preparing for WorldCon as a writer

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

Ok, so I'm bringing some stuff to shop around.

I'm not going to have a complete draft of Peks to share, but I'm thinking I *will* have three chapters polished by then. EUOL, do you think that's enough? I also will have two stories.

should I bring more than one copy of each?

[Peter Ahlstrom]

Ah...well, it was my understanding that the last thing editors want to do at convention is actually read someone's manuscript. They're tired, and everyone wants their time. If you've got a 1-minute pitch, use that... Maybe give them your stuff if you have it then, but only if you understand that they won't read it right then, and have a SASE for them to get back to you later with.

That's what I would think. Brandon?

However, I did hear from someone once that editors sometimes check out readings, and that sometimes contracts come from that. But there's no guarantee anyone will even come to a reading from an unknown.

btw when I talked to Anne Sowards at Comic-Con she said she was way behind on her slushpile (like 8+ months).

[stacer]

The best thing I've heard of to do is to make all the contacts you can--get business cards, find out who's looking for what, etc.--and then send your manuscript later, mentioning in your cover letter that you met at WorldCon. The last thing an editor wants to do is haul a pile of manuscripts home on the plane/train/Chinatown bus.

Also (and I'm sure you already know this), sometimes editors get kind of tired of the number of wanna-be's that bombard them with pitches at conferences. Everyone and their dog thinks they can write a book. So just always be sure to be your most professional with them, ask them questions about their line, get their card, etc., and then hopefully an opening will come in which you can ask if you can send a manuscript to them.

As an example of something *not* to do (and I realize you'd never do this anyway), my coworker recently went to BookExpo in Chicago as an attendee, not an editor in a booth (I believe only one editor from the entire company went anyway--mainly it's the marketing dept. that goes to these things).  She was on the El, on her way in, when a fellow passenger saw the BookExpo bookbag she was carrying. The passenger struck up conversation, and asked Melissa what she does. Melissa, for simplicity's sake, just says she's an editor at Houghton Mifflin, rather than explaining that she works in a division of the school textbook department, etc.

So the woman starts to pitch her book.   My coworker tried to explain not only that she had no power to acquire books, but also that she worked in the educational books division, but the woman merely replied, "Oh, but my book is educational!"

The woman had no clue about what our house published, and that is a BIG turnoff, especially to an editor who just came for her own pleasure. You can be sure I won't be dropping the Houghton name at WorldCon willy-nilly.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

People think editors will read DURING these things? wow. That hadn't even crossed my mind. When would they have time? My question was more, will I be able to give away more than ONE of these while there, though I hadn't thought specifically that an editor might be annoyed by taking home a pile. but that makes sense. I shan't be taking more than one or two copies, just in case, based on this info.

So now you're giving me contradictory evidence. My understanding was that it was a good reason to go to WorldCon to do this networking. That's what Brandon talks about. The point is to dress nice and be professional, since a script from Chewbacca or Sillicon the Vampire won't fly.

[stacer]

Yes, definitely go to network. And talk to EUOL about the manuscript thing, because he'd know better for this specific con. But I'm just letting you know that the best way of networking isn't necessarily to bring a manuscript, but rather to send it later. And if I said anything that sounded contrary, it was 20 hours in the car and 3:30 in the morning talking.  

[Peter Ahlstrom]

I guess I was just wondering why you would be bringing chapters at all...

[Spriggan]

I know when EUOL went to a con in Newyork (where he first me his editor) he didn't take any books with him.  He just networked and contacted people after the con.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

I think we met Moshe in Montreal. Unless it was in St. Paul. Pretty sure it wasn't Corpus Christi. World Fantasy cons all running together...

[EUOL]

Okay, let's get do a big post here, then I've gotta go work on other things.

First, editors don't generally want manuscripts at cons.  They just don't want to lug them around.  In addition, it looks unprofessional to be handing out manuscripts willy-nilly.  

Now, I WOULD bring that one copy of Peks.  The rule is 'If an editor says it's okay, then it is.'  They all SAY they don't want anything, and that's true.  However, if you happen to be the one who talked to them for a couple of hours and seemed very professional, then gave them a couple of chapters to read on the ride home, you could very well skip the entire slush pile.

However, don't push too hard on the giving away a physical copy there.  What you want to do is get an editor to say 'yes, I'll look at your book,' then send it too them as soon as you get home.  It looks more professional, and makes the editor less uncomfortable.  

You want to network.  Best way to do this, I found?  Go ask editors "What advice do you have for a guy who is trying to break into the market?"

Second best questions to ask:  "What are you working on right now?  Hum, interesting.  How did that get sold?  Have you bought anything from a new author recently?  Really?  How did they manage to sell their book?"

You're going to have to get your temerity up and just go walk up to editors (locate them by finding what panels they're going to be on) and ask if you can have a few minutes of their time.  If they can't meet you then, ask if you can arrange a meeting a little later.  Yes, you'll be annoying them--however, they're not there for the panels and such.  They're there to do business, and they will talk to you.  

As for Anne Sowards being behind on her slush pile...well, so's everybody else.  The trick is to either jump ahead of the 8 month waiting line, or to just stick through it and hope she likes your work.  Remember, Moshe took a year and a half to get back to me.

(By the way--to get past that slush pile, the easiest thing to do is get an agent.)

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

well, we'll be bugging you more as we go then. When you have the time.

What's the best way to find editors who will be there? Looking in recent novels to find names? Is there a list of professionals attending?

[stacer]

Problem is, most publishers don't list editors in any kind of credits in books. Unless the editor is mentioned in the book dedication, you won't usually find a name there.

[EUOL]

You ask around, for one thing.  For another, your program booklet will give short bios of people on panels.  They'll mention if someone's an editor.

The thing is, this is your business.  Treat it like that.  Do research, look on websites, and poke around.  Locus magazine always lists which editors handled which books, and it also lists which editors recently bought which books.  Go find a copy at BN and flip through it.  (Or, if you're rich, buy a subscription.)

[stacer]

I should check that magazine out. I've heard of it vaguely, but never seen it.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

you can find locus in big libraries (like university libraries), but I'm not sure I've ever seen it in bookstores. It's a very specialized publication.

The website is http://locusmag.com

[EUOL]

Moshe seemed to think you could find it at BN.  But, maybe that's BNs in large cities.  Like, you know, New York--where he lives.