Jessica Bayliss
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Pitch Wars Blog Hop 2018

8/13/2018

60 Comments

 
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It's that time again: Pitch Wars time!

I am so grateful to be mentoring again this year after the fabulous experience I had in 2017. So, if you're interested in potentially subb'ing to me, you're in the right place.
But FIRST, what is this blog hop business? Below my post, you'll find links to all the YA mentors'  and co-mentors' sites where you can easily hop from blog-to-blog and read everyone's wish lists. We want the process of choosing who you'll sub to as easy as possible. Just be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to find them.
 So who am I and why would you want to choose me as a potential mentor? Why should you trust your work to my eyes and use one of your precious chances when there are almost 50 fabulous YA mentors? 
Below you will find the 
top 11 reasons —updated for 2018.

Am I the mentor for you? 

​1. Last year, I was a mentor in MG. Though my mentee's situation was a bit unique in that she'd already made a connection with her agent-to-be, my mentee did share that the agent loved the work we'd done and that the revisions contributed to their sealing the deal. This is what she said when I checked in to ask if she minded my referencing our experience here: 
“I was so excited to have Jessica select me to be her mentee in 2017. She understood the heart of my story and help me develop the world I had created. Jessica is an expert at helping writers develop character arcs and clarify character motivations. When I began to receive interest from agents, Jessica was essential in helping me navigate those new waters. I can’t imagine what my journey into publishing would have been like without Jessica in my corner.”
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Meanwhile, I’m simply grateful that Adrianna allowed me along for her ride on the Pitch Wars whirlwind.
 
 2. I’m walking the wire and dancing through the fire. In other words, I know exactly what it feels like to be in your shoes because I’m literally in your shoes. As writers, we sometimes think we’ll reach this point where we’re finally there (does anyone even know what there is?), but the fact of the matter is, this is one long experience. Sure, there are milestones, but regardless of whether we have been in this industry for a short time or a long time, we're all dealing with the same things. We’re all subbing our work and hoping for yes’s. We’re all dealing with rejection and difficult feedback and just waiting for that next bit of good news or next step along our path. Now, that may sound discouraging, but it’s not. In fact, it’s liberating because it means that we never need to judge ourselves on where we are. And, if we keep the right mindset, we can enjoy every step. That’s why I LOVE the metaphors of walking the wire and dancing through the fire (and yes, I got those from two different songs—bonus points if you can guess which ones).
 
This writing thing is full of challenges, and it’s up to us to decide if it’s going to be a terrible ride or a party.
 
I choose to party. Want to join me? 
 
3. I love YA, and I’ve written almost nothing but YA in the last few years. My first novel-length book, BROKEN CHORDS, a YA horror came out in 2017, and my official debut novel, TEN AFTER CLOSING, a YA thriller comes out (eep!) in LESS THAN A MONTH. I’ve also been included in a YA anthology for which I wrote a sweet romantic piece.
 
4. No one wants a crabby mentor. If you know me, you know I strive to inspire and motivate writers. I do it with my blog, I do it with my memes, I do it with the free chapter critiques I give away each month to people on my newsletter list. My Number 1 Motto is: You can’t fail if you don’t give up. I believe 100% that if you want to be a published author you will, as long as you keep at it. That’s the spirit I’ll bring to this competition.
 
5. Because I’m a psychologist, one of my strengths is in creating authentic, realistic characters that drive the action of the story. Being either a character-driven or plot-driven author is so last year; I want to help you be both.
 
6. This is my dog. As anticipated, he was no help last year, but he is so darned cute ...
 
7. But seriously, I’ve written 14 books and 9 short stories, and I’ve been published in four anthologies. My Number 2 Motto is: Finish what you start. Revise what you finish. Then revise it again. And send it out there into the world.
 
I also serve as an editor for Allegory Magazine, which is now in its 20th year! Since last year when I mentored in Pitch Wars, I received a promotion to Senior Editor, and I’m so proud to serve writers in this role, helping them to have their yes-moment.
 
8. Pizza and donuts. Pizza goes without saying, but I figured I needed to update my comfort food for 2018, so I give you donuts.
 
9.  I’m looking to develop a real relationship with my mentee. Our friendship won’t end when the competition is over. Once I work with you, I’m going to be so excited to hear about all your doings and happenings. I hope to be a resource for the long-haul. (And don’t be surprised if, down the line, I bug you to be a resource for me. It’s all about writers helping writers.) 

