for next week’s edition. Also, be sure to follow #PubLaw on Twitter every Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST.
TAKE IT AWAY, SUSAN!
Big thanks to friend and fellow author Heather Webb for letting me camp out at Between the Sheets to answer authors’ questions about publishing law.
Today, we’ll start with a question I’m asked quite frequently:
“What’s the difference between copyright and trademark? As an author, do I need to register both?”
The short answer is no, most authors don’t need trademarks, though trademarks may become relevant later on if you start to market merchandise featuring your series or characters’ names and likenesses.
What’s the difference? Read on:
COPYRIGHT LAW covers creative works – like novels – which are “fixed in a tangible medium of expression.” Copyright protection is automatic and begins at the moment the work is created.
Authors don’t have to register their works with the U.S. Copyright office, but registration allows the author to recover additional damages (money) from infringers, so all authors should register their works with the copyright office at publication. Many publishers do this for you, but if yours does not, you can register your works online at http://www.copyright.gov.
TRADEMARK LAW covers words, names, symbols or slogans used in commerce to identify and distinguish the source of goods.
Novels, blog entries and short stories are all too long for trademark protection – they’re governed by copyright law instead. Titles aren’t subject to trademark either—though the name of a series (like “The Hardy Boys Mysteries”) can be trademarked under the right circumstances.
There are other differences between copyright and trademark too. A few of particular interest to authors:
1. Duration. Copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years (95 years from publication for anonymous or entity “authors.”). Trademark lasts as long as the mark is “actively used in commerce.”
2. Originality. Trademark requires far more originality than copyright.
3. Length. Copyright governs creative works of any length, from Tweets to full-length novels. Trademark governs only “words, slogans, logos, and phrases.”
Copyright and trademark also have some similarities: violation of either is called “infringement” and is legally actionable. Intent is not a required element of infringement in either case. If you use a legally protected work without permission (or a legally-recognized exception), you are liable to the trademark or copyright holder.
If you have additional questions about trademarks or copyrights, consult an experienced attorney who specializes in intellectual property. That, or hop into the comments and let me know – I’ll be back next week with another installment of Ask #PubLaw!
Thank you, Susan!
ABOUT SUSAN
Susan is a publishing attorney and historical mystery author. Her debut novel CLAWS OF THE CAT (Minotaur) releases July 16, 2013. When not writing or representing clients, Susan enjoys traditional archery, martial arts, horseback riding, online gaming, and raising seahorses and rare corals in her highly distracting marine aquarium. She still consumes books – almost as avidly as spicy Thai dinners. Susan lives in Sacramento with her husband, son, three cats, one bird, and a multitude of assorted aquatic creatures. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, the Historical Novel Society and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Association and is represented by literary agent Sandra Bond of Bond Literary Agency. For more information, contact her at her website HERE or on Twitter.
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Posted by Heather on Apr 22, 2013 in
CONTESTS & HOPS,
WRITING TIPS Ever heard an agent or editor say the voice in your novel didn’t grab them? What does that mean, and more importantly, how do you fix it? Pinpointing what makes a novel’s voice alluring can be a difficult aspect to nail down. Many novice writers have trouble understanding the separation of the character’s voice from their own. What is the difference? We’ll dissect both elements in a two part series. So let’s begin with you, the writer.
AUTHOR’S VOICE is the style that distinguishes one writer from the next. Sandra Brown’s voice is quite different from Sherry Thomas’s, is widely different from C.W. Gortner’s. As readers, we identify with certain authors because of those differences, hence the reason publishing is so subjective. What are these elements?
