Pitch Wars! Submission Time!

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

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. To jump from blog to blog, just click on our pictures below. 

Now my bio and wish list!

I’m a mother of three boys and owner of eleven hens. When I’m not collecting laundry or eggs, I write YA fiction. I’m represented by Lauren MacLeod of the Strothman Agency, and I’ve worked with many published YA authors, such as Francisco Stork, Gretchen McNeil, and Kimberly Sabatini—among others. I freelance, too, and I absolutely love helping others hone their manuscripts.

Now I’m looking for YA mss—whether it’s fantasy, historical, contemporary, magical realism, or any other kind of YA. I especially love it when there’s some romance, though I probably won’t like it if there’s “insta-love.” I’m particularly drawn to writing with a strong voice that blends commercial fiction with a literary slant. I probably won’t take any dystopians or novels written in verse.

A few BTWs:

- Someone asked me on twitter what I meant by “literary slant.” I mean that: 1) I love evocative writing—to the point that when I come across it, I want to reread the sentences and paragraphs just to admire it. 2) I love it when characters are so fleshed out, I find it hard to believe they aren't real.  And when I say that I like it when there’s a blend of literary with "commercial" fiction, I mean that the plot has to be original, interesting, and well-developed, too. If you have all these elements, please send your MS to me! NOW!! What are you waiting for? ;)

-But why should you pick me? Because I’m going to make you work so hard, you’ll fall off the grid while revising your MS. Because I have lots of experience editing mss, and I can help you brainstorm. And because we’ll have fun in the process!

-I couldn’t finish without mentioning this: 
Three of the coaches have betaed my mss and they always have amazing notes for me. They are Krista (who’s looking for MG now), Stacey (who’s doing YA, like me, and is looking for kick-ass dialogue), and Shelley (Adult and NA). Also, even though she hasn’t critiqued my work, I know Brenda Drake’s comments are pretty amazing, since she’s worked with one of my CPs. Oh, and Erica Chapman is awesome too, and—hoo boy, I’ll better stop now if I want to convince you to pick me! :P (Because, come on, pick ME! ;D)

-Feel free to ask general questions on the comment section of this post.

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: Monica BW: 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!

Our mentors ...

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