10. I still love to eat. Pizza (as above), ice cream, donuts, cheese. All the cheese. And coffee. I make a MEAN pumpkin chocolate chip cookie. But, most of the time, I’m into eating healthy. I’ve tried at least half the recipes on Skinnytaste.com, and I’m huge into working out. It’s my foundation. I’m a grunge rock girl at heart, but I love modern dance music and current rock groups. I can’t seem to get enough of Panic at the Disco, Imagine Dragons, or Fallout Boy. I’m also a bluegrass fan (especially “New Grass.” Crooked Still is one of my all time favorites. And Nickel Creek.) I love SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, PROJECT RUNWAY, TOP CHEF, DEADLIEST CATCH, FAMILY GUY, SILICON VALLEY, BUFFY, WEST WORLD, PORTLANDIA, MONTY PYTHON.
 
11. I did not start out as a writer. I don’t have an MFA. I didn’t study writing in college or grad school. But writing a book was something I always wanted to do, and one day, I said: Let me see if I can do it. And that started me off. I’ve been writing for only eight years, so I know what it’s like to be a constant learner. I’m still learning. So, unless you’re Shakespeare, I totally expect that you’re still learning too.
 
I’m a practicing, licensed clinical psychologist. I work with people every day on figuring out their strengths, understanding their barriers & things that limit them reaching their potential, and setting the kind of goals that work. On the education front, I’ve been teaching and mentoring students at all levels (from college to post-grad) for over ten years. My Number 3 Motto is: It’s not about being good. It’s about getting better.


What you can expect from me:

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- Kindness and honesty. I’m the person who’s not afraid to tell you that you have broccoli in your teeth (and if I do, PLEASE tell me, okay?), but learning should never be punitive. You can expect a collaborative experience where I’ll tell you all my thoughts, but work with you to make your book the best it can be no matter what.
- When I read your book, I’ll be looking to understand the book as you envision it, then work with you to further hone the things that are already working well and identify places where you can bring out the heart of your vision even more.
- Once I’ve read the whole thing, I’ll send you an edit letter with all my thoughts. I’ll give you some time to read through it, then we can communicate about it (video chat, phone, email—whatever) and come up with a solid revision plan.
- Once you complete your revisions, I’ll read through the book again and give you comments in the margins.
- We’ll pay extra attention to your first chapter and your query; I’ll also do a line/copy edit of your first 30 pages, and then you can take those suggestions and carry them through the rest of the book.
- I’ll be here to cheer you on the whole way, including providing support during the hardest part of the competition—the waiting phase. We’ll get through it together with pizza, donuts, wine, and all the cheese.


My perfect mentee ...

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​​Are you ... ?
- flexible and open-minded about revisions? Listen, when you sign with your agent (and you will, I know it), you’re going to continue to get tons of feedback on your work. Then you’ll sell your book (totally, it will happen), and your editor is going to have a ton of changes for you to make too. So, revisions are a normal and natural part of the writing process. (Personally, my favorite parts of all my books are born in revisions.) So, if you’re open-minded and willing to do an overhaul if it’s in the service of your vision, I really want to work with you.
 
- not afraid to work hard? There’s a timeline in Pitch Wars, and you will likely be eating, sleeping, and breathing your book. Are you reading this saying, Bring it on!--good!
 
- serious about your writing career? I can’t promise that if you work with me you’ll get an agent and a book deal. I can promise you’ll learn from this experience, and your book will be better than when you started. So, if you don’t sign, are you still going to be as motivated to keep trying as you were the day you entered this competition? Will you keep querying that book until you find your dream agent? Will you write a new one and query that if this one doesn’t get you there? Yes? Then send me your book, my friend.
 
Let’s get to work.


So, what kind of books am I looking to mentor this year?

 WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR
- I’m definitely looking for genre books, but within that context, I’m excited to read stories with diversity of any type, including #ownvoices books.
- I will accept YA and NA
- My biggest request will be thrillers. I’ll take action-based thrillers, psychological, techno thrillers, and a tiny bit of sci-fi (sci-fi isn’t my favorite, but it can be amazing,so the right book could do it for me). Books like THE ACCIDENTAL BAD GIRL (Maxine Kaplan), PEOPLE LIKE US (Dana Mele), THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN (Kristina McBride), or mysteries like DIVESMACK (Demetra Brodsky) and SEE ALL THE STARS (Kit Frick).
- I’m also open to paranormal YA and full-on horror. Books like DREAD NATION (Justina Ireland), THE DARK BENEATH THE ICE (Amelinda Berube), THE CALL (Paedar O’Guillin), THE DEVIL AND WINNIE FLYNN (Micol Ostow), and books by Kim Liggett.
- I love combining humor with more serious stories, so if you have something along the lines of SCREAM ALL NIGHT (Derek Milman) or THEIVING WEASELS (Billy Taylor), especially if there’s a thriller element, send it to me.
- I’m also open to magical realism or light fantasy as long as it’s at least mostly rooted in the present time and a contemporary world: THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST (Holly Black) or THE HAZEL WOOD (Melissa Albert).
- These books are just examples; there's no need to know them to sub to me if your book fits my overall categories.
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​WHAT I’m NOT LOOKING FOR
- Anything that’s NOT YA.
- Quiet books. I’m a genre girl, so I’m looking for books with thrills and scares.
- Pure contemporary. I love these books (think SOMEDAY, SOMEWHERE by Lindsey Champion), but I’m not looking for that this time around.
- High fantasy.
- No vampires or werewolves (UNLESS it’s a silly take on the trope. Think FAT VAMPIRE for or something like Molly Harper’s books for YA.)
- No space stories.
- No dystopians, please.

There's nothing wrong with these types of books, and my preferences have nothing to do with the chances of these kinds of books getting you an agent or book deal, they're just not my favorites and therefore you're better off using one of your submissions on a mentor who'd be a better fit. 

Thank you!

Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to get to know me. I can't wait to read your submission!!!! And remember, the links to all the other YA mentors' blog posts are BELOW.
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1.


Abigail

2.


Adalyn

3.


Alex & Renée (Accepts NA)

4.


Andrea & Kay (Accepts NA)

5.


Annie

6.


Aty (Accepts NA)

7.


Brittney (Accepts NA)

8.


Carrie & Sabrina

9.


Chelsea (Accepts NA)

10.


Cole

11.


Elly (Accepts NA)

12.


Erica

13.


Erin

14.


Fallon & Rebecca

15.


Gloria

16.


Heather & Rachel
17.


Hoda

18.


Isabel

19.


Jamie

20.


Jenna

21.


Jessica B. (Accepts NA)

22.


KC Johnson

23.


Kerbie (Accept NA)

24.


Kim & Megan

25.


Kimberly & Francesca

26.


Kit

27.


Laura

28.


Lindsey & Melissa

29.


Luke

30.


Lyndsay

31.


M.K. & Jamie

32.


Megan
33.


Mel & Alechia

34.


Michaela (Accepts NA)

35.


Rachel S.

36.


Rebecca

37.


Rosie & Swati

38.


RuthAnne & Destiny (Accepts NA)

39.


Samantha & Laurie

40.


Sana (Accepts NA)

41.


Sheena

42.


Sonia & Annette

43.


ST Sterlings (Accepts NA)

44.


Stephen (Accepts NA)

45.


Tobie & Jennieke

46.


Trisha (Accepts NA)

47.


Lindsey & Katie

48.


Dawn & Kimberly G.

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TEN AFTER CLOSING pre-order giveaway

6/25/2018

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Welcome back! Today, the official pre-order campaign for my debut YA thriller, TEN AFTER CLOSING, begins! I'm so grateful that you want to read my book. It comes out on September 4th.

Until then, you can pre-order TEN AFTER and everyone who does will be entered into my giveaway. 

To enter, please fill out this FORM or email your name, mailing address, and proof of purchase to [email protected].

​Here's how it works ...
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​ORDER FROM YOUR FAVORITE RETAILER:

Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Apple Store  /  
Walmart  /  Target  /  Indiebound  /  Book Depository  / Books-A-Million  /  Booktopia ​​

Everyone who enters will win ...

- A signed bookmark
- Special, supplemental chapters that show what the secondary characters were doing in the hours leading up to the hold up in Cafe Flores
(I will send this out AFTER the book is released. No spoilers now!)

AND will be in the running for one of the other fun prizes I've created to go perfectly with the theme of a cafe, like Cafe Flores in my book.

