Making the Most of Publishing Conference Contacts

With the SCBWI annual Winter Conference having just finished (in-person) and being just around the corner (online), I thought this was an ideal time to talk about how you can make the most of the contacts you make with agents and editors at this type of event.

First of all, I have to mention that I am a true SCBWI success story. I met my agent (Deborah Warren of East West Literary) at a regional SCBWI conference. I queried her shortly after and signed with her a few months later. It was a perfect match!

The Song of Orphan's Garden
by Nicole M. Hewitt

My agent story

So, how did this come about? My agent was closed to submissions, but she occasionally attended conferences and always allowed conference attendees to query her. I was able to use a special subject line to indicate I'd attended the conference. I also referenced her pitch session in my email and thanked her for the valuable information she shared. But, most importantly, I tailored my pitch based on what she shared. At the pitch session, Deborah indicated that she specifically likes to hear why the book you’re submitting is the book of your heart—why this is a book only you could write. This isn’t information most agents want in a query, and I normally would not have included it. But, of course, since she said this is something she looks for, I added a heartfelt message to my query with a note that it was specifically included for her. It worked! She requested a full and eventually signed me. 

My road to publication was still a little rocky (that book was shelved after being out on submission for some time), but I didn’t give up. Two weeks ago I debuted with my middle grade fantasy-in-verse The Song of Orphan’s Garden.

How to Best Leverage Your Contacts:

Here are a few tips:

Utilize agent/editor critiques

Many conferences give you the opportunity to get a critique from an industry professional. These often cost a little extra, but they can be invaluable. Getting feedback on a query and first pages can help you ensure your eventual submissions will be the best they can possibly be.

Don’t wait for perfection

Sometimes we avoid feedback until we’re “finished” with a manuscript because we don’t want to submit less-than-perfect work. But receiving notes earlier on in the process can give you valuable insights that might help shape your story arc far beyond those first pages.

Before I had even completely finished my first draft of The Song of Orphan’s Garden, I took advantage of an opportunity to get editor feedback on my first pages and synopsis. I hesitated because it felt early in the process, but it turned out to be a good strategy. The editor pointed out a possible flaw in the storytelling (based on my synopsis) that greatly affected my planned climax. Because I hadn’t yet written the full book, I was able to brainstorm ways to avoid the pitfall—and I didn’t have to rewrite half the book to do it. I can say without a doubt that my final novel is much better due to this change. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you should submit work that hasn’t been polished or well-thought-out (I had written a good portion of the manuscript before submitting and worked for a long time on those first pages and my synopsis to make them the best they could be), but don’t fall into the trap of feeling like your work has to be perfect before an editor or agent can see it

But make sure you're ready before you hit send.

Most agents and editors will give you a timeframe (often up to a few months) during which you can send them a query—they want you to use the wisdom and knowledge you’ve gained from the conference to improve your manuscript before you send it. You don’t have to rush to query just because you attended. Take the time to digest and incorporate any feedback you’ve received and apply what you’ve learned.

Listen carefully and take notes!

Pay attention to industry professionals' wisdom and reference it in your query, if possible. As I mentioned, I tailored my query specifically to my agent’s desires. Agents and editors will often give you clues about what they’re looking for, what they (specifically) like to see in a query, and what piques their interest. Pay attention. Take notes. And then, if your work aligns with their wishlist, query and make sure to mention the wisdom you gained from them! If you spoke to the agent or editor in person or they did a critique for you, mention something from the conversation or critique. Any connection you make will help you stand out.

 Also, hold onto your notes and organize them for future reference. Wishlists may change but most wisdom does not. You never know when a connection might help you later.

Format your submission emails properly

This seems like a silly detail, but it’s important. There is almost always a special way to query agents and editors after a conference, indicating in your subject line that you attended. This is an incredibly valuable benefit. If you’ve done any research, you know that agents and editors get hundreds, if not thousands, of queries in their inboxes. This special wording will elevate you above the slush pile and get your query the added attention that just might be the edge you need. Make sure you read each agent’s and editor’s instructions thoroughly and follow the instructions given when you query so you don’t lose out on that benefit.

The publishing industry is tough to break into, so authors need to use every advantage presented. Who knows, maybe that next agent or editor you meet will be the one yes you need!

Nicole M. Hewitt is an active member of SCBWI Illinois, where she's a co-rep for the Far North Suburban Network. She has been blogging about books (mostly MG and YA) for the past twelve years over at Feed Your Fiction Addiction. Nicole's debut middle grade fantasy novel-in-verse, THE SONG OF ORPHAN’S GARDEN released in January of 2025 and was chosen as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.