Surprise! We’re opening the submission window early! It will remain open until the original closing of August 6 at 10PM EDT (New York time). For your listening pleasure while you’re filling out your forms, Sarah Farnam wrote and performed a song for Pitch Wars. It so amazing, so check it out here:
For those unfamiliar with Pitch Wars, it’s a contest where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns choose one writer each, read their entire manuscript, and offer suggestions on how to make the manuscript shine. The mentor also critiques his/her writer’s pitch to get it ready for the agent round. To do this, the mentors read all their applications and choose the writer they want to mentor for a little over two months to get them ready for the agent round. Writers can pick up to four (4) mentors to submit to. Want to have two bonus entries? Go to this page here and find out how you can submit to six (6) mentors instead of four.
Last year we had fifty-five mentees sign with agents and several of those resulted in book deals. That’s not counting all the successes from Pitch Wars 2012, 2013, and 2014. Pitch Wars has reached over 200 successes. It’s our fifth year, and we our excited to see what happens. We hope to have many more successes this year!
For a list of our mentors go here, for submission guidelines go here, and for a list of our agents this year, go here and here.
And make sure to enter the scavenger hunt for a chance to win a mentorship. Only those who enter Pitch Wars can participate in the scavenger hunt. After all the mentors make their mentee picks, we’re holding a drawing and picking three lucky writers to go through the mentoring process. This is a random draw. So anything goes! And anyone can win! That’s one writer each from the middle grade, young adult, and adult/new adult pool of submissions. More information on this post here. You have until we announce the mentors’ picks to solve the puzzle and submit your entry.
If you have any difficulties with this form, or if there’s a technical glitch, or if the site blows up, don’t panic! Just use the form under the Contact Me page/label at the top of the blog and let us know the issue.
About your queries: It should have all parts of the query, as if you were sending to an agent. “Dear Mentor” works for the salutation and make sure to include your bio (if you have one) and category/genre/word count.
About your first chapters: Upload the first chapter of your manuscript no matter how long it is. You can include short prologues (3 pages or less) or send the prologues later if the mentor asks for a full manuscript. If you don’t have chapters in your book or feel your chapters are too short, send the first ten pages of your manuscript.
PLEASE DO NOT ENTER IF YOU AREN’T READY. Once you hit send, there are no take backs or changes. Double check that you have the right mentors for the category (MG, YA, NA, or Adult) you are submitting. Your entry will be deleted if you send it to a mentor who is not requesting your category.
Make sure to name your document file with your name and title of your manuscript. (Example: Brenda Drake_Library Jumpers.docx)
After you hit send on the form, the page will reload. Scroll down to where the form was and it will tell you if your submission has been accepted. YOU WILL NOT GET AN EMAIL RECEIPT.
Please do NOT re-enter your form. When you hit submit, the page will move to the top, scroll down to where the form was and it will say your entry has been received.
AGAIN, please do not re-enter your entry!
If the forms don’t load for you, try changing internet servers. Enter one form at a time. Make sure to enter one form and submit it before entering the next form.
THE SUBMISSION WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED!!!!
Here is the form for the four (4) free applications …
Here is the form for the two (2) extra applications (for those who donated to PW) …
Here is the form for the one (1) free application for those who attended the Pitch Wars Road Show at the RT Booklovers Convention in Las Vegas (you’ll need your convention receipt and name of the mentor you worked with) …
THE SUBMISSION WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED!!!!
Aaaaahhhh!!! So excited!!!!
Hi Brenda,
Thank you for all you do for the writing community! You rule!! I saw a receipt for my four free entries but not for my two bonus ones.
Thanks again!
Comment
I would like to know if my first ten pages uploaded okay and my submission was received. Thank you.
It came through perfectly.
Comment Ty for creating this fantastic opportunity. Heres to wishing all of us, the potential mentees good luck. I donated a few weeks ago. Somehow I cannot find how to submit the application to the two extra mentors? Or do we need to wait until tomorrow for that possibility. Thank you again.