- A Cafe Flores mug
- A TEN AFTER CLOSING key chain with the Cafe Flores mug charm, a clock charm, and other colorful beaded charms
- A signed copy of TEN AFTER CLOSING

and the GRAND PRIZE is ...

All the prizes above AND something to go in your mug (coffee or tea--winner's choice)

 - - Enter the giveaway now. - - 

TEN AFTER CLOSING will be available on September 4th, so the last day to pre-order is September 3rd, 2018. The prize winners will be chosen on the 27th, and I'll get them all in the mail promptly. Giveaway is US only.

And, last but not least, THANK YOU again for your support! 

If you have questions, just let me know: [email protected].
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PITCH WARS BLOG HOP

7/18/2017

1 Comment

 
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My wishlist and what you can expect from me as a mentor.

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Holy moly, I can’t believe it’s Pitch Wars Blog Hop time! I’m super excited to be mentoring in Pitch Wars this year in the MG category. It’s my first time, so I know that means it will be the BEST! 

If you’re still new to this whole Pitch Wars thing, let me give you a little info. This is an awesome competition where you enter your manuscript for a chance to get paired with a mentor who will help you get your book into the best shape possible. Then, you ​get to go to the agent round where a captive audience of agents (not literally captive, though, because that would be creepy—in a bad way) reviews all the subs and requests fulls. In other words, if you get chosen in Pitch Wars, you have an excellent chance of getting an ADVANCE TO FULL REQUEST card.  And even if you don't sign, there's a lot you will
LEARN, so let's get started.

For more information about Pitch Wars, click HERE.

So, who am I & why you might want to choose me as a potential mentor?

Here are the top 11 reasons.

1. 11 is my lucky number.

2. I’m a new mentor this year, but I was selected as a MENTEE in a very similar competition last year, Pitch2Publication. As a result of that, I signed with my dream agent, Dr. Uwe Stender, president of Triada US Literary Agency. He went on to sell my P2P book, TEN PAST CLOSING, which will be published next spring by Sky Pony Press. 

Because I’ve been in
YOUR shoes, I know how nerve-wracking and exciting and scary and hard this whole thing is. I’ve been on the receiving end of a massive edit letter and line edits up the wazoo. I worked my butt off and then worked my butt off some more. And a little more. Then I waited. OMG, I waited, and I wasn’t sure if I’d make it. But. I. Survived. (So will you.)  And I want to be there with YOU when it's your turn.
This is going to be awesome!
3. I love MG. (Here’s a secret. Even though my debut is a YA, my first ever book was a MG portal fantasy; my heart lives there still). I’ve also published a (silly) horror short in an MG anthology.

4. No one wants a crabby mentor. If you check out my blog, you’ll see I strive to inspire and motivate writers. My Number 1 Motto is: You can’t fail if you don’t give up. I believe 100% that if you want to be a published author you will, as long as you keep at it. That’s the spirit I’ll bring to this competition.

5. Because I’m a psychologist, one my strengths is in creating authentic, realistic characters that drive the action of the story. Being EITHER a character-driven or plot-driven author is so last year; I want to help you be both.

​​6. This is my dog. He’s not going to be helping out with mentoring this year (which is a very good thing because he can't read no matter how much he fakes it), but he’s a cute little bastard.​
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7. But seriously, I work really hard at being a writer. I’ve written ten books (in addition to my official debut, I have YA horror coming out with a small press in the fall) and nine short stories (six of which have been published). My Number 2 Motto is: Finish what you start. Revise what you finish. Then revise it again. And send it out there into the world. I’m also an Associate Editor for Allegory eZine, so I’ve gotten to practice looking out for gems hidden in the slush. 

8. Pizza. 

9.  I’m looking to develop a real relationship with my mentee. Our friendship won’t end when the competition is over. Once I work with you, I’m going to be so excited to hear about all your doings and happenings. I hope to be a resource for the long-haul. (And don’t be surprised if, down the line, I bug you to be a resource for me. It’s all about writers helping writers.) 

10. I love to eat. Pizza (as above), ice cream, donuts, cheese. All the cheese. And coffee. I make a MEAN pumpkin chocolate chip cookie. But, most of the time, I’m into eating healthy. I’ve tried at least half the recipes on Skinnytaste.com, and I’m huge into working out. It’s my foundation. Finally, thanks to a friend in my writing group, I recently got into Bullet Journaling because colored markers and stickers and washi tape, and OMG, it’s so fun.

