It’s official I am a Larry Letdown! After reading countless posts regarding #pitchmad, I realised how much I didn’t know and also that I was in no way prepared to pitch. Further more it was evident that my manuscript wasn’t ready either; it’s still a work in progress much like myself in fact.
It was apparent that those taking part were firstly very knowledgable about this event and processes. Secondly, they had clearly spent every waking minute in preparing their pitches and honing their manuscripts. As I had already arranged to take the day off and had stocked up on gallons of Red Bull (which I detest after overindulging in vodka & same one weekend) to keep me going through the day I still wanted to watch the proceedings and got quite caught up in the spirit of the event even though I was just a spectator. Writers tweeted pitches for their manuscript twice an hour throughout the day and literary agents favourited those that they wanted to see more of. I loved the hosts who under the #moderatorninja gently warned against over tweeting and typos. There were some excellent pitches which impressed and intrigued me so I have no doubt that many writers were successful in attracting the attention of an agent.
The next #pitchmad event is the 7th December; which incidentally is my birthday so not sure whether this is a good omen or not! Subsequently, I shall be spending the next couple of months buffing and polishing my pitch and manuscript so it will be glowing like a firefly in readiness for the occasion.
I hope you can forgive me for ducking out on this occasion but I wanted to thank you all nevertheless, for your support and encouragement and a special mention to my very own dream team of Megan @ Cowboys and Crossbones and Rhonda @ 50 Shades of Gray Hair who were emailing me for England with tweet ideas which I will be squirreling away to bring out again at the next event. I felt a bit like Rocky with my two boot camp trainers; ladies you truly are champions.
So I shall be rocking up to #pitchmad on 7th December in my Mickey Mouse onesie (attractive visual I know) and hoping that fortune favours the brave and that life is kind to me on that day.
In the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take
Sounds like an intense competition, and it’s smart to take a step back and polish up if not QUITE ready for prime time. 🙂 Just remember, pitchmad is not the only way to get an agent. There’s the traditional way, too. 🙂 – xoxo
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I needed a serious lie down in a darkened room after just being a spectator and didn’t think about the traditional way so I think I need to do some more research and bless you too for all your help. It really does mean such a lot
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Good omen!!! The Dec 7 date is the universe sending you a message! Fingers and toes crossed for you Dallas 😀
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I hope so! If not I can drown my sorrows in a glass or two of vino collapso
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Sounds like an interesting – and stressful – process.
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It was definitely nerve-racking watching so I shall be a bundle of nerves when it’s my turn
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Life is totally different in approach these days, isn’t it Dallas? Sounds like it was an excellent learning tool. I am always intimidated by this kind of thing. Go get em, girl! We have every confidence in you. 🙂
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It was a huge learning curve for me but that’s the beauty of blogging and social media; you learn something new everyday and thank you for your vote of confidence not sure I deserve it
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It has got to be a good omen! Good for you to sit this one out, next time you should go get them! What a great birthday gift that would be!
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It would be better even than cake!
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No harm done in putting your dream on the back burner for awhile, especially if you don’t feel you are quite ready. I don’t know anything about pitching so I would have been in the same boat! For the next pitch mad, you have the time to research and decide how you want to pitch, (maybe pre-write some tweets and save them on your computer for the occasion so you don’t have to think them up on the spot?) and you well be well-prepared the next go round. 🙂
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I am on it like a car bonnet (that’s hood to my American friends)! I have been ably assisted by two very good bloggers and am always happy to receive any more suggestions after all you’ve all been with me for the journey
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Good luck, Dallas, and don’t give up! We always learn what we can do better, then we do it! I’m sure you will do the same! 🙂
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I will have a blast irrespective of whether I get favourited or not, as I’m always up for a good party
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Yay! That’s the positive side of you we love to see! Party time! 🙂
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Everything has its time and place. Your job is not to get intimidated and give up. Keep that dream alive!
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You are one of the best troopers I know so I will be heeding your sound advice!
