Pitch Wars Sub Window is Open Now! So...PICK ME!!!

Holy Crapola! It's Pitch Wars time! It's about to get all kinds of crazy these next two months! And guess what? I'm going to be right up in the mix!

I'm one of the coaches! But I'm sure you know that if you clicked on my pic from another coaches blog. No clue what I'm talking about? Keep reading and it'll all be clear.

If YA is your thing then basically, I want you! To coach you that is:) Seriously! 

This is the point where I'm supposed to tell you how fantabulous I am and in turn, you'll respond with an enthusiastic, "Wow, she really does rock! I want her!" 

But alas, I'm a self-deprecating writer. Meaning, I'm not the best at throwing around my awesomeness. What I will do, however, is promise that if I fall for your idea and writing, I'll work my t-total tail off for you, because at the end of the day, I'm just a writer following a dream. I've been lucky enough to land Sarah LaPolla as my workhorse agent, making a part of my dream, a reality. That accomplishment is one I want as many writers with like-minded goals to experience. It's why I ran the month-long GUTGAA blogfest. It's why I'm doing Pitch Wars now. So I may not have a writing degree or professional editing experience, but I have passion and drive and the want for all writers to succeed. If you pick me we'll blow in as the underdog and finish Kung Fu Panda style.

If you haven't rolled your eyes and clicked on to another coach by now, here's what I'm looking for. 

I write sci-fi, so of course I always love a good one. I'm also a fan of magical realism, fantasy (though epic fantasy isn't really my thing), and thrillers or mysteries with a twist of the abnormal. I have a huge crush on mashup novels. If you can throw me for a loop as I'm reading, I'm yours! Lastly, angsty love that leaves my head all abuzz is right up my alley. If any of that sounds like your book, I BEG YOU, PICK ME!!! Please know, though, that more than anything, I love being in love. So if your book grabs me and it isn't any of the above I mentioned, I won't turn you away. 
I hope that helps you make your choice:) 

Now for the details...

Submissions start today (11/26) ! The cut off time to get your applications (query & first five pages of manuscript) in is 8PM EST on December 5. 

Send your applications to brendadrakecontests@gmail.com. Writers can apply for up to 3 coaches. The coaches' categories are set. Coaches can only consider the categories they've signed up for. Writers cannot apply for a coach that is not in their category. 

   

For additional information about this contest go HERE
·        This is open to finished manuscripts only.

·         You may only enter one manuscript.

·         Only the genres requested by each coach will be considered for the contest.

Formatting...

Subject line: Pitch Wars Application: Coach Name you want to apply for: Title (Example: Pitch Wars Application:Brenda Drake: GONE WITH THE WIND)

Name: Your Name

Genre: The genre of your manuscript

Word Count: The word count of your manuscript

Query letter here  (embedded in email). Single spaced. No indentions. A space between each paragraph.

First five pages of the manuscript here (embedded in email). Single spaced. No indentions. A space between each paragraph.

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REMINDER: You can send an application for up to 3 coaches.  

Check back soon for a complete list of the amazing agents participating in the contest. There's over a dozen!

Today all the coaches are posting bios/wish lists on their blogs. So before choosing your top 3 picks, check all the coaches' posts in your category before deciding which coach to submit. To jump from blog to blog, just click on our pictures below. 

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ANNOUNCING PITCH WARS!!!

I am interrupting my fun-filled Florida vacay to announce an agent pitch contest you DO NOT WANT TO MISS! Check it out...

We're extremely excited to announce an upcoming event where  agented authors, industry interns, and editors team up with aspiring writers to shine up their manuscripts and pitches to present to some awesome agents.

Here's the deets...

• The teams will consist of 1 agented author or industry intern or editor (coaches) and 1 aspiring author.

• November 26: The coaches (listed on the linky below) will post on their blogs what genre/category they want to coach. They'll be very specific genres. Aspiring writers will hop around and decide which coaches best fit their manuscripts.

• December 5: Aspiring writers will submit 3 "applications" to their top choices for coaches to the contest email (brendadrakecontests@gmail.com) during the allotted times (8AM to 8PM EST). That means, participants will send three separate emails to the contest email addressing each with one of their three top choices for coach.

• December 5 through December 10: Coaches will read the applications and pick teammates.The coaches don't have to pick from their applications. If a coach passes on an application, it is then up for grabs and another coach, if they haven't connected to their applicants, can snatch it after notifying the applicant and if the applicant chooses the coach.

• December 12: Teams will be announced. On the announcement post there will be instructions on how the winners must send their work.

• December 12 through January 16: Each coach will read their teammate's manuscript and give general notes on any issues they find. The coach will help their teammate get his or her pitches ready for the agent round.

• Note: The material for the agent round will be a 3 sentence pitch and the first 250 words of your manuscript. Coaches will read manuscripts and query letters only once and give notes. It is up to the writer to use the notes from their coaches to get the manuscript and query letter in as best shape as they can to send to requesting agents. The coaches will critique the three sentence pitch and first 250 words. The coaches will read them as many times as they deem necessary. In no way will writers expect the coaches to read the manuscript and query letter more than once or the pitches more than twice.

• January 20: Coaches will submit shined pitches to the contest email.

• January 23 and 24: Agents will read and make requests on the pitches they like (it is likely that not all participants will get requests).

• January 25: We'll announce the team with the most requests and who will take home the winning prizes (an amazon gift card for each).

• This is open to finished manuscripts only.

• You may only enter one manuscript.

• Only the genres requested by each coach will be considered for the contest.

 Formatting...

Subject line: Pitch Wars Application: Coach Name you want to apply for: Title (Example: Pitch Wars Application: Brenda Drake: GONE WITH THE WIND)

Name: Your Name

Genre: The genre of your manuscript

Word Count: The word count of your manuscript


Query letter here  (embedded in email). Single spaced. No indentions. A space between each paragraph.

First five pages of the manuscript here (embedded in email). Single spaced. No indentions. A space between each paragraph.


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REMINDER: You can send an application for up to 3 coaches.

Our mentors ...

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And You Are..?

I know my slacker status, as far as blogging goes, has been at an all time high. I have a million excuses, none of which really matter. But I miss my blogging buddies in a big way. Seriously! And I'm so ready to get back into the swing of things! 

BUT...

Due to a quick little excursion to DISNEY WORLD next week--yep that's right, I'm hangin' with the mouse for seven days--I won't go into full fledged blogging mode until after the trip.

Before I head out, though, I wanted to let you all in on a blog hop beginning next month that is sure to get you in the holiday mood! 

You'll thank me later:)

Ms. Claus is giving away presents to three lucky people, but they must answer interview questions with David Spade first. Click here to sign up for the "And You Are..?" Blog Hop. Hurry, before all the good seats are taken!

Who doesn't want to be interviewed by David Spade and showered with presents by the one and only, Ms. Claus?! I'm so in:) What about you?