Agents and Editors - What to Expect from Writers' Conferences

Panels - Make a point attend these! These offer varied perspectives from Agents, writers, publicists, readers - etc. You name it, they might be represented. I have found these particularly useful when dealing with the business aspects of writing.

Agent and Editor Pitch Sessions - Still don’t like these, but recognize them for a great opportunity. It is best to have a prepared tag-line, an enthusiastic attitude and talk to them as regular people. Others may disagree - but I’m sticking with this position. Memorizing long-winded pitches that you have practiced etc may work, but the person sitting across the table from you is just that - a person. Snippets of the Gong Show keep running through my mind. You WILL get a good sense if you will like the person, and can see how enthusiastic they are about your project. All worth the temporary discomfort of pitching. Go for it!!

I tend to pitch to Editors, because they make the decisions (before editorial panels) of the books that will do well for their publishing house. I still don't have an agent, but I do have editors in my corner and that arrangement seems to be working just fine for the time being.

Agents are kind of like real estate agents for literature. But you can buy a house with a lawyer, but most people prefer to use agents.

I think more paths are emerging over time. Regardless of which is best for you, you still need to know how the business works - and that is what you get at Writers Conferences.