Blogging friends I need your help! I was chatting online during the week with one of my blogging friends Pleun over at La Vida Loca about how I hope to participate in the forthcoming Twitter event #pitchmad in the first week of September. I said that I was feeling particularly uninspired after my illness and she suggested that I recruit your advice as I have done on so many occasions.
As most of you know I am totally pants at Twitter but have been improving gradually with the help of two of my Twitter buddies, Megan at Cowboys and Crossbones and Rebecca at Clanmother (who’s well-timed quotes always manage to raise my spirits even on the bluest days).
The idea is that in 140 characters to include #pitchmad, I pitch a book idea to any literary agents that will be participating in the event. I was thinking that maybe just maybe I could submit a creative and attention-grabbing tweet for the Honeymoon Stories as it seemed to strike a chord with one or two of you.
So I was wondering if any of you had any suggestions, advice or inspiration to share with me?
Sometimes the best road is the one you make
Dallas, can’t believe that you are out of idea – I don’t have clue what pitchmad is … asking google for help didn’t make me any wiser *smile – Honeymoon story I think is a great idea because they don’t always turn out for the better … and have most times some drama.
Specially with you’re ability to twist things around and come up with ends that nobody expect. Hope you are a feeling better by now.
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I’m on the mend sat outside in the sunshine drinking tea and starting to catch up with you all as I’ve felt so disconnected
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Glad you are on the mend. Yeah, I’m sick with cold. Son returned from 8 weeks of camp with a bad cough. I held out for 4 days, then, started getting it. Hopefully, I’m on the mend. I have to take some photos at a wedding this afternoon! Going to get my tea now. You are lucky you have someone to care for you. 🙂
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Sorry to hear you’ve been ill too; it’s the recovery that takes the longest! Look after yourself & have a great time at the wedding. Thanks for all the advice, Kaye; it means a lot
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I’m terrible at tweeting 😉
But your stories are great and you absolutely should pitch them!
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As you know it’s really hard pitching your own story so I’ll need a cup of tea, a handful of hope and a dash of ingenuity
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Indeed, you will. xx
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I don’t know a thing about Twitter…but of the 140 characters…does that include the hashtags and the spaces? All I know is certain terms and words you use in the stories are grabbers….like
Honeymoon
Ex-pat
Turkish Nights
Serial Shagger
140 characters is tough to pitch such a rich series…but definitely worth a try!
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Yes, Dallas and Rhonda, every letter and space counts. You have to add your twitter handle to it and if you are linking to something also the link. Do you have to link, Dallas, or can you just write your line, and what’s your twitter handle?
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No I just have to put #pitchmad hashtag in and if an agent likes the sound of my pitch, they invite me to submit the first 250 words! No pressure and my twitter handle is @crazytrain17. So I have to come up with 140 characters sprinkled in fairy dust!!!!
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Also, since you are destined for greatness, it might be a good time to secure that twitter handle with your name, if you haven’t already. (Why did you add 17 to crazy train? Just curious. Was @crazytrain not available?) Advice is always to keep a twitter handle short, so you have room for a link and title of post. My professional handle is @kayekit. In your case, I think @dallasdyson is good, especially to get you known. Or, have you already done this?
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I think you should follow Rhonda’s lead, and arrange and rearrange the above 4 items with a juicy verb. Count all those above – (9), (6), (14), (14) – add them up, (43), plus #pitchmad (9), plus @dallasdyson (12) and @crazytrain17 (13), and all the spaces in between, at least (10), juicy verb (8) = 90. And if your blog, just the main name, crazytraintotinkytown.com is linked (and why not?), you are up to 115. You have basically to come up with 25 characters to tie it all together! Hope this helps! I know you can do it! 🙂
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Don’t forget, you can use symbols like = + for shortcuts, if it works. Okay, going to get my tea now. Can’t wait to hear what you come up with. 🙂
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Sadly I could only get @crazytrain17 and @dallasdyson had gone too – who’d thought! And Poison Pen is still my nemesis – enjoy your tea and thanks for all the tips!
