#DVpit and other Online Contests/Opportunities

[soapdish]

This isn't RevPit related, but Laura Zats on Bsky just posted she's reopening to queries and:

Sounds like a great fit for you.

Actually, thank you for mentioning that!

Years ago Laura (Red Sofa days) had been on my to-query list but then dropped off for reasons I can’t even remember.

I think it was either because at the time she had something in her MSWL that made my MS an obvious “no” or else it was because Red Sofa had a policy to only sub to one agent (because they’d pass it on to others if it was a better fit for them) and I’d chosen Bree, who I felt like was a better fit. But honestly, I can’t remember what the exact reason was because it’s been so long.

Anyway I have continued to follow her—Print Run etc.—just because I do think she has a lot of great insights. But I was still thinking she wasn’t right for me based on what was probably now a terribly outdated mswl from 8 years ago.

AND I did the query show with her and Eric and got a lot of feedback.

I incorporated as much of what they said into my query (the version it is today), but still hadn’t considered her someone to query because I was STILL thinking of what was probably an outdated MSWL.

So…after you mentioned this, I went back and looked at what looks like a refreshed MSWL and I think you may be right—she would be a good fit!

Kids: goes to show, agent’s MSWLS can change I don’t know why I never even thought about that before.

 

[Sage]

Laura Zats is my example of MSWLs changing (and also of nobody wanting superheroes)! When she was brand brand new, she came in and was like, "I want superheroes!" and I queried her immediately. Before she had gotten to my query, she changed her mind on superheroes, probably because her inbox was inundated with superhero novels, which is my understanding of why agents don't look for superheroes.

 

[soapdish]

Laura Zats is my example of MSWLs changing (and also of nobody wanting superheroes)! When she was brand brand new, she came in and was like, "I want superheroes!" and I queried her immediately. Before she had gotten to my query, she changed her mind on superheroes, probably because her inbox was inundated with superhero novels, which is my understanding of why agents don't look for superheroes.

So…then does the question become, should I (we) wait to query Laura (fill in the blank with agent of your choice) until we get more feedback (if any) from our RevPit submission?

Or will things change so rapidly that their MSWLS will change in that timeframe and we will be ousted from their inbox again?

 

[Sage]

If you feel confident in your materials, I would query now.

From what I can tell, the first hint that you might be on a shortlist (depending on the editor) will be at the #10queries stage, because some have said they’ll be posting about their shortlist, and if that’s not the case, you still might get feedback…but my experience from Twitter #10queries is that it’s rarely specific enough to tell if a query is even yours. It’s more a general, “do I do what they’re talking about in my query?” lesson. Most authors don’t come to AW and learn guidelines for what works and what doesn’t. Anyway, timing on that stage is 3/26-4/11

4/18 is when the picks will be announced. Not being picked is not a sign that your materials aren’t ready. Only one author per editor is picked, and it could be that you would’ve been the pick if some other entry didn’t have X, which the editor can’t resist. Or your entry was too clean and they didn’t think they could help as much as someone else. Or you chose an editor that 100 authors chose instead of the one that 10 authors chose (made-up numbers). An agent can request from however many authors she’s interested in & rep as many as she can deal with. The editors are stuck with one.

When I did Pitch to Publication, there was an in-between step where the editors requested materials from entrants they were interested in, and one who didn’t select me even told me I was in her top three after the finalists were announced. So, you had a good idea if your materials were decent. I don’t think you get any indication of that unless you can suss out info in #10queries.

So, it’s a matter of whether you:

a) are still working on/worried about your query & first pages and are hoping that #10queries & the selection process can help you determine if they’re ok — it may help to wait or maybe not, but QLH, SYW, & betas can also help those work through potential query/first page issues

b) really worried about your novel & are hoping a developmental edit will improve it — maybe hold out until the editors announce the winners, but consider getting betas if you haven’t because chances are small of winning

c) are worried about having two versions of the novel out there if you do win the editor and do a major revision after getting a full request — you could wait to see if this is even a problem; or query &, if you get a full, send it, & if you win and revise the novel, you can ask if she wants a revised version when you’re done.

 

[Sage]

Interesting data point for those who entered RevPit. One of the editors posted a rounded percentage of entries that fell under age groups and genres. Based on her lowest percentage, if you assume she got one entry in that age/genre, she would have to have between 400 and 600 entries for it to work. She’s one of the more active on BlueSky, and I assume one of the more popular choices to apply to because of that, but that’s a lot of entries, & that just assumes one entry in that genre.

So, do not despair if you’re not chosen. Remember they get 1 out of all the entries. For this particular editor it’s 1 in >400.

