At last you’ve got a publisher, editor or experienced writer all to yourself for 10 minutes. In that short space of time, how on earth are you going to explain your idea, and impress them enough to gain their full attention and perhaps an invitation to send the finished manuscript? What you need is a One-sheet – a single sheet with all the information you need to make that pitch.

1. Come prepared. The ideal is to know something about the person you’re seeing. If it’s a publisher, check them out at the library or on the Internet, so that you know what they are currently publishing. For March 6th, you have a choice between Sue Doggett of BRF and Fay Sampson, an award-winning author. Sue looks after the children’s book list, so she is a good choice for children’s literature, but check out what else BRF publishes because if it’s adult non-fiction you’re proposing, she’ll be impressed if you can say ‘I think this would fit in with your ‘XYZ line’ or I’m not sure if ….’

2. Come with a ‘pitch’ that you can deliver in 5minutes [yes, really – practise it at home another time]. ‘I’m not published yet but I was short-listed in X competition’ …  or ‘I’m a complete beginner but am interested in writing for pre-school children because I teach Sunday school/week-night clubs/ in school’.  ‘My idea is … and I believe that it would make a good read-aloud book with illustrations on every page …  a first read-alone book’ etc.

3. Come with a very definite idea of your market. ‘My book is like the Horrible Henry series but not like ….  It fits into stage … of the national curriculum.’

4. Come with an idea of where it is in the process: still an idea, first draft finished, needs some revision, etc.

5. Come with two or three well-polished pages … that’s all there’ll be time for.

6. Come prepared to listen … let her get a word in edgeways

7. Say thank you nicely! A note of thanks afterwards for her time will make you memorable!