In her book, Making the Perfect Pitch:  How To Catch a Literary Agents Eye, Katharine Sands defines pitching as “finding the right words and getting the right people to read them.” She also feels the “writing you do about your writing is as important as the writing itself.” Sands’ book is filled with advice from numerous agents:

Anna Ghosh

For Ghosh, a pitch must contain a “work’s spirit or essence.” She advises not to get bogged down with a synopsis that summaries your work but “try to find that magical phrase or two that expresses its core idea.”

Andrew Stuart

Stuart breaks a pitch down to these elements: a story in a sentence, one or two paragraphs about the plotline, the market for your book, and paragraph about your credentials.  He also points out you need to be selective.  Don’t pitch to someone who has no interest in your genre or topic – do your research beforehand.

Andrea Brown

Brown, a children’s book agent, points out that many editors passed over the first Harry Porter book and twenty-six publishers passed over the first Dr. Seuss book. Yet, they both went on to sell millions of copies.

Joseph Regal

According to Regal, “No agent is waiting for something that’s ‘almost’ there.” An agent’s job is to sell you manuscript not to give editorial advice.  Your goal as a writer is to pitch your work in a way an agent “cannot say no to for fear of missing something that just might me special.”

Sheree Bykofsky

For Bykofsky being passionate about your book is “everything.” You have to believe in yourself and your book.  She also advises that you “sit down with a friend and practice making your pitch.”

Although, Sands’ book is out print it can be found in libraries and used book stores.  It is worth hunting for!