Michael Larsen and his wife Elizabeth Pomada are two of the most big-hearted people I know.

Take a look at Michael Larsen Author Coaching
michaellarsenauthorcoaching.com

Over the decades, coaching his clients, and, giving his time at writers’ organizations, conferences, conventions, Michael Larsen must have inspired tens of thousands of writers.

 Michael Larsen says:

“Now is the best time ever for you to be a writer. I love helping writers to earn the recognition and rewards they deserve. After 43 years as an agent, I’m now eager to do it as a writer, co-founder of San Francisco Writers Conference and San Francisco Writing For Change Conference, and a coach for fiction and nonfiction writers. I can help you understand and meet the challenges you face, and take advantages of the amazing opportunities waiting for you.

• Developing your craft
• Being clear about your literary and publishing goals
• Figuring out the best publishing option for you and your book
• Getting the best possible agent, editor, publisher, and deal for your book
• Learning the fastest way to build the writing career you want
• Having a positive but realistic perspective about publishing.

Your success will be my success.”

https://larsenauthorcoaching.com/coaching/

How to Write a Book Proposal, 5th Edition, by Jody Rein with Michael Larsen
How to Get a Literary Agent  (3rd edition) by Michael Larsen
Guerrilla Marketing for Authors: 100 Weapons for Selling Your Work (coauthor) (2nd edition)
Writing Success Guaranteed: How to Deal Yourself Five Hearts to Win the Publishing Game by Michael Larsen (In progress)

Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung salutes Hero Michael Larsen for coaching authors!

Sincerely,

Teresa Jade LeYung

photo of Teresa Jade LeYung by Mary E. Knippel http://yourwritingmentor.com/

As a story theme consultant, award-winning writer, and platform-building coach for pre-published and published authors,  Writing Coach TERESA JADE LEYUNG empowers her clients to identify their core themes in their manuscripts and career mapping.
http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog

Coach Teresa here… to say “I’m sorry that I’ll have to miss being with you at WNBA-SF Chapter’s signature event on March 24, 2012.  Special thanks to WNBA-SF Chapter fellow pitch-coaches Mary E. Knippel and Tanya Egan Gibson, program chair Lynn Henriksen and co-president Linda Lee for providing  bios of the agents and acquisition editors so that I was able to create handout material for tomorrow, and Mary E. Knippel and co-president Linda Joy Myers for taking care of duplicating material and bringing to event tomorrow.”

“I wish my colleagues, all the authors who will be pitching, agents and acquisition editors, and luncheon keynote speaker Meg Waite Clayton a most wonderful day at our signature event ‘Meet and Speed Date with Agents and Acquisition Editors.’”

After you pitch . . .

What to do if an agent or acquisition editor has asked you to send a portion of your full manuscript or the entire manuscript?

If he/she has asked you to email the submission:

• Make your email subject line” to the point”  (Example:  follow-up on our meeting at WNBA event on March 24      Another example:  Thank you for asking me to send my manuscript)

• Use salutation; pitch in 1 to 3 sentences (do not assume that agent/ acquisition editor remembers everything you told her/him); state what you are attaching  (first 3 chapters?  first 50 pages?  book proposal? (for a how-to book also known as prescriptive nonfiction);  ask when you can expect a reply;  your “thank you”; signature block with your full name and contact information and website/blog/facebook/twitter/YouTube address.  Be sure to use paragraphs in the body of your email so that your message doesn’t look like a block of text.  Email yourself to preview.

• The attachment—use industry standard format (Cover page showing your book title; genre; word count; your full name; your contact information.  Manuscript pages — 1” margins; double spaced; 12-pt. font; header on each page contains book title and  your full name; each page numbered)

Multiple agents and/or acquisition editors have asked to read a portion of your manuscript or the entire project?

• Show your professional self.  If more than one person asked to read a substantial portion of your manuscript (investing their time),  you be honorable–give one agent an exclusive reading period (typically 2 to 3 weeks); let that agent know that other agents are waiting to read.

What to do if no agent or acquisition editor has asked to see your work?

Despair not.  Polish your pitch and query other agents.  How do you find other agents?  Read acknowledgment pages of books similar to yours; authors usually thank their agents and editors.  Go to Association of Authors’ Representatives’ website and search in their database.

Books that can help you refine your pitch and/or build your writer’s platform:

How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

Break Through the Noise: 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message by Elisa Southard

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW by Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Cheering for you!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Coach Teresa says: “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams!”

http://wnba-sfchapter.org