Larry
Use the bonus entry form on the same submission post.
Thanks Heather.
Can you I ask you to check that my six entries went through?
Thank you for your help.
Larry
The application for the two extra mentors is right under the application for the four free mentors, all in the submission post. Just keep scrolling down.
Hi Heather, I sent in two applications, the first and the four mentors, the second had the two mentors for donations.
Did all six come through? Thanks Larry
Good luck everyone!
Yaaayyyy so exciting!
Is the donation receipt supposed to be in PDF form or?
Thanks!!!
PDF or Doc should work.
The form seems to like .doc and pdf. Using a chrome browser also helps.
Trying to figure out how to upload PayPal receipt for donation in order to submit to the extra 2 mentors. I copied the emailed receipt into a document and tried to upload that but it didn’t work. I got a message: Please enter a value with a valid extension. I don’t know what that means. Anyone?
I’m not sure how to fix the problem, but I can tell you that I submitted my receipt as a .docx file and it uploaded easily. You might have to borrow a friend’s computer if you don’t have Microsoft Word. Good luck submitting!
Try to upload as a doc file or pdf. If that doesn’t work, let me know via twitter. @HeatherCashman
Once the submit button has been clicked, shall we expect an email confirming the entry went through? Happy PitchWar! 🙂
No email confirmation. The window itself should say it was received.
I’ve been following, I even donated. But, in the end, decided to to stay Indie with my next book and hold out until next year with a different manuscript.
I really appreciate all the work you guys, put into this for writers who want their first start with a mainstream publisher. This is such a fantastic project.
Thank you so much, Phillip! We appreciate you as well!
Sorry to bother you, but I’m having trouble uploading my receipt from Paypal for the two additional submissions. Every file type I try to upload is being rejected with “Please enter a value with a valid extension.” I have saved the email as a .pdf and as a.rtf file. Could you please let me know what format this form requires? Thanks so much!
I submitted my first set of entries on Safari with no issues. For some reason I kept getting errors with the extra entries. I had to switch to Firefox for the additional Paypal entries and uploaded the receipt as a .pdf with no issues. Try switching browsers if you are having a similar issue. 🙂
It should accept pdf or doc files. If you’re having trouble, try using a chrome browser. We’ve had a lot of trouble with others.
Do you have to input all 6 simultaneously (if you have extras) before pressing send? Or do you submit 4, then 2?
The forms work independently.
Woo-who! I’m so excited! I hope both forms went through since I didn’t see any confirmation at the bottom of the screen. Thanks again!
I converted my pdf to a JPEG. There is a free conversion tool online at pdf2jpeg.com. Then I could upload it.
Paula, use the pdf. It should work.
That was amazingly simple. PitchWars is so organised. It is very impressive. Thanks so much for putting this all together!
I think I just submitted… but got no confirmation either. Thanks for the opportunity though, whether it went through or not 🙂
It came through, Justin.
Yay! thanks Brenda!
Sorry to bother you, but when I entered all of my information for my submission last night, it only submitted my initial four mentors and not my bonus. I tried again with the remaining two and just want to make sure my six submissions all went through.
Thank you so much for putting this together. It’s a fantastic opportunity for all of us.
Morgan, I only got your bonus entries, so please resubmit your main entry form with the four mentors choice.
Thank you. Will do!
I’m so glad I checked.
Had problems with our power and internet this morning. Would like to know if my entry has been received.
Thank you so much.
Received 🙂
Neurotic question: I submitted to the 4 mentors plus the 2 extra (I donated $20). I wasn’t sure which “Submit” button to press, though. There’s one under the area for the original 4 materials, and one under the area for the extra 2. I hit the “submit” button under the extra 2 (because that submit button was below all 6 of my entries). So I’m just wondering: did all 6 get submitted, or just the extra 2? (I’m so sorry for being SO clueless)
Karyn, if your last name is Riddle, I only got the bonus form, so please resubmit the main form with the four mentors. You do have hit submit after each form.
Thanks so much! I resubmitted the original 4 entries – sorry for my confusion.
