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ASA Events

Virtual Literary Speed Dating

You must read this information about Virtual Literary Speed Dating prior to booking to make sure you meet the eligibility requirements and understand the booking and preparation process.

 

Important information

All attendees of Virtual Literary Speed Dating events need to read the information below carefully, even if you have pitched at an event in the past, as this information is subject to change.

Am I eligible to attend?

Both Full and Associate ASA members are eligible to attend Virtual Literary Speed Dating if you have:

  • A current, financial membership.
  • An unpublished completed manuscript — for non-fiction writers, a chapter outline and sample of your writing will suffice.
  • Confidence in using Zoom in a fast-paced environment.
  • Read the attending publisher and agent information carefully and have confirmed that the individual representing the publisher/agency is actively seeking your manuscript’s genre/readership.

Fiction and children’s authors: Your pitch must be for a completed manuscript that has not been pitched at two or more Virtual Literary Speed Dating events previously. If you are successful in your pitch, the publisher/agent will request to read your completed manuscript. If your manuscript is not complete or you are not comfortable in providing it at present, please continue working on your project and consider attending a Virtual Literary Speed Dating event at a later date once your manuscript is completed.

Non-fiction authors: If your manuscript is general, illustrated, or lifestyle non-fiction, you do not need to pitch a completed manuscript – a chapter outline and sample will suffice. Writers of all other non-fiction genres, including memoir and biography, must pitch a completed manuscript.

You are not eligible to attend if:

  • Your membership has lapsed or is unfinancial.
  • The manuscript you intend to pitch has already been pitched four times at Virtual Literary Speed Dating.
  • You have self-published or previously published the work you intend to pitch. Virtual Literary Speed Dating is for unpublished manuscripts only.

To understand more about why traditional publishers do not wish to republish self-published books, see our FAQs on Getting Published.

  • You have already submitted the manuscript to the publisher/agent you intend to book in with.

If you are uncertain about whether you are eligible or if it is appropriate to pitch, please contact us at [email protected] or 02 9211 1004 before booking.

What are Pitch Perfect priority registrations?

Members who have attended one of our Pitch Perfect courses within the previous three years will be given priority access to book Virtual Literary Speed Dating. They will be emailed a link to access registrations early from the email address [email protected]. This email will be sent at 10:00 am Sydney time (AEST/AEDT) on the date Priority Access bookings open, so please check your junk/spam folder if you do not receive it.

Please note, if you’ve unsubscribed from ASA emails you will not receive your priority registration email.

How do I choose the right publisher or agent for my work?

For tips on finding the right publisher or agent, please see our information hub FAQs.

Publishers and agents will only seek certain material at each Virtual Literary Speed Dating event. Do not book into a pitching slot if the representative is not seeking the kind of material you intend to pitch, e.g. do not pitch a picture book to an agent seeking non-fiction. Research the attending publishers and agents carefully to ensure you understand what kind of manuscripts the attending representatives are seeking and to ensure you are comfortable pitching your work to them.

Need help preparing your pitch?

You will have a maximum of three minutes face-to-face time with the publisher or agent. Be as succinct and to the point as possible, and be flexible as the publishers and agents may have questions for you during the three minutes.

For the best chance of success, we encourage you to attend one of our Pitch Perfect or Pitch Perfect Picture Books courses prior to pitching. You’ll receive an up-to-date snapshot of the publishing landscape in Australia and learn how to identify the right home for your work, how to succinctly describe your manuscript, how to structure your three minute pitch, and what you need to have prepared before you pitch. Those who attend Pitch Perfect or Pitch Perfect Picture Books are also granted priority access to Virtual Literary Speed Dating bookings for three years after completing the course.

For more information see the ASA’s video, ‘Structuring your 3-Minute Pitch’.