Have questions about submitting to Pitch Wars or just want to know what it is? Start here!

Blog

PW #208: Middle Grade Contemporary: SNOW DAY

Thursday, 3 November 2016  |  Posted by Heather Cashman

Manuscript Status: Finished

Mentor: Lisa Lewis Tyre
Mentee: David Swindler
Title: SNOW DAY
Category/Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Word Count: 40,000

Pitch:

There are 38 kid-rumored ways to make it snow, and D.C. has two weeks to try them all.  If one works: the elusive snow day!  If not, an avalanche of a bully named Bosley wins a bet that neither can afford to lose.

Excerpt:

I couldn’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve wanted to slap a stamp on my little brother’s butt and ship him off to China.  The latest reason, his goofy crush on that batty new girl who wore mismatched shoes.  It’s pathetic.  She’s with me in fifth and he’s back in Miss Lisa’s first grade class for droolers and bed wetters.

The twerp skipped his way to the bus stop while I willed him to slip on a patch of ice.  No luck.  He rounded the corner and vanished.  By the time I saw him again, he and his love interest were shrieking over her phone.

“What?” I asked.

She smiled.  “Oh, nothing.”

“What do you mean ‘nothing’? What happened?”

“Promise you won’t get mad or jelly?”

“Just tell me,” I said.

Her hand was on her hip.  “That wasn’t an answer.”

I ground my teeth.  “OK, fine, I won’t get mad.”

“Or?”

My shoulders slumped.  “Or jelly.”

“Ok,” she said, “that was from my BFF back home.  Guess what they have today!”

“Don’t say it.”

She squealed and jumped and made me sick all at once.  “A snow day!”

The runt screamed.  “So awesome!”

“I know, right?”  Then her tone changed as she turned and studied my face.  “See, you look mad and jelly.”

“Mad?  Because they get to stay home and sled and play all day while we suffer through another excellent day of math and spelling and “Gassy” Ron dropping silent bombs around the hallway?  Totally fair.  Completely fine with it.”

 

Filed: Pitch Wars

3 Comments
IMPORTANT!
We're thrilled at the different ways those in our Pitch Wars community are giving back—and we encourage them to do so. However, please keep in mind that Pitch Wars is not affiliated with any of these various contests, promotions, etc., including those of our mentors and mentees. Promoting any such opportunities via our social media channels doesn't imply endorsement or affiliation. We encourage you to do your research before participating.

Pitch Wars takes a stand. ANTI-BULLYING. Click here to review our policy

Pitch Wars 2021

Blog Archives

Blog Categories

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.