After attending a slew of writers conferences in the past 3 months and listening to hundreds of authors pitch their work, a few key factors for success started to appear. What agents want is to be engaged with the author and with the story being sold to them. Read this quick presentation to learn how to do both and get all of the relevant information across in 4 minutes.

1. Dominate
your 4-minute
Author Pitch
Founder, Quill Shift Literary Agency
Ayanna Coleman

2. 4 minutes
fly...

3. ...and sometimes
you're nervous

4. But messing it up could
mean:
The best YOU is not showcased
No one requests your work because
they don't "get it"

5. Remember!
You're selling yourself as much as your work

6. How does one
succeed?

7. How to prepare
How to perform
How to respond
By understanding:

8. PREPARATION

9. Do your
research on
the agents
and editors
in
attendance
before you
pitch.
Match
your
work
with
those
who
would
want it.

10. PERFORMANCE

11. Smile
Shake hands
Set materials out of way
Make eye contact
Take a deep breath
Smile again and begin

12. Pitch Checklist
Your name
Describe the setting
Explain the conflict
Close with why readers will
fall into your story
Tell what books your
work is similar to/why
Introduce the main
characters
Title of your work
Genre your work fits into
Word count of your work
Why you want to pitch
that agent or editor

13. RESPONSE

14. NOT THIS

15. Response Options
Thank the agent/editor
Respectfully ask if there is
any room for improvement
in your pitch or story
Ask if it should be an
attachment or within e-mail
Shake hands and leave
Shake hands and leave
Ask what length you should
send for their review (full, 1st
25 pgs, etc.)
Interest No Interest
Thank the agent/editor

16. Good Luck!
www.quillshift.com info@quillshift.com @QuillShift