11. I did NOT start out as a writer. I DO NOT have an MFA. I didn’t study writing in college or grad school. But writing a book was something I always wanted to do, and one day, I said: Let me see if I can do it. And that started me off. I’ve been writing for only seven years, so I know what it’s like to be a constant learner. I’m still learning. So, unless you’re Shakespeare (you're not are you? Because if so, OMG, vampire), I totally expect that you’re still learning too. 

I’m a practicing, licensed clinical psychologist. I work with people every day on figuring out what their strengths are, understanding their barriers & things that limit them from reaching their potential, and setting the kind of goals that work. On the education front, I’ve been teaching and mentoring students at all levels (from college to post-grad) for over ten years. My Number 3 Motto is: It’s not about being good. It’s about getting better. 

What can you expect if you work with me?

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- Kindness and honesty. I’m the person who’s not afraid to tell you that you have broccoli in your teeth (and if I do, PLEASE tell me, okay?). You can expect a collaborative experience where I’ll tell you all my thoughts, but work with you to make your book the best it can be no matter what.
- When I read your book, I’ll be looking to understand the book as you envision it, then work with you to further hone the things that are already working well and identify places where you can bring out the heart of your vision even more.
- You can expect a combination of questions to help you think more deeply about your plot and your characters along with actionable items--specific, concrete ideas of things you can try.
- Speaking of character, it's one of my specialties. I may even share my special Character Map with you. (Who am I fooling, I'm totally going to share it.)
- Once I’ve read the whole thing, I’ll send you an edit letter with all my thoughts on what I love, your characters, character interaction, pacing, plot weaknesses/inconsistencies, etc. I’ll give you some time to read through it, then we can communicate about it (video chat, phone, email—whatever) and come up with a solid revision plan.
- Once you complete your revisions, I’ll read through the book again and give you comments in the margins. 
- We’ll pay extra attention to your first chapter and your query; I’ll also do a line edit of your first 50 pages, and then you can take those suggestions and carry them through the rest of the book.
​- I’ll be here to cheer you on the whole way, including providing support during the hardest part of the competition—the waiting phase. We’ll get through it together with pizza, donuts, wine, and
all the cheese. 

My wish list (Yay! This is the best part.)

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 ​- I’m definitely looking for genre books, but within that context, I’m excited to read stories with diversity of any type, including #ownvoices books.
- Voice, voice, voice.
- My number 1 request is some good MG horror or anything creepy/scary/eerie.
- I’m also looking to see contemporary books full of thrills.
- My favorite type of horror is paranormal/supernatural, so bring on your ghosts and demons.
- Witches in contemporary settings are great too.
- I’m a SUCKER for a haunted house story. (My secret ambition is to write the world’s best haunted insane asylum book, but if you beat me to it, send that baby over here please.)
- I’ll take my horror with a dose of silliness or keep it straight. I love HECK, WHERE THE BAD KIDS GO (by Dale E. Basye and Bob Dob) and THE MONSTER SQUAD, so feel free to send me your humorous horror.
- I’m open to MG horror with a more literary vibe too, like A MONSTER CALLS (by Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd).
- I’m all about seeing creepiness in the mundane, so more subtle stories or MAGICAL REALISM are very welcome (e.g., DOLL BONES by Holly Black).
- I’m open to portal-style books like THE SPINDLERS or LIESL AND PO, both by Lauren Oliver. Books like the SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (Holly Black) would be great. 
- Adventures and thrillers? Yes, please. I’m dating myself here, but I’d love to read the next GOONIES. OMG, if you wrote STRANGER THINGS for MG, that’s for me. Or STAND BY ME. Or something like CLOAK AND DAGGER.
- Scavenger hunt stories would be fun (especially if there’s a creepy element).
- I’m a sucker for kids getting stuck somewhere and having to survive something (lost in the woods, stranded on a desert island, accidentally locked up somewhere—OMG, if they’re accidentally locked somewhere and there also happens to be a ghost or monster, that book is for me. Clearly there’s a theme here.).
- I will take fantasy if it’s rooted in the contemporary world (e.g., SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES by Holly Black).
- I’m open to some SCI-FI, but again, rooted in the contemporary world.
- Detective stories, especially with humor. My favorite movie of all time is CLUE. If you’ve written CLUE for MG readers, me wants…


​That's it for me. You can read ALL the MG mentors' bios and wishlists at the bottom of my page. 