 

[kaitie]

Laura Zats is my example of MSWLs changing (and also of nobody wanting superheroes)! When she was brand brand new, she came in and was like, "I want superheroes!" and I queried her immediately. Before she had gotten to my query, she changed her mind on superheroes, probably because her inbox was inundated with superhero novels, which is my understanding of why agents don't look for superheroes.

I was really hoping this was going to end with "she really wants superheroes."

 

[Brigid Barry]

This not a drill! ChaosPit on 4/1!!! https://chaospit.org/

This is THE best, MOST fun pitch contest

 

[soapdish]

This not a drill! ChaosPit on 4/1!!! https://chaospit.org/

This is THE best, MOST fun pitch contest

Sounds wild

But what does this mean?

Friend, this is #ChaosPit!!! Post / 'gram / 'tok into the void where ever you want!

But, yeah, we'll be hanging on BlueSky mostly.

I’m not on any of the socials. How do you submit pitches into the void? Or is that a joke and I’m just not getting it

 

[kaitie]

This not a drill! ChaosPit on 4/1!!! https://chaospit.org/

This is THE best, MOST fun pitch contest

I love this one. I need to come up with a pitch.

 

[Brigid Barry]

My sincerest apologies, I confused ChaosPit with Unhinged Pit.

ChaosPit is pitch your book badly, 4/1

Unhinged Pit is the super fun one that I love because it's anything but traditional pitches or loglines. People create memes and poems (I have a haiku) and poorly drawn stick-figure comics. UnhingedPit is on BlueSky today starting at 8EDT.

 

[Mevrouw Bee]

It's also ScotWritersPit today! Support your favourite Scottish writers!

 

[kinokonoronin]

Threw out a ChaosPit pitch; never participated in this type of thing before, but the idea of making a just-for-fun, bad pitch hooked me.

It was fun. Lot of hilarious and compelling pitches out there. Thanks for keeping this topic alive, all.

 

[Sage]

#1stlinepit is going on now. It's, as it sounds, just the first line(s) of your novel. One pitch per novel. One novel per hour.

You can, sigh, add moodboards or whatever.

This is on BlueSky, but may be elsewhere, I don't know. Rules here: https://bsky.app/profile/1stlinepit.bsky.social/post/3llwpkoj5gs23

 

[Sage]

In case anyone was wondering, my query did end up as one of the #revpit #10queries. My editor did email me about it, but it was just a literal repeat of the Bluesky posts, a short thing about loving a “retelling” of White Christmas, & discounted offers on her services. I wasn’t sure what the #10queries folks would get—whether it would be an extended crit or not—so I’m just reporting here (other editors might’ve done other things). It makes sense that they wouldn’t do much more, since they have to focus on their winners & edit notes.

I think this would’ve been an enlightening email for those who weren’t sure if their book was one of the #10queries post, but since I was very certain that mine was, it wasn’t anything extra, unless I want to use her editing services.

 

[soapdish]

Hmmm. I got the same thing.

I was also a #10queries (and suspected I was when I read it but wasn’t 100% sure).

I got a little feedback and encouragement, maybe a little more than she’d said on bluesky. And offers for discounted editing services etc, just like you @Sage. I wonder if it was the same editor

I can’t afford any of the services even with a discount. Though there is one very inexpensive thing offered that I may do…

She did give me the option to ask her any questions and I think I will—nothing that would be taking advantage of her paid editing services, just a few general ones.

 

[soapdish]

For the RevPit followers—Turns out I got another #10queries from another editor too. (Be kinda cool if I got one from all three, but so far just two)

Anyway, similar sort of message as the others, with an offer for discounted editing services. Though these one’s I might actually be able to afford. So I might push forward on them?

Anyone else hear anything more

 

[Sage]

I saw an AWer was on a shortlist. I don’t think she’s been in this thread, so I won’t out her

 

[Nether]

I saw an AWer was on a shortlist. I don’t think she’s been in this thread, so I won’t out her

Where would I even see the shortlists? I'm guessing on BlueSky, but that platform feels even more confusing and impossible to navigate than X. (And when it comes to tech, I'm not sure why devs can't ever focus on making things easier instead of harder. Instead, each system's Byzantine design requires you to be well-versed in another system's Byzantine design where it likely makes sense in aggregate, but isn't terribly user-friendly to newcomers.)

 

[Sage]

Shortlisted authors were told via email. Some posted on BlueSky about it

 

[Frankie007]

i too was one of the 10 queries and the discount offer.
twice in a row in fact. LOL (last year too)

 

[soapdish]

I actually just found out that I wasn’t one of the #10queries for the first editor that sent me feedback. I ended up asking her.

I had assumed that’s why I was getting feedback from her in the first place. But no. She said I was one of her “long-listers” and that’s why she gave me some feedback.

 

[Sage]

That’s cool!