August 23: Beyond the Basics of Pitches and Queries

August 12, 2022 By Jeremy Madsen

August 23: Beyond the Basics of Pitches and Queries

A discussion with freelance editor Emma Heggem

Submission forms. Slush piles. Waiting and waiting for a response. In today’s oversaturated market, getting a publisher to choose your manuscript from the dozens (or hundreds) of others is, in many ways, the greatest hurdle of the publishing process. In this discussion, Emma Heggem will share—from a publisher’s perspective—tips and tactics for crafting pitches and queries that will get noticed.

Bio: Emma Heggem worked for 6 years at Future House Publishing, where she managed the acquisitions and editing process for MG and YA fantasy and sci-fi novels. Now she is a freelance editor who uses her experience to help authors polish their manuscripts. Emma graduated from BYU with a bachelors in English Language and a minor in Editing. Whenever she gets a chance, she loves to attend writers’ conferences to give manuscript critiques and talk to aspiring writers about the mysterious world of publishing.

Watch Recording

Note: For the last 15 minutes of the recording, we had some intermittent interruptions by a Zoom bomber.

Sprint Writing for the Win

By Rebecca Talley – “There is no one-size-fits-all for writing a novel – or any book, for that matter. We all must figure out what works for us.”

To Creative Middle-Aged Sisters in the Working World

By JoLynne J. Lyon – “Decide how you’ll measure success. Study your possibilities. Say a prayer. And if it’s what you want to do, get yourself out there.”

Why You Don’t Want to Get Your Book Done Quickly

By Angela Eschler – “The quality of the book is a publisher’s best chance to convey the brand experience that will convert readers.”

What’s More Important: The Actor or the Show?

By Rebecca Burnham – “I don’t think it’s possible to put on a play that builds community unless you are intentional about prioritizing the people over the product.”

Sprint Writing for the Win

By Rebecca Talley – “There is no one-size-fits-all for writing a novel – or any book, for that matter. We all must figure out what works for us.”

To Creative Middle-Aged Sisters in the Working World

By JoLynne J. Lyon – “Decide how you’ll measure success. Study your possibilities. Say a prayer. And if it’s what you want to do, get yourself out there.”

Why You Don’t Want to Get Your Book Done Quickly

By Angela Eschler – “The quality of the book is a publisher’s best chance to convey the brand experience that will convert readers.”

Sometimes Things Do Work Out

By Steve Dunn Hanson – We can choose how any situation or circumstance we find ourselves in will ultimately affect us. We can literally shape the results of all our experiences.

Cussing & Creating: 3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t (& Should!) Use Profanities in Your Writing

By Lizzy Pingry – Writers must evaluate the way they express themselves: how does our use of language and its profanities build or destroy our stories?

Portrait of a Painter: The Journey of Latter-day Saint Artist Dan Wilson

By Howard Collett – “God is in the very details of our work. That doesn’t just apply to Christian artists working on temple paintings, but it applies to anyone in any career. God can answer specific questions to help us be better providers, better employees, better employers, better husbands or wives, or wherever we need help.” – Artist, Dan Wilson

The Thirty-Two Words That Changed How I Viewed Myself as a Writer

By Kristen Reber – “I have never sought to do anything other than to build His kingdom,” Sheri Dew said. “And as a result, I have had the opportunity to be in the presence of prophets, seers, and revelators.” …She chose to open with a line that praised the Lord and placed herself in the position of a humble servant rather than as a great leader. Her example, expressed in just thirty-two words, struck me. They changed how I view myself as a writer.

Empowered By Vision

By Steve Piersanti – The theme of our 2020 conference is “Empowered by Vision.” This theme was chosen in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the First Vision. And it signifies that Latter-day Saints who are writers, editors, filmmakers, designers, artists, performers, producers, marketers, and other kinds of publishing and media professionals—and students and others who are preparing for these roles—can be tremendously empowered by the vision contained within the scriptures and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

How to Master the Apostrophe

By Breanna Call – “The more you practice using apostrophes, the more confident you’ll be that you’re applying them correctly.”

August 23: Beyond the Basics of Pitches and Queries

A discussion with freelance editor Emma Heggem

You May Also Like

Footer