I have a few story ideas and one first draft almost complete. I am planning on attending a Writer's conference in May and hope to talk with an agent and pitch an idea or two.
Well, you need to take your cues from the conference and agent. If it's just casual conversation, like at a meet&greet, I wouldn't run up and pitch anything. I would introduce myself and make conversation, and usually "What do you write?" or "What are you working on?" will be asked. Be ready with answers to both questions - short answers. If the ideas of things the agent might be interested in, he/she will say "tell me more" or "that's interesting" etc. Be casual. Be friendly, Do not offer copies of manuscripts or run up and pitch.
If you have a designated time to pitch an agent, then by all means go straight to pitch - and pitch what you think is the best fit for that agent from what you have done/near done.
If nothing is done - and by done I don't mean a first draft - I mean rested, revised, polished, beta read, revised again, polished...then you will have to be clear that what you are pitching is not done. And check with the conference on the etiquette of pitching unfinished work.
How many ideas does an agent usually accept? Does the story have to be complete before they will accept it?
At a conference? If you are lucky, an agent will request one partial or full of a completed manuscript. If you are lucky.
In general, you query books one at a time.
When is a good time to query an agent? When a final draft is complete?
Completed, revised, rested, revised, beta read, and polished - ie, not in draft form.
I would really appreciate any advice or guidance on the subject.
Thanks.
Lauren K.