WHAT MAKES YOUR VOICE UNIQUE
Does the author write rapid fire one-liners that make readers laugh? Are their novels tightly plotted with sharp detailing, or lyrical and flowing with flowery descriptions? These are part of voice. To break it down simply, the elements that make our novels stand out from each other are:
- the tone a writer uses
- types of phrasing
- the way the author evokes emotion from their readers
- how they emphasize plot points
- the types of characters they develop
- how they portray their view of the world through the actions of their characters
Another skill associated with author voice is…
MAKING THE ORDINARY SPARKLE
Authors with well-developed voices have a way of making the most trite object or situation appear fascinating and even twinkly. It’s not just a glass sitting on a table with condensation. It’s the boundary line between an arguing couple, sweating from the heat of their ire. It’s the pizzazz, the je ne sais quoi propelled by inner spirit and emotion that turns the mundane into something worth reading about.
Finally, let’s look at…
FINDING YOUR OWN VOICE
An author’s voice evolves over time as they become more in touch with their inner emotions, as they take in new experiences with a writer’s lens, and also as they learn…
Confidence: Many new writers make the mistake of mimicking an author’s voice they admire. While this may be helpful in the early phases of learning—to hone crafting skills—it can also be detrimental. It’s a delicate dance. Your voice can disappear inside someone else’s. What is needed above all is self-confidence.
It’s important to say these words aloud to someone: I am a writer. The more often you say it, the more the reality of that statement sinks into your brain. Eventually, you don’t feel like a phony anymore. You feel like a bonafide writer, a real artist with your own story to tell. Sure you like those other styles, but you have your OWN. Embrace it.
Read Mindfully: Reading and writing are closely linked. This is something every experienced author will tell you. Read loads of books, both in your genre and outside of it to widen your lens. Analyze the differences in author voice. What sort of techniques do they use that you like? Don’t like? Don’t put reading on the backburner while you’re writing. We never stop learning, and to grow as an author, reading is a must.
Let it Flow: Try free writing—about anything. Transition to free writing with your story in mind. Peel away years of defenses, of being the appropriate and professional at school, work, or online–this person, after all, is not the TRUE YOU.
What are your fears? Your biggest hurts? Your fantasies? These are the experiences that shape our emotional selves. And ultimately, your history shapes your voice. Sound scary? It is a bit, which is why many writers compare sharing their books to being naked in public. We funnel our inner desires, our demons into words, that everyone on the planet can read, applaud, or tear apart. It can be daunting, but unless the writer lets it all hang out, the voice is flat. It evaporates from the page.
Know your Audience: Who will GET your story? Who will sympathize with your protagonist? Your audience doesn’t need to define your voice, but it should certainly have a hand in shaping how you unveil your story elements.
Express Yourself: Madonna said it best. Don’t go for second best, baby. Put yourself to the test. How is your own life story unique? Despite the fact that every plotline has been told a hundred times, each one has a fresh viewpoint, a different set of circumstances. Emphasize these differences—this is where your voice will emerge.
Don’t Over-think it: Don’t try to sound like you, just relax and be natural. Think about one of the first academic papers you ever wrote. You wanted to appear smart so you dumped a bunch of fifty-cent words in the text. But it came off stiff, unnatural and at times probably didn’t even make sense. Don’t force your voice. It will rise to the surface if you listen to your heart.
Stay tuned for Part Two–honing your characters’ voices!
It’s All in the Voice Contest
Post the first 250 words of your novel to your blog, hop around and give feedback to others May 16t and 17th, and submit your final version by midnight, May 18th. Prizes include: an author marketing phone consultation with bestselling, self-published author Leia Shaw, FREE editing of your first 15 pages from moi (a $50 value), free books, and more! (Subscribe so you won’t miss any important posts!) The BIG contest post with all of the info goes up the week of May 6th. Stay tuned!
Posted by Heather on Mar 6, 2013 in
WRITING TIPS 
As the spring blows in, I find myself getting super excited for conference season! There are a few I’m excited about, but my favorite happens in June–the Historical Novel Society. It alternates every other year between the U.S. and England. This year it’s going down in a beautiful coastal town in Florida.
So what’s all the fuss about? Who even attends?