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What a marathon it must have been. I checked in a couple of times, but I guess you have to stick with it all day. Then there’s the part where you’re supposed to find the agents who fit your story and check out their websites as well (a good idea, definitely), then pitch while they’re online. Whew. But learning all about it is the first step. Best of luck on your birthday pitchmad. WE know you’ve got a great story.
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Jennifer I was truly fascinated and watching it with my friend Barbs; it was really addictive and I don’t even watch reality tv! It’s so easy to get easily side tracked particularly as I try to read every pitch which isn’t possibly when there are so many
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Have you thought of self-publishing?
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I really need to research that more but its hard with working shifts and renovating my hovel of a house
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I think it is an excellent idea to sit back and watch the doings, get an idea of what was working. Take the time you want to polish and prepare. The stars align on your birthday, you will be ready.
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Val, I so hope you’re right and I also hope that some of the bloggers I follow are participating as that would make it even more fun
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Congratulations on giving yourself the time to watch, feel and learn! the process isn’t a race, you’ll know when you’re ready to give it a whirl 🙂
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They do say that it’ll happen when it happens so if 7th December isn’t my time maybe the next one will be
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good luck TinkyTown, we are all behind you!!!! and the date is definitely a good omen!!!! have fun doing all this!! 🙂
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I shall be indulging in the odd babycham whilst tweeting so I shall be enjoying every single minute!
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Good luck to you. You are a wonderful writer. I look forward to hearing your new stories after the big event!
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Bless you Laurie but having read the tweets there are a lot of fabulous writers out there and I’m not very good at the self promotion bit so I have a lot to learn
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First..you’ve let no one down…so Larry, you’re OUTTA HERE! Second, now that you’ve seen the process, you can go into the next one knowing what’s expected and what’s ‘catchy’. I have complete faith in you and in your writing…and the story is real and authentic and worthy of it’s own jacket! December 7th is the day our country got into WWII….the day Japan attacked Pearl Harbor…so private Debbie does Dallas Tinky Style….move your ass and get prepared for battle! 🙂
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I’m buffing up as we speak although I have had my friend Barbs staying with me this week so haven’t been able to catch up with everyone. I could learn a lot from war strategy couldn’t I? Whilst I might not win the battle I might in the end win the war! Thanks once again Rhonda, you are a true hero!
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I am just a grunt my friend, and as one, always there for my women! Let me know if there is anything you need. xoxo
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What an experience, December 7 sounds a good omen, go girl….
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I bet it rains!
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Being December it will probably snow…. !!!!
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You GO, girl!!! Will be with you in spirit come Dec 7th.
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To get myself geared up, I won’t be as my Dad suggested indulging in a glass or two of his truly awful dandelion wine but instead reading a lot of your comments which will set me up for the day whether I succeed or fail
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You know the problem with constantly delaying and tweaking and re-tweaking things is that you can end up never being ‘ready’. Sometimes you just have to go for it and even if you fail you are still 100% up on the people who didn’t have the nerve to try. And I say this because I am the queen of procrastinating.
Make sure you go for it on Dec 7th because otherwise you’ll never know!
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You have a very valid point; I think we can overdo things in editing. So I will be taking your advice and jumping in with both feet!
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I totally get where you’re coming from. I too had a few strikes before I hit that ball. (It didn’t go very far but I hit it just the same) You’ll hit it too, I just know you will. All in good time.
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Wishing you much luck at the next opportunity. Life is so unpredictable, and often our biggest breaks come when we weren’t expecting anything.
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My Dad tells me that all the time!
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Now I really am curious! Sound like a whirlwind!
To me, writing is about telling a story. And you, my dear friend, are a brilliant storyteller.
You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.”
― Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing
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Now I feel really ignorant. I’ve never heard of #Pitchmad. 🙂 I’ll wish you good luck for Dec. 7th. Your birth date must surely be a good omen.
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I think the fact that the next event is on your b-day is a very good sign. Good luck!
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Just as well you’ve done your homework by the sounds of it. Look forward to your tweets come December 🙂 Good luck.
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The more I research the more inadequate I feel but I will persevere!
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