From Pitch to Offer – My Agent Story

Now you might be thinking, “Wait, what? I thought she already had an agent.” Yup, I did. Then I didn’t. Now I do again.

Let me start with this. I love my first agent and we worked great together, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. She knows I’m grateful. I know she’s happy for me.

I made the choice to jump back into querying again and search for the right match for me, but this time around was different. I queried a very select list of agents who I had some connection to, whether I’ve worked with them in contests or auctions, know their clients, or have met them at conferences. And I made sure every one of them was a potential fit as far as genres go. I was so happy with the interest in the story, the positive feedback, and the personal responses from everyone on that list- thank you!

Now, here’s the part you’re probably waiting to hear . . .

FRIDAY:

I went to the Pennwriters conference a couple weeks ago with my writing buddy & bestie Adrienne. We happened to be in the room when they announced there were extra slots for pitches, so I figured I might as well give it a shot. A tiny little decision that would set everything in motion.

SATURDAY:

The next day, I pitched my middle grade story Truth Heist to Uwe Stender. He loved it and asked for the full. When the ten minutes ran out, he wanted to chat more later.

Adrienne and I ended up going to the luau (drinks & appetizers) because someone gave us a ticket. (Yet another thing that let this story continue!) We talked and laughed for hours with Uwe and some of our new writer friends. He was excited about the book and told me to send him the full that night and he'd read it during the week.

SUNDAY:

The next morning, after sending him a DM on twitter, he responded with a not-so-cryptic message that let me know he was already reading the book. Let me say that again- HE WAS ALREADY READING THE BOOK! A little while later, he responded with another mention of the story, this time a Seinfeld reference, so you know, double bonus points. Sunday night after I got home, a friend of mine saw that he had put #truthheist in one of his tweets. Holy cow, right?

TUESDAY:

Tuesday morning, a wonderful little email was hanging out in my inbox. He loved the manuscript and wanted to work with me. :) Cue happy dance.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

After the notify-the-other-agents emails and days of having my manuscript in the hands of some fabulous agents, which is quite an honor all on its own, I found myself very ready to accept Uwe’s offer. So I did.

Querying writers, I hope you get the kind of email I got back from him, including lots of happy capital letters and a whole slew of exclamation points. After reading that enthusiastic email, I thought to myself, yup, THIS is the person I want pitching my story to editors.

I'm very excited to be moving forward. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to every single one of you who gave me the encouragement I needed along the way. You know who you are and I am forever grateful.

A BIG thank you to my hubby who took care of everything while I was off at conferences last month. Thank you to everyone who read Truth Heist, some of you multiple times. And thank you twitter, for the days when I needed my writing buddies and you were all more than happy to jump in and chat. :)

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Pennwriters 2013 Conference

May has been a busy month for me with the NESCBWI conference in Springfield, MA at the beginning of the month (read about it here) and the Pennwriters conference in Pittsburgh this past weekend. They are both FABULOUS conferences and if you’re looking to go to one, you should check them out. (Also, NOSCBWI in Cleveland in September is amazing! Read about it here.)

  NOSCBWI 2012                         NESCBWI 2013

Pennwriters 2011 was the first writing conference I ever attended and I’ll always be grateful because it sent me off on my writing road. When I think about what I’ve learned since then, I’m amazed.

I didn’t know many people who would be there this time (no massive twitter group like NESCBWI) except my super-duper-bestie and writer friend, Adrienne. But if you know me, you won’t be surprised to hear that by the end of the conference, I’d collected plenty of new writer friends. :) Hi Joy, Charli, Ronna, & Cathy! *waves* (Click on names throughout the post for twitter handles/blogs.)

This conference has so many opportunities for writers to learn, grow, and fine-tune their writing. There were a ton of great sessions and speeches, with presenters like the one and only Donald Maass, author Jonathan Maberry, guru Chuck Sambuchino, and the super-talented Heidi Ruby Miller. I learned SO much.

And if you’re looking to get your work in front of agents and editors, there are free pitch sessions, read & critique nights, and WIP sessions.

Keynote by Bobbi Carducci

There is such a friendly atmosphere at this Pennwriters event, with plenty of opportunities for writers to chat with other writers, speakers, agents, and editors and no matter where we were throughout the weekend, that’s what we were doing. At Friday’s dinner (which included Donald Maass’ inspiring keynote speech), author extraordinaire Jonathan Maberry sat next to us and entertained the table with his stories. At Saturday’s lunch (with an incredible speech from author Bobbi Carducci), agent Jordy Albert dined with us and then we had the great fortune to have Chuck Sambuchino join us. Not only is he super knowledgeable, but he’s also quite fun. We chatted with Becky Vinter outside (and heard her beautiful London accent), met Suzie Townsend at a read & critique session (such great notes!), got to hear Eddie Schneider speak at an agent panel, met author Bobbi Carducci at our area meeting, and learned so much from the very smart and enthusiastic Agent Uwe Stender at the luau. (Yes, I know I don’t need to capitalize agent, but this way it’s like he’s a secret agent for a top government agency- you know, just for fun.) 