Hi, just wanted to check whether my main (four mentors) form, and my bonus (two mentor) form has reached safe.
Thank you.
Received both.
I have the same question — I did two submissions, one for the original four mentors, then the bonus donation submission for two extra. I originally thought one “submit” button would cover both, but I don’t think it did. So I went back and did the bonus two mentor submission. Can you please confirm (for another neurotic writer) that you got all six of my submissions? Thank you ever so much!
Received both.
HI. I submitted my chapter and donation receipt from my Dropbox on my IPad. Would someone be able to tell me if everything went through okay?
Thanks
Received both.
I am so relieved I am not the only neurotic writer. I see confirmation of my two donation bonus choices, but I didn’t see the first four confirmation before I moved on to the next two. Can you please confirm for me that both went through?
And thanks for this! It is making my August super exciting.
Received both.
Thanks Brenda! Good luck everyone!
After I submitted the initial four entries and the two bonus entries, I got no sign that they had been received. Sorry to bother but I just wanted to know if my entries were received!
I don’t see them Rebecca. Is this the name you entered with?
Yes, it is.
I went ahead and resubmitted and this time got the message that my entries were received. Thanks!
Comment Can you please check to see if my four uploaded? And then if my two bonus ones did. I keep getting an error message that the page cannot be found when I try to upload my bonus ones.
Thank you!
Jan, I got your main form with four mentors, but not the bonus one. Try refreshing the screen and then entering the bonus one. Or try switching browsers (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) to see if it works.
Hi, Brenda – The window didn’t say anything last night when I submitted my four plus two entries. Can you confirm that they were received? Thank you for everything!!
Received both.
All the “take your time, don’t rush!” And I completely didn’t check to see if my submission went through. Patience is a virtue I was not born with (I know, wrong industry right?) HA. Did mine come through? Thanks!
Received one form with the four mentors.
Thank you!
I am so glad I am not the only submitter freaking out if their sub went or not! My daughter came in and asked me to play with her, and when I came back my computer had turned off and I don’t know if it went! Baaaaaaa!
*inhales deeply, steels herself for a long afternoon of playing Barbies*
Jennifer–all six came through 🙂
❤️❤️ Y’all are AWESOME ❤️❤️
Now that I see several people didn’t get all 6 through, I’m ocd about it too. Could I bother you to check if my query went to 6 different mentors?
Thanks for creating this awesome opportunity!
PS – The typo I emailed about earlier is only on the 3rd mentor pull down menu, not the others. It says “Shana Silver/Sara Nicolas (YA)” while all the other pull downs have the correct pairing.
All six came thorough, Michael. Thank you for letting us know about the form.
Thank you!
Compliments to you Brenda, your helpers, and your webmaster.
The form is straightforward and it WORKS.
You are appreciated.
– P
Hi again. I commented earlier but didn’t get a reply. I was just checking that both of my submissions went through since I didn’t see a confirmation at the bottom of the page. Thanks!
Yes, Audra–all six are there. 🙂
Just submitted (just for the 4 free) — very excited to (hopefully) take part for the first time. Good luck to everyone, and thanks to Brenda for organizing!
I just submitted but I didn’t see anything on this page after reloading that said it was accepted. Did my submission go through?
Yes, it’s here, Trish. 🙂
Hi Brenda,
Thank you so much for this contest and all the time you and the mentors commit to it!
I have a small question about prologue length. My prologue is five pages, and significant to the understanding of the first chapter (which is seven pages). Should I submit the first ten pages of the MS and cut off the end of chapter one, or is a twelve page submission with five in prologue acceptable?
Thanks!
Just send it, Emily. Thank you for asking.
Thank you for sponsoring this contest, and for making the rules and the submission so flawless — and for opening the contest a day early! Everything worked so easily.
Best wishes to all who participate.
Just checking if both of my submissions came through!
Thanks so much!
Stella, they’re all here 🙂
Also checking. Six mentors selected. Thanks!
