tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post605430104004029882..comments2008-08-05T08:17:24.984-07:00Alexandra Sokoloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-54864860910658517292008-08-01T10:02:00.000-07:002008-08-01T10:02:00.000-07:00As always, you give the best conference wrap-ups. You're slowly turning me on to this conference. And it's not like I don't have a reason to go since I have friends who live in NY. ;-)Marcia Colettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05178834956611762732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-24214246917031659042008-07-22T20:56:00.000-07:002008-07-22T20:56:00.000-07:00The prep session ran roughly between an hour and an hour and a half. It was run by Lynne Heitman. I think there were between 50-75 people there, I really couldn't tell. <BR/><BR/>The first thing we did was discuss some key steps for developing a pitch , the elements of a pitch, the difference between a short pitch and and extended pitch, and probably most important, how to immediately hook your reader.<BR/><BR/>Next, volunteers tried their pitches on the entire group. After that, the group was divided into smaller ones, with each group being led by an agent or editor. In the group we basically developed our pitches.<BR/><BR/>Another helpful thing learned was what NOT to say during your pitch such as "My novel is timely, so you have to act now" or "My book is the next (big name here)."<BR/><BR/>The Crimebake website also offers a few quick tips for the pitching session.R.J. Mangahashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10335616508441176887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-76157610570787079212008-07-22T07:47:00.000-07:002008-07-22T07:47:00.000-07:00Okay, that's really helpful, RJ. How long is the Crimebake prep session? Can you tell me a little about the format, who runs it, how many people, etc?Alexandra Sokoloffhttp://alexandrasokoloff.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-60414476287951426902008-07-20T13:35:00.000-07:002008-07-20T13:35:00.000-07:00Wow, Alex, it sounds like a good time was had. Thrillerfest is a con that I'd <I>really</I> like to get too, but it's that cost thing. <BR/><BR/>I think a prep session before Agentfest sounds like a great idea.<BR/><BR/>Crimebake, the yearly confrence put on jointly by the New England Chapters of MWA and SinC, does have a prep session the night before the pitches. I went it to it last year and found it pretty helpful. This year however, is the year I go to it again so I can be ready to make my pitch.R.J. Mangahashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10335616508441176887noreply@blogger.com