Adrienne, me, Uwe, and Claudia 

We had already met Sandy, another writer from Buffalo, and then at our area meeting (which is everyone outside of PA), we met the super-sweet Claudia who is moving to Buffalo in August. And just like that we decided to start our own Buffalo Pennwriters group. One of my favorite moments of the weekend was when Claudia told us later that she called her husband and told him, “I already have friends in Buffalo!”

The weekend was amazing and what I find really incredible, is that even on top of all the great sessions and keynotes, it was the things we didn’t plan ahead for that were the most special. The new friendships we made, chatting with agents and presenters, meeting one of the sweetest couples ever, forming a new writer’s group, and of course, being inspired to write.

THANK YOU to Jess Williams and all the volunteers who made this such an awesome weekend.

Book signing

I’ve heard people ask if writer’s conferences are worth it. For me, ABSOLUTELY. But, they are what you make of them. If you go ready to learn and take advantage of all the opportunities they offer, you’ll come home so much farther along on the writing path in just a couple days.

A writer’s conference is like living in Writer’s Town for a few days. And being surrounded by like-minded people for the purpose of becoming better writers is something you just have to experience for yourself.

If you didn’t already start saving for a conference after my last post, get out that piggy bank. :)

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NESCBWI 2013 Conference

If you followed the #nescbwi13 tweets, you might have noticed it was a fan-freaking-tastic conference. A few of the highlights . . .
(Click names to follow everyone on twitter or see their websites. No really, follow them all.)

Thursday: I had a long drive, so I got there a day early and finally got to meet the fabulous Jen in person! We talked all day, until after midnight- way past her bedtime.

Friday: Let’s see, there was lunch and running into the super sweet Quinlan Lee, volunteering at the registration desk, a couple great sessions, then dinner with a big table of twitter peeps and blue board friends. Then we met up with friends in the bar, including the endlessly entertaining agent Linda Epstein, bonding over some interesting conversation and of course, chocolate. We also got to briefly meet Lauren McLeod and Brooks Sherman. The stuff agent legends are made of, right? Stayed up until way past Jen’s bedtime. Again.

Saturday: Saturday started with breakfast, then more great sessions, lunch, more sessions, book signing, and then a dinner for the volunteers. All good. So good. (And btw, volunteering is a great way to help out and get more out of a conference.)

The keynote by Sharon Creech? Insightful. Heartfelt. Inspiring. She got not one, but TWO standing ovations. We would have stood up a third time if she came out for an encore. Grace Lin also shared her story and her beautiful illustrations. And can I just tell you about the line-up of amazing authors at this conference?! Erin Dionne. Linda Urban. Kate Messner. Hilary Weisman Graham. Jo Knowles. The list goes on.

Then we attended a panel with Brenda Reeves Sturgis, Emma Dryden, and Karen Grencik. From there we joined in the wine and cheese mingle and yup, there was plenty more chatting and laughing. Maybe a bit more laughing. It might have gone on for quite a while, actually. The famous Jennifer Laughran and fantabulous author Dawn Metcalf even joined us for a bit. But it didn’t end there, folks.

When you’re hanging out with such a great group of writers, you can’t just go to sleep. (Although a couple did sneak away. *clears throat* Ronni. *fake cough* Monica T.)

Kip and Minnesota Monica were kind enough to host a little after-party where there may or may not have been some toasting and jumping on the beds. I admit to nothing, except still being a kid at heart. And once again, poor Jen didn’t get to bed early, although she gave it a valiant effort.

Sunday: We sacrificed breakfast to sleep in a little, then there were more sessions, lunch, tearful goodbyes, and the last of the sessions. Finally, I hit the road, getting home in time to put the kids to bed. :)

So, who ARE these fabulous writers I speak of?
(clockwise from top left)

Jen M. I absolutely adore her. She is just as sweet, smart, and fun in real life!

Marcy Kate. We bonded because we’re both allergic to alcohol. Go figure. She’s also a brilliant writer.

Jennifer CE. She added quite a bit of laughter to our group.

Minnesota Monica. This is a lady with a contagious laugh and a sunny spirit.

Me. I’m smiling because, how could I not?

Taryn. She was the youngest of the group, yet so mature and TALENTED. Holy cow. Love her.

Kip. She is so full of goodness you can’t help wanting to be around her. Plus, everyone seemed to know her. “Oh, you know Kip? Yeah, me too.”

Ghenet. She is my curly-hair-twin who shares a love of photography. And so sweet.

Ronni. A fellow vegetarian with a smile that lights up a room.

Monica T. (not pictured) She’s a great lady who helped make the weekend one of the best. Obvs. For realz.

I met so many other great people, so please forgive me if I don’t list you here. I loved meeting you and I look forward to keeping in touch.

And of course, a HUGE thank you to Kris and Joyce for organizing such a wonderful event. Your hard work definitely paid off!

Start saving now, ladies and gents because #nescbwi14 will most certainly be a blast. Really. Get a piggy bank. Open a savings account. Put an envelope under the mattress. (It’s one of the best values you’ll find for a writing conference!) You’re going to want to be there. :)

In the words of Minnesota Monica, “It’s not goodbye, it’s ‘I’ll see you on twitter’.” 

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Plastic Polly by Jenny Lundquist!

