Toronto
Just got back from my biannual (or is it biennial?) trip there, had a great time as usual. (I just checked: it’s biannual.)
I started doing this in 2009. An agent I know, a good one, had a look at the books I was working on, & said–
“Brian, you’re doing great, don’t get me wrong…..but to really succeed, you need to go to Toronto twice a year. Even if you have nothing to pitch at the moment, just go in there & show your face for a few minutes. You’ll sell more books when people can put a face to your name.”
This has turned out to be true. I am, proudly, based in Vancouver. But of my 22 sales, only 6 have been in B.C. The other 16 have been sold to Toronto-area publishers; & this would not have been possible without these trips.
It’s amazing, in this this era of cell phones, texting, emails, conf calls, & so on….how much personal contact means.
My point?
If you are an aspiring writer, esp. if you live in Western Canada, I strongly urge you to attend Get Publishing in Edmonton in May. (May 6-7, Grant MacEwan College)
Why?
Because if you sign up to attend, you’ll hear great speeches by the keynote speakers….but to me THE great opportunity for writers is the pitch camp. Because you get a chance to actually meet people in the industry. Publishers, editors, managing editors, agents, publicists….you name it. It’s one thing to check out a publisher’s website. It’s quite another to meet someone who actually works there.
I’ll be at Pitch Camp….come & say hi if you get a chance!
Brian J Wood- Literary Agent 