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If there’s room left over, throw in the monster supervisor waiting to crush your spirits the minute you return to your stocking job…..
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I forgot what you called her….
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I’m going to have to do some serious brainstorming with a cup of tea so thanks for all the advice lovely lady
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Definitely pitch ‘The Honeymoon Series’. I’ll get my tinking hat on!
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I definitely think our American cousins are the true twitter experts
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I am still unraveling the mystery that is Twitter, so the 140 character limit is something I struggle with. There is another blogger though who got her book picked up by a publisher, which is called “Love with a Chance of Drowning”. Based on the title, I would be interested in learning more about this book, and the humor of the author (her blog is http://www.fearfuladventurer.com). I think it’s probably best then, given the character limit, to perhaps coin a title that captures someone’s attention and peaks their curiosity, with maybe short byline on what the story is about? Easier said than done, I know!
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I have a long way to go before I can be anywhere as near as proficient at Twitter as Kaye Kittrell and I thank you for your advice so will check out your recommendation; who knows I might just be inspired to create that all important byline
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So sorry, Tink, I hadn’t realised you were ill! I didn’t see you in my Reader so thought you must be working on a collaboration. Yes, definitely use Twitter. I’m finding Facebook a dead loss these days except for the personal stuff. Have you a collaboration in the offing that you could use for the basis of a tweet? I agree with Suze. Snappy one liners are the thing. I’ll tweet you when you get it going, though I’m very spasmodic on Twitter. Must focus! Must focus!
Get well soon 🙂
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Cheers Jo, I am actually a Twitter Numpty Pants but its very big in the US and I actually think our cousins across the Atlantic are far better at it than us Brits
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Maybe it’s easier when you pretend someone else wrote the stories and then state your opinion? Or else you can go with (the rather lame): Jilted by a serial shagging boyfriend had me ending up in Turkey on a wild adventure. When a honeymoon is not a honeymoon: a seriously funny tale that will make you laugh out loud!
Maybe someone else can improve this?
I’m back to packing boxed now!
Good luck!!!!
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Thank you especially as you started me on this road – good luck with the packing! Don’t forget some photos of the new place!
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I’m sure you’ll nail it in September. For me, I first have to find a new place haha. I’ll feel better when all my stuff is in the container, hopefully by the end of this week?!
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Hate to be a putz, but clicked on the link and it says submission period is closed 😦 ….before you go too crazy…..but, it’s a great incentive to start thinking about your pitch! There must be tons of these. And get that twitter handle….xoxo
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Phew just checked and #PitMad on 9/12 8AM to 8PM
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Haven’t been “tuning in” as long as your other followers but find your wit and droll humor pieces brilliant, satisfying, and entertaining indeed. I look forward to your posts and think they are especially funny and appealing to feminine readers. Hope you get a lightening bolt idea soon!
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I’m returning to Oregon in a week and although I’ll love being home in my comfy house complete with espresso machine, Jacuzzi tub, and egads a car to drive – it will be cross-culture shock after wandering for 6 months. Have to admit I’m a little nervous and if I had my druthers would druther not, BUT….
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After reconnecting with friends (if any of them remember me) and making sure “things” are in order I will likely be taking off again. There are many delightful “ghost” stores here in Prague I’m trying to think of a plot. The streets in Old Town and Malá Strana exude drama, mystery, and tragedy!
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Good luck to you with your “pitch” and thanks for liking my travel posts which must be dull reading for some…
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:o)
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How can drinking pink bubbles in fairytale castles be boring? I liked the one with the Marilyn Monroe exhibition in one of the wings – amazing that Hollywood has such a far reach, Thank you for all your encouragement and a lightening bolt is just what I need. Can’t help but be envious of the jacuzzi and the expresso machine!
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Find the older I get the more important a good soak has become! Really hope you are better soon……
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Ahhh… Tinky. My brain seems to be stuck in neutral and words have never been my ‘thing’ very much. I just know you’ll come up with something good.