Thank you to today’s guest blogger Stefanie Wass (see bio & pic below) and a BIG congrats to author Jenny Lundquist on her newest release!

The Top Five Reasons You Should Read Plastic Polly by Jenny Lundquist:

1. The Imperfect And Oh-So-Believable Main Character:

Polly, the second-most-popular girl at Winston Academy, hides her straight-A report cards, shops for the “right” clothes, and always agrees with her best friend Kelsey.

2. The Premise:

When a freak accident throws Polly into the spot of PlanMaster for a talent show between Winston Academy and its rival school, American River Charter, Polly needs to find her own voice, stand up for her beliefs, and prove to everyone that she doesn’t deserve her “Plastic Polly” nickname.

3. “True Confession” Chapter Titles, Which Give The Reader A Glimpse Into Polly’s Inner Thoughts:

True Confession: “I don’t even like Shattered Stars’ songs, but I buy their music anyway because everyone else likes them.”

4. Polly’s Growth:

At the beginning of the novel, Polly says, “Sometimes it (popularity) makes you choose one best friend over another. You keep your mouth shut, stick a fake smile on your face and pretend you don’t have any problems.”

Later, after surviving diva interference and backstabbing friends en route to organizing a successful talent show, Polly sees things differently:

“I know there may be a day in high school when Kelsey will seek popularity (again) and Alyssa will refuse to come along for the ride. But now I’m ready to find my path. No matter how bumpy and twisty that path is, I’m going to love it. Because it will be my own.”

5. The Message:

Pretending to be something you aren’t isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In Polly’s own words: “It’s taken a while, but I’ve found my own voice. It may be totally off-key, but at least it’s real.”

***

Get Plastic Polly at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Like Jenny’s page on facebook.

***

Stefanie Wass is a member of the Northern Ohio chapter of SCBWI. A finalist in the 2012 National Association of Elementary School Principals Book of the Year Contest, her nonfiction credits include the LA Times, Christian Science Monitor, Seattle Times, The Writer, Cleveland Magazine, Akron Beacon Journal, This I Believe, Cup of Comfort, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. www.stefaniewass.com

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GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA

The next stop on the blog tour is right here and today we have a fabulous interview with author Shannon Duffy. But first, lets find out about her book release from Month9Books!

Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta is a magical, fast-paced story that takes readers on a journey they won’t soon forget. It has enough mystery, intrigue and wonder to keep readers up, lamp lit, and reading into the night.

Gabriel Stone is a twelve-year-old boy still reeling from the unsolved disappearance of his mother. With a dad who’s hard to relate to, and mounting pressures at school, Gabriel lets off steam by hiking in the place where his mother was last seen. There, Gabe and friends find a crystal that proves not only beautiful, but magical beyond their wildest dreams. Only, magic and beauty come with a price: in order to return home, they must save the dying world of Valta.

And now a few questions for Shannon . . .

Where did you get the idea for GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA? Was it a light bulb moment or did it slowly creep into your subconscious?

How this happened is kinda strange. I honestly didn't really think about it at first. It was like the story was just there. I didn't think about if I wanted to write MG or YA, or what genre, etc. I just thought I'd like to write a story for my son Gabriel and this was the story that fell onto the page. I thought about more of the plotting as I went along of course, but the initial concept was just there.

Are any details or experiences in the book based on your own life?

Yes! The falls portrayed in the book play a significant role. When I was about 13/14, my cousin Brenda and I discovered those very falls hidden in the woods. We used to go to her cabin in the country and would go hiking. After we found those falls, we'd often go back. And just this past summer, my husband, my cousin, and I took my son Gabriel back there and searched the woods to find them. Best part? After trekking through the woods and finding Beachy Cove Falls, my son found a triangular rock like the Divinity! Unfortunately, it didn't glow and wasn't magical in itself, but hey, it was a pretty magical experience.

What was the road to publication like for this book?

Honestly, long and hard. Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta was the very first novel I wrote. That being said, there was A LOT of editing involved. I hired freelance editors to help--which is awesome because it was like hiring personal coaches. Then finding an agent and onward to the long journey to find a publisher who would love my story as much as I do. Month9Books did, and I love them for it!

Can you describe how it felt to see the final cover for the first time?

This is so hard to describe--but it made me cry the happiest tears ever. Seriously. When I wrote the story, I didn't know if it would ever reach publication. So seeing your story come to life with a cover is surreal, incredible, and as magical as anything I wrote in my story. It especially means so much to me because like I said, I wrote this book for my son Gabriel. Now he can always have this book.

Any special plans for your book release day? Cartwheels? Cupcakes? Constantly refreshing the Amazon & Barnes & Noble pages displaying your book?

No special plans. (by the way, I'm writing this post on release day). But I have a giant grin on my face and a heart full of gratitude. I hope the readers enjoy it! But now you have me thinking. *Plots to send hubby for celebratory cupcakes.*

What is one piece of advice you'd give to aspiring writers?

Don't give up! If you love writing, keep doing it. Read. And if you're able, hire a good freelance editor. They can really help guide you. You can learn so much. Find a couple of good critique partners and remember to be patient. This last one is tough. The publishing industry is super slow, but hang in there!

