September 10th, 2015 #pitmad

Last week, I participated in my first #pitmad. What’s #pitmad? Instead of taking the time to explain it, I’ll just put a link to a website that’s already done that. http://www.brenda-drake.com/pitmad/ Go ahead and read that. I’ll wait. (One thing to mention is that the site now mentions the new rules that will go into effect for the next #pitmad, December 4^th. Previously, you could tweet out two pitches per hour per manuscript, and those are the rules I played by this last week.)

Back? Great. So, since this was my first #pitmad, I decided to blog about my experience. Overall I’d have to say it was pretty great, and I’m looking forward to the next one while also being glad it’s a few months away.

Wait, let me go back to where this all began.

A week before, I was sitting in my writing group with two wonderful ladies who had just given me a lovely critique on a book I was revisiting. I’d already mentioned that I had one book on query when one of the fine women mentioned #pitmad was coming up. She’d talked about it before, but I’d never been ready.

This time I was. I had a book all polished to the finest shine I could give it. It was already with one agent. Might as well try #pitmad to see if any more would bite.

It was scary. I had no idea how to pitch my book in 140 137 characters or less. But both of those ladies got me started with some ideas and then set me loose.

Over the weekend, I worked on my pitches. I emailed them to the fine lady who’d proposed I do #pitmad and she gave me some pointers. And support. Wednesday night I scheduled all my tweets for the next day since I’d be too busy working to do it manually.

The next day the pitches started rolling.

I have never spent so much time on twitter, been so obsessed with twitter. I’d check during quiet times in my classes, between periods. I scrolled at lunch. I anxiously waited to see if any of my tweet pitches would get favorited.

They didn’t, but the excitement and frenzy of pitching my book was quite energizing. Yes, I was anxious all day long, but it was a good anxious. And though I didn’t get any favorites (I did get one faux favorite from a non-agent. That’s kind of the worst. To see a favorite and then realize it isn’t from an agent,), I did get some great support and meet some new people.

I also did my best to support other authors as well, by retweeting the pitches that sounded amazing to me. I wish I could have done more, but I had things to do at my job and I could only spare snippets of time to check twitter.

So, here’s the rundown of my pitches, from most popular to least, plus the fun comments I got in response to them.

1. When a mermaid turns human with no memory of her life as a warrior, she must battle Savages to save the humans she used to hate. (24 retweets total over tweeting out 3 times during the day.)
   1. Replies:
      1. Good luck
      2. Cool! Good luck!
2. Mermaid-hunting pirates. A mother’s spell to save her daughter and her people. A Savage war. Only Darya can save them all. (13 retweets total over tweeting out 3 times during the day.)
3. The Little Mermaid meets Jason Bourne. (9 retweets total over tweeting out 3 times during the day. )
   1. Reply:
      1. If this gets published, in any format, I want to read it. (Blogger’s Note: Probably my favorite comment of the day!)
4. The little mermaid, if Ariel had hated humans and never wanted to become one. (7 retweets total over tweeting out 3 times during the day.)
   1. Replies:
      1. This pitch made me smile.
      2. This is awesome! I’m pitching Mermaids at Sea World today 🙂 (Blogger’s Note: Don’t know what she meant by the last part, but thanks!)
5. Darya can’t remember her life as a mermaid warrior but she’s the only one who can save the Savage Gate. Pirates. Mercenaries. Magic. (7 retweets total over tweeting out 2 times during the day.)
6. A former mermaid. War against the Savages. Forbidden magic. The Generals don’t trust her, but that doesn’t stop them from using her. (5 retweets total over tweeting out 2 times during the day.)
7. Mermaids, Savages, pirates and a city in danger. Only Darya, the woman who can’t remember her past, can save The Savage Gate. (Retweeted twice)
8. Who has time to search after their forgotten life as a mermaid warrior when there are Savages to fight and a city to save? (1 retweet)
9. The Little Mermaid meets Kristin Cashore’s Graceling.

I also got one really flattering tweet from a supporter: I’ve retweeted like, four of your pitches already. I really want to read your book! Sounds awesome! 🙂

Ahhh, thanks! #^_^#

So, even if I didn’t get any favorites, I did hear some positive feedback to keep me moving forward.

But guys, querying and pitching is still scary.

For the next #pitmad, since I’ll only get three tweets total to try to catch an agent’s interest (or a few agents’ interests), I’m going to polish up my top pitches to try again. I don’t think they need much tweaking, but like all good editing, I’ll leave them alone for a while and then come back just before #pitmad to see if I want to change anything.

For some awesome advice on twitter pitching if you’d like to try #pitmad the next time it comes up, or you’d like to possibly do better than last time, try these super helpful blog posts:

Ten tips for twitter pitching: http://ginadenny.blogspot.com/2014/08/ten-tips-for-twitter-pitching.html?m=1

Controversial advice on twitter pitching: http://ginadenny.blogspot.com/2015/03/controversial-advice-on-twitter-pitching.html?m=1

The seven rules of twitter pitching: http://ginadenny.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-7-rules-of-twitter-pitching.html

I hope these are helpful to you and thanks for letting me share my experience. I hope it inspires you to give it a try the next go around, December 4^th. In the meantime, I have to get back to convincing myself I’m not too terrified to send out a few more query letters.