READERS WHO LOVE…
**Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, His. Romance, or His. YA
**Meeting authors they love, plus books signings
**Late night sex readings by their favorite authors (Diana G abaldon and several others with juicy tales)
**Big names like C.W. Gortner, Susan Vreeland, Michelle Moran, She
rry Jones, Leslie Carroll, and SO MANY MORE)
**Era fashion show & contest
**Cool panels on things like women in history, weaponry,witchcraft, the ancient world, poison, et al.
**Cocktail hour and semi-formal dinners
**novels with swashbuckling, seafaring, warring, medieval, renaissance, regency, early 1900′s or even WWII adventure tales and more
WRITERS WHO…
**Write in any of those categories above
**Enjoy any of those things above
**Want to pitch to agents & editors
**Are interested in craft or agent panels
**Could use some peer inspiration and camaraderie
www.overarts.com
**Want to meet their writing heroes
**Want to hit sunny Florida and stay in a hotel that overlooks the bay
Need more convicing?
Check out these bloggers who have their own feelings on the subject!
Amanda Orr
Marci Jefferson
Julianne Douglas
Susan Spann
What about you? Do you have any conferences you’re really excited about?
Posted by Heather on Feb 27, 2013 in
WRITING TIPS 
Everyone wants an audience, whether you’re posting cutsey cat pictures or spewing vitriol about some pop culture wave that ticks you off. Yet few site owners are aware of what makes a GOOD site. Some of the worse offenses include: ugly design (this may be subjective, but come on, there’s some BAD taste out there), cluttered pages with too many flashing doodads, the information isn’t organized in a logical way, or the posts are JUST PLAIN UNRELATABLE because they’re too obscure or, ugg, trite. Are you engaging in bad blog behavior? Let’s find out.
APPEARANCE
Font, size, and background color are extremely important. If a reader has to squint at the neon green type or dig for a clear menu, they’ll be outta there in three seconds. Choose a large and clear font in a readable color (not a pretty one). Select menu tabs that are located CLEARLY near the top of the page with headings that indicate EXACTLY what the page is about. Finally, choose a background color wisely. Whether you realize it or not, it communicates a subconscious message to readers. Is it hot pink? Then it must be a chick lit or romance blog. Is it black or another dark shade? It must be a site that offers supernatural or heavy content. Be aware and CHOOSY about the message you’d like to send.
LENGTH
Keep it shortish. 250-350 words is the goal, not a rambling post the reader has to scroll through for fifteen minutes. People want to spend five minutes on your blog, or less in many cases! Keep it short or lose readers. There’s plenty of other enticing websites out there that get it right.
SECTION BREAKS
See how I’ve done that? It helps categorize the material so readers can skim the parts that don’t interest them and jump right to what counts. So now I’ve kept readers who may not have stuck around to begin with. They’ll notice the layout of the post is appealing and may even want to see what other juicy tidbits the site offers.
PICTURES
There’s been a lot research lately that shows people are more likey to follow a link, comment, or participate in a discussion if they see a photo with an article or post. We’re talking more than 70% more likely! We’re visual creatures. Display an appealing image that relates to the content.
CONTENT
There’s a lot to this little category, so I’ll bullet a few of the bigger ideas below.
- Consider your audience. Who would you like to reach? Write posts targeted toward their interest. If a topic doesn’t relate to your platform once in awhile that’s okay, but generally keep them relevant.
- Give back. Readers want to take something away from your posts since they’re spending their precious time on your site, whether it be information, inspiration, or motivation.
- Be careful with your opinions. If you’re likely to offend a larger number of people than the number you’ll attract, refrain from posting. If it’s an issue you simply must address, fine. But be prepared for potential fall out.
COMMENTS
For the love of all that’s holy, do NOT harrass, insult, mimick, or abuse your commentors/reviewers/fellow bloggers. You just wind up looking like an asshole with a thin skin—EVEN IF YOU’RE RIGHT! Take the high road. ALWAYS. Remember, you want to drive traffic to your page, not away.