***

Find it on Goodreads, follow Shannon on twitter, or head on over to her website. :)

Find out more about Month9Books here.

Visit the other blog tour spots-

February 17-Starting the Next Chapter

February 18-Bookshelf Banter

February 19-Mad Musings of Mastermind

February 20-Moosubi Reviews

February 21-Writer’s Alley

February 22-Jeanz Book Read N Review

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Watch Those Words!

For me, the last four months have been filled with conferences & writing weekends, reading, writing, revising, critiquing, and lots of contests. Which means I’ve had plenty of chances to read not only my work, but the work of other writers. I’m not an expert, but I’m happy to pass along what I’ve learned in the hopes it will help someone along the way.

 
I’ve noticed a few things that pop up again and again, and therefore, really stand out. Here’s a little round-up of some things you should watch for as you write- and that you should check for after you write as well. **Stay tuned for some super helpful writing tools at the bottom of the post!**

Sentence variety. Shorter and longer sentences have their purposes, but there needs to be a mix of the two to get the right effect. This, along with grammar and word choice, is one of the biggest factors in having a smooth flow to your writing.

Overused words. We all have these and once you know what they are, you can search and get rid of words you use too often- or make an effort to leave them out as you write. It doesn't mean you can't use them, just use them sparingly. What are those words? The ones I’ve seen most often are that, had, and just. But you might have your own too.

*Photo by Arkadiusz Szymczak

Adjectives/Adverbs. Agents and editors are always saying they don't want them and writing books suggest you don't use them. It doesn't mean you can't use them some of the time, but it's better to let the dialogue and action speak for itself. You can also find other ways to describe things, rather than using common adjectives and adverbs.

 
Dialogue Tags. Writing advice usually suggests using said and asked most of the time. Of course you can use something else when it’s called for, like whispered, but for the most part, other tags are often distracting and unnecessary. Especially when there are a lot of them. And make sure the tags describe the act of speaking, NOT an action unrelated to speech. You cannot shrug, smile, laugh, or even yawn words. You might do these things AS you speak, but it’s not the same action as speaking them.

*Photo by Milan Jurek

Filter Words. Readers want to experience things as the characters do, not hear about it from outside of the characters. Don’t tell us the mc sees something- show us what she sees. Examples of filter words are see, saw, looked, heard, and felt. These words take the reader out of the story. Plus, you don't really need them and it's stronger without them. Click here for a post on this topic with ways to get rid of filter words.

So, how do you clean up your manuscript?

You can do a search by using function F5 to find each time you use a certain word. You don't have to change them all, but it's a good idea to make sure you take some of them out. *If you use Find & Replace, be careful. You might want to check “find whole words only” –otherwise it will change any words that contain the “replace” word!

Pro Writing Aid has a free program that will check for things like overused words, sentence variety, repeated phrases, adverbs, and even dialogue tags. (A Premium version is available, but the free version is plenty and you can do a chapter at a time.)

The Emotion Thesaurus is a great tool for adding more “showing” into your writing. It can help with issues of overused words, adjectives/adverbs, and filter words. A PDF version is $4.99 and the paperback is $9.77. Also, be sure to browse The Bookshelf Muse website for even more resources! From their website, “this brainstorming tool explores seventy-five emotions and provides a large selection of body language, internal sensations, actions and thoughts associated with each.”

Revising is work, for sure, but it also gets you where you need to go. Have fun with it. You’re making your story clear and easy to read for whoever gets his or her lucky little hands on it. :)

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Happy New Year! And Who to Follow in 2013.

Thinking back on 2012 as we start 2013, I know how blessed I am to be surrounded by a wonderful family and amazing friends. (Hi to hubby, Mom, Anne, & Adrienne who I’m pretty sure read this.) The idea of a new year opens up so many possibilities. My kids even agreed on a TV show this morning. What?!

I hit some big writing milestones last year too. I finished my book, headed into the query trenches, got an agent!, and went out on submission. In the meantime, I finished my next book and realized how much I’ve learned along the way.

I also made a lot of new friends. Writer friends. Friends who totally get that the paragraph above is a HUGE deal and who cheered me on every step of the way. While I’m sure I’ll forget to include someone, I’m going to attempt to say thank you to some of you who made 2012 so special.

 

To follow my twitter list of these incredible writers, go here.

 

My twitter adventure began with finding people to chat with. I remember jumping into a conversation between Summer and Rachel, where we ended up exchanging queries. I got to know other writers and learned about contests, as well as the amazing opportunity to stalk other entries. :) I found Triona’s pitch so intriguing and we soon started chatting. When she moved back home to Indiana, I twitter-introduced her to Summer- remember this for later. I also loved Elaine’s entry and I finally have her ms to read! Woo hoo!

When I got my agent- the wonderful Kerry Sparks- Kim gave me a virtual Dr. Pepper toast, which I returned when she got her agent! *foreshadowing* And then that feisty Jess shot off her famous confetti cannon. When I went out on submission, I jumped into a new trench along with Dahlia and Leigh Ann. Over the summer, I also gained a fabulous new CP in Emily and got to know the sweet & spunky Andrea. Sending hugs to all of you. :)

Then came Pitch Madness where I got to know the incredible Brenda and learned what it was like from the other side of the slush. In that slush, I found an entry I absolutely HAD to read more of. That’s when I became TFFs (That’s right, Twitter Friends Forever) with Jen. Summer and I also tracked down Carey, who turned into a giddy schoolgirl when she was nicknamed “The Torg”. Go Team Finn!

