For My Writers

5 min readMar 29, 2019

You got this either way.

You got this!

Once you finished your manuscript. And by finished I mean draft after fucking draft.

Or in my case: Reader Reviews then Editors — both professional reader review and developmental. It can be a tricky thing to navigate the ‘dreaded’ pitch list. And these are for those authors/writers seeking traditional publication and not the self publishing route.

I want to say — even though you hear dreaded stories online of pitching to editors or agents or no after no. It’s not that harsh. Really.

Yes we have our crying games but you make it through. And regardless, set the determination that one way or another, your book WILL go out to the cosmos whichever path you take.

Here are some tips and steps I learned to help you get through the pitching process:

A — Get the reader reviews going before pitching. Sure Aunt Sally might be your best friend and think you’re the best writer in the whole wide world! And you know what, she should! Because you and everyone going through pitching needs a champion during this process to get you moving but get that feedback from readers to improve your game. Meaning, your writing skills and the structure of your book.

It’s like getting a coach.

Professionals and/or trusted Reader Reviewers can spot your blind spots and weaknesses before you even see them. I thought I was done my ‘final’ manuscript and was like, ‘This is the shit!” But I burned through my agent list way too fast, too furious!

There’s usually a 6–8 week waiting period for a reply from Agents so I pitched many at once.

I suggest try a few at first or just one with a short waiting period and see what happens from there.

Also, do your homework on agents! Such as their credibility, do they work with an established firm and do they accept multiple submissions at once?

When you start receiving the same response from agents/editors who write back and/or take the time to give you feedback (which is rare but in my case it’s not and I’ll show you how!) Go back, own your shit of what needs to be improved on and practice before you go up to bat again.

B — Feedback. Okay here’s the deal people. When you pitch to an agent. Do your fucking homework! What do I mean by that?

Take the fucking time to get to know your potential Agent! But Pam, I don’t have that kind of time. Bullshit!

Yes you do have time and I’m not saying stalk them either!

How would you like to be pitched a generic Dear Agent email that’s just copy and paste?

We all get our share of Dear Author replies but know this — some agents have 600–800 pitches in their inbox per fucking WEEK!

And YOU have to stand out from that as they call — slush pile.

Guess how I got feedback regardless of the response which was crucial and vital for my development as a writer?

I took the time to see what they really wanted on their list. I even commented on many agent’s dog for my pitch because I Love Dogs! Look for authentic commonalities that are sincere and meaningful. Build rapport, build relationships.

It only takes a little investment in your day and one sentence in your Query Letter can do just that! Show them that you wish for them to be YOUR agent.

Which leads me to …

C — There is no C…there never was. Moving on.

D — I didn’t do the Pitch to 100s of Agent thing. I could! Heck, if you want to — go ahead! Be my guest!

But for me it wasn’t the quantity of agents — but more those whom I resonated with the most. I even checked out Instagram accounts and podcasts to get to know my Agents. Not for hours but just a little bit to get to know them and then sent my pitch.

Because guess what, when one says Yes — This wonderful human being is going to bat for you — so you better fucking like him/her/them or at least get to know one thing about them you like!

Again, feedback is rare from Agents and yet all I received was pretty much personal replies, thank you, and even why it wasn’t a fit for them at the moment.

Some even gave advice on how to pitch further! Crazy right?!

This is invaluable information people all because YOU took the time to care enough about who your agent was — Which leads me to…

E — Agents are people too, like you and me. They come to work checking their inbox through a slush pile. It’s like an online dating service meaning of all these authors that want to be represented by them. So they are finding their fit through a quick pitch.

So guess what?! If your agent says no.

Move on!

Maybe it wasn’t a fit. Maybe it wasn’t what they were looking for at that time. Sometimes when you genre blending like: Sci-Fi/Space Opera and Romance an agent might be more heavy on one genre than the other. But maybe you pitch anyway to see how it goes so at least you know.

I know it’s hard. Believe me. NO trust me, I know it’s hard.

I too had my laying in bed moment looking at a blank white ceiling wanting to cry…calling a friend.

At least see the no as a decision. You too are moving through your pile of Agents to find your best fit as well. Remember that.

Which leads me to…

F — I can’t stand this letter — it sounds like a letter grade. Moving on…

G — Good Greatness, keep pitching and surround yourself with positive people!

Luckily many of my friends are in the coaching and self help industry so they have their ways of telling me to keep going and encouraging me onward!

And I have awesome amazing creative/artistic friends who give me little nudges into what to do during the waiting period — because traditional publishing does have that waiting period, especially at the beginning.

Think about it — say you pitch directly to an Agent instead of a Publishing House. Then once you get accepted — that Agent pitches to Publishers, Publishers to Editors and more drafts, cover artists, bio’s, pics and so on and so forth, then Final Cut.