Pitch Wars is a contest started by Brenda Drake. You can read about it on the official site: pitchwars.org.
This isn’t your average contest. You don’t just submit a query/250, get selected from the slush and then hosted for an agent round. You don’t just get a little feedback on your query/250 during a short window between selection and agent round. For this contest, if you get picked, your whole MS will get feedback from the mentor who chooses you, and you’ll have three months to work on substantial revisions between being selected and the agent round. It’s time-consuming, stressful hard work and a totally amazing opportunity to improve your writing and become a part of the Pitch Wars family, which many would say is the biggest reward.
So how?
First — make sure you have a polished manuscript that is query ready. If not, then you shouldn’t submit. (More advice on how to prepare here.)
Second — follow the #PitchWars feed on Twitter for fun, games, information, and camaraderie.
Third — research the mentors. You’ll want to narrow to mentors who are asking for your age category and genre. And then you’ll want to further narrow to mentors who you think would be the best fit. Sort of like researching for agents to query. Except we’re not agents. We’re all authors like you.
Fourth — follow the mentors you’re interested in on Twitter. Interact. Ask questions. Watch the video chats. Watch #AskMentor. Check out the Pitch Wars forum AMAs.
Fifth — When the submission window opens, submit your query, synopsis, and first chapter to the mentors you hope to work with. Watch for the submission form. The Pitch Wars schedule is here.
Sixth — watch the #PitchWars feed for hints from the mentors, and bite your nails to the quick wondering if it’s YOU they’re all salivating over.
Seventh — any questions? Please refer to the Pitchwars.org FAQ.
Once the announcement is made for the selections, if you’re on the list, scream for joy, then buckle your seat belt and get ready to work your ass off.
Thanks for the excellent summary. I had gleaned a certain amount of this elsewhere, but it really helps to have it all put together like this.
You’re welcome! I like to have lots of info, too.
Great straight-forward info. Thanks! Do the mentors or #PitchWars ever publish an actual wish-list? Is that usually in their bios? Thanks again.
The wishlists will go up on July 20. If you’re very sneaky, you can probably find some of the mentors’ wishlists from prior years, but realize they are subject to complete overhaul.
For 2019 – wish lists are already up. Blog hop here: https://pitchwars.org/pitch-wars-2019-mentor-blog-hop/
So there’s going to be a submission form on Brenda Drake’s website in August?
There will be a submission form in August. If it’s not on Brenda’s site, she’ll post a link to it.
For 2019 — the sub form goes up in September. It will be posted on pitchwars.org.
Thanks for this. I’m still finding my way around the publishing world of Twitter. Quick question: does #PitchWars lean toward particular genres? So far, I’ve only participated in #PitMad earlier this month and I found, reading the Twitter pitches, that a lot of the activity was focused around YA/MG and/or SFF. Nothing wrong with that. Just that I don’t write in those genres and wouldn’t want to waste anyone’s time (or mine) by participating if that’s the case. This is in no way a put-down — I am amazed at how helpful agents/editors/writers are all toward each other on Twitter and activities like this are terrific. Thank you.
For Pitch Wars, there are mentors for every age category. Within the age categories, you’ll have to read individual mentor wishlists to find someone who matches what you write. And unless what you write is really far outside of traditional genres, you’ll likely find more matches than you can sub to. The wishlists will go up at the end of July, so keep an eye out for that.
Thanks for the response and valuable information, Mary Ann. My apologies for my delayed response but I was traveling without a laptop for a week — a much-needed break. 🙂