If you like this post, try:
6 Best Marketing Tips for Writers
8 Most Important Tips of a Successful Writer
Applying the Spit & Polish
Posted by Heather on Jan 2, 2013 in
WRITING TIPS 
I love a clean slate. There’s something powerful about the chance to begin again, to reboot our systems and relaunch goals that we’ve failed to meet. This year mine revolve around finishing book two and curbing my love of sugar (um, yeah right). So to those who have always wanted to write a book, this is your chance. A fresh start. Renewed enthusiasm and strength! But how should you get started?
CLEAR THE CLUTTER
Start with physical clutter. Organize your work space. Next, clear the mental clutter. Lock the door and put on whatever music helps you GET IN THE ZONE. Jot down a rough outline (bullet points will do) of what you’d like to accomplish in the next scene or two, or even the next few chapters if you’re feeling up to it. I find it’s best to stick to those you’re about to work on.
JUST 100 WORDS
Having trouble starting? JUST PUT SOMETHING DOWN. You can, and likely will change it. That’s okay, but you have to start somewhere. Give yourself a goal of just 100 words. More often than not you’ll find yourself flying way beyond that tiny goal. Other days, you’ll just barely make it, but word by word, you will reach THE END!
FIND A PARTNER
Misery loves company, or something like that. Find a critique partner or bring together a small group or large group–whatever suits you–and help each other. Set goals. Cheer each other on. There’s not only safety in numbers, but STRENGTH! Surround yourself with others on a similar path so you may propel each other toward your goals.
SET HARD GOALS
While it’s good to aim for the stars, doing so can often shut us down before we begin. Set goals you can accomplish. Then complete them NO MATTER WHAT. Consider them hard deadlines, the kind of deadlines that will invoke serious consequences if not met. I will not get to watch the next episode of Scandal if I don’t finish these 100 words. I will eat collard greens instead of pizza if I don’t finish these 100 words! I will not sleep, if I don’t finish these 100 words!
BE ACCOUNTABLE
No whining. No making excuses. There is almost never the perfect time to write. And that book ain’t gonna write itself. You are the ONLY ONE who will write it. You are the ONLY ONE who has this story swimming around in your brain tormenting you. If you want to call yourself a writer, you MUST WRITE and be accountable for the days you AREN’T writing. So make a set schedule, swallow the hundreds of reasons why you don’t have time, and DO IT!
Happy Writing New Year, all!
Posted by Heather on Dec 18, 2012 in
WRITING TIPS Thank you all for your comments and congratulations! Winners of the Historical Holiday Hop are:
Theresa Newbury & Donna McCabe
Please email me your mailing addresses at HeatherWebb (dot)writes(at)gmail(dot)com.
And now, on with the show!
All authors are looking for that magic marketing formula. How much money should we spend on ads? What should our websites look like? How much time should be spent on social media? How do we distinguish ourselves amidst all of the white noise? But these are the wrong questions. The best way to establish oneself as an author, to be an effective marketing guru, isn’t quantifiable. *rips out hair* So what should an author focus on for promotion?
CULTIVATE YOUR VOICE Be yourself, which is to say, be unique! Don’t try to rip off another author’s style. It will not only feel phony to you, your readers will see that you’re trying too hard. Don’t assume they can’t tell. Give them more credit than that! Also keep in mind that online articles are more informal in voice. You don’t want to sound like a stiff or a nag or you’ll bore your readers.
BE CREATIVE Start your own writing-related services, writer group, or hashtag. Set up a bookstand with your novels at a soccer match, purchase inexpensive paraphernalia with your cover on it or maybe your character’s names. Sell it on your website, distribute it at conferences. People like stuff! Make cupcakes with your book cover on them and bring them to the day job, the community center, or the library. You get the idea. Think outside of the box.
GET INVOLVED We’re all busy with our lives outside of writing, but it’s imperative you make time to get involved. Volunteer for your favorite writing group(s) or writer forums, agree to guest blog appearances, critique others’ pages, post industry-related articles. See and be seen. You’ll meet great people this way, not to mention, you may discover what you’re good at or what doesn’t work for you. You may meet your agent this way!