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I’m plugging away and if I’m not successful, there’s always next year!
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Off the top of my head: #pitchmad wedding to serial shagger-fail. Brit gal+hot Turkish dude crazy/funny adventures in tinkytown Turkey@crazytrain17
It’s only 121 characters (incl. spaces).
Good luck. Glad you’re doing this 🙂
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NICE Writecrites! I’d read it! Great Tweet stuff.
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Thanks Rhonda 🙂
Maybe add “on rebound” after Brit gal. Ties it together. Wish we could add “Dallas gets her groove on” but it’s too long.
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Too true!
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Nice to hear from you Jennifer; any news on your project? Love the tweet btw
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I hang my head in shame b/c my book project still languishes. So much has come up that it’s on the back burner AGAIN. But I’m delighted that you are working on ways to get yours started. Good luck on this. It seems like a great opportunity.
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Definitely include Serial Shagger Simon in your tweets. I don’t really understand the concept of #pitchmad (and I use Twitter!) but I feel like someone somewhere will notice that nickname and maybe tweet you back wanting to learn more? Maybe you should come up with an attention grabbing name for Ahmed too? Tempting Turk? Tantalizing Turk? Alluring Ahmed? Yummy Turkey? I don’t like those but it was the only ones I could find when I used thesaurus.com! I’m sure you can do better!
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What a good idea!
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I’m pants at Twitter, too – but I’ve managed to “follow” you, at least!
Good luck with #pitchmad, Dallas.
PS Glad you’re feeling better. I’ve been missing a few posts in my Reader, but put it down to WP ups and downs.
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I’ve followed you back Marianne as I can just about manage that – I’ve installed a Tweet Deck but think I was being a little over ambitious; clearly need to change my twitter handle to Techno Numpty Nuts
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I would say that my twitter skills are that of a 4 year old but I think most 4 year old have me beat. Definitely pitch the honeymoon series and hopefully wiser people than I can help you get one that jumps out at all the right people. You have been so successful so far so I think the sky is the limit for you at this point. Good luck and I will look forward to hearing about a release date!
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Me too but there again I’m not big on texting either! I think I may have a long way to go yet!
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I have no advice but I’ve added you on Twitter, hehe. I’m sorry I’m not around more. I do read your posts, but I rarely visit my wordpress feed. Hopefully with you on my Twitter feed I’ll be able to pay attention more. 🙂
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I notice you’ve had a lot of projects around the house no doubt all a labour of love – but have followed you back on Twitter so do keep in touch
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I wish I could be of help, I am abysmal at Twitter just never could get all that interested. You must work through the combinations though, some people have given you some good ones.
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I’m really not much better not like Kaye Kittrell who has to be the Twitter Queen – I think she needs to give us all a masterclass at the end of one of her Late Bloomer Shows. My head’s spinning at the mo so I need to find one of your quiet havens
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I don’t think I can improve on writecrites’ suggestion, that is certainly attention grabbing and stuffed with words that would make you want to read on. Good luck with it.
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I will put my thinking cap on! If anyone deserves to be published, it’s you. Plus,your writing style is clever, witty and engrossing. I wish you the best of luck! And p.s. – thanks for thinking I’m doing alright at Twitter….I sometimes feel so silly!
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How many can you submit with the hashtag? As many as you want?
@crazytrain17: Traveled solo on my tinkytown honeymoon after catching the serial shagger Simon sexing it up with my bf and all I got was a hot, Turkish man and wild adventures to mend a broken spirit. #pitchmad
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Hi after a long time sweety, l didnt get it too. l use twitter, but didnt understand much about idea. you can write me an email or so..
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Curious to know what you came up with Dallas. Not able to locate it on Twitter. I am a Twitter Numpty Pants too 🙂
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I have been away for a few weeks, so wasn’t able to respond. Now I am very curious about #pitchmad. I am going to do a little research. BTW you writing is remarkable.
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Reblogged this on sueshan123.
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