Pitch & win critiques!

As most writers have discovered at some stage, synopses suck.

It's extremely difficult to take your fabulous manuscript and highlight the best bits in a succinct, cohesive way.

It's harder yet to to write a query, a 3 paragraph summary of your book.

The hardest?  A pitch, a one or two sentence summary.

So of course, that's what I'm asking you to do for a chance to win critiques.

I'm doing you a favour, honest. How can you convince someone else to read your story if you can't describe it in a snazzy, short, convincing way?

For tips, check out:

Rachelle Gardner's post on One-Sentence Summary

Nathan Bransford's post on How to Write a One Sentence Pitch

So, what's the prize?

-A critique of the first 5 pages of your manuscript by LIZ PELLETIER, senior editor & co-founder of ENTANGLED PUBLISHING (What they've achieved in a short space of time is truly phenomenal. I love working with them!)

-A critique of the first 5 pages of your manuscript by a USA TODAY, Waldenbooks & Bookscan bestseller with 30+ books under her belt. (Yeah, that'd be me!)

So here are the rules:

-As this is a blog contest, it's only open to followers of my blog (feel free to follow now to participate.)

-Your pitch must be 1 or 2 sentences max.

-Post your entry in the comments section here.  Your entry must include:

1. Title, genre, word count

2. Your polished 1-2 sentence pitch

3. your email address

-Entries must be for a completed manuscript (novellas included.)
-Contest open to unpublished writers only.

This contest will run for 1 week, entries closing 11.59pm Monday 16th October.

FYI
Entangled Publishing submissions: We are seeking novels and novellas in the following subgenres of romantic fiction for publication in Summer 2012 and beyond:


•Contemporary (including category series romance.)
•Upper YA/New Adult (17-22 yo protags) that will appeal to crossover audiences

•Historical

•Romantic Thrillers

•Science Fiction
•Paranormal and Urban Fantasy
•Fantasy

Their latest October 2011 wishlist is here.

Good luck!
And please spread the word: on your blog, Facebook, Twitter.
Thanks!

(Don't forget the chance to win my latest release all week here!)

Publishing information at your fingertips

Agent Rachelle Gardner has a fantastic post with extensive lists to publishing information including:

-how to get published
-freelance editors
-what do say if an agent calls
-agent blogroll
-query letters

and much more!

Check it out here.

Marketing your book

Check out this extensive list of blog posts on how to market your books via agent Rachelle Gardner.

Publishing information you need

A brilliant post over at agent Rachelle Gardner's blog with loads of links to submission details, an agent blogroll, query tips and more.

Check it out!

Querying agents

Read this interesting post by agent Rachelle Gardner on 13 Ways to Screw up your Query.

I'm truly left shaking my head over some of the ways people approach agents...

Handy characterisation checklist

Agent Rachelle Gardner has a great post on what fiction editors look for, which can be used as a handy checklist to ensure your characters are leaping off the page. Check it out here.

Myth busting

Rachelle Gardner has been doing some agent myth busting over the last few days.

Check it out here.

Goals for writers

Guest blogger Mary Demuth had a great post on agent Rachelle Gardner's blog last week, about 3 Goals for Writers.

1. Writers should create 2 teams

2. As writers we should consider ourselves assets

3. We should resolve catastrophic thinking

Read the post here.
Much of it resonated with me.

Agent expectations

Rachelle Gardner has a link to a great series of blog posts by Wendy Lawton, an agent at Books & Such, about agents and expectations of themselves and writers.

Really worth a look here.

Crafting a pitch

There was a great post by Rachelle Gardner yesterday on crafting a pitch.

She lists 11 questions to ask yourself when identifying important elements to make a good pitch.

Check it out here.

Words of wisdom

Writers all have times when the going gets tough.

Life intrudes.
The story won't flow.
The ideas are scarce.
The rejections keep flowing in.

This week, Rachelle Gardner had a fabulous post titled 'Good to Great' and it really resonated with me.

What really hit home:

Just because it's hard work, it doesn't mean you're not good. Sometimes it's hardest for those who are the best.

Commitment, dedication, persevering, and working harder in the face of stiff competition - these are the traits of a winner.

Feel like you're working really hard? Good. Don't stop. Have a big setback? Only you can choose whether it will be the end of your dream, or a motivator to press ahead with renewed strength.

Are you weary? Time to decide whether you're passionate enough to keep pursuing your dream.

"Success is measured not in how many times you fall down, but by how many times you get back up."

Go read the full post here.