People attend writers conferences for three reasons: to pitch to agents and publishers, to attend seminars to learn more about the craft, and to meet other writers.

And, of course, buy books. Lots and lots of books.

Attending Realm Makers (www.realmmakers.net) for me is no different.

Signing up early, I got my pick of pitch appointments with either publishers or agents. They also offer mentor appointments where you present your work in progress and ask the mentor (often an editor or author) about your story, how it can be improved, or perhaps questions on the publishing industry. There’s no limit to what a person can ask.

When meeting with a publisher or agent, we usually describe our book in the hopes it’ll pique the interest of said agent/publisher enough to ask to see more, perhaps even the entire manuscript.

Keep all the above in mind.

This time around, I decided to pitch to Donald Maass, a literary agent based out of New York (www.maassagency.com). His agency represents practically every genre, including non-fiction. I took a class of his last year at Realm Makers and learned a great deal. Plus he’s fun to listen to, and has an infectious passion for good stories well written.

I figured since he’s more of a mainstream agency, I would pitch my mainstream science fiction novel.

Yet as the conference drew closer, God kept whispering, “Your fantasy.”

“My fantasy? Are you sure?”

“Your fantasy.”

I asked him multiple times to make absolutely sure, and that urge never wavered.

And who am I to argue with God?

I arrived at my appointment a little early, so one of the organizers checked to see if he was available to talk to me. He was.

The room held about eight or so tables, and at each one sat an agent/editor and hopeful writer. What struck me most when I saw Donald is how he stood by his table waiting for me. Not sitting. Standing. How gentlemanly is that?

After we shook hands, he asked my name and about Havok Magazine (my name tag listed me as an editor).

I then pulled out my “one sheet” which contains basically a back-cover blurb of my novel and my bio. I also gave him a print out of the first four pages of my book. He seemed impressed that I had everything in order for him to read.

First he said that he liked the way I set up the story, and that my writing was very commercial–easy to read.

Then came the “However…”

While he liked the premise and my writing, he wanted more conflict and tension between my characters and more visceral actions and emotions. In other words, since my novel starts with my main characters (a slave and slave owner) at a slave sale, he wanted the reader to really squirm at the horror of it. He also gave me some great ideas on how to do it.

Once I tried to interrupt him to explain I do dig a bit deeper in subsequent pages, but he said, “I’m not finished.”

I quickly apologized and shut my mouth. I realized then that instead of expecting me to talk more about my book, he wanted to talk more about my book! It turned out to be more of a mentor appointment instead of a pitch appointment. Not that I’m complaining, mind you.

In the end, he handed me his card and told me to add more emotional depth, and submit my manuscript to him.

“I can have it to you in a few weeks–” I started.

“No. Give it a few months at least. Even a year. I’m in no hurry.”

His way of telling me to take my time with it and make it as strong as possible.

While there’s no guarantee he’ll take me on as a client, I’m glad I listened to God’s whisper to pitch my fantasy to him.