Thursday, February 10, 2011

How to Pitch an Agent in person!

Q. Hi. I have a 5-minute appointment scheduled with a New York agent at a writer's conference. With only that much time, would you suggest I get right to the novel or should I start with my credentials and condense the story to a pitch line and a quick overview. I'd like to skip the amenities and get the story in, but I don't want to seem too abrupt or rude.
- Glenn

A. Glenn, five minutes is plenty of time to do everything you need. When you're talking about the book (the pitch), you shouldn't need more than about a minute and a half to pitch a novel, and maybe two minutes for nonfiction. After that, you can start talking about your credentials and accomplishments and platform. The whole thing should not take more than three minutes. I suspect most people practice their speech beforehand but still have it too long and sprawling. Boil it down; skip the nitty-gritty details. If you pitch your work in three minutes (max), you allow two minutes for discussion and follow-up questions. As far as how the order works, I would suggest jumping into the book pitch first, then getting to your credentials second.

Guide to literary agents Blog!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Heaven's Gate Tennis Shoes -Remember the souls, not the soles!

There has been a lot of buzz on the blogs lately about the Nike Tennis shoes that the cult wore when they committed the mass suicide.

As a family member of one of those who followed the cults beliefs to the Next Level, I think its a sad statement about our culture that the tennis shoes get more publicity-- 11 years later-- than the precious lives lost on that day.

Is it the visual image that the shoes bring to mind of the bodies (vessels, to use their beliefs)that drives this buzz?

IS Nike creating the buzz?

Please remember the families and friends of those who left us on that day. Let's remember the souls, not the soles.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

OM Poetry Book now an Ebook on Barnes and Noble!

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New Guide on Copyright Law !! Great Resource!

NOLO
Getting Permission: How to License & Clear Copyrighted Materials Online & Off
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I borrowed it from the library, but I will be buying my own copy!