New York Writers Workshop hosts the three-day Perfect Pitch Fiction Conference for writers of fiction. At this unique conference, participants meet with and pitch novels to three different editors from major New York publishing houses (houses including Viking, Penguin, Random House, Scribners, Simon and Schuster, and others).
Before the conference begins, participants prepare drafts of their pitches that can be presented orally in about three minutes. The draft should include the book's premise and hook. Then:
Day 1:
Participants workshop their pitches with a workshop leader from New York Writers Workshop. Each participant reads his/her synopsis. The NYWW instructor provides guidance in revision for clarity, concision, and impact. The instructor also discusses, as appropriate, the realities of the publishing market. The rest of the group participates, as appropriate, and learns from each example.
Day Two:
Participants make two pitches to editors. The first pitch is "public," meaning participants pitch to an editor in the presence of their group. A short Q&A session with the editor follows. The second pitch is private, one-on-one with an editor, with an NYWW instructor present.
Day Three:
Each participant makes one private pitch to an editor, again with an NYWW instructor present. The day wraps with a group conference with an NYWW instructor.
Conference times:
Friday: 9:30 to 4:00
Saturday: Optional Agents Panel 10:00 to 12:00; Conference 1:30 to 5:00
Sunday: 10:00 to 12:30