Please read my WHAT I'M NOT LOOKING for list below.

What am I looking for in a mentee?

Are you:
- flexible and open-minded about revisions? Listen, when you sign with your agent (and you will, I know it), you’re going to continue to get tons of feedback on your work. Then you’ll sell your book (totally, it will happen), and your editor is going to have a ton of changes for you to make too. So, revisions are a normal and natural part of the writing process. (Personally, my favorite parts of all my books are born in revisions). So, if you’re open-minded and willing to do an overhaul if it’s in the service of your vision, I really want to work with you.

- not afraid to work hard? There’s a timeline in Pitch Wars, and you will likely be eating, sleeping, and breathing your book. Are you reading this saying: Bring it on!—good! 
​
- serious about your writing career? I can’t promise that if you work with me you’ll get an agent and a book deal. I can promise you’ll learn from this experience, and your book will be better than when you started. So, if you don’t sign, are you still going to be as motivated to keep trying as you were the day you entered this competition? Will you keep querying that book until you find your dream agent? Will you write a new one and query that if this one doesn’t get you there? Yes? Then send me your submission, my friend. 
Let’s get to work!

What I'm NOT looking for.

- Anything that’s NOT MG. I love books for all ages, and even though my forthcoming books are YA, I’m only mentoring MG this year.
- Quiet books. I’m a genre girl, so I’m looking for books with thrills and scares.
- Pure contemporary. I love these books (think BFF BUCKET LIST by Dee Romito or THE SLEEPOVER by Jen Ramone), but I’m not looking for that this time around. 
- High fantasy. 
- No vampires or werewolves (UNLESS it’s a silly take on the trope. Think FAT VAMPIRE for MG or THE MONSTER SQUAD.)
- No space stories.
- No dystopians, please.
- Books full of grammar errors and typos and that are overall poorly written. Pitch Wars is for books that are complete and somewhat revised (but perfection is not expected, so don't worry if there are some errors). If your book requires too many basics to get it into shape, we just won't have the time. So please, read and edit your book now before the submission window opens.
There's still some time before the submission window opens. until then...
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Read ALL the MG mentors' bios and wishlists right here.
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It's a Writer Thing Post #15: Let's talk about Pitch Wars (don't let unhelpful thoughts derail you)

7/3/2017

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First off, I just want to state for the record (my husband loves to make fun of me because I state many things "for the record,") that I can't believe this post is #15 in the It's a Writer Thing Series! When I first decided to start this, I wasn't sure I'd have enough in my brain to share to keep it going. I know I have at least one more post in me. Next time, I'll be writing about the OTHER r-word: revisions. So check back next month for that.

Secondly, THANK YOU to Amber Gregg for hosting my post on her awesome site about all things reading & writing: Judging More than Just the Cover. She hosts author interviews, posts book reviews, and other articles about writing. It's a great resource.

Now, on to today's post. I will give you a heads-up--it's a longish one this month--but I had 2 goals for this post. 1) to provide inf on the parts of Pitch Wars that people might overlook in the rush to get their submissions ready (e.g., the live calls and the Pimp My Bio) and 2) give some input on participating the competition from someone who's been on the inside.
 
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As a former Pitch2Publication success story, I KNOW what it feels like to be short-listed. I KNOW how amazing it is to read the words: And the next mentee is (YOUR NAME HERE). I want YOU to have that too. So please, do everything you can to help yourself before the submission window begins.
 
Make it impossible for us to not choose your submission.
 
I also know all the negative thoughts that go through the authors’ minds during this process. P2P wasn’t the only competition I entered. I entered several over the years that I was not chosen for, so I know that feeling too. It’s scary to put yourself out there, but I firmly believe that we MUST put ourselves out there, and I also believe the stress is totally worth it.
 
So, in the spirit of combating those negative thoughts now, I’ve listed out the ones that I had back in the day in the hopes that they will help you.
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NEGATIVE THOUGHT #1: I won’t get chosen, so there’s no point in doing ___________ (insert phrase as applicable: writing a synopsis, reading through my manuscript one more time, writing a 35-word pitch, etc.)
 

