What are the best ways to present your writing in a pitch meeting?

1 Know your audience

Before you go into a pitch meeting, do some research on who you are pitching to. What are their goals, needs, preferences, and expectations? What kind of writing do they usually work with or produce? How familiar are they with your genre, style, or topic? This will help you tailor your pitch to their interests and address any potential questions or objections they might have. You want to show that you understand their perspective and that your writing can offer them value and solutions.

2 Prepare your materials

Depending on the type of writing you are pitching, you might need different materials to support your presentation. For example, if you are pitching a book, you might need a query letter, a synopsis, a sample chapter, and a bio. If you are pitching a blog post, you might need a headline, a hook, an outline, and a link to your previous work. Whatever materials you need, make sure they are well-written, formatted, and proofread. You want to demonstrate your professionalism and attention to detail with your writing.

3 Craft your story

A pitch meeting is not just about sharing information, it is also about telling a story. You want to engage your audience with a compelling narrative that showcases your writing and your vision. Start with a hook that grabs their attention and makes them curious. Then, introduce your main idea, your unique angle, and your key benefits. Next, provide some evidence, examples, or testimonials that back up your claims and show your credibility. Finally, end with a clear call to action that tells them what you want them to do next and why they should do it.

5 Handle feedback

One of the most important parts of a pitch meeting is how you handle feedback. You might receive positive feedback, negative feedback, or no feedback at all. You might also face questions, challenges, or requests for more information. Whatever the case, you want to respond with grace, gratitude, and professionalism. Thank your audience for their feedback and acknowledge their points. Address any concerns or objections they might have and provide additional details or clarifications if needed. Don't argue, defend, or justify your writing. Instead, focus on finding common ground and building rapport.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?