PitchFest FAQ

The most common route to publication is for you to secure a contract with an agent who then sells the work to an editor at a publishing house. However, if you can get an editor interested in publishing your work at PitchFest, agents might take notice and request your work. Some editors at the event don’t require an agent and you have an opportunity to sell directly to them, although this is an exception, not the rule.

Every agent and editor who attends is actively seeking thriller manuscripts, and many are looking for other genres, including: mystery, suspense, romance, non-fiction, supernatural, and other genres. Review the participating bios and photos on the ThrillerFest website to discover what each expert is looking for and what they are NOT looking for. This is a numbers game and without PitchFest, you are much less likely to secure an agent.

For writers, Master Class on Tuesday is an excellent opportunity to have a bestselling author review and critique your work and/or impart pearls of wisdom that you just can’t get anywhere else. The classes are intensive and intimate, with ten or fewer writers assigned to one instructor.

CraftFest is also an amazing opportunity to learn from bestselling authors and experts in the industry and is highly recommended if you attend PitchFest. PitchFest cannot be purchased as a single item (you must either sign up for CraftFest, Master Class or ThrillerFest) because we want you prepared and professional for the pitching sessions. This is a professional business and they expect you to conduct yourselves accordingly. CraftFest will help you prepare for PitchFest and is held on Wednesday and Thursday morning, just before PitchFest.

ThrillerFest takes place on Friday and Saturday and provides a unique opportunity to meet readers, authors, the media, and many others. And of course, the Thriller Awards Banquet is held on Saturday night, our last hurrah before closing for another year.

We strongly recommend you have a completed, polished manuscript before signing up for PitchFest (unless your manuscript is a non-fiction project). We know from experience that if agents like what they see, they will want to sign you as a client immediately and try to sell your book to a publisher. You want that, too. They cannot sell your book unless it’s finished. And they may not be as interested in your idea/book months from now when you do finish. Do your best to type THE END before coming to PitchFest. And pitch your best book, not several. But it’s fine to mention to an agent that you have written other books, especially if they ask about other projects you are working on. You can pitch a self-published book, although you’re better off pitching a fresh, new manuscript that has not been published. The agents and editors love unique voices, new concepts, and books that haven’t already been on the market. This pitching session is not ‘practice.’ This is business. If you want advice on how to complete your novel or whether or not you’re headed in the right direction, please sign up for QueryFest instead.

You decide who to pitch to. Over the main event and Power Hour, you will have time to pitch to numerous industry experts. The number depends upon the length of the lines and how you prioritize the experts you would like to pitch. Keep in mind, pitching via email to a dozen agents or editors through a query letter or email would take months. At PitchFest, you accomplish that in one afternoon. Plus, they get to meet the writer behind the work, which should be a bonus in selling your manuscript.

The cost for the conference rooms, the pitch rooms, the book room, hotel staff, refreshments, air-conditioning, and keeping the bathrooms fresh and breezy is why we charge for the event. Although our main purpose is to help writers make the necessary connections with people in the industry, it requires a large investment to provide the NYC venue. Just like you, even the board of directors pay to attend the conference, which helps keep the costs down for everyone.

Sometimes, but not always. Some of those who have secured representation have shared their success stories with us. While there’s NO GUARANTEE, REAL OR IMPLIED, that any agent will like your work—I made that all-caps to impress upon you the fact that you might not get a single nibble—the opposite is equally true: they may all love your work. Some writers secure representation, but never get a publishing deal. There is no definitive outcome here other than one: If you don’t attend PitchFest, those agents will miss an opportunity to hear you pitch.

Even if no agents are interested in your story (which is incredibly rare), going through the process of pitching is still an enormously valuable opportunity. You will have met the top agents in the business, experienced the pitching experience, made valuable contacts, received feedback on your presentations, and learned a lot of things about the business. And you’ll have the inspiration needed to improve your book and return next year.

If the agent is interested, he or she will request a partial or, in rare cases, the entire manuscript, to read. If there is no interest, he or she will not request any material.