Get your submission materials ready NOW.

What do you need?: 1) query letter and 2) first chapter (please see Brenda Drake’s blog for more guidelines on short chapters & prologues). You should also prepare: 1) a 1-3 page synopsis and 2) a 35-word short pitch. These are things a mentor may ask for to help with their decision.
 
Yes, synopsis. I know. They’re evil and torture, but they’re the only way to get a feel for the full plot of your book without actually reading the whole book. And I’ll be honest with you, when I entered FicFest, I did not follow this advice. Why didn’t I have a synopsis ready? Because I didn’t think there was any chance in hell that I’d get chosen, and yet one of the mentors loved my submission and wanted to read my synopsis. Oops.
 
YOUR MS SERIOUSLY MIGHT BE CHOSEN.
 
Don’t be like me. Get your materials ready now and you won’t have to frantically throw it together at 11:45PM on a Thursday while trying to scoop frozen cookie dough out of a container. (Don’t judge. I needed something to strengthen me.)
 
NEGATIVE THOUGHT #2: They’re just going to have me revise it anyway.
 
Please be sure your MS is ready. Yes, your whole manuscript. Listen, I know you’re busy. Believe me, I get it. You’ve got lots of obligations, and you may be saying: Why bother killing myself? I won’t get picked. I’ll just get the first few chapters ready to go and call it a day.
 
My response to that, a strangled GAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! The mentors you submit to may want more chapters to help them decide. If your first chapter rocks, but the rest are super rough, they may determine that, though they love your concept, your book as a whole needs too much work to get it ready in time for the Agent Showcase.
 
Not to mention, no one wants to get a request for the first 50 pages and come to realize they never wrote X, Y, or Z pivotal scene. (Clears throat.) That’s a surefire way to find yourself frantically writing away at 11:45PM on a Thursday trying to jam a spoon into a frozen container of cookie dough.
 
So do that work UP FRONT and make it easy for us to pick you.
 
We want to pick YOU.
 
And yes, your mentor will ask you to revise it, but the better a MS is when we start working, the better we can make it by the end. Worst case scenario: your MS isn’t selected, but you have a newly-revised MS that will blow the agents away when you query.

NEGATIVE THOUGHT #3: I don’t need a frozen container of cookie dough because I’ll get all my materials totally set to go. BOO-ya!
 
Listen, cookie dough comes in handy for many life situations. I highly recommend everyone keep some. Just in case. (For example, it’s a great way to celebrate when you get that request for a synopsis.)
 
NEGATIVE THOUGHT #4: I don’t know who to pick as a prospective mentor. There are so many. I can’t do it. Eenie-meenie-miney-mo.
 
Do your research on the mentors. The number of writers who donate their time is astounding (it sort of makes my heart glow &  my eyes get all watery). While they’re all great, there will definitely be some who are better matched for you and your work than others.
 
The Blog Hop starts on July 19th, which gives you two whole weeks to check out all the mentors’ bios, wish lists, and info on their approach to mentoring. Brenda and the other organizers of the competition have made it super easy for you to jump from blog-to-blog. At the bottom of each mentor’s Pitch Wars Bio post, we’ll include links to all the other mentors’ pages (for that age category). They’re numbered with our pictures so it will be easy for you to keep track.
 
Seriously, give your MS the BEST chance of getting chosen by really taking the time to visit each mentors’ blog. Not only that, but come and say hi on Twitter. We want to get to know you. That’s a huge part of the fun. You can join the #PimpMyBio Blog hop and tell us all about yourself. (Do it! It’s fun!) Also, check out the #pitchwars hashtag and look out for the live chats (July 17th through August 1st).
 
NEGATIVE THOUGHT #5: There’s no way THAT AMAZING MENTOR will want to work with ME. 
 
But we do! We do!
 
There are some seriously talented and successful writers in this mix. And, I can tell you from experience getting to know them over the last few months, they’re all wonderful, down-to-earth people. We’re just as excited and nervous as you are.
 
Your submission will literally make our day.
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NEGATIVE THOUGHT #6: If I don’t get chosen, that means I’m not good enough.
 
Not at all! Please don’t self-label. If your MS doesn’t get chosen, that means nothing about YOU. Maybe your MS wasn’t ready, but you—as a person and writer—are good enough. Even if you still have room to grow (and who doesn’t?) as long you keep working, practicing, and getting better, then you ARE good enough.
 
