For those unfamiliar with Pitch Wars, it’s a contest where published/agented authors, editors, or interns (mentor list here) choose one writer each, read their entire manuscript, and offer suggestions to shine it up for these agents here. The mentors also critique the writer’s pitch to get it ready for the agent round. Mentors also pick two alternates each in case their writer drops out of the contest. A special alternate showcase is held on some of the mentors’ blogs and the mentors will critique the alternates’ pitches. Writers send applications (query and first 5 pages of manuscript) to the four mentors that best fit their work. The mentors then read all their applications and choose the writer they want to mentor for the next five weeks to be ready for the agent round January 22 through January 23.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to deadlines, I’m not mentoring this time.

Check out this vlog message by the talented (and so cute) Megan Whitmer who is a mentor this year …

Submission Guidelines …

Submission window opens on December 2 from 12:01AM to 11:59PM EST for applications (query and first five  pages of manuscript – that’s double spaced manuscript pages but make them single spaced in your application – see below). Please do not send applications before or after the submission time or they will be deleted.

If you make it into Pitch Wars, you may not enter any contests during the coaching period and until after the agent round, which is January 22 -23. (That’s after 12/11. You may enter Baker’s Dozen.)

On submission day, send your applications to brendadrakecontests@gmail.com. Writers can apply for up to 4 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 or the application will be deleted. No nonfiction, picture books, or previously published works. If you’re an unagented author and have self-published before, you may enter the contest with a never-before-published manuscript.

· 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…

Send four separate emails addressed to each of your chosen mentors. Not one email for all four. That’s four individual emails. The query should be addressed to the mentor(s) you’re applying to, and it’s up to you if you want to personalize it as you do when sending to an agent. It’s not a requirement to tell the mentors why you’re choosing them, but it may be an added push to get the mentor to notice you.

Subject line: Pitch Wars Application: Coach Name you want to apply for: Title (Example: Pitch Wars Application: Brenda Drake: LIBRARY JUMPERS).

Name: Your Name (Example – Name: Brenda Drake)
Category/Genre: The category/genre of your manuscript (Example – Category/Genre:  YA Urban Fantasy)
Word Count: The word count of your manuscript (Example – Word Count: 86,000) (make sure to round up or down to the nearest 1000’s

Query letter here (embedded in email). Single spaced. No indentions. A space between each paragraph.

First five double-spaced 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 4 coaches.

WARNING:  Just like an agent, mentors may request more pages of your manuscript to help them make their final decision.

For those who do not make it into Pitch Wars (and those who want to join in) we’ll hold a Twitter Pitch Party on #PitMad January 8 from 8AM to 8PM EST. If you make it into Pitch Wars you may not pitch in #PitMad.