Why Quick Pitch Sessions ALWAYS Fail

We've always seen these show up. Here is your chance to do a one line pitch or a one paragraph pitch to an editor or agent online. Maybe it is a blurb at a conference. The coordinators of this wonderful session have proclaimed this as a chance to get your work in front of someone and maybe get your work published. This sounds like the most wonderful thing out there, doesn't it? You don't have to write that horrible query letter. You don't have to write that synopsis. You just have to write one paragraph, submit it and someone else will post it online and they will do ALL OF THE WORK FOR YOU! Wow! What more can you ask for???

Well, let me put it this way....

You just wasted your time.

Sure, we see an idea that "might" sound interesting, but in the end, we can make anything sound interesting. We can probably make those 1950's Jello molds stuffed with God knows what sound like the best thing ever and should be served in a 5 Star Michelin Restaurant. 

I am only saying this because, once again, I had a post for another writing chapter posting an opportunity to be seen. The problem was, out of the people looking at the pitches, there was only one, yes one, agent. The other two were independent writers who, BTW, have careers, that are not that stellar (I took the time to dig and see what their numbers were...).

Again, let me stress what I say over and over again. There are no short cuts. Yes, you have to write query letter. You will have to write a synopsis. You will have to do the hard work. 

This is a tough business.