Oh no! I just realized I left off the . in my email on the query letter. It should have read carrie.pulkinen, but I wrote carriepulkinen. Is there any way I can fix this? I’m not sure if I did it right on the submission form! (Panicking!)
Heather or Brenda: I think it finally worked. Have you received all six of my entries? John S.
Comment Heather: I cannot get my submission for the two extra mentors to go thru. Have tried multiple times, using three different files. Have tried for hours. Can u help?
We received all 6. 🙂
Thank you!
I hate to make extra work for you but I couldn’t see anywhere whether my submission went through. I sent it about 4 p.m. MDT today.
Received one form with four mentors.
Well, it’s done! Reading through the comments I see we are all in the same boat. Wondering if submission went through. I didn’t get an error message so I’m going to just feel positive that all went well!
Received both forms.
Hi Brenda, I was wondering, do the mentors read ALL the entries they receive, or do they just read until they find one the like/love/want?
All the mentors have different ways of handling their submissions, but mostly they read everyone and decide which ones they like/love/want and then request fulls.
I submitted yesterday, but I didn’t see a message that it was received. Is it in?
Thanks.
Received one form. 🙂
Thanks a lot. I really appreciate your time and hard work.
I just submitted my two extras, but I didn’t see a place to upload my donation receipt – I have it if you’d like me to email it to you. Thank you for everything!
Oops, now that I look back I see the place to upload the receipt – should I re-enter the form? Thanks!
No, I can search for it. No worries. 🙂
So, paranoid “Did I leave the oven on?” comment, but now I can’t shake the feeling I selected the wrong category. Is it at all possible to check or make corrections?
I have it as YA, which matches the mentors you sent to and the mention in the query. So you’re good. 🙂
Thank you so much… ah, panic averted. And thanks for hosting the contest.
Sorry for the paranoia, just checking to see if my 1st chapter attached correctly. Last year it did not, so even though I checked it a million times this year, still worried. Thanks for all you do!
I got the main form with four mentors. Good luck!
Comment I know this is a bother, but when I submitted my MS, the site reloaded but I don’t see where it confirms my application was received. Could you tell me if it went through all right?
We received one form with four mentors.
Thanks so much for answering. And for sponsoring Pitchwars.
Just wanted to make sure my four MG submissions and two bonus applications went through. Thanks you so much for doing this. I really appreciate all the time, support, and encouragement you all give to us aspiring authors!
We have received all 6 of your applications, Kim. 🙂
Great. Thanks!
I had some trouble downloading one of the documents and ended up re-submitting it three times, I think. As a result, I wanted to make sure everything went through all right. I had a bonus form for 2 extra, as well as the main form for 4. Sorry to make more work for you after you’ve put in so much effort already.
We have received all 6 of your applications, Caron. 🙂
Thank-you so much for checking on that!
I just want to confirm my 6 subs as well, the submission confirmation came up once, but not sure after I submitted the bonus ones… the screen looked different?? (submitted last night)
-Tina Spear
Tina we received both forms, but the main form with the four mentor picks did not have the chapter attachment. Can you please resend? Thank you!
Oh goodness, shall I redo the entire submission form.. with the query and all info (basically resubmit everything for the 4?)
Yes redo the entire form for the 4.
Okay, resubmitted just now…did everything transfer this time?
Perfect this time. 🙂
Thank you! You’re the best. And thank you for taking the time to answer all of us.
The bonus entries are good and has the attachments.
Hi, I followed the instructions and looked for the “accepted” message, but it never showed. Did you get my submission? Thanks!
Received a form with the four mentors. Looks good. 🙂
Yippee! Thanks for checking and getting back to me so quickly!
Comment
Very excited as is everyone else. Mentors are excellent!
However, I’m nervous about not receiving confirmation of my entry. Just sent in 10 pages.
Thanks,
We received one form with four mentors selected. Good luck!
Hi, just confirming my submission went through?
My web page fritzed out after I submitted :-((
Received. 🙂
Hi Brenda,
Apologies in advance for being paranoid. 🙂 I just wanted to double check that my two forms (four free submissions and two bonus selections) have been received.
