Three success stories from DFW Writers’ Conferences
Dreams can come true. Just ask Jamie Harrington and Jenny Martin, both of whom attended the 2010 DFW Writers’ Conference and signed with agent Mary Kole of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Candace Isenhower, who signed with Uwe Stender after attending the 2009 conference. Their completely different approaches to meeting the agent are an inspiration for anyone considering attending a major writers’ conference.
Jamie Harrington
Q: Why did you decide to attend the conference?
Honestly, I did it just for the chance to meet people who were working on getting published like me. I knew that online networking was totally invaluable in the publishing industry, so I figured that real-life networking would be even better. I was totally right, too. I met so many cool writer-type people, and I can’t believe the connections I got out of just one weekend.
Q: How did you choose Mary Kole?
Mary and I actually met at the mixer put on by the conference. She was kind of being bombarded by people pitching her their novels and stuff, so I just walked up and started making small talk. By the end of the evening, we were cracking jokes and hanging out like real friends. I didn’t know how much I wanted her to be my agent until that night. That’s the cool thing about meeting an agent in person at a writers’ conference, you never know how your personalities are going to mesh up until you meet in person.
Q: How did you prepare for your appointment?
I didn’t actually have an appointment, but Mary did ask me what my book was about when we were hanging out (I waited for her to ask) and then I told her all about it. I wasn’t planning on pitching, but I think the fact that I was just honest about my story and didn’t have some canned speech helped me.
Q: So, you made an informal pitch work for you. What happened next?
Well, it was the last day of the conference at lunch, and Mary asked me if I wanted to go for a walk and just hang out. Of course, I said yes, but then I ended up walking her out into a big field, because I was so nervous! But, she must have still loved me, because she asked for my manuscript and read it as soon as she got home.
Q. What did it feel like to get ”The Call”?
She didn’t actually call. She sent an email, because we’d made a joke at the conference about how we were email people, not really phone people. So, when I opened it, I danced around my living room like a total goof. It was the coolest day pretty much ever. I accepted right then, because I knew she and I were meant to make books together.
Q. What advice do you have for other writers?
My biggest piece of advice is to go to conferences, and put yourself in a position to get some real face time with an agent. They aren’t just selling your book to publishers, they’re selling you, and when they think you’re extra awesome because they’ve spent some time with you, then your chances of getting an offer of representation are so much better. Remember to just be your amazing self and don’t get nervous. They’re real life people, ask them how their day’s going!
Jenny Martin
Q: Why did you decide to attend the conference?
As a member of DFW Writers’ Workshop, I’d heard so many stories about the opportunities the conference offered. I’d heard there would be agents and great presenters, so of course, I jumped at the opportunity to go.
Q: How did you choose Mary Kole?
I was already a fan of Mary’s blog (kidlit.com) and her agency for some time. Even so, it was incredible to meet Mary in person. Yes, the pitch appointment was great. But, I enjoyed the opportunities to visit and socialize during the conference even more. In listening to her chat about books, the industry, and writing in general, I was able to get a genuine sense of her agenting style and personality. People emphasize the pitch, but the receptions and sessions are just as worthwhile! It’s nice to meet the flesh and blood person behind the agent’s online persona. And I can tell you that Mary is as fun, witty, and fabulous as you’d imagine. Her passion and understanding is matchless. Because of the conference, I really felt a connection with Mary. She also signed attendee Jamie Harrington after the conference, and it felt like a win/win situation.
Q: How did you prepare for your appointment?
I worked to boil down my pitch to a two-minute talk. I made sure to include the gist and feel of the story. Preparation was key.
Q: How did your pitch session go?
Mary was very nice, so I wasn’t as frazzled as I’d expected. After pitching, we talked about the project. I was prepared for questions, and we had a relaxed, low-key conversation. She requested the full manuscript, and I sent it the day after the conference.