The Northern Ohio SCBWI runs a terrific conference every year in September, and this year, we even got to have a Tweetup, where I met some amazing writers and twitter friends in real life. Triona, Lucas, Stephanie, Kellie, Holly, Christina, Lindsay and Heather, as well as other writers attending the conference. And one of my favorite parts- I got to see Jen M. again. :)

Yeah, I know. So much awesome in that paragraph.

And then I ventured into the Hook, Line, & Sinker contest with Summer and Kat. It was a ton of work, but it was also so much fun to work with these amazing ladies. The Trick or Treat with an Agent contest was also a success, especially because I got to work with Kim & Brenda.

And how could I ever forget The Great Fizz Frenzy of 2012 when Fizzygrrl finally got her amazing agent. Phew! And are you ready for this? In December, I got to see Triona again and meet Summer in person! Yes, the Fizz is just as awesome in real life. You might even say she’s amazeballs. (I do speak some Fizzish, you know.) I even got to meet their hubbies and try apple butter for the first time. *waves hello to Drew and Gavin*

 

And then a week later, I got to have lunch with Kim who was in town visiting family. And we had a REAL Dr. Pepper toast.

 

The year brought Grease sing-alongs with Sarah, DB Sweeney swooning with Gail, and more stalking (uh, ms finds) with Laurie and Janet. I ran from risqué conversations with, among others, that crazy, yet totally endearing, gal Feaky. And when the awesome Marieke started asking for MG to read and then gushed over mine, well, that might have made my day.

I loved meeting all the other slush readers in the contests I did- there are so many of you to mention, so I will just say ALL of you! My Pitch Wars team Erin, Samantha, and Vicki are incredible, so be sure to watch their stories. And to those who take the time to chat with me, please forgive me if your name isn’t in here. A quick hello to Jay, Melanie, Megan, Jamie, Sarah, Dale, Abby, Heidi, Angi, and Laura.

So many of you have helped and encouraged me along the way and I am truly grateful. It’s so fun to see writers joining twitter and contest circuits and I’m humbled by those who have asked for my advice. Thank you, for giving me the chance to pay it forward.

Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy New Year, full of amazing adventures!

*last photo by mono bustos

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My Pitch Wars Team!

Photo by mmagallan

My Pitch Wars folder was filled with fantastic entries. Seriously. You guys did such a great job matching your choices to the mentor wish lists. I got everything I asked for- contemporaries that tugged at my heart strings, some light fantasy that had me really intrigued, awesome mysteries and adventures, stories with bits of history, lots of magic, and some super cool concepts and ideas. With smooth writing and unique voices, you certainly gave me a lot to think about. But as you know, I could only choose one.

I hope everyone gets something positive out of this contest because whether or not you’re on a mentor’s team, there’s so much to gain. (Click here and here to read my posts on all the things you can get out of contests!)

My top pick is one that hooked me right away and it was the one I kept thinking about throughout the entry period. It’s a mystery/adventure with magical elements, plus it has a hot-air balloon, a clever mc, and a genie! So, please welcome Erin Ferguson with her amazing story BALLOONING to my team! (See all teams over at Brenda Drake’s blog.)

My alternates also have some mix of mystery, adventure, and magic and had me curious as to what will happen next in the story. Say hello to Samantha Farkas with THE LOST FIGUREHEAD . . .

. . . and Vicki Tremper with THE TRANSPARENTS.

I’m going to say it again- there were so many good entries and I am HONORED that you chose to send your work to me. I tried to give everyone some constructive feedback, but please remember it’s only one opinion- consider it notes a CP might write.

You are all so brave to put your work out there and I admire your determination to get it in the best shape you can. I wish you all the best of luck!

*Check out our new site www.cpseek.com to chat with other writers and find critique partners!*

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Contests Are For . . . (Part 2)

Here are five more things contests are really for, in the words of your fellow writers. If you missed Part 1, you can read it here.

*If you’re looking to chat with other writers or find a critique partner, check out www.cpseek.com!*

6. Getting motivated.

“I find nothing motivates me more than knowing other writers are out there, doing the same thing I'm doing, working just as hard. Contests are a wealth of people all struggling in the trenches together, and what's more motivating than that?” –Dahlia @MissDahlELama

“On a few different occasions, after entering a contest, I received an e-mail from a "Random Citizen" telling me how much they loved my entry. THAT, more than anything else encouraged me to keep going. Just a taste of how it feels to touch someone with your work.” –Janet @MsVerbose

“There’s nothing like winning a contest to help push away those “I’m never gonna get published” naysaying thoughts bumping around my head!  Even if I don’t win, an encouraging crit is enough fuel to push me forward, to let me know I am on the right track.” –Stephanie @stefwass

