Let's talk about my baggage

Tips on prepping for a conference

Not So Secret Agent is an email newsletter all about the inside scoop on cookbook publishing from senior literary agent, Sally Ekus (that’s me!). Make sure we never miss the chance to connect. Subscribe!

Dear Not So Secret Agent readers,

We made it to spring here in Massachusetts! Happy April 1^st. No this is not an April Fool’s Day newsletter.

Have you ever been to a food writing conference? Have you had the pleasure of rubbing elbows with culinary luminaries, journalists, and esteemed colleagues you admire?

On Thursday, I will be at the first ever M.F.K. Fisher Symposium for Women in Food & Storytelling in Nashville, TN. The weekend is designed to be specific and practical professional development for food writers. While there, I am teaching a Cookbook Intensive in which we will dive deep into the state of cookbook publishing. Participants are coming prepared with a book pitch. They will receive real-time feedback. Then, on Saturday, attendees who signed up for back-to-back slots get to pitch me and another agent during what is lovingly referred to as “speed dating.” Teaching and sharing information IRL and virtually are aspects of my career I absolutely adore.

Events like this are a thrill!

However, despite what you may see as you scroll IG, they’re not all sunchokes and rainbow carrots. The reality is that prepping to attend one of these events can be INTENSE.

Of course there are endless travel logistics around flights, hotels, and what Maybelline will need while I am away (the answer is love and fun, two things I know she has in spades from those she will be hanging with—I am so lucky!).

Maybelline’s bag of love and fun

My mind races: 1) Which of my clients are coming? 2) Who else do I want to see? 3) Where MUST I make sure to eat? 4) What shoes should I pack so I can somehow simultaneously be comfortable/stylish/professional/and maybe, just maybe, actually get some exercise in between sessions.

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

In the days weeks leading up to my travels, my brain constructs an intricate Venn diagram made up of shoes, people, and the distance between my body and the closest location where one can eat tacos.

Often, I will wake up at 2am in a premenopausal night sweat doing a mental inventory: What purse will be big enough to hold a note pad, stylish enough to bring to the opening reception party, AND small enough that I don’t need to worry about my neck hurting after lugging around swag all day?!

***Not So Secret Agent Side Note: If you are reading this and have solved the above problem, please email me immediately with a link. Thank you.***

Here are a few of the considerations I think about when getting ready for a work trip followed by some takeaways about how YOU can prepare for an upcoming professional event:

---Which clients will be on site? Who do I want to ensure I tuck away with so we can chat about projects in development? Who haven’t I seen in a while that may be considering a new idea? Also, who might pull me aside to ask about a rights reversion for a book I haven’t thought about in years or some other seemingly random but very important agent-related task?!

Takeaway: Time is limited. Set expectations for yourself and your agent. If you are attending an event where you know you will see your agent, think about if you want a formal meeting, informal hang, or a mix of both. Personally, I like as much information as possible ahead of time so I can plan accordingly. I want to know if a client wants a formal 1-on-1 meeting. Otherwise, I keep it more casual and leave the agenda items for calls, zooms, and emails.

---Who will be on site that I don’t represent? I look at the list of attendees (if provided!) and make notes about the people I want to be sure to connect with. For example, as an agent, I am always looking for journalists and other media pros that I can get a bit of face time with so when I follow up about new releases, we have a personal connection.

Takeaway: Send short emails to the people you want to meet with, or at the very least say hello IRL. Last week, I fired off a bunch of one-liners that just said, “I am so excited to see you in Nashville!”

---To plan or not to plan, that is the question. How much of my schedule should I map out ahead of time and how much should I leave to the beautiful serendipity of the world?

Takeaway: I recommend a mix of structured time and unstructured time. Structured: “Yes, I will be at the opening reception. Let’s find a quiet spot to talk for 10 minutes during that.” Unstructured: “Here’s my cell, text me so we can be sure to meet up!”

***Not So Secret Agent Side Note: Talk about the magic of unstructured time and the beauty of serendipity… Last year, I attended a conference and met my now client in an elevator as we both descended from the kickoff party in a NYC high rise. She was chatting up a few VIP cookbook authors about her own book idea. I mentioned I was an agent. Before we hit the ground level (thank you tall city buildings!), she had engaged me in a literal elevator pitch. The doors opened, we walked out together, and I handed her a business card (BRING BUSINESS CARDS. NO THEY ARE NOT OUTDATED) as she got into a cab. By the time I arrived at my hotel, she had sent me an email with her cell. We agreed to meet up the next day at the event.