RESEARCH A writer’s research is never finished. Pay attention to what is selling in the book market. Listen to what readers want. Track the changes happening in the industry. How will this information affect your current platform? How can you change to incorporate new trends and more importantly, to reach MORE readers? Do your research, if not daily, weekly.
ENGAGE Reach out! Find ways to connect to different groups of people, both in person and online. Attend conferences, book fairs, and author signings. Cheer on your fellow writers in their quest to publication. Form relationships with people. When your agent tells you to get on Twitter, what they mean to say is, TALK TO PEOPLE. Make friends. Swap anecdotes, swap recipes. Anything! What you’re actually doing is forming your tribe. Your tribe will gladly help promote your works because THEY LIKE YOU. Because they’re your friends. Never underestimate the power of banding together to spread the word.
WRITE AMAZING, DROOL-WORTHY BOOKS The best way to gain more readers, to harness your success is to write more books. The kind of books that send readers on a journey, that wrench open minds with a crow bar, that break hearts.
So get writing! And remember that being yourself and building relationships are the most effective marketing tools.
Tags: brand, marketing, platform
Posted by Heather on Oct 20, 2012 in
WRITING TIPS 
We’re continuing our pitch series here at Between the Sheets. Today we’ll discuss tips on HOW TO DELIVER your pitch. (If you missed the COMPONENTS of a Rock Star pitch explained in Part 1, click HERE.) Also, check back next week for our pitch workshop and finally, an opportunity to get your pages in front of literary agent Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management (more details below).
So let’s begin!
One of the most important things about pitching is precisely what most writers forget—a pitch is a MARKETING TOOL. Not only is your pitch a snazzy combo of phrases aimed to tempt readers, it’s an integral piece in SELLING yourself as an author. Remember that agents and publishers, even readers, are taking a risk by investing their time in you and your novel(s). This means the craft of your pitch is AS important as HOW YOU DELIVER it.
Let’s take a look at the two different ways to give a pitch—online or in person—and tips on how to deliver it like a rock star.
PITCHING ONLINE
WHERE CAN YOU PITCH ONLINE? Dozens of author blogs and writing blogs run contests. How do you find them? Scour the #amwriting hashtag on Twitter, check the “contests” or “opportunities” threads in the forums you belong to, or google “pitch + blog” and you’ll have plenty of links to choose from. One great group that offers many pitching contests is Savvy Authors.
FOLLOW GUIDELINES You aren’t being clever or “thinking outside of the box” by ignoring the rules. The worst thing you can do is show that you don’t know how to read and follow directions! If the pitching guidelines in a contest call for three sentence, that’s what you give them, otherwise your entries will be deleted and you’ll be chalked up as just another author who isn’t savvy about the business.
RESEARCH This is an obvious point, but for some ungodly reason, lots of writers fail to do this! Look up the agent you’re interested in pitching to–what genres do they represent? Are there any sub-genres they prefer? How do you find out this information? Go to their agency websites or blogs. Check out their sales on Publisher’s Weekly. Read the blurbs for novels they have sold. Is there a common thread between these novels and your own? USE THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
PITCHING IN PERSON
WHERE CAN YOU PITCH IN PERSON? Usually in person pitch opportunities are available at writer conferences, but on occasion you may be able to schedule meetings at book festivals, or chapter meetings of local writing groups. Do NOT show up at an agent’s office unannounced. I PROMISE this won’t go well—it’s not being “clever”, it’s being a stalker!
RESEARCH Here we are again! Researching is one of the best ways to prepare for a perfect pitch delivery. Once you’ve received the conference brochure, look up every single agent that represents what you write. Not sure who reps your genre? Research them all to BE SURE. Yes, this takes a lot of time, but it’s worth it. You’ll be wasting your time and the agent’s if you pitch a novel that doesn’t match their preferences. Plus, if you know your stuff, you’ll avoid unnecessary heartache and rejection.
