Hello my lovelies! Can you believe it’s October already? I have a very schizophrenic wardrobe this time of year…sweaters one day, t-shirts the next. But let’s get to the questions!
What do you look for in a pitch?
Authors get very nervous about pitches–it’s not unusual to have a shaking person sitting in front of me. I don’t put much store in pitches. Your pitch tells me nothing about your writing style, so I almost always request to see some pages. The times that I don’t request, it’s because of an issue with the project itself…it’s NEVER because the person delivered their pitch poorly or wasn’t “interesting enough.”
Reasons I don’t request:
Manuscript is too short for our imprints
Manuscript is not a genre Kensington publishes
Manuscript is not my personal interest (in this case, I give an author the name of another editor at Kensington)
Plot sounds too much like another project I have under contract
That’s pretty much it. If you do your research, you’ll get a request from me. Occasionally, I request a project even if it falls into one of these categories. Why? Because as hard as it is for you to hear “no,” it’s even harder for us to say it to you in person. Authors sometimes forget that just because I’m rejecting your project, that doesn’t mean I’m rejecting you as a person. And just because it’s not right for me doesn’t mean it’s not right for another editor or house.
So what information do I really want in a pitch?
Word count. This is essential. Kensington doesn’t publish category length romance, so I’d prefer not to waste my time with a story that is simply too short. (and don’t say, “But it could be expanded.” If you think it should be longer, revise and then pitch it to me. If not, accept that the book is too short for K and research other houses.)
Targeted imprint. If you aren’t familiar with Kensington’s imprints, you shouldn’t be pitching to me. If you think your book is in that in-between place where it could go into two possible imprints, say that. But don’t look at me blankly when I ask you where this would fit on our list.
Genre. Where would this go in the bookstore? YA? Contemporary? Paranormal? Just tell me. Don’t make me infer from the rest of your pitch.
All of this info can be conveyed in one sentence at the beginning of your pitch, yet you’d be surprised how many authors skip right to their story. I need context.
Remember, in the pitch session, YOU are the expert. I know absolutely nothing about your book. If you mess up, I’ll never know! If pitching is just too nerve-wracking for you, send me an email query instead. Pitching doesn’t rank you higher in my book, so why not take the route you are more comfortable with?
And after that rather lengthy answer, it’s time for your questions! I am unfortunately out today without access to the Internet, but if you leave your questions here for me, I will answer them all on Monday.
Excellent post, Megan. I’ve been telling aspiring writers this sort of thing for years. Do your homework, know your market, don’t waste an editor’s time if you haven’t or don’t… But it always has more impact coming straight from the editor her/himself.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for this excellent post.
I met a lovely agent at SIWC last year who said she doesn’t put much weight on pitching, and was planning on writing a book about it. I am signed up for a master class on pitching presented by her at SIWC in two weeks. I hope to gain the confidence to let my enthusiasm shine in a pitch session, knowing that I must research the agent or editor, and by meeting their target requirements, possibly having a log line … and forget about reading or memorize a pitchy pitch.
After three years of attending conferences I admire agents and editors that are willing to sit before the sea of hopeful faces for two to three days and listen to stories that don’t fit. It is my hope for you all that you find some good stories in the onslaught.
I also will never forget the kind encouraging words delivered to me by Katherine Sands last year. In a one on one, I had nothing for her, asked her to teach me, and she did. She asked for a synopsis of both stories I was working on, but I didn’t send them, wanted to have finished polished manuscripts first. I didn’t want to waste her precious time. But that ten minutes will always shine as a star in my writer’s heart.
Hi Megan! Out of the new authors you’ve contracted with in the last year, what’s the percentage for each genre? (I’d bet more historicals than contemporaries, but could be wrong…)
Thanks! And have a fantastic weekend.
It was probably about even, historicals and paranormals. I didn’t acquire any contemporaries or romantic suspense.
Hi Megan! I was so excited to hear that you’ll be coming to New England next April for NEC’s conference.
Thank you for sharing how hard it is to say no. I’ve often thought it must be.
I’ve heard other editors say they don’t like it when authors bring note cards to help them remember what they want to share. Does this bother you?
Instead of talking non-stop, what question should an author be asking you during a pitch?
I have absolutely no problem with notecards. Even if you just need something to keep your hands busy. Whatever works for you.
I don’t usually get asked questions, but you could always ask about my current authors. This info can be a bit harder to find than what imprints I work on. Or about my editing style.
In May, I received a request for a full of my novella as a result of a contest win. I was surprised to get the request since Kensington likes books that are 80,000 or over. I still have not heard back and I have two questions:
1.) Should I send a follow up e-mail or just continue to wait patiently?
2.) I been itching to lengthen it, but I don’t want to touch it until I hear back from the editor. If she does reject it, and I do lengthen it to 80,000 or more, can I resubmit it?
3.) If I do resubmit it, should I send it to the same editor that requested it or should I aim it towards the editor I would have sent it to had it not been requested? (Ms. James requested it, but since it is an erotic paranormal, I had originally intended to send it to Mr. Scognamiglio)
Thank you so much for your time,
Jenny
Sorry, apparently I meant three questions
No editor would expect a novella to be 80k, so I don’t think you have to worry about that part (unless she didn’t know it was a novella). It’s been 5 months, so you can certainly send her an email just to follow up, or to make sure she got it at all.
Each editor has their own likes and dislikes about resubmitting. I’d say if she does reject it, simply tell her you were working to expand it, and would it be okay if you submitted the longer manuscript. If she says she’d prefer not to see it, then, as long as the manuscript has changed significantly (I think expanding a novella to a novel definitely qualifies), you can query another editor. However, if she gives the novella a pass, do not query John for the same, unrevised project. That’s a no-no; it makes an author look like a spammer.
Hi Megan!
Thanks for taking questions. I’m wondering about requested submissions. I realize that sending one in as promptly as possible is in an author’s best interest, but sometimes that’s just not possible. When an author has a request, when (if ever) is it too late to send in the submission?
Thanks again!
Carolynn
I don’t put a time limit on my requests. I have gotten them as long as two years after the request was made. The reason you want to get it in quickly is not really about being gauche. The request was made under specific circumstances…maybe the editor is looking to fill a particular hole in her schedule. If you wait too long, those circumstances might not exist anymore; the editor might not even be looking for that genre right now. I don’t know anyone who would tell you they wouldn’t look at it if you sent it, but I would expect that the longer you wait, the less likely your project will get picked up. A part of getting published is timing: right editor, right house, right time. And you might have missed it if you send later.
Hi Megan,
After reading the first round judge’s comments on the “Writing With The Stars” contest I have a couple of questions regarding the judging parameters.
Is “Ask me Anything” the right place to ask them, or is there a better venue?
Many thanks.
If a novel has very graphic sex scenes, with very graphic language and imagery
, is that enough to make it an erotic novel or do other things come into play as well (i.e. early onset of sexual activity, frequency of sexual activity, etc.)
If two editor’s list their interests as including erotica and paranormal respectively (neither editor includes both) then who would be the better target for an erotic paranormal novel query?
Thank you for your time,
Jenny
Hi! Thanks for taking the time to answer questions. It’s appreciated!
Once an editor requests a full manuscript, how long does it usually take for him/her to read and respond to the author/agent (just a rough estimate since life often gets in the way of planning)? If an editor passes, is it common to include editorial feedback on the project?
All the best,
Denise