A friend of mine wants me to pitch. I have never done this before. March brings the day of reckoning. I’ve been online looking around for examples. Another friend helped me out by sending me this great article by Chuck Sambuchino on Writer’s Digest.
I’ll be honest. This is supposed to be a great opportunity, right? I’m just not in the mood and don’t feel ready. But, I don’t want to disappoint my friend. Query letter templates seem so much easier. I found this article for Writer’s Digest by Brian Klems: http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/how-to-write-the-perfect-query-letter
As I labor over what to say, I feel increasingly unsure. The perfect pitch seems like a mythical unicorn. I believe my story is marketable and entertaining. I’ve never been one for selling something in person, though. Like it or not, it’s part of the business and therefore necessary. My focus word for 2015 is professional. Time to put that into practice.
I don’t have high hopes. On the plus side, if I fail, I’ll be quickly forgotten, one hopeful among many. Then I can either fire off query letters to other agencies as a way to lick my wounds, or practice and pitch later. Decisions, decisions. I understand I can bring an index card for the session. I will try to memorize it and subject friends to my pitch for feedback.
This is not about me. It’s not personal. This is business. That will be my mantra. I have a product to offer the marketplace. Rather than a chore, I should remember this is a valuable learning experience. A chance that should not be missed. Despite my misgivings, I am committed to giving this my absolute best shot with the knowledge and resources available.
And then, at the last minute, the original friend told me the Savvy Author blog is running a pitch clinic! Yes, I signed up. If you’d like to as well, go to: www.savvyauthors.com for more info.
So, why do I feel like I’m still hunting for a unicorn?
Writing Mercenary 