Did you know such thing even existed? No, it’s not authors dating authors, although maybe that’s not a bad idea either. It’s an event organised by an author society, where about a dozen publishers get to hear 3-minute pitches from writers that want to traditionally publish their books. I’ve known about the one organised by Australian Society of Authors for years now, but it has always sold out in a matter of days if not hours. This year, however, I get to go!
How did I do it? As usual, with dogged persistence. When I missed out last year, I went ahead and put a recurring reminder into my calendar to check the website for the next year’s announcement. Because I was told it would happen “early next year,” the reminder started on 1 January and repeated every day until now. I kept checking the website and was starting to lose hope when voila! There was the announcement and the web form. I tried to submit it a couple of times, but it didn’t work. When I called them, the staff member was in shock because she did not know it was already published on the web, it was supposed to get her approval or something. She took my credit card details (the event costs $50 AUD) and after much begging from me, sent me an email confirming that yes, I’m in.
So yay! On 24 June I get to finally meet those elusive publishers who so far managed to hide behind their assistants and template rejection letters. I have four months to finish my new book and to plan my assault. Me thinks I will be pitching not only the story, but myself too – the doggedly persistent author of not one, but three books. Gimme a contract for three novels over two years! I will deliver!
I will be posting about my experience, of course, and whether the event was worth the $50 (plus the membership with Writers Victoria). If you live in Australia, you may want to put a reminder in your calendar for next January or get onto the waiting list. If you live elsewhere, contact your local author society to see if they are doing something similar, or suggest that they do.
I know it’s a long time away, but the deadline got me even more energized to continue writing, and that alone is worth the fifty bucks. So far I’d managed between 800 and 1,100 words per day over the first three days, and that’s after long, hard days at work. let’s just see what happens over the weekend.
Hope you are well and that the Muse has visited you too, if not in the shower, then maybe in your dreams, or in the long boring meeting. Whenever it is, invite her in.
Ana Spoke, author 
This sounds incredible! I’d be so nervous.
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I probably will be on the day, but I as usual, I will overprepare, so it should go okay 🙂
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This post is so great! I had no idea that speed-dating for authors was a thing. I would absolutely be all over that if I was an author. What a fantastic idea! Congrats and I’m so happy for you. Have a tonne of fun, and I can’t wait to read about your experience! 😀😀
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Thank you 🙂 can’t wait…
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Good luck!
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Thank you!
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Can’t wait to read the after action report!
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This is perfect for you! I know you will impress the right publisher and get your book deal. I can’t wait to hear about your new book! I’m going to start writing soon but first I need the Dragon program as I’m terrible at typing. This just might be your big break. Keep writing that new book and wow them with it. Your doing great at working and writing so many words. Kill it this weekend writing. If you get stuck just take a hot shower.(ha,ha) Good luck! 🙂
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That sounds really interesting! For that short a time, you must really have to have your elevator pitch down. Best of luck to you!
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Thank you Amelia – I’ve already started researching that. Closer to the date, I might post some sample videos of myself pitching, to get feedback
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I look forward to seeing it!
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Wow, dogged persistence pays off! Good for you Ana!
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Thank you Kathy. I found it’s the only way – nothing worth having comes easy.
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Interesting. A neighbor did something similar in New York. She didn’t get a contract. So Later she got in with a hybred type publisher who helps you be half self / half publisher type. Then she got a publicist for her book. That publicist got her book accepted and dealed with the Libraryss, who then ordered a ton of them: problem being (I wish I had such problems) that this caused an emergency printing (boo hoo; so expensive to do an emergency printing) since they all sold out. Poor thing. Such problems. (Me shaking the author: GIVE ME SUCH PROBLEMS! 😉
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I want those problems too! Keep imagining how I have to choose between a contract for three books and my current career…terrible…
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Good luck.
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Thank you 🙂
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This is such a great idea! Congrats 🙂 I can’t wait to hear about it.
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These events have run for years in the U.S. I attended one in New York City last August, where you had an hour to fit in as many three-minute pitches to agents as you could. I managed to pitch to ten, who all requested either a partial or full manuscript from me. Of the ten, seven have passed on my manuscript and I’m still waiting to hear back from three (yes, it takes that long…) I’m still pretty happy with the result so far, as I have received great feedback from most of them on the strength of my writing, with some requesting I send my next project to them when ready. Others made helpful suggestions for improvement on the manuscript I pitched (but I’m starting to think my idea may not be “original” enough). It was a great learning curve. Pitching helps you cut through all the waffle and learn to say in a few sentences what your story is REALLY about. Just make sure your manuscript is finished and polished before you pitch. Good luck!
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