Write a pitch for your work-in-progress: the sooner the better

This weekend, I attended the Surrey International Writers Conference in Canada. It’s one of my favorite conferences and a wonderful, supportive environment to pitch your manuscript to potential agents and editors.

I didn’t feel like pitching my memoir, so I decided to practice-pitch my work-in-progress, an urban fantasy novel, because that’s the project I’m really excited about right now. Problem was–I didn’t have a pitch for it.

I did have my original idea and an overall grasp of my story so I spent half an hour throwing my pitch together before bed Friday night. In other words, I winged it. (Shhh…don’t tell).

I’d had practice writing a pitch for my memoir, so I sort of knew what needed to go into the pitch but, still, it’s a daunting task if you’re not sure yet how your book will end.

But, sometimes, winging it is the best thing. Because you’re in a rush, you don’t have time to sit and fret over every little thing. You just have to DO IT. The result was that the three agents/editors I pitched all said they were interested in seeing the book when it was done. Hooray!

This is great news, but what excited me even more was that I gained a better feeling for the trajectory of my story.

Just starting a project? Half way through your next manuscript? Almost done? Sit down and write your pitch. Even if it changes later, which it probably will, writing your pitch now will give you another view of what is possible in your story.

For some great tips on writing your pitch, check out paranormal author Jami Gold’s blog here.