Children's Books North - #CBNPitch2022

 Children's Books North - #CBNPitch2022

Are you an unagented children's author or illustrator living in the North of England or Scotland?

Do you have a children's/YA book idea you'd love to get in front of agents and publishers?

On Thursday 28th April Children's Books North will be hosting a 'Twitter Pitch' event, giving you the opportunity to pitch your idea or portfolio to children's book agents and publishers.

#CBNPitch2022 will run throughout the day at 11-12pm, 5-6pm and 8-9pm, when children's agents and publishers will be on Twitter for you to pitch your ideas and portfolio to. Open to 18+ creatives.

Format:

                                    - Twitter (280 characters max, & visuals if needed) 

                                    - 1 pitch per Tweet

- Include your location: #NW #NE #Yorkshire #Scotland 

                                    - And the genre: #PictureBook #Fiction #Poetry #NonFiction

- Include the hashtag #CBNPitch2022 

                                    - And please do tag us in: @books_north

- If an agent or publisher likes your Tweet, follow up by reply or DM to                                         submit directly to them via email.

We had some great results last year, including CBN member Meg McLaren finding an agent: 

“I’m so glad I took part in the Children’s Book North pitch event 2021. I was on the lookout for an agent and, thanks to the many CBN members who shared my portfolio tweet, I was able to make contact with several. Having previously sent submissions through traditional routes I can say that the tweet pitch is a much faster and friendlier approach. And, as a result, I was able to find a new agent who was right for me.” Meg McLaren, author-illustrator

 

“Last year’s CBN pitch event was a fantastic showcase of Northern and Scottish talent. I ended up taking on an illustrator whose work I already knew, but I hadn’t realised she was looking for an agent.  I’ll be eagerly following it again this year!" Alice Williams, agent

 

 

To give you the best possible start, we've gathered together some top pitching tips from publishers and agents. 

AGENTS:

“Be specific in a pitch. You want it to be memorable and so the more you can pinpoint the details that make your story unique, the better.”

Emily Talbot, United Agents

“Keep your style consistent and send your strongest images - if you feel some are weaker, don’t send them. Better to have the agent/editor/designer asking to see more than being overloaded with images that are slightly weaker.”

Charlie Bowden, Pickled Ink

“Think about what appeals to you in a back-cover pitch when you're browsing books in (sigh) a bookshop or library. It's usually a few tantalising details that introduce us to the main character and their quest, along with the kinds of obstacles they may face.”

Louise Lamont, LBA

 

“Create pieces for your portfolio that showcase you specifically for children’s publishing, and the area/s that you would like to work in.”

Frederica Dawson, The Bright Agency

“Remember the three Ws: What, Why and Wow. Start with a really brief explanation of what you are submitting, and don’t forget to include word length. WHY might be why you’re submitting to that particular agent or be why you’re writing this story. WOW is the hardest to pin down. It’s that X factor. It might include two really clever comps, or a killer fact about yourself, or a v succinct and appealing summary of the plot, or being able to make an agent laugh.”

Kate Shaw, The Shaw Agency

 

"If you can, try to think visually. Remember that an illustrator will have to draw your work, so make sure there’s enough happening for them." 

Clare Wallace, Darley Anderson 

 

“Keep it simple. I want to know the concept, in broad strokes, have the main character brought to life with a detail or two, and to understand what the direction of travel is in the story, what’s at stake. When I’m writing a pitch, I try and boil it all down, but include some specificity/detail so it doesn’t sound bland.”

Julia Churchill, A M Heath

EDITORS:

“Be professional. Take your pitch seriously. Be wary of comparing yourself to other books/authors in the market unless they are completely accurate, but do try to position your project accurately within the marketplace (age group, genre, etc).”

Stephanie King, Commissioning Editor, Usborne Publishing

“Try not to see feedback/rejection as the end, but as a chance to re-imagine and enrich, ultimately to give readers the best access to the world you’re creating for them.”

Joe Marriott, Picture Book Editorial Director, PRH

“If *you* understand where your book will sit in the marketplace then you'll help agents and editors see that quickly and easily - and that "positioning" of your book really helps in a first impressions way."

Fiz Osborne, Editorial Director, Illustrated Books, Scholastic

“Show that you know the world of children’s books. Saying ‘I was influenced by X author’, or ‘I think readers who have loved X book would enjoy this’ is great as it shows that you’ve connected already with the children’s books market and can see how you fit into it.”

Ruth Knowles, Publisher, Penguin

"It’s natural to want your pitch to be intriguing, but bear in mind that leaving it too mysterious can sometimes feel vague or confusing. Try to make sure you provide enough key information about your book that the reader is left clear about the concept – just curious to learn more!"

Julia Sanderson, Editor, HarperCollins Children's Books 

 

Good Luck with your pitch and don't forget to let us know if you find your perfect agent or publisher! 

Emma, Liz and Tilda x