“I am absolutely someone who is motivated by deadlines, but the ones I impose on myself (you will finish this revision one month from today!) seem artificial and harder ot keep. But if I know that there's a contest coming up, that maybe I'll get lucky and have a request on a certain date, it is absolutely easier to keep my backside in the chair and my eyes on the screen, to persevere and get the work done.” –Elaine @ElaineBVickers

“Contests can jumpstart you into finishing things you've been putting off--perfecting your query, writing your synopsis, etc.” – Emily @emcushi

7. Getting encouragement.

“I love the camaraderie among contest participants! There's so much encouragement, even among people who are technically competitors, and I think that's so important at such a scary phase of the process.” –Dahlia

“I gained support and confidence with the feedback. All a win-win experience.” –Karen @love8rockets

8. Being part of a community.

“The writing community is an amazing thing - a wealth of resources and knowledge, a pool of willing betas/CPs... writing is only as solitary a practice as you choose to make it, and if you really open up (within reason!) it's pretty amazing what other people will do to help a stranger, and even better when they no longer feel like strangers!” -Dahlia

“The #1 thing I've learned from contests? The writing community is AMAZING--everyone is so supportive, helpful, and willing to cheer each other on.” – Emily

“Writing is such lonely work, and sometimes it feels like you're the only one who can't ‘make it.’ Contests always remind me that I'm not alone. I'm part of a broad community of wonderful, helpful people who are brave enough to put themselves out there and take risks. It makes me want to do better and keep going!” –Janet

“I entered my first contest last spring, a Twitter pitch party. The request I got from a top agent was great, but what I really got out of it was writer friends who knew what I was going through and are now right there with me, cheering my wins and booing my losses. Thanks to that contest, I now have met with other writers in person (they're just as awesome as they are online!). I talk to dozens of writers daily through Twitter, email, and blogs. I also know tons much more about the literary world than I did before (agents and editors are people too, apparently!). I'm no longer slogging through the trenches alone—I'm shoulder-to-shoulder with awesome people just like me. I am so thrilled I decided to enter that contest. :-)” -Triona @trionabmurphy

9. Paying it forward.

“Writers I’ve met through contests and I are now actively cheering each other along our paths to publication and, not only has my writing grown as a result of these connections, but so has my enjoyment of the whole process and the connection I feel to the larger kidlit community.” –Jen @jenniferlmalone

“Having the opportunity to pay it forward as a Pitch Wars mentor feels pretty amazing. You realize how much work goes on behind the scenes, strictly because writers are willing to spend tons of time and energy helping other writers they don't even know. I know Cupid, Krista Van Dolzer, Brenda Drake, and Monica B.W. worked like crazy on the contest that got me my agent, and that they continue to help the community (all four are involved in Pitch Wars) while writing their own stuff boggles my mind. How could I not want to make every effort to pay it forward with role models like that??” –Dahlia

“The writing community is the most supportive group of people I've ever come across. Every writer who takes the time to help another writer, whether that's answering questions, critiquing work, holding contests, etc. is AMAZING! Let's keep paying it forward people!” –Kim @kpchase817

“The fantastic thing about this community is that everybody is willing to help each other. Mentoring in contests, or simply critiquing entries, is a wonderful way to pay it forward--and learning something in the process!” –Marieke @mariekeyn

 

10. Winning- but not necessarily the contest.

“’Winning’ the contest is seriously the least of it. Gaining a community, betas, CPs, cheerleaders... these things are invaluable. It's like that "teach a man to fish" saying. Winning a contest gets you the fish, and it's great, but just being in a contest gives you all the tools to fish on your own, and that's no small thing!” –Dahlia

“You always win something when entering a contest. Info on what agents are looking for, feedback on your pitch, seeing what else is out there, what works and what doesn't, connecting with other writers and making friends. It's all Winning!” -Kim

Sure, winning could be getting to the final round and collecting requests from agents. If you do that, good for you! But if you’ve accomplished any of the things on this list, consider the contest a win. :)

*A big thank you to the fabulous writers who contributed to the post!

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Contests Are For . . . (Part 1)

If you’re entering contests simply to snag an agent, you’re missing out on all the other things contests make possible. Whether you dive right in or cheer from the sidelines, there is A LOT you can gain from them- all things that can lead you on your path to getting an agent.

Here are five things contests are really for, in the words of your fellow writers. (Click here for five more in Part 2!)

Yup, that’s me (@writeforapples) in the middle, with @trionabmurphy & @fizzygrrl on our writing weekend. I met Triona and got to know Summer through twitter and contests.

