Angelica R. Jackson: Fearless Pitching Warrior!
Monday, April 18, 2011 at 9:46AM 
How amazing is Angelica? She received a request on her first take! We had to find out more.
Q. Tell us a little bit about you and your writing passion.
Angelica: I've been writing since I was about 11 years old, when a friend and I collaborated on a serial for our school newspaper. She started with a very gritty story of a Vietnam vet coming to terms with life back in the States—and I introduced a werewolf and a secret shapeshifter society. Not exactly compatible genres for a junior high school publication.
As an adult, I write everything from picture books to YA for kids, including middle grade and poetry, and short stories for both adults and children. Most of my published writing credits are for non-fiction articles on such topics as cooking for allergies, gardening, family travel, green living, local history and natural history. I've learned not to say, "I will never write . . ." because my subconscious takes that as a challenge.
I'm also a photographer and use my photos with my articles. My photos are at www.AngelicaRJackson.com, and my writing e-home is my blog, Angelic Muse. I also highly recommend the Absolute Write forum and the WOW! Women on Writing website as essential resources for any writer, and blogs like YA Highway for a YA focus.
When I joined SCBWI, I hooked up with some wonderful critique partners, and we all feel we've pushed each other to a higher level of craft. All those sections that were "good enough" in our own minds are now blindingly polished. We volunteered for a regional SCBWI conference recently and it was great to experience that as a group, as well as making new friends and contacts.
Q. How did you discover Pitch University?
Angelica: One of my critique partners, Christina Mercer, attended a Donald Maas Writing the Breakout Novel Weekend Intensive Workshop in Oregon with Diane. Once Diane started up the site, Christina forwarded the group the announcement.
My favorite part is how everyone starts out so tentative, convinced that they will never get the hang of this hook thing and pitching thing, but after a number of lessons they progress to some truly impressive pitches.
For myself, it was not a single post that made everything click and fall into place; it was the accumulated information that made me feel like I'd gotten a grasp of pitching.
Q. Tell us the truth…. How do you feel about pitching?
Angelica: Pitching is a love/hate situation for me: when I come up with something I love, I say, "This was so worth it!" But when I'm really struggling with condensing down my book, really honing in on the hook and essential points, I wonder why I put myself through this kind of work.
The easiest part for me is the actual delivery, in person or on video (please stop hissing at me, for those of you that particularly hate that aspect). I memorize my pitches, after carefully crafting them on paper first. When I was a professional storyteller, I often delivered several 45-minute programs in a row at a school, so these pitches feel like they're over in a flash in comparison.
Q. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned by participating in Pitch U’s PitchFests?
Angelica: The biggest thing I've learned is that you need to let go of all those details that you are convinced are so essential for the agent or editor to know in your pitch—they're genuinely not necessary at this stage. You need to hit them with a hook, and then get out of the way—don't obscure things with backstory and subplots.
I have sent out a few more queries based on my pitch, and I've been getting full requests, so that means it was successful in hooking the agents.
Q. Do you think pitching is a different skill from writing a query letter?
Angelica: I do think they are different but related skills. You can certainly borrow techniques from each format and use them effectively, and I have done so.
Q. What’s your advice for those writers who haven’t tried making a pitch video?
Angelica: Allow yourself plenty of time to get used to the camera, and how you look and sound on it. Make some practice versions that only you will see, and that might take some of the pressure off of you thinking that it has to be perfect in one take.
You can also use these practice takes to experiment with emphasizing different words, or changing the rhythm slightly, so that when you play them back you can get a sense of what works.
I've mentioned it before on Pitch U, but it was also helpful to do a version in an exaggerated, melodramatic voice (like a movie trailer or news anchor) and then borrow some of that flavor and excitement for the final version.
Q. What’s your personal theme music?
Angelica: My husband would say "Brick House," but then that's the kind of thing an experienced husband of seventeen years learns will earn him some spousal points.
Q. What’s the wisest thing you’ve ever said?
Angelica: "I need help." That was a tough one to learn for me.
Q. How many conferences or writer’s events will you attend this year?
Angelica: I've been to one conference already, and there's another that I would like to apply for a grant to attend. I'll definitely volunteer at a SCBWI conference again, but not sign up for the early morning activities—I was up at 4:30 a.m. and got home after 9 p.m. And I stopped absorbing and processing information at about 4:00 p.m., so that rather defeats the purpose of a conference.
Q. What skill is next on your list to learn?
Angelica: Learning to balance my everyday demands and my writing time. And social media time. And laundry time. And time with my husband. I'll let you know if any of those happen.
BONUS Q. If you had a personal pitching motto, what would it be?
Angelica: Take pitching as what it is meant to be: a way to show your passion about your book, and a way to make a connection with an agent or editor. This is not life or death—it's not even career life or death.
Diane: Thanks, Angelica for fearlessly leading the way for all Pitch U writers. We love having you here!
Diane | --> Share Article <- | 8 Comments | Print Article | Email Article | tagged Angelica R. Jackson, Pitching Tips | Categories: Member Spotlights & Resources
Reader Comments (8)
Oh, dear. I jokingly tweeted to Diane that I would not be nearly so fearless if we had to SING our pitches, and I think she took that as a suggestion. Or maybe a challenge.
In any case, I'd like to take this opportunity to announce my retirement from pitching here at Pitch University . . .
But seriously, thanks for the fun interview, Diane!
It was my pleasure!
And seriously, we need a theme song here at Pitch U. I think we should have a contest sometime in the future....
Be sure to keep us informed as things progress for you, Angelica!
Ooo, ooo, I already have an idea for a Pitch U theme song, but I guess I'll save it for the contest .;)
Awesome interview Angelica!
I love your enthusiasm about this entire process. You've given so much to PitchU and I'm glad to have this chance to get to know you a little better.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks, Candi and Saytchyn, for the support!
Wonderful interview! Thank you Diane and Angelica ;-)
Great interview, Angelica! A Pitch U theme song, huh? Now, you've got me curious. :)