NEGATIVE THOUGHT #7: If I don’t get chosen, that means my MS isn’t good enough.
 
My agent recently did a Twitter Poll, asking the worst news a writer can get from their agent. I selected the option Being Told a MS is Truly Bad. But I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve changed my mind.
 
No MS is truly bad. Why? Because a MS that’s not ready NOW can always be improved. Some writers go so far as to literally open a new doc or Scrivener file and rewrite the whole thing. (I’m not saying you should do that!) My point is, no MS is beyond hope if an author is committed to their concept and is willing to do the hard work to make it awesome.
 
So, maybe your MS isn’t ready YET, but it still may be “good enough” with more work. It may take longer than we have in this competition to get it ready for the agent showcase, though. Or, the mentor may just not be confident they understand what your MS needs to bring it to the next level.
 
Sometimes manuscripts aren’t chosen for other reasons.
 
It may not be quite right for the mentors you sub’d to. You know, that whole subjectivity thing. Sometimes mentors pass on a submission because they happen to know something about trends in publishing at the moment, and they worry that concept might have a rough time in the Agent Showcase. Trends change all the time, though, so a book that might be a tough sell today can be an easy sell in 6 months. I’ve also seen cases where a mentor feels the book is ready now. Remember, this competition is about mentorship; if your MS can’t be improved upon, then go query.
 
Finally, the mentors you sub to may LOVE your book, but they may love another MS too, and at the end of the day, they can only pick one. (That said, it’s not unheard of for a mentor to be so undecided, they opt to take TWO mentees. I’m not saying it will happen, but you never know...)
 
NEGATIVE THOUGHT #8: If my MS isn’t chosen, there’s no point in keeping up on what’s going on with Pitch Wars.
 
Nope!
 
Submitting to Pitch Wars isn’t just about a chance at nabbing a slot, it’s also about learning and building your community. Even if your MS isn’t selected, you still come away with something from being here.
 
Mentors will post on the #tenqueries hashtag, giving tips and suggestions based on the submissions they receive (anonymous, of course).
 
I met a bunch of authors every time I entered a competition. I followed the mentors even when I wasn’t selected. Connecting with other writers is literally the most important thing that helped me progress. There are so many opportunities I wouldn’t have known about (calls for submissions, competitions, resources to become a better writer). Pitch Wars is also hosting a webinar series with tons of different topics on writing.
 
And, don’t forget, if you aren’t selected for Pitch Wars 2017, you can participate in PitMad, a Twitter pitch party, on September 7th.
 
So, your mission (if you choose to accept it): 
1) Get those materials ready.
2) Create a kick-ass affirmation for this process. Need some help? Here’s one you can use: My MS has just as much chance of being selected as anyone else. I will approach this as if I know my MS will be chosen. Pitch Wars Mentors, here I come!
3) Check out the mentors' bios and wish lists in the Blog Hop starting on July 19th, come say hi on the #pitchwars hashtag, hang with us during the Live Chats, maybe join a webinar or two. And don’t forget the #PimpMyBio Blog Hop!
4) Buy some frozen cookie dough OR make some cookie dough and stick that bad boy in the freezer.
5) Eat said cookie dough.
6) Repeat Steps 4 & 5 as necessary.
7) And HAVE FUN!

And, as always, ​You can do it! You can write!
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I'm a #PitchWars Mentor!

4/3/2017

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I am thrilled to have been selected to serve as a #PitchWars mentor in the 2017 competition. For followers of my blog, you know that I was lucky to be selected as a winner of #P2P16, which was just about a year ago now. The time around that competition was one of the most AMAZING and EXCITING of my entire life. First, just following the #tenqueries on Twitter.
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Then, seeing tweets that MIGHT have been mine... Of course, we never really knew, but sometimes we could guess. Then, finding out I was getting a request for more pages. GAH! 

Now, I'm going to have the honor to give back to the writing community. After all, I signed with my incredible agent as a result of this competition. It would be the most incredible thing to have an author I mentor go on to sign with an agent and then get a book deal. 

Check back here often for updates and the schedule of event, which I'll be posting in the near future. In the meantime, you can check out more about Pitch Wars here on Brenda Drake's site.

Until then, Congratulations to all the Mentors! We're going to have a great time!
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