1. Making connections.

“The cool thing is, the competition could become your new CP. I've met fabulous people through participating in contests.” – Emily @emcushi

“Making connections is, in my opinion, the greatest value of contests. I met all of my CPs either directly or indirectly through the contest that got me my agent. Think about it: You're likeminded writers in similar stages of the publication process - it's instant bonding!” –Dahlia @MissDahlELama

“I discovered some fantastic manuscripts, amazing new voices, and wonderful writers through contests. I met several CPs that way and betaed dozens of manuscripts, staying in touch with many writers. It's great to be allowed to share part of the journey.” –Marieke @mariekeyn

“I have met so many great people through contests. Some have even turned into perfect CP's because they knew my style from the beginning.” –Janet @MsVerbose

“I've met many writers in my genre and have had invaluable critiques from writers outside of my immediate writer's group.” –Karen @love8rockets

“I entered my first contest almost a year ago for a manuscript and query that, in retrospect, were awful. I actually looked back at that first entry and discovered that my first comment was from someone who has since become a good friend. While neither of us remembered that comment, it was probably the seed that started a friendship that I now value very much. I've found so many other friends and critique partners, and win or lose, it's such an affirming and positive experience to be cheered on by your competition. Contests, for me, reaffirm what a great community writers can belong to.” –Elaine @ElaineBVickers

“I stumbled upon some great people through a contest/pitch hash tag on twitter.  An agent I follow mentioned to his followers to use it to pitch their book and I jumped on the bandwagon.  This is how I met Summer and others.  I think it's how people thought we all met because of The Writer’s Voice contest. I jumped in using the hash tag without knowing what the heck was going on.” –Jess @muchadoabout77

“What was really impactful for me was finding those queries for stories I knew I would LOVE to read. Of course I told the authors just that in the comment box, but if I could determine who those authors were, I also followed them on Twitter and struck up conversations. It wasn't long before a few of those conversations led to MS swaps.” –Jen @jenniferlmalone

“This is my favorite thing about contests. They are such an awesome opportunity to make new writer friends and connect with people you otherwise may have never interacted with before. Some of my CPs and best buddies all stemmed from me entering a writing competition. I never "won" in the competition sense, but that didn't stop me from winning new writer friends. Friends who then supported me, read my work and gave feedback, talked me through the getting an agent process, and overall kept me sane. These people ultimately helped me land my agent and I will forever be thankful for them. (I <3 you Dee!)” –Kim @kpchase817 2. Getting feedback.

“Maybe something (your query, logline, first 250 words) needs to be changed. Luckily, in some contests, you receive valuable instant feedback to let you know exactly what that change could be.” –Emily

“Let the comments sink in for a few weeks. Initially, you may disagree with them.  But eventually, you’ll find nuggets of truth, and common themes that point to areas that need to be addressed in your writing.  For me, looking back at feedback from a contest that took place a year ago, I can step back and see kernels of wisdom.  At the time of the contest, I was defensive.” –Stefanie @stefwass

“The amount of feedback you'll get is often determined by the nature of the contest, and those that allow public critique are often the most valuable. This includes non-contest sites like theqqqe.blogspot.com, where I got the feedback that made my query so much more successful. As an added bonus, public-critique contests help you develop the thick skin that you'll need regardless of how far your writing career goes. :)” -Elaine

“The feedback that comes from contests can be tricky to parse through, because it comes from so many different sources who really don't necessarily know any better than you do. I've seen terrible advice given in contests, and it kills me. BUT, when you see that piece of advice that totally and completely resonates with you and sparks a brilliant revision idea? Priceless.” -Dahlia

“Learning what wasn't working was as, if not more, important than the confidence boost that came from the supportive comments.” –Jen

3. Learning.

"If some entries receive a lot of requests, go ahead and dissect the query, logline, etc to see what's making it so darn appealing.” –Emily

“Analyzing what wasn’t working in others’ queries and/or opening pages often opened my eyes to similar mistakes in mine and the comments made on my entry caused me to look long and hard at what I was presenting to agents.” –Jen

“I love reading feedback for all sorts of entries. It's so interesting to see subjectivity in action, to see how different readers react differently to stories. I may not agree with all of it, but contests with live feedback are a fantastic insight in the mind of other readers/agents/editors.” -Marieke

“Reading other critiques is a great way to improve your writing. Also, studying craft: How did the writer nail the logline? What was it about his first sentence that had me hooked with just a few words?” -Stefanie

“There's a ton you can learn from contests if you really pay attention. They're often springboards for experienced betas and industry pros to teach invaluable lessons whether in comments or on Twitter.” –Dahlia

"I Learned about what writers in my genre are writing right now.” –Karen

"Again, public critique contests are a great way to learn, often by critiquing others' writing. Whether an entry worked or didn't work for you, the analysis of why can almost always be applied to your own writing. And this applies for non-critiqued contests as well. Which entries got the most requests? Was it the writing, or the hook, or a killer combination of both? What can you learn and apply from entries that were similar to yours?” –Elaine

4. Finding out about agents.

“For me, it’s interesting to compare agent feedback on the same piece of writing. It is subjective, but I can tell so much about an agent’s style, personality, and whether or not he/she would push me editorially, which for me, is something I am seeking.” –Stefanie

“I first learned of my agent through a contest. No, I didn't win that one, but I noted what interested her and that's when I added her to my list of agents to query.” -Janet

“Of course, every writer should be researching agents on his/her own, but contests can be a great way to narrow down an overwhelming list and learn real specifics from an agent's wish list.” –Dahlia5. Understanding the process.

“I quickly realized through these new connections that I didn't know bupkiss about getting published.  The contest allowed me to meet critique partners and new friends I'm constantly learning from, being motivated by, and motivating in return.” –Jess

“Contests helped me realize that a full request doesn’t necessarily mean an offer of rep or a publishing contract!  I now understand that this is a long, bumpy journey, with many other writers vying for the same goal.” -Stefanie

*A big thank you to the fabulous writers who contributed to the post! Go follow them on twitter. :)

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Pitch Wars ... the Agents!

