How (Not) to Win a Twitter Pitch Fest

Photo credit: Johan Larsson on Flickr
Some of you lovely writers may have heard that there's going to be another Twitter pitch fest on Friday (3/29/13) under the hashtag #PitMad. Basically, if you're querying, or ready to start querying, you should most definitely participate (and here's why).

Naturally many of you are probably antsy about Friday’s Twitter fest, and so I thought it only appropriate to share ten easy steps to making every agent and editor who trolls the #PitMad feed instantly want to request your full manuscript. So without further ado:

How to Make Everyone Want Your Full Manuscript*

  1. Ignore the rules. Rules are for people who aren't creative enough to break out of the box. How will can you ever expect to stand out if you follow the rules? No, you need to make your own rules. For example...

  2. Send the agents your pitch directly by @ mentioning them even when they don't ask for it. This includes agents on Twitter who aren't even participating. Twitter pitch fests are all about being noticed, and what better way to get your pitch noticed then by sending it directly to your dream agent? After all, every agent LOVES Twitter queries—it’s a fact. 

  3. Spam the hashtag. When there are a lot of participants in an event like a Twitter pitch fest, you sometimes have to use a little elbow to really be seen. Posting your pitch any less than a dozen times an hour will doom you to being drowned out by the other participants, and we can't have that. 

  4. Bash the other writers. Save the agents the pain of looking at anyone else's work—all they need to see is your masterpiece. In fact, they should probably just stop reading altogether because nothing else will ever stand up to your work. 

  5. Retweet your pitch repeatedly. Writing your pitch twelve times an hour really isn't enough—retweet those pitches until you can retweet no more!

  6. Spread your pitch over ten tweets. Remember what I said about breaking the rules? While all those other silly writers are trying to fit their pitch into 140 characters, you can take advantage of all the characters you need to express the true awesomeness of your book. Take that, boring rule-followers! 

  7. Write your pitch in all caps. YOU WANT PEOPLE TO READ IT, DON'T YOU? 

  8. Pitch a book you haven't finished writing. Hell, pitch a book you haven't started writing. That way, when everyone is throwing publishing contracts at you, you'll be way ahead of the game. 

  9. Use a quote from your book instead of a pitch. You know what? Pitches are overrated. Quotes, on the other hand...

  10. Forget the pitch—just tell everyone how awesome your book is. That's all they really need to know, anyway. 

*Did I say "everyone"? I meant "no one." This is a sarcastic post, please don't do these things. It will not bring you success and joy, I promise.

Are you participating on Friday? If so, good luck! What so-called tips would you add to the list?

9 comments:

Robin Red said...

I can't wait to participate in one of these. I haven't been able to write in a week. This class I'm taking is killing me, but when it ends, I'm ready to be freeeee! (insert Disney music)

Lynn(e) Schmidt said...

Haha, these are all great. I'm so excited for tomorrow!

S Jenan said...

Best advice I can give? If you've got more awesome plot than 140 characters will allow? Jst abbr yr #pit evrwhr yu can 4 mor wrds 2 fit! FTW!



The added benefit with this method is that it allows more room for... EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!1!1!e1e\/enty!!1!

Ava Jae said...

I absolutely love Twitter pitch fests. They're easily my favorite of the contests I've participated in so far. :)

Ava Jae said...

omg tht is spr fntstc advis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Catch My Words said...

Thanks for the great tips. I'll get onto to it right away. After all, I want to be noticed. ;)

http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2013/03/gbe2-very-very-small.html

Ava Jae said...

Thank you so much! That's actually excellent non-sarcastic advice. One pitch may not work for one publishing professional, but another might. You never know. :)

Danelle said...

You forgot put a vague title on twitter with a link to more material on your blog/website. :)


Seriously though, I think today's PitchMas has seen very little of that kind of thing.

Ava Jae said...

Ohh, that's a great addition. :)


I'm glad to hear it! I know many pitch parties in the past have been riddled with nonsense (not that everyone does it by any means, but there always seems to be offenders). I haven't really been able to check PitchMAS out today, but I'm happy to hear there hasn't been much of that!

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