http://www.foyles.co.uk/Public/Events/Detail.aspx?eventId=2025
Just seen the ad for this free event at Foyles bookshop in November.
Apparently also happened last year – would be interested in any feedback from anyone who attended.

This looks really interesting. I got good feedback previously from an agent at Curtis Brown.

Thanks for posting this and, yes, it would be interesting to hear from previous attendees.

Edited by Sharley at 17:04:00 on 14 August 2013

I went last year. It was very enjoyable and well worth doing if you happen to be in London but not, I would say, worth travelling a long distance to attend (they make a big deal about a number of people who travelled from overseas to attend, but I don't think any of them were signed, and it's a long way for the feedback you get).

Basically, you get a 6 minute one-to-one which is allocated in a random way, so there is no choosing who you get. I got the agent who deals with the estates of dead writers and who doesn't have any living writers on her list, which was disappointing, and the man next to me got someone who deals mainly with commercial women's fiction (which I'd have loved), but was a shame for him as he writes literary fiction. The children's writers fared slightly better as they saw a dedicated kids agent.

Within the 6 minutes you have to make a 30 second pitch and show the agent the first page of your book. It was actually quite useful within these constraints, but obviously, the feedback is inevitably very limited.

The second face-to-face session is done in groups of 3 and is more of a general chat (you don't get a chance to pitch). If you get someone you are interested in, it's a chance to find out a bit more about what gets them excited which could be very useful in your subsequent submission letter, but again it's allocated randomly and although I got a very nice, interesting agent, her website says her list is closed so I haven't bothered to sub to her).

The final part of the day is a panel discussion with agents/publishers which again was interesting and enjoyable but didn't tell me anything I hadn't heard before at other sessions.

So basically, it's very enjoyable and remarkable value (it's free!), but I wouldn't go to any great extreme to attend if you live too far from London, unless you have other reasons to be there that weekend.

Thanks, Saturday, for this useful summary.

Yes, very useful info, Saturday - thanks!

Oooh, I have just emailed them. I mean, why not??? Thanks for letting us know about it, Anne!

Anyone else here gonna go???

Well, I'm going. And I'm gonna use it as a deadline. I've told Sharley I intend to find an agent before then. Since I haven't actually started sending it out yet that's a bit optimistic, to say the least, but I respond to deadlines. Ha ha! Whatever works, eh?

(To be clear, I don't mean it will work to get me one. But it may work to get me to pull my finger out, finish tinkering and start submitting. )

LOL debac. You having a chat with yourself by any chance?

And I'm gonna use it as a deadline. I've told Sharley I intend to find an agent before then. Since I haven't actually started sending it out yet that's a bit optimistic, to say the least, but I respond to deadlines. Ha ha! Whatever works, eh?

I'll join you there. And I'll throw my hat into the ring and say I want an agent before then too. I have the perfect agent in mind. Fingers-crossed she will agree

I've applied, also hoping to have an agent by then, or the beginnings of another novel to pitch.

Good luck

Hi Anne or anyone else

Are you going to this? If so, do you want to say hello, as I am going.

Not going, but best of luck to anyone who is...

Thank you