Q. What did it feel like to get “The Call”?
A week or so after I sent the full manuscript of ROCKAPOCALYPSE, she e-mailed to set up a time “to chat.” According to my writer friends, that’s a secret code phrase for THE CALL, when an interested agent phones to make sure you’re not a crazy person and to make sure the author is a good fit before offering representation. She did make me an offer. Of course, my mind was reeling and I was a babbling dork. It’s corny, but it was a magical moment for me. After taking a few days to notify other agents I had queried, I accepted Mary’s offer!
Q. What suggestions do you have for other writers?
Persevere. Never think you’ve got it all figured out. Learn from every rejection and keep working to improve. Join a writers’ workshop and attend conferences. Write, write, write, but also read, read, read and listen, listen, listen. Value your writing friends, they are priceless allies!
Candace Isenhower
Do some authors who attend writers’ conferences really get an agent? Yes. Just ask Candace Isenhower who pitched her Young Adult, Christian fantasy novel to Dr. Uwe Stender at the 2009 DFW Writers’ Conference.
Q: Why did you decide to attend the conference?
To be honest, I really suck at writing query letters. I think I wrote a thousand for my novel and they were all crappy—there was just no way I’d send them to anyone, let alone to an agent. Still, I really liked my book and I wanted to try to get it published.
So, I started praying pretty hard and looking at other options and I discovered that you could pitch to real, live agents at writers’ conferences. I’d always had the misconception that writers’ conferences were for published authors. It took me awhile to figure out that I could go to one. I searched for conferences online, and wouldn’t you know, the DFW Writers’ Conference was occurring within a few weeks! I squealed and signed up. It was an easy decision.
Q: How did you choose Dr. Stender?
Originally, my first choice for pitching was Gina Panettieri. I researched the heck out of her and I just thought she was so perfect for my novel. Of course, I was devastated when I heard she wouldn’t be able to attend due to illness. [Note: Gina Panettieri attended the 2010 conference.] I asked if I could switch to Dr. Uwe Stender on the off chance that someone would have mercy on me so I could at least practice pitching. Gloriously, the agent appointment coordinator said Dr. Stender had a cancellation and they gave it to me. There was more squealing and jumping and hugging the computer. Did I mention that the DFW Writers’ Conference staff is awesome?
Q: How did you prepare for your appointment?
I went online to find out what writers say during these pitch sessions and I discovered the popular — almost required — one-sentence pitch. Then I freaked out. I’d been having trouble explaining my novel in a one-page letter, so I got to work on that sentence right away. By the time of the conference, I could say my sentence backwards and forwards, and I’d used it on so many people who thought it was great that I felt pretty sure I could say it without fainting. I felt totally prepared.
Q: What did you feel like during the pitch session?
The whole thing was a complete disaster. I felt like an American Idol reject. You see, there was a major problem with my pitch planning sessions. I was so focused on the one-sentence pitch that I didn’t give a single thought to what I would say afterwards. So, don’t forget that if the agent likes your initial pitch, they’ll actually want to talk about your book. For me, the talking part was a nightmare. There were lots of hand gestures that included sound effects, and I may or may not have sprayed the agent with spit. I have no idea why Dr. Stender requested to read my full manuscript. When it was all over, I felt like an idiot, but I couldn’t stop smiling for the rest of the day.
Q: After you sent the full manuscript, what did it feel like when he finally said yes?
I’d spent months imagining what this call might feel like. I always thought I would scream and jump up and down (I do that a lot)—but I was just stunned. Stunned and very, very grateful.
Q: What are your future plans?
To write, of course! And I also plan to attend the DFW Writers’ Conference every year for the rest of my life because—to me—the 2009 conference felt like magic. Sure, getting an agent was exciting and mind boggling, but the people were unbelievable, too. They were so nice. When I showed up in jeans and motorcycle boots (the dress code’s business casual in case you’re wondering) they didn’t notice at all. They just smiled and chatted, and invited me to sit at their table during lunch. (Thank goodness!). I mean, I was expecting something totally different. I never expected to walk into a big writers’ conference and feel like I belonged. So, thanks to the people of the DFW Writers’ Conference — I think you rock.