Another quick note—I’ll repeat what I said above—find a common thread between the novels you write and those your chosen agent sells/reps.
EX. If your dream agent just sold SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN, you should say something along the lines of: “My fantasy novel SLEEPING BEAUTY THE DRAGON SLAYER has similar themes to SNW&H in that it is based on a classic fairy tale, and my heroine is a warrior princess on a quest for freedom from an evil queen as well as eternal love”. Random example, but you get the idea.
KNOW THE MARKET This also falls under research. As a writer, it is your responsibility to know what books are similar to yours out there, which movies are similar, what is hot in your genre, what’s overdone. You also need to know what novels/bios/films are about to be released. How are you supposed to know all of that? Go to B & N and study the new release shelves, check out magazines or e-zines that review novels in your genre, and study boook review sites like Goodreads. Read Entertainment Weekly magazine or others similar that review TV, movies, and books. You want to be able to highlight the DIFFERENCES, the super COOLNESS that makes your book stand apart. To do so, you need to know what’s already out there. Remember—THINK MARKETING TOOL!
BOOK APPOINTMENTS EARLY Schedule time with as many appropriate agents and editors as you can and do it the minute you know you’ll attend the conference. The early bird gets the worm! You want to make sure you can meet with the agent of your choice AND you may even be able to choose the time slots you prefer. Consult the conference’s website or your registration info and FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.
PRACTICE YOUR PITCH on your friends and pets—anyone who will listen. It may even be a good idea to record yourself. Pitching in front of a camera is uncomfortable. You feel silly, but it mimics the same uneasy space you’ll be in when you’re pitching to agents. So practice, practice, practice! The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel.
DRESS TO KILL Look hot. This doesn’t mean stilettos and fishnets hot, but pressed, pretty, and comfortable hot. Again, think MARKETING TOOL. An agent wants to sign a writer who is going to write well AND dress the part. Remember, they’re trying to sell your work and you as an author. The more you look/act like a professional, the more likely you are to gain their attention in a GOOD way.
BREAK THE ICE Start your pitch session by introducing yourself, asking a friendly question or two about the conference, etc., and then begin your pitch.
KEEP IT SHORT Time yourself while you’re practicing at home—your pitch shouldn’t run longer than 2-3 minutes, EVEN if the time slot is 8-15 minutes in length. You want to leave time for the agent to ask questions, or time for you to ask your own! If your pitch runs over two minutes, condense it.
AVOID THE ROBOT There’s nothing more annoying than listening to someone recite a pitch that sounds like a script. Yes, you should practice a lot and be comfortable with the catch phrases you’re going to use. But you don’t want to sound like a humanoid that lacks emotion. Remember, you want to not only tell an agent what your book is about, you also want to demonstrate that you’re enthusiastic about it!
PROJECT CONFIDENCE You wrote a novel! This is a monumental accomplishment! You should be proud of yourself, of what you have created. So act like it. Remember that agents want your work and NEED your work. That’s the whole reason they do what they do! Be calm, look the agent in the eye, and above all, remember they’re just as hopeful as you are that you’re a perfect “fit” for them.
COME WITH QUESTIONS Asking questions shows that you’re taking an active role in the future of your writing career. Some sample quesitons might be: What types of projects are you looking for right now? Can you tell me a little about your selection process? Are you a hands-on, editorial agent, or do you leave your authors to do their own thing? Is there any sort of setting, character, etc that always excites you?
HAVE FUN The entire process of agent hunting can be nerve-racking, stressful, depressing, fantastically exciting. Try to enjoy each step of the process, as difficult as that may seem. One day you’ll look back and think fondly about those times and wish you were in the midst of something so exciting.
Stay tuned for our pitch workshop. Sign-ups will begin next Monday.
CONTEST
The week of NOVEMBER 5th, join us at Between the Sheets and flex your PITCHING skills. Post your badass pitch in the comments section of the PITCH-ILICIOUS CONTEST POST for a chance to win. Three pitches will be selected by an anonymous judge to move on to the FINAL ROUND.