Three minutes, more or less. Occasionally, an agent or editor will take longer with a writer and we appreciate that when a match is being made, it may require more time. Listen and learn, rather than get upset at another writer’s success. Agents and editors appreciate your patience and so do I as an organizer. This is all about match-making, and your time will come.

No. Keep your manuscripts in your hotel room, or better yet, leave them at home. The agents will ask you to send one via mail or by email if they’re interested. They don’t want to haul a hundred pounds of manuscripts on the subway when the day is over. And please don’t hand agents a flash drive. Agents will not insert flash drives into their computers, for fear of viruses. Be professional and have pen, paper, and even business cards available if the agent or editor asks for one.

Although it’s always a good idea to have business cards with you, it’s better not to force your business card on an agent or editor unless they ask for it. Make sure your contact information is prominent, especially your e-mail. You can get cards printed online, or at a local print shop. Less is more. Keep it simple and clearly legible. Two online shops I’ve used with great success: www.iconix.biz and www.vistaprint.com.

Agents and editors generally prefer to take nothing from the writer so they can limit what they carry during their commute home. If they ask for anything, they may want a simple business card. Instead, focus on preparing a one-page synopsis, in case an expert asks you to email a synopsis along with sample pages. But you do not need copies of that at the event. If you want to learn how to write a synopsis, check out Writer’s Digest Synopsis Writing Basics or advice from one our agents, such as blogs by Jessica Faust or Janet Reid. Some agents may request a synopsis along with a partial manuscript. Most don’t. You may want to print up a dozen and bring them along, in case any of your agents ask for one. Although it is doubtful many – if any – will ask, it never hurts to be prepared.

Please don’t. The room will contain lots of people, simultaneously hearing and making pitches. That’s plenty of noise, and the room doesn’t need more. If you want to talk, please go into the hall. When you’re sitting in that pitch chair and can hear the agent saying clearly, “I love this idea! Can you e-mail me the manuscript?” you’ll thank me.

In order to attend PitchFest, you must also sign up for Master Class, CraftFest or ThrillerFest. Although you can sign up for Master Class, CraftFest or ThrillerFest, but not sign up for PitchFest, we don’t allow you to sign up ONLY for PitchFest.

Again, we want to make sure you are as prepared and professional as possible before pitching. Agents’ and editors’ time is valuable so please prepare accordingly. Requiring Master Class, CraftFest or ThrillerFest as a prerequisite for PitchFest helps ensure that only authors who make a serious commitment to their craft or have made significant advances in their careers will get into the rooms, and that provides everyone with a better experience. After all, if the agents quit coming because the quality of pitching is poor or the writers are not professional, they’ll never hear great ideas from serious writers like you.

By all means, thank them, and do so sincerely. It’s not sucking up. And it doesn’t sound desperate. It sounds courteous. Everyone likes to feel valued and appreciated, and they are going out of their way to help you sell your book. They could just as easily stay in their offices and work.

There’s no dress code. Consider that you’re trying to sell your work to major agents who are professional and expect you to take this process seriously. Dress like you respect them and the process. Business casual is recommended. Make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes. You’ll be on your feet a lot. But if you’re THAT special writer who is only suited to write a book about a rock guitarist or motorcycle gang leader, perhaps business casual would appear a bit silly.  Your real-life experience and what you bring to your story may be a huge seller, so don’t undersell yourself.

Yes, that’s one of the goals at CraftFest: teaching you how to present your work to agents and editors and close the sale with them. We provide a full presentation on effective pitching during CraftFest on Thursday. We also offer the opportunity to practice your pitch via Virtual Practice PitchFest, which happens in the two months prior to PitchFest. The 2022 Virtual Practice PitchFest ended on May 6, 2022. (2023 schedule and times are still in planning).

Pitching will be from 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm. When the PitchFest event is over, please feel free to take a break before the ThrillerFest Opening Cocktail Hour at 6:30 pm. Many of the agents and editors will be attending the cocktail hour, too, so please be courteous and thank them for their time. Helpful tip on what not to do? Please don’t follow an agent or editor into a bathroom, to their room, or out onto the street. What you might think is ‘inspired creativity’ may easily be interpreted as ‘creepy stalker’ and I know that’s not what you intend.