tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post4406241804987537889..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: More on the pitch me your book postsJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-71121491345649292132018-05-05T07:01:01.462-04:002018-05-05T07:01:01.462-04:00Pitch Submission
Category: Memoir
Adult or YA: ...Pitch Submission<br /><br />Category: Memoir<br /><br />Adult or YA: Adult<br /><br />Paragraph: Faye Presley is an Appalachian woman who, in her later years, is staring over the edge and wondering if what her children are offering her is a hand or a fist. Offspring far away, husband gone, the coal industry which shaped her life gone, all that remains is her modest coal camp house and her friends and neighbors. Now her children are trying to take that away.<br /><br />Pitch: An Appalachian King Lear without the armies.<br />ngcornetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03747166799888397685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40559186425128299962018-05-04T09:26:56.336-04:002018-05-04T09:26:56.336-04:00Serial lurker trying to pluck up the courage to ta...Serial lurker trying to pluck up the courage to take part... and to not look like a "Johnnie-come-lately!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32953764711443130432018-05-04T09:06:21.863-04:002018-05-04T09:06:21.863-04:00It's been a rocky week so very late to the par...It's been a rocky week so very late to the party, but glad I made it. I bow to your greatness, my Queen. Thank you for the amazing things you do here for us.AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5588350395915526202018-05-02T22:33:43.185-04:002018-05-02T22:33:43.185-04:00This is very kind, Janet. Thank you.
I'm stil...This is very kind, Janet. Thank you.<br /><br />I'm still reading through the query blog archive--made it to 2013!!!--so I'm not ready to write a query or the 100-word paragraph (I could half-ass it, but I'd rather follow Homer's wisdom and use "my whole ass.") May I still submit a 30-word pitch and hope for feedback?C. Dan Castrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15648247329883078385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53560443004703592912018-05-02T11:05:49.845-04:002018-05-02T11:05:49.845-04:00REMINDER TO SELF: Check this blog on the weekends....REMINDER TO SELF: Check this blog on the weekends. No, really. That's when all the fun stuff happens.<br /><br />Stop leaving your flash fiction to rot in draft folders cause you keep forgetting to log in on Saturdays!Morgan Hazelwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17713547255894719134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-51675435131540479132018-05-02T07:25:54.463-04:002018-05-02T07:25:54.463-04:00Thank you so much for doing this, Janet. You'r...Thank you so much for doing this, Janet. You're not only QOTKU, but the unknown and multiverse as well.<br /><br />I've tried for ages to write a query, but my story is character driven so the stakes aren't as obvious as one that is plot driven. I'm hoping this exercise will help me see things more clearly.LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-45046537205095219412018-05-02T05:00:52.130-04:002018-05-02T05:00:52.130-04:00That sounds fantastic. Thanks, Janet.I found the p...That sounds fantastic. Thanks, Janet.I found the pitches/comments and your feedback so helpful. Look forward to learning a whole lot more with this one.Marie McKayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11405271051226910312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-15534303366532130832018-05-01T23:16:26.555-04:002018-05-01T23:16:26.555-04:00I'm also really grateful for this opportunity ...I'm also really grateful for this opportunity to learn how to pitch. Or just how to talk about my MS fruitfully. Thank you for investing all this time, Janet. <br /><br />I wrote my 30-word pitch, and it felt like driving a cadillac compared to the 15-word torment - so much elbow room! Excited to see what everyone will do.<br /><br />Emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07359244161652343457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82973546763369811252018-05-01T22:34:04.599-04:002018-05-01T22:34:04.599-04:00FORTIssimo is at Disney! Quick as a flash--make a ...FORTIssimo is at Disney! Quick as a flash--make a contest. Somebody else might actually win the Steve Forti Clever Use of Prompt Words trophy. <br /><br />Never mind, he'd probably write one during the slow part of Splash Mountain and put us all to shame. <br /><br />Back to my WIP...John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30285404338462741712018-05-01T20:11:23.730-04:002018-05-01T20:11:23.730-04:00Damn. I really wanna partake, but first world prob...Damn. I really wanna partake, but first world problems. I'm at Disney with the family and can't. Eager to see the submissions, though. Steve Fortihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06027977543853683231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-68939205428117613632018-05-01T18:56:10.192-04:002018-05-01T18:56:10.192-04:00Lotsa chum in the Pacific Ocean as well. Y'kno...Lotsa chum in the Pacific Ocean as well. Y'know, out west, three hours later? O mighty Sharkstress, could a Puget Sound herring prevail on you to start feeding at a time when we might be awake 'n' swimming out here? :-)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12645317928998446151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90181626951379476932018-05-01T17:11:24.182-04:002018-05-01T17:11:24.182-04:00UGH. Now I regret posting that link, as that site ...UGH. Now I regret posting that link, as that site appears to be less than legitimate. Not like "give you a virus" but more like "steal something and don't give credit" type of thing. IDK, maybe it's fine. I really need to delve further before passing things on. And I can't edit/delete my comment because I'm logged in with WP. ARRGH<br /><br />Anyway, here's a legitimate site with an audio of Blake Snyder (of Save the Cat fame) teaching a class and discussing the difference between pitch and logline and WHY they're different. He even talks about the example of Granny, which the sketchy site references. The discussion is all movie-related, for screenwriters, and he uses the terms in the exact opposite way I would (no doubt because I'm WRONG), but the talk is awesome (40 mins):<br /><br />So skip the above link and <a href="http://www.savethecat.com/tools/save-the-cat-podcast-blake-snyder-on-your-pitch-and-logline" rel="nofollow">go here instead: http://www.savethecat.com/tools/save-the-cat-podcast-blake-snyder-on-your-pitch-and-logline</a><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58028797765308201632018-05-01T17:03:21.788-04:002018-05-01T17:03:21.788-04:00If we missed the short version contest, would it b...If we missed the short version contest, would it be okay to include two versions of your pitch (one under 15 words, one up to 30)?