Many thanks to Diane Holmes, the creator of pitch-university.com–on which Elizabeth and I will be appearing—for allowing me to share this article she wrote.
The Mythical Writer
In December, Michael Larsen posted a tongue-in-cheek letter to Santa (A Mythical Agent’s Christmas Wish).
“Dear Santa,” he wrote, “I know I only deserve coal this year, but is there any way you could send me a perfect author for Christmas?” (Can’t you just see him sitting on Santa’s lap? I’m pretty sure this has reality show written all over it.)
He then listed all the possible traits, features, attitudes, and savvy this mythical writer would have. In real life, one or two of these traits would make us writers stand out head-and-shoulders above the pack.
But what I noticed is that these wishes fell into five categories, and if you understand what attributes you bring to the table, you can use this to boost your pitches and wow agents, editors, and even plain old readers.
Mythical Writer Sphere 1: Hey, I like you!
From Michael’s wish list:
- is attractive, passionate, has a sense of humor, and is a pleasure to be with.
- has a charismatic presence in person and in the media that imbues listeners with contagious passion.
- promotes with grace and relentlessness.
- is impeccably professional.
- under-promises and over-delivers.
- inspires the best efforts in an agent, editor, and publisher, and is faithful to them.
- expresses gratitude so generously that people are always eager to help.
Translation:
Be the person you’d like to meet and work with. Show up looking and acting the part of a professional writer and CEO of your own company. Treat those around you with respect and as a partner. Display sincere interest in the person you’re talking to and always operate out of core values that stress integrity, generosity, quality, and deep passion for the publishing, entertainment, and topic-related industries.
Allow the best, most authentic parts of your personality to shine through (humor, intellect, kindness, whatever makes you, YOU).
How this influences pitching:
What if instead of coming to a pitch session as a writer desperate to sell a book and get a yes, you showed up ready to build a relationship that you’ll enjoy and that will benefit you both year after year?
Mythical Writer Sphere 2: Expert Smarts
From Michael’s wish list:
- is an expert on books by all significant authors of related books.
- stays up to date on books, publishing, promotion, and technology.
- has great connections to the events, authors, organizations, opinion-makers in the field and the world of writing.
- obtains quotes from people who don’t give them.
- uses technology for promotion, getting feedback, sharing, and learning.
- provides a promotion plan that assures success.
Translation:
Spend your lifetime learning and participating in the success of your career so that your expertise in what you do and how you do it makes you (and your “writer as sole-proprietorship” business) a true hallmark of success. Be seen and interact as an expert.
How this influences pitching:
What if instead of coming to a pitch session as a writer who is small and needs help, you showed up feeling qualified and confident in the knowledge of what you have to offer (which is, at the very least, an excellent book that can be enjoyed by a certain segment of the readership… and that interests you to the point of being the focus of your writing business)?
(Yes, even if you’re nervous about pitching.)
Mythical Writer Sphere 3: Creative Light is On
From Michael’s wish list:
- comes up with irresistible ideas and titles.
- regularly turns out word-of-mouth and -mouse bestsellers, each better and more profitable than the previous one.
- writes books that are sold in other forms, media, and countries.
- anticipates shifts in readers’ tastes and interests, and satisfies them.
- always wonders how to do anything more creatively.
Translation:
Become a creative entrepreneur, where your main asset is not just your creativity, but also how you bring it to life and then give it form in a way that’s fresh and meaningful.
How this influences pitching:
What if instead of coming to a pitch session as a writer full of vague hopes, you showed up as someone taking specific, zesty actions…including the action of pitching your book?
Mythical Writer Sphere 4: Passion in Action
From Michael’s wish list:
- writes out of love for craft and readers, and sees income as validating the books’ value.
- has a network of readers to provide feedback.
- serves a huge, ever-growing community of fans and helpful professionals.
- balances
- writing and promotion
- time spent online and off
- personal and professional obligations.
Translation:
Enjoy all the aspects of what you do, let it show. Act on it and inter-act with others because of it every day. Be the person who fearlessly follows passion in the most delightful and practical ways.
How this influences pitching:
What if instead of coming to a pitch session uncertain if a book or novel will be good enough, you showed that you’re in love with your book and all the things you will do for and through this project, and the next, and the next?
Mythical Writer Sphere 5: Advanced Skill Level
From Michael’s wish list:
- writes the last draft first in a distinctive, addictive voice.
- is dedicated to becoming a more effective author and finding new ways to serve readers better.
- accepts the inevitability of problems and solves them.
- is such a paragon of virtue that Lady Luck bestows her blessings.
- sells so well booksellers always have stock and never return it.
Translation:
Go on a quest to become great at everything you do, build skills until skills turn into wisdom and savvy. Recognize luck and how to make it. Recognize quality and when you’ve achieved it. Be awesome.
How this influences pitching:
What if instead of coming to a pitch session with the idea that this is the end result of writing, you showed up ready learn and improve your ability to connect with an agent, editor, or reader. It’s that simple.
Thrive
So those are the Five Spheres of Greatness. Am I saying you need to mention these in your pitch? (I can hear you laughing.) No, not at all.
I’m saying live and thrive in these five spheres. Aspects of these will show up in your body language, how your respond to questions, and how you engage the person you’re with.
As you practice your pitching here at Pitch U during Pitchfest Weeks, you’ll realize that once you’re past being nervous, once you’re confident about how you tell another individual what your book’s about, you have the chance to get to know another human being who is also working on his/her own Spheres of Greatness.
A final note form Mike: with the write stuff, your posts will be reposted. Keep at it!
Diane Holmes is the Founder and Chief Alchemist behind Pitch University, a website where writers learn to pitch from agents and editors (and maybe even sell their book in the process). http://www.pitch-university.com.
Elizabeth Pomada and I will be on the Pitch U Pitchfest week beginning February 27.
Agent Katherine Sands, editor of Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent’s Eye, will do a three-hour class on pitching at the San Francisco Writers Conference on Thursday, February 17th 6-9 p. m., www.sfwriters.org. You don’t have to come to the conference (which is sold out) to attend this class or other classes on Monday the 21st at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel.
Michael Larsen is a literary agent and consultant to nonfiction writers. He and his partner Elizabeth Pomada are co-directors of the San Francisco Writers Conference and the San Francisco Writing for Change Conference.