Thanks so much for everything!
Yes, received both forms. 🙂
Hi, so sorry to bother you but the web page reloaded upon submit without displaying the expected confirmation. Can you confirm? Thank you.
We received one form with four mentors. Good luck!
I think I might have mis-entered my website info as “giffmacshane”. It should be “giffordmacshane”.
Is there a way to correct that? Thank you!
PS: I sent 2 forms, probably both with the same (wrong) info.
I’m sorry there is no way to fix it. The form goes through email filters and have already gone to the mentors. If the mentor needs it, they’ll ask or search. No worries.
AGH! Kicking self! But the right info is on my Twitter page, so I’ll hope they look there first.
Thanks for the quick reply, and for hosting this great contest!
Hi, thanks for all you do! Sorry to bother you with this, but would you mind confirming mine went through? 4 plus the extra 2 for donating. Thanks!!!
We received both. 🙂
Good morning, I submitted to Pitch Wars very early Thursday morning to four YA mentors. Do you know if my submission went through successfully? Thank you very much for your help and for this amazing writing opportunity! 🙂
We received one form with the four mentors listed. 🙂
Thank you once again for this opportunity. As I’ve often said, writing is solitary and PitchWars makes it less so.
And I received my two green acceptances so no need to check for me.
Thanks again Brenda.
Candace
Since I am like a walking computer virus (seriously, sometimes I touch a computer and it’s like I have magnets in my fingers – everything gets zapped!), I was wondering if all my submissions went through successfully. I sent six total – with two being from the donation bonus.
Sorry for being a nudge.
Thanks!
We received both forms.
I’m sorry, but there is nothing to show you received my submission. Would you please let me know?
Thank you!
Received the one form with four mentors.
I’ve tried to submit my Pitchwars MS on Chrome and Explorer and keep getting the notice that my entry looks “too much like Spam and could not be submitted at this time.”
Suggestions?
Judy, I can submit it for you. I sent an email asking for the stuff I would need. Sorry you had issues.
Hi. I submitted 4 and then the 2, but wanted to see if they went through since I had to reload the page. Sorry to bother, and thanks for checking! You guys are awesome.
Received both forms. 🙂
(Prefaced with a SORRY!)
Just checking if my submission was received–I know, way too many people have asked already. I got excited and clicked away before I scrolled down . . . Apologies again!
Received one form with four mentors selected. 🙂
Awesome! Thanks much for the speedy reply 🙂
Have a great weekend!
I’m going to add my name to the growing list of people asking, but did my six submissions go through? This would have been on Thursday.
I received both forms. 🙂
Also trying to make sure my submissions went through. The entry forms came back after I entered a few days ago–is that normal?
Ravon, I received one form with four mentors listed. 🙂
I resent my application. Nothing came up at the bottom. Did it go through this time? Sorry to bother you so much. 🙁
We have both now. Good luck!
This is really silly, but last year I accidentally submitted my entry as MG instead of Adult. Because I knew one of the mentors I subbed, it was fine, but could you make sure my age category is YA.
thanks, kate
(Katherine Focke Pearson)
You entered all YA. 🙂
thank you. 😀
Hi, thank you so much for this opportunity! I’ve had a finished manuscript for a while, which I’ve been endlessly touching up without a clear point in mind for when I would search for an agent/publisher. This contest has really helped to light a fire for me!
I know this has been requested by hundreds of people by now (and I feel rude asking you to take the time to reply to this), but I’m wondering if you might confirm the receipt of my submission to 4 mentors (just submitted). I did see the confirmation message on the page, but I have issues trusting technology, and this is important to me! haha.
Thank you again!
We have it, Cody! Good luck in Pitch Wars!
Perfect! Thanks for confirming!
Hi, guys,
I filled both forms for six mentors, but I only clicked the first “submit”. Then the page was gone.
Did I do this right?
Thanks for putting this together. You’re amazing,
Olga Amigo
You need to go back and fill out the Bonus Entry Form, Olga. We have the other one.
