Pitch Sessions are Back 

Get your book, article or photography ideas in front of the best editors in the industry 

Register for a 15 minute session to share your idea

Get helpful feedback that can make your idea a reality

Choose a session with the right editor for you

Launch your creative career or build your brand within the industry

October 13th & 14th, 2:15 to 4:45pm EST

REGISTER TODAY
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What is it, How Does it Work & Tips for Success
What is a Pitch Session?

A pitch session provides the opportunity for you to pitch projects – and yourself – to editors seeking fresh new talent. Each pitch session consists of a fifteen-minute, one-on-one meeting in which participants pitch their projects and receive feedback from an editor. Feedback may include advice on improving your pitch, ways to refine your project, or a request to see your work. See the tips below on how to pitch different types of projects.

How it Works

We’ve gathered a diverse group of magazine, book, trade, and digital editors ready to hear your ideas. Profiles for each professional are available on here. Your job is to research participating editors and agents to find the perfect match for your project. Then, sign-up online in advance of the conference for a one-on-one meeting to pitch your project. Pitch session time slots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis for registered conference attendees, so register early. Individuals may sign up for ONE pitch session using our online registration form. If available, we will open additional time slots (on a first come, first served basis) the week prior to the conference via an email announcement.

Tips for Success

Do Your Research. Some editors will be a better fit for your project than others. Review the list of participating professionals and learn about their interests. Study the lists of participating book publishers to see how well your project fits among their titles. Familiarize yourself with the types of stories a magazine editor includes in their publication. Armed with this knowledge, target your pitch to the best possible outlet.

Practice Your Pitch. Write out what you intend to say and then practice, practice, practice. Pitch to a friend, fellow GardenComm Member, or in front of the mirror. Chances are, you’ll make a few edits before you come up with the perfect pitch. By the time your session arrives, you’ll have a concise, thorough pitch prepared that you can deliver with confidence.

Allow Time for Questions. Fifteen minutes is not a lot of time. Limit your pitch to about half the allotted time. The remaining time is devoted to answering any follow-up questions the editor may have and receiving valuable feedback about your project.

How to Pitch Your Project
Books

A book pitch conveys the main concept of your project in one sentence, often called a log line. The body of a pitch answers the following questions: why is this book important and relevant? Who is the intended audience? How is this book new or different? Editors will also want to know a bit about you: What makes you qualified to write this book? Do you have an established platform and following? Prepare and practice a pitch that condenses this information into three to five sentences, or about three minutes. Make sure you have a fully conceptualized book before pitching, not just an “idea” for a book.

Articles

When pitching magazine or digital editors, pitch a story not a topic. Explain how your story fills a hole in their coverage or presents a new concept that will interest their readers. Familiarize yourself with other articles on this subject and explain why your angle is fresh. Personalize your pitch: why is your pitch perfect for their outlet? Does it fit within a particular section of their publication? Many editors are seeking location-based stories and would like to see scouting photographs or reference visuals along with your pitch. Be prepared to share pertinent information about yourself including your areas of expertise.

Photography

Photographers may have a book idea to pitch, but many times the goal of a photography pitch session is to make editors aware of your services. If you are seeking to connect regarding potential future projects, brings sample images that demonstrate the breadth of your work and photo archives. If you are pitching a book idea, be prepared with a good pitch as described above for pitching books and bring some sample images of the type of photographs that would be included in the project.

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EDITORS

Connect, Learn, Network & Build Your Business from Anywhere!

Register today for GardenComm's biggest virtual event! For less than $10 a session, networking opportunities, pitch the editors and more, this event will add to your knowledge and skills, not to mention your bottom line. All from the comfort of your living room or home office. There will be prizes galore including a free 2023 membership and a free registration to the 2023 annual conference!

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