What is Pitch Wars? A couple years ago when I first heard of it, I imagined writers hurling flaming manuscripts and query letters at baseball mitt-shaped inboxes of eager agents. You’ll have to excuse me. The first image my brain usually conjures up is seldom the real thing. Sometimes it’s not even based in reality. I’ve endured a lifetime of strange looks from teachers, friends, would-be lovers followed by, “You got that from that?” (And then he’s gone. Not every man is strong enough to love a writer-brained woman, my friends.) In reality, my image wasn’t far off. The manuscripts might not have flames shooting from them, and the inboxes have probably not morphed from sporting equipment, but I’m betting the agents are eager. Their might even be a few Pitch Wars hopefuls hurling. (Though, I hope not.) The website describes Pitch Wars as a “program where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns choose one writer each to mentor. Mentors read the entire manuscript and offer suggestions on how to make the manuscript shine for the agent showcase”. Let me tell you, it’s much more than that. If you are lurking in #PitchWars Twitterdom, I hope you jump out and join us. It’s too late to submit this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t connect with the community. If you’ve already submitted, and you are freaking out over #PWTeasers, I hope you have a glass of wine or two and tease right back. Honestly, have you ever thought of those teasers as a fantastic learning opportunity? Seeing what excites the mentors reminds us how to hook a reader. Teasers can also remind us that not every reader is gonna like every book. If a mentor isn’t digging your concept or feeling your voice, partnering with that person would not be good for either of you. And that’s okay. Mostly, Pitch Wars reminds us of the big, inclusive heart of the writing community. When I read that some mentors are happily and voluntarily skipping through 270 submission and feeling blessed to do so, I wanted to offer more than a hug gif. I wanted to beam myself through their baseball mitts to hug in person. High five, shout out, virtual hugs, and kissing emojis to all who make Pitch Wars possible and to all writers who support writers with your free writing events, critique swaps, Facebook groups, and all that other goodness. There is nothing more powerful than the written word, and with that power…prepare for the cliche, because here it comes...with that power comes great responsibility. So glad to be sharing the load with you.
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AuthorDee Linn loves words. When she was in the third grade, her exasperated teacher told her she'd probably talk to a pole, if she happen to be sitting beside it. Not much has changed except that now she says it in writing. She is a single mom of four, a teacher of teens, a cheater at board games, and a lover of life. She's a Kansas girl, but travels to all kinds of places in her head with characters living there, some of which she's sure she's created. Some, she's not sure how they got there. But they are way more interesting to talk to than a pole. Archives
November 2017
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