Here’s the best part.
Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management will select a winner and read their opening 10 pages!
Other prizes include FREE critiques from editor extraordinaire (yours truly), and a variety of books. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! This isn’t an event you want to miss.
Important Dates
October 29th-31st: Sign up to join the pitch workshop–give & receive feedback from myself and your fellow writers
November 1st & 2nd: Hop from blog to blog to give and receive feedback on your pitches
November 5th-November 9th: Post your pitch in the comments section to enter a chance to get your firt ten pages in front of agent Michelle Brower
Like this post? Try:
QUERY MUSTS & QUERY FAUX PAS
Posted by Heather on Oct 14, 2012 in
WRITING TIPS Today we begin a three part series on pitching your novel. We’ll start by talking about the components of a good pitch. In part 2, we’ll discuss delivering your rock star pitch. Finally, we’ll conclude with a workshop and a CONTEST!!! Get your first ten pages in front of literary agent Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management! (More details below.)
So let’s get started!!
What types of pitches are there?
1. The one sentence pitch or elevator pitch
2. The three sentence pitch (25-35 words, preferably)
3. In-person pitches at conferences or book festivals, typically in 8-10 minute blocks (*** to be discussed in part two.)
4. Online pitches via email, twitter, or writer forums
What are the components of a good pitch?
1. Juicy, image-provoking language
2. The setting, if it’s important.
3. The protagonist (s), including only the most important details about the his/her character or motivation.
3. The CENTRAL conflict between protag and what is working against them (antagonist, evil forces, society, etc.)
3. The choices the protag must face to acheive his/her goal
What You Should NOT Include
1. Themes or the emotional journey of the protagonist. These are elements that come about in a novel as a RESULT of the plot. Pitches are about plot, and only the CENTRAL question in the plot!
2. Too many details that don’t relate to the BIG PROBLEM in the novel.
3. Tepid word choices or verbs of being. Make the pitch powerful and active!
Other Tips
- Make a bulleted list of the 10 major points in your novel. Boil the list down to three. From there, figure out what the pivotal moment, the big twist, or the climactic moment is. Form you pitch around this moment. Another way to look at it is to answer these questions: What’s at stake for your protag? What must they overcome to accomplish XXX?
- Emphasize the most unique components of your manuscript. How is it different than the rest of those YA paranormal books or those historicals written about queens?
- Leave the reader wanting more–don’t give away the climax of the book. Remember that a pitch is a teaser!
- Be careful of clichés that sound like a movie trailer.
- Use vivid language that evokes imagery. You want your reader/listener to be able to visualize your story or at least one memorable scene.
- Make sure the tone of the pitch matches the tone of your manuscript. If you wrote a romantic comedy, your pitch should make that obvious. You wouldn’t use the same language to describe a horror or steampunk novel as you would BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY.
Easy Formula to Get Started
When [opening conflict] happens to [character(s)], they must [overcome conflict] to [achieve their goal or complete their quest].
Stay tuned for part two…
CONTEST
The week of NOVEMBER 5th, join us at Between the Sheets and flex your PITCHING skills. Post your badass pitch in the comments section of the PITCH-ILICIOUS CONTEST POST for a chance to win. Three pitches will be selected by an anonymous judge to move on to the FINAL ROUND.
Here’s the best part.
Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management will select a winner and read their opening 10 pages!
Other prizes include FREE critiques from editor extraordinaire (yours truly), and a variety of books. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! This isn’t an event you want to miss.
Important Dates
October 22nd: How to deliver the perfect pitch and other tips about marketing
October 29th: Sign up to join the pitch workshop–give & receive feedback from myself and your fellow writers
November 5th-November 9th: Post your pitch in the comments section to enter a chance to win the Pitch-ilcious contest and get your pages in front of Michelle Brower
Like this post? Try:
QUERY MUSTS & QUERY FAUX PAS