<br /><br />I'll have to set myself a reminder for this one so I don't come across it too late in my Feedly!Brittanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02661380649581961221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18111084901119218322018-05-01T17:02:30.118-04:002018-05-01T17:02:30.118-04:00Thanks so much KD - the item surfaced on my screen...Thanks so much KD - the item surfaced on my screen like a dream and I’ve now got it saved and filed. Much appreciated!Bonnie Shaljeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13067442140631504611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35078837608935610332018-05-01T16:10:30.559-04:002018-05-01T16:10:30.559-04:00Janet, this is so incredibly generous of you, givi...Janet, this is so incredibly generous of you, giving us the thing we all want in the query process but can't figure out how to get: professional feedback. This will be instructive no matter whose entries you pick.<br /><br />Man, I thought my query was tight at 130 words (it really was). Time to get brutal so I can use it for this.<br /><br /><br />As for confusion about terms, I think some of it comes from people using the terms "pitch" and "logline" to mean different things. And also maybe book people and movie people using the terms differently. Apparently, you can even pitch your story using a logline. So don't worry about the terms, just look at the examples in the last post and listen to what Janet is asking for.<br /><br />I found a PDF that gives interesting examples, four different versions for the same story (including a tagline, which they call text for a movie poster, something else to muddy the issue). Just ignore the terms used for each one, which I found didn't fit *my* definitions, and study the differences between them. <a href="http://trnres.com/pitchandlogline.pdf" rel="nofollow">Here's the link: http://trnres.com/pitchandlogline.pdf</a> (hope that works, my linkage skills are rusty.)<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11554673948917609422018-05-01T14:10:47.911-04:002018-05-01T14:10:47.911-04:00Hank,
Yes, I got some coffee down and figured my...Hank, <br /><br />Yes, I got some coffee down and figured my way out of the fog. Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62496303251319761972018-05-01T13:13:27.878-04:002018-05-01T13:13:27.878-04:00Alright then. Let's do this! Can't wait to...Alright then. Let's do this! Can't wait to see what everyone submits. Thank you, thank you for all you do here, Janet!<br />Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06909176210194176373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76335320623945102732018-05-01T12:40:58.318-04:002018-05-01T12:40:58.318-04:00Thank you for doing this, Janet! It's so helpf...Thank you for doing this, Janet! It's so helpful (and eye-opening).<br /><br />I take it MG is okay (and not just Adult and YA)?Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02288010060936146108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27252160157900703312018-05-01T12:18:39.041-04:002018-05-01T12:18:39.041-04:00I won’t be greedy and enter again but I want to sa...I won’t be greedy and enter again but I want to say that I feel like this exercise has clarified the whole query issue for me. Eureka and thankyou. Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08941043145591116608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-45834415918234890712018-05-01T12:18:23.503-04:002018-05-01T12:18:23.503-04:00My take is the 100 words is the start of your fini...<br />My take is the 100 words is the start of your finished query, one paragraph. It's actually two paragraph for my query, so it will be amended to incorporate more information to cast light on the 30 logline.<br /><br />Yowl reminds me of a greige monochromatic version of the pink panther. <br /><br />The logline should be written to be oral, I just wanted to push the envelope, but ended outside the post office.<br /><br />cheers!<br /><br />(Already working on this has just made me realise a major direction change for this m/s. It seems to me to be more of a story refining tool than a pitch tool, whatever works,) french sojournhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14262858704848580714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38962796792364537852018-05-01T11:39:22.132-04:002018-05-01T11:39:22.132-04:00I love this idea! Brilliant, informative, entertai...I love this idea! Brilliant, informative, entertaining, educational - and has cats. What more (apart from boozy coffee) could you want? <br /><br />I've always been flummoxed by pitches. It's taken me a lot of diligent querysharking to hone a decent query (which I think I finally have)*, but pitches (the same as loglines/straplines - yes/no?) defeat me. So I'm looking forward to learning a lot.<br /><br />* A great side-benefit of QS is that getting a query into shape has helped me to see where the plot itself needs some hammering and pounding. Now to make the book as strong as the shark-pre-digested query...Bonnie Shaljeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13067442140631504611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47725632799419891802018-05-01T11:37:02.193-04:002018-05-01T11:37:02.193-04:00Can a pitch be given in the form of a question? Fo...Can a pitch be given in the form of a question? For example, "What if..."C. D. Monsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00741893996193747853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81271398712548154522018-05-01T11:27:57.642-04:002018-05-01T11:27:57.642-04:00I've decided to sit this one out, too.
Other...I've decided to sit this one out, too. <br /><br />Otherwise, I will think of and do nothing else from now until Saturday and that's a lot of editing/polishing time. I really want to query before end of May. Yeah, these sharkly shenanigans get me over-excited.<br /><br /><br />Looking forward to reading the pitches, though. We Reiders are all so privileged to have Janet do this for us.Cecilia Ortiz Lunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10799056302050264129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-100654525134465952018-05-01T11:22:41.004-04:002018-05-01T11:22:41.004-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Cecilia Ortiz Lunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10799056302050264129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25279562691175637082018-05-01T11:21:00.364-04:002018-05-01T11:21:00.364-04:00Missed the previous one, so would love to particip...Missed the previous one, so would love to participate. The extra bits seem perfect to get some context and thus best help figure out the pitches. I find it really hard to encapsulate my book, so this will be a good exercise for me. <br /><br />I've never gotten any interest from twitter pitches or from my queries for that matter, but I just won a chance for editing help in #RevPit so I'm hoping my query and 1st 5 will be in stellar shape after we finish. Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02646484878657759453noreply@blogger.com