Are you ready for this? We have 16 incredible agents vying for our Pitch Wars team manuscripts. We're so excited to see what pitches they fall in love with, and what teams will win the coveted Pitch Wars Most Requested Manuscript title. And, in no particular order, here are the agents...

Louise Fury L. Perkins Agency Twitter: @louisefury Louise is seeking teen Sci-Fi and Young Adult horror. She's also on the hunt for deep, dark contemporary YA and select Middle Grade fiction with a literary feel--it must be realistic and thought provoking and the characters must be authentic and original. Louise loves horror and romance, especially Regency and Victorian.

Jessica Sinsheimer Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency Twitter: @jsinsheim Jessica is seeking Literary, Women's, Middle Grade, and Young Adult Fiction.

Natalie Fischer Lakosil Bradford Literary Agency Twitter: @Natalie_Lakosil Natalie is looking for commercial fiction, with an emphasis in children’s literature (from picture book-teen), romance (contemporary, paranormal and historical), and upmarket women’s fiction. Specific likes include historical, multi-cultural, paranormal, sci-fi/fantasy, gritty, thrilling and darker contemporary novels, and middle grade with heart.

Pam van Hylckama Vlieg Larsen Pomada Literary Agents Twitter: @BookaliciousPam Pam represents young adult and middle grade children’s book authors, and adult romance authors.

Jordy Albert The Booker Albert Agency Twitter: @bluedragonfly81 Jordy is on the look out for Romance (contemporary, historical/Regency, and paranormal). YA contemporary/historical or dystopian, sci-fi/fantasy with romance elements. She's also open to YA GLBT within those genres. She'd love to see unique, well-developed plots featuring time travel, competitions, or travel.

Andrea Somberg Harvey Klinger Inc. Twitter: @andreasomberg Andrea's looking for the following categories: Fiction; literary, commercial, womens fiction, romance, thrillers, mystery, paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, young adult, middle grade.

Jennifer Mishler Literary Counsel Twitter: @literarycounsel Jennifer is seeking Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Contemporary, Young Adult Literary, and Young Adult Historical.

Suzie Townsend New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. Twitter: @sztownsend81 Suzie represents adult and children's fiction. In adult, she's specifically looking for romance (historical and paranormal), and fantasy (urban fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, epic fantasy). In Childrens' she loves YA (all subgenres) and is dying to find great Middle Grade projects (especially something akin to the recent movie SUPER 8).

Victoria Marini Gelfman Schneider Literary Agents, Inc. Twitter: @LitAgentMarini Victoria is looking for literary fiction, commercial fiction, pop-culture non-fiction, and young adult. She is very interested in acquiring engaging Literary fiction and mysteries / suspense, commercial women's fiction (romantic suspense, sci-fi, fantasy), and Young Adult (contemporary, sci-fi/fantasy, thriller and horror ).

Kerry Sparks Levine Greenberg Literary Agency, Inc. Twitter: @Kerry_Sparks Kerry is looking for Young Adult and Middle-Grade fiction, both commercial and literary. She tends to shy away from werewolves, zombies, faeries, and the like, but she’ll read anything with a fresh voice and compelling characters. She is particularly keen on contemporary YA, quirky MG, books with a strong cinematic element.

Drea Cohane The Rights Factory Literary Agents Drea is currently seeking: fiction, memoir, crime, non-fiction and YA. Her roster consists of British, American, and Canadian clients. International talent is welcome.

Katie Shea Donald Maass Literary Agency Twitter: @AgentShea Katie specializes in fiction and memoir, especially women’s fiction and commercial-scale literary fiction, and realistic YA. She is most interested in coming-of-age stories and stories of unique relationships.

Elise Capron Dijkstra Literary Agency Twitter: @EliseCapron Elise is interested in serious character-driven literary fiction, well-written narrative nonfiction, and short story collections. (Note: She is not interested in Fantasy, young-adult/middle-grade, picture books, romance, and sci-fi.) She aims to work with writers who have a realistic sense of the market and their audience.

Jodell Sadler Sadler-Caravette Children's Literary Twitter: @picturebklunch Jodell is interested in YA, MG (especially funny) , fiction and nonfiction, book proposals, and picture books. She will also coach writers wanting to self publish. She simply loves a well-paced story that moves her between joy and tears.

Corvisiero Literary Agency Brittany and Michelle are teaming up to look for Adult, YA, and MG manuscripts.

Michelle Johnson Twitter: @MJsRetweet Michelle’s published one novel, The Footloose Killer, and edited several others for publishing houses and private clients. She also is a Script/Story consultant on an independent film in Halifax, NS, Canada, and enjoys working closely with writers to help them develop their voice and craft.

Brittany Howard Twitter: @brittanydhoward When reading, Brittany loves to be introduced to new and interesting people and places. She looks for strong voice, good storytelling, and fascinating relationships between characters—romantic or otherwise. More than anything, she loves when a book surprises her.

There's just one more day to get your applications in for Pitch Wars. Make sure to check out this post here to get all the details.

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