Most authors and writers, we’re talking both in this piece, think that pitching is a 12-month, year-round activity when it is not. Whether talking contests, book publishers, or magazines, there is a bit of a science in the process, and if you want to improve your odds in this profession known for its high odds, it would behoove you to take note.

BOOKS – Of course this advice is not 100 percent because the world is full of big, small, and mid-list publishers, each setting its own rules, but, general rules of thumb are these:

1) Pitch when you see a call for submissions. These are not common, but they happen, especially with small presses. If you are wishing to seek an agent to do this for you, then follow the same advice. Watch them on social media (they love Twitter) for when they say, “Hey, would love to read something involving……” That means they have markets in mind, and they feel the genre/topic is hot enough to quickly sell. You also want to feed them something they are in love with at that moment. That’s assuming what you have to offer fills their void. But this is why you shop for publishers/agents that you feel fit you, and start following them.

2) Avoid July, November, and December. Maybe even August. These people get sluggish around holidays as well as take vacations like everyone else. While not all follow this calendar, a great many do.

3) Follow PublishersMarketplace.com and watch when new contracts with appear most often. Look at the history of the publisher/agent. While you might think it best to pitch during the down times, there is a reason there are those down times. They aren’t as eager or hungry.

CONTESTS – These have deadlines. Do not wait until the last minute. You never know if that influences the recipient on the other end. Also, applying early might give someone a chance to take their time reading yours, giving it a chance to stick in their minds. Toward the end of a deadline, contests get frantic behind the scenes. Your odds drop a little being one of those last minute submitters. Give judges every chance to think good of you.

MAGAZINE/JOURNALS – These have either deadlines or seasons. Pay attention to them, and like contests, be prompt and early in your submission. They might fall in love with your work early on and never give the others a chance. These publications have internal deadlines you don’t even know about, and the sooner they can get ahead of them, the easier their lives are.

Where did I get these rules of thumb? From personal experience and from conversations with third parties. No, they don’t readily post these informal guidelines, but, trust me, they are there.