Thank you!
Hey Brenda, Thank you for this contest! I didn’t see the “your form has been received” after I hit “submit”. Do I need to resend it?
We received one form with four mentors from you, Hannah. 🙂
Sorry to add my voice to the anxious chorus of writers asking for a confirm. Did my submission to four mentors get through OK?
(I wonder if there’d be a way to auto-generate a robot reply email in future years so we don’t keep bothering you. Apologies again!).
We aren’t able to generate one. Last time it took several hours for people to get their receipts and it went crazy with everyone checking. This is with our current set-up. Things will be different year with the donations we will be able to get a better site and better programs. With all that said, I received one form from you with four mentors.
Okay, I submitted. I hope it went through. *flailing*
Received, KJ – Good luck!
OMG! I just submitted to all six mentors and THEN realized I had only titled my first chapter with the book title. Does that mean my submission will be deleted?
Got both, Teagan. Good luck!
Thanks, Brenda. And thanks for doing all this work for complete strangers (moi)! I know you’re just trying to help others who are going through things you’ve gone through before, but this is a lot of work. Please know it’s really appreciated by all of us.
Hi Brenda!
I hope I didn’t mess up my submission! I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to you and all other organizers, as well as anyone else involved! No matter what the outcome, this came at a rough time in my life, and it’s been a huge bright spot and given me something to be excited about! Not to mention, it’s helped me to focus on my writing again and GET THINGS DONE!
So thank you!! I think it’s pretty freaking amazing that you guys organize this and the mentors volunteer their time just to help out other writers.
All the love! <3
Thanks, Brynne! And your forms came over just fine. Good luck and hugs!!
Hey Brenda, I submitted last night and saw on twitter some people were worried about not submitting correctly. Did my original 4 and 2 bonus entries go through? Sorry for the paranoia. LOL.
Thank you for everything you do!
Considering some of my friends on Scribophile are making the same comments, I’m suddenly quite paranoid about this, too, since there was no sort of confirmation when I sent. I just assumed that’s how it was, though.
We have your form, Stephen. The only glitch was with those entering the bonus form. They didn’t hit submit on both forms so the top form didn’t come through. We went through all the bonus forms and contacted those who didn’t have a free entry form sent. If your friends used the bonus form and didn’t get contacted, we got both their entries.
We have both your entries, Jourdan. Good luck!
Thank you Brenda! I saw the message after my four mentor pick but no message after the two extra. Can you confirm they went through or I can resend. Thank you to your peeps for all you guys do!!!
We received both your forms, Jeannie. 🙂
I have a similar question to others–did my August 6 submission go through? I have not seen a page or field telling me that it was successfully received. Hope so!
We received yours, Carol-Ann!
Super!!! I’m tickled! Thanks so much for doing this.
Oops! I assumed the deadline was 12 midnight–I hope I was in time.
Afraid I sent in the form at 7:01 (PST). Also, had difficulty with sending first chapter – got the query out though. Did I miss it?
We got yours, Rod.
Thank you very much for your response – now I can sleep. Still concerned about the sample chapter. If it was not received, please provide me with an alternate way to submit it. Or I will simply wait to see if I am selected by a mentor.
Thanks for the contest.
Rod, the sample was received, as well.
I know you’ve done this contest before, but you’ve got to be out of your mind to take on something this big. In case you haven’t been reminded lately of your value, I’m thinking you should have your butt bronzed!
I know that it is to late to submit if my submission didn’t go through, but I didn’t get a confirmation that the submission processed on the screen. I didn’t want to be annoying, but now I am worried, and just want to know if I should start polishing my MS or drown my sorrows. Thanks
It was received, Heather. Good luck!
Thank you Brenda. Happy Sunday!
I know it is too late to submit but now I am having a panic attack about whether my submission went through. I know it is likely too much to ask, but would it be possible to inquire? I filled out the four plus the bonus two. Thank you so much for your time!
We have them all, Dorianne! Good luck with Pitch Wars!
Oh thank you so much!!!