Bonus Takeaway: Business cards. GET BUSINESS CARDS. These get their own call out because I am old school and love exchanging them. Why? You will have a lot more success landing on an agent’s radar if you make their job easier. Make it even easier for me by following up with me first! A short note with your contact info and a signature in your email that has all your social handles and various ways to find you/stay in touch is gold. Sure, I will take your card and yes, I will follow up. Eventually. But if you beat me to this, ahh, thanks for giving me one less thing to do when I return home.

I also think about what to do when I run into people who fall into the following three categories:

Plus a few other things I think about that may be related to you and your interactions with an agent:

---If I (or any agent) passed on the opportunity to represent you, please be nice. Some of my favorite people are those who I am not formally representing but support in other ways. Your vibe tells a lot!

---If I might recognize you from social media, but your handle isn’t your name, please tell me your name! I may know it already but there’s a lot going on – remember what I said about making my job easier? Thank you in advance. :)

---Maybe I owe you an email. If your proposal is sitting in my inbox, feel free to gently remind me but not corner me for feedback or an answer.

---If you want to pitch me a project, please consider where we are and what’s going on. Conferences often present opportunities to introduce yourself as a human being (hello waiting in line for a drink or hello awkward handshake while juggling said drink and a tiny overstuffed compostable plate for nibbles) and leave an impression on an agent. Conferences are rarely the best setting to formally pitch your book idea unless the programming is designed to offer formal pitch slots.

***Not So Secret Agent Side Note: If you think Hey I see an agent walking into the bathroom, this seems like some great 1-1 time! I am here to tell you the bathroom is not the place for a pitch. However, if we happen to meet up there, and you happen to see I am wearing a jumpsuit (which I probably will be), feel free to offer help with the zipper if you see me flailing. No, I haven’t figured out how to wear this while operating independently in the world. Yes, I love jumpsuits because they are easy to pack, comfortable, and offer a streamlined mental solution to professional fashion.***

Okay readers, I am off to finalize begin packing, draft an OOO, and DoorDash Hawaiian rolls for Maybs to eat while I’m gone.

If today’s newsletter has you thinking wow, I wish I was going to Nashville to learn all about cookbook publishing, guess what?! I have set a date for the April AMA (ask me anything). Save the date for April 30^th at 2:30-4 pm ET. This virtual gathering will be recorded, and you can submit questions ahead of time. The event is reserved exclusively for paying readers to ensure that those most engaged in spending quality time together are in the same room.

Now, through the end of April, I am offering 15% off my annual subscription. This means that for $68/year or $5.66/month, you are indicating to me that this is a newsletter you value. As always, equity spots for new paying readers are available, no questions asked. Just reply to this note or send me a DM.

The AMA will be structured in two parts. The first hour will be an open AMA where I will answer questions. Then I will facilitate 30 minutes of networking. This will be an opportunity for participants to briefly share about your work. I will conduct an “offer & ask” session where you can make an offer to someone in the group or make an ask for something you need some support with. Please come with a generous and abundant mindset, whatever this means to you!

Another important announcement:

While access to me directly is reserved for upcoming Zooms, I have been getting wild over in the Substack app’s chat feature lately. I’ve been randomly picking one new person to call and talk with as I take a brisk walk. These “Huff & Puff” chats are great because while I am outside getting fresh air, I am also getting all fired up offering personalized insights to one random reader. This is not a time to formally pitch me, but it is a way to get insights on your platform, book idea, or just generally to have a chance to ask me questions that pertain to your specific work.

CLICK HERE to join the Chat forum and keep an eye out for new threads that I title WILD IDEA. The readers that I choose are at random and this opportunity is open to free subscribers too!

Lastly, in addition to Nashville later this week, I will also be at Cherry Bombe’s Jubilee on April 12^th in NYC. If you are planning on being there, I will be checking my inbox for that short note that says “Hi, I am excited to see you in NYC next week!”

~Sally~