Emily B. Rowe | From Pitch to Published

During the DFW Writer’s Conference writers had a chance to register for a ten minute scheduled appointment to sit down and pitch a piece of their work to an agent. But for first time writers sitting down with an agent for the first time is a heart pounding, stomach flipping experience. I know. I was lucky enough to sit down and talk with Laurie McLean, of the Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents, about one of my literary works.

I had known for a couple weeks which agent I was meeting with. I didn’t feel
nervous until the day of my appointment. At fifteen minutes before my
appointment I stood outside the room, waiting to be ushered in for the actual
sit down had my stomach doing back flips and my heart racing like a galloping
horse. I wasn’t alone, nor was I the first to arrive. Other writers were
waiting for their turn with their chosen agent. Some were nonchalant, others
dressed up for it like an interview, and in a way it was. I spent the entire
time telling myself that regardless of what happens I’ll still gain the
experience of talking to an agent—all the while hoping that my idea, my story
would be up to par. I had a list of rules for myself that changed constantly.
Don’t babble, don’t be an idiot, be yourself, no don’t be yourself, talk about
it like this, no this.

Walking toward her I felt a little light headed, telling myself that I had a
strong story and berating every weakness within the pages, both imagined and
real. As I sat down she smiled and said “I like your hat, you must have known
to stand out.” I hadn’t been told that, or if I have I don’t remember.
“Really,” I answered, stupidly. But it made me less nervous and more confident.
After the ten minutes were up, which felt like two minutes to me, it was over.
She wanted to see some of my work, not the entire thing, but that didn’t matter
to me. All I knew was that someone wanted to read something that I had stressed
and sweated over.

So when I arrived home I emailed her what she asked for. Now comes the nerve
wracking part. Waiting the six to eight weeks to see if she wants more or isn’t
interested, just another step in the publishing process. The entire time
telling myself that whatever happens I’ll have learned something new and all the
while hoping my characters, my story will be up to par.

Emily B. Rowe