6 Tips for #PitMad Pitch Party Today on Twitter
#PitMad is happening now! It started at 8am and will continue until 8pm EDT/EST. If you want your pitch to stand out keep these things in mind.
1. Write a great pitch. You only have 140 characters to get your pitch out. That must include your genre (example #A = adult) AND #PitMad so that your pitch makes it to the right spot.
It isn’t as easy as you may think. You need to introduce your character. The problem he/she faces. And the stakes. That’s a well-rounded pitch. Of course this isn’t always possible. So just try to make it as gripping, or funny, or mysterious (basically whatever your genre) as possible.
2. You cannot use the same pitch twice in a row. Twitter won’t allow it. So have a few pitches written in advance or work on your pitches while waiting to tweet again.
3. You can only tweet your pitch twice an hour. I usually tweet on the hour and the half-hour. But you can do it at quarter of and quarter past. Doesn’t matter.
4. Please, please, please do not favorite other writer’s tweets. The way you know if you gain a request is by being favorited. Don’t get someone’s hopes up for no reason.
5. Support other writers. To show your support for your fellow writers retweet their pitches. Most will do the same for you in return. RTs do not count toward your twice an hour pitch. Remember, we are all in this together. Share the love. It’s the right thing to do.
6. You pitch gets favorited. When your pitch gets favorited– you’ll notice I didn’t say IF– go to that agent’s bio page by clicking on their picture. Most will have their guidelines to follow. Others will send out tweets and tell you what to do. Make sure you include #PitMad in the subject line when sending materials. And please, follow the guidelines to the letter. Don’t get rejected for something as simple as follow instructions.
Good luck to everyone! Stop by and say hello and I’ll RT your pitch. Or leave me a comment below and give me your twitter handle and I’ll do the same.
UPDATE: I just found a great formula for pitches. Here it is: “When [MAIN CHARACTER] [INCITING INCIDENT], he [CONFLICT]. And if he doesn’t [GOAL] he will [CONSEQUENCES].”
Try and make it as effective as possible in the fewest number of words.
Try putting the goal and consequences first.
Use active words. (Verbs are your friend.)
Assign an adjective to your MC (plucky or reluctant or young or… you get the point).
SAVE EVERY VERSION. (I have a journal I use for brainstorming these. It goes through many pages just to get one usable logline.)
Consider how to pitch the story as a romance. A thriller. An action-adventure.
