Pitch!

On a chilly but sunny day yesterday, Saturday May 2, I pitched my book, titled The House on Křenová Street, to three agents at the 2026 Washington Writer's Conference in Rockville, Maryland.

It was the first time I've pitched this book to a literary agent, and the first time I've attended this conference, which I learned about from a friend in my writing group.

There were perhaps 200 attendees and over 20 agents.

The conference began on Friday May 1 @ 5:30 pm, and that evening we listened to a panel of four agents discussing pitches, query letters, and general writer-agent etiquette... Very helpful!

The pitching the next day was exciting and nerve-wracking. After honing a 30-40" pitch for weeks beforehand with input from my writer's group, friends, family, and anyone who would listen, I had just six minutes to make an impression.

Weeks before, I had signed up for a time slot with each of three agents whom I thought might be interested in my work. At the appointed time yesterday, we authors lined up outside the closed door of the pitching room. The room was organized with neat rows of 22 small tables with numbers on them, an agent seated on one side, and an empty chair on the other. A calm and competent gate keeper with a clipboard kept track of the time and which group was next. She opened the door when it was time to go in, find our agent, and start pitching. She then closed the door behind us, and six minutes later came back in to tell us it was time to leave.

From the moment I sat down at the table with the agent, I knew nothing but the person opposite me and how they were reacting to me and my words. A pitch is an invitation to a conversation, and every word and expression from these experienced professionals, whether encouraging or discouraging, was gold. The time went by in a flash.

As a first-timer, I did not know what to expect. Mostly I hoped for some feedback that would provide new insights into my long-term research and writing project and labor of love. I got that and so much more.

Almost as stimulating and gratifying was the networking. I met a young reporter who was pitching her book on AI and trying to cope with the current assault on news media. I met a former gardening columnist, who was pitching his book on gardening as a way to cultivate a refuge from a jangling world. He and I had a lovely talk about Frederick Law Olmsted, one of my American heroes. And I met a fellow psychologist who was pitching her screenplay and novel related to her family history. We had known each other by name through our involvement in the Maryland Psychological Association. And now we're going to stay in touch.

All in all - an extraordinarily rich and productive two days. I was thrilled that all three agents I spoke with indicated an interest in the book and asked me to submit something. What to submit depends on what they ask for on their website. Two of the agents wanted a query letter and the first ten pages of the manuscript. The third wanted a book proposal. I know that their initial interest is no guarantee of a contract, but it's a start. And so...back to work!