A conference pitch session is a short conversation, often 5 to 10 minutes, not a performance or a memorized speech, and agents generally want to hear you talk naturally about your book and get a sense of you as a person they might work with, not watch you recite a polished monologue. Treating it as a genuine conversation, prepared but not rigid, tends to go better than treating it as a test to pass.
This is part of the Complete Guide to Writers Conferences.
Before the conference, research which agents will be there and what they represent. Most conferences publish agent bios and wish lists in advance. Target agents who genuinely represent your genre and category, rather than pitching everyone available; a mismatched pitch wastes both your time and the agent's.
Start with a concise pitch for your book, genre, category, word count, and a short hook that conveys the premise and stakes (see How to Prepare an Elevator Pitch for Your Book for how to build this). Have a genuine, specific one-sentence answer ready for "why this agent," if asked, referencing something about their list or interests rather than generic flattery, and a brief sense of your background if relevant: previous publications, platform, or relevant expertise, especially for nonfiction. It also helps to prepare answers to likely follow-up questions: comparable titles, your book's ending or resolution (agents often want to know this, even if it's not in your query), and your timeline for completing revisions if requested.
Reading directly from notes rather than speaking naturally can undercut the conversational quality agents are generally looking for, and overexplaining plot details tends to bury the premise and stakes you actually want to convey. Pitching to agents who don't represent your genre, out of hope rather than genuine research, wastes both your time and theirs, and getting defensive if an agent offers feedback or asks a challenging question closes off what could be a useful exchange. Finally, don't forget to actually ask what to do next if the agent expresses interest.
An interested agent will typically ask you to send pages, a partial manuscript, or a full manuscript after the conference, sometimes with a note to mention the conference in your submission. This isn't an offer of representation; it's a request to see more, the actual next step in the process. Follow their specific instructions exactly, including any deadline they mention, and send promptly rather than letting momentum fade.
Send what was requested promptly, following the agent's specific instructions for format and any reference to the conference, and don't follow up excessively if you don't hear back within a normal query timeline; treat it as you would any other submission from that point forward. Keep pitching to other agents at the conference rather than treating one session as your only shot, and take notes on what you learned, both about your pitch's delivery and about specific agents' reactions, to refine your approach for future conferences or query rounds.
If a conference offers several pitch sessions, use early ones as practice, even with agents genuinely on your list, since your delivery will likely improve as you go. Debrief briefly after each session: what worked, what questions came up, what you'd adjust, so each pitch benefits from the last.
Getting Ready to Pitch?
A polished, well-edited manuscript makes any pitch stronger. Entrada Publishing can help you prepare before you head to a conference.
Often 5 to 10 minutes, though this varies by conference. It's a short conversation, not an extended presentation.
Practice it extensively, but deliver it conversationally rather than as a rigid recitation. Agents generally respond better to natural conversation than a memorized monologue.
It's a request to see more, not an offer of representation. Follow their specific instructions and send promptly; this is the genuine next step in the process.
It's not necessarily a reflection of your book's quality. The agent may simply not be the right fit for that project right now. Keep pitching to other agents rather than treating one lukewarm reaction as final.