Sign up for our Washington Writers Conference!!

I blanked my first time pitching. Couldn’t remember the how-to tips I read, the secrets that won the pitch competition I attended, nor all the prepping in front of the mirror. I dug into my memory’s filing cabinet to pull up nuggets from my manuscript and respond from my gut to why she should buy it. When I finished she paused, reached into her purse, and handed me a business card. I reached for it slowly. In the surrealism of the moment I didn’t at first realize, she actually wanted to see the full manuscript. Now I’m chairing the Washington Writers Conference hoping to arrange moments where the pitch clicks and agents or editors connect with your vision.

Early on, over lunch just outside of Union Market our board president, Salley Shannon, reminded me that pitching, talking to agents, editors, and publicists, is not always about the final sale, or the line edit, or the epiphany. It’s about the process, too. Whatever stage you find your manuscript, whether as a new writer punching out your first draft, or a published author with several volumes imprinted with your name, we gather at these conferences to inspire the story journey, connect, and cut paths together to spread your voice to a larger audience.

This year we introduce a new track of publishing pros including editors, writing coaches, and publicists who are on hand to advise you individually and in small-group round tables. As always agents will sit at individual tables eager to hear your story idea and find their next contract. They keep coming back to our conference because agents sign with writers there every year.

Lastly, a story. My mom volunteered to work at the agent table two years ago. She planned to pitch a memoir idea mostly for the experience. At the time she couldn’t imagine anyone would actually take her idea seriously. She had never aspired to write a book. After the conference I asked her how the pitches went. “All four want it,” she said, a smile creeping across her face. Now she’s a writer. If you aren’t already, you could be, too.

Sign up for the May 10-11 Washington Writers Conference from the Washington Independent Review of Books.