Tag Archives: Manuscripts

#PreDV Practice hosted by Kat Cho

PreDV

This is a cool event sponsored by Kat Cho to help hone marginalized writerly pitches in preparation for #DVpit (DO NOT us this hashtag during the Pre-Event). Participants can post pitches on twitter using the #PreDV hashtag to get feedback from Kat and other volunteers. Marginalized writers are also encouraged to offer their own feedback on other pitches in the spirit of helping other writers.

Another great opportunity is writers can reach out to find critique partners from pitches they like in the age category or genres they also write in. So don’t miss out. Get those pitches ready!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

2017 #Pitprom Pitch Contest

#Pitprom
2017 Pitch contest

Yay! A new contest for writers. Me LOVES when writers want to help other writers! Here is what you need to know. This contest is to help you get your pitch shined for agents and editors. What you’ll need to enter is:

1. 140-character pitch. You’ve got 140 characters to grab their attention, including the #PitProm hashtag.
2. Query letter.
3. The first ten pages of your completed manuscript. (Polished and edited!)

The Royal Advisors will go through the first 200 entries to select 20 entries, consisting of ten science fiction and ten fantasy pitches. Then they will mentor those twenty writers to get their pitch, query, and first ten pages sparkly for an agent round. Submission begin August 24th, 2017 at midnight CST and will close on August 25, 2017 at midnight CST. Visit their site for complete guidelines and to learn about the Royal Advisors and agents/editors participating.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction

The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition

Chicken House Books

While they no longer accept unsolicited manuscripts, they do offer unpublished and unagented writers of children’s fiction the chance to submit their work to the annual Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition. They’re looking for original ideas, a fresh voice and a story that children will love!

First prize is a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a royalty advance of £10,000 (approximately $12,500 US), plus representation from a top children’s literary agent.

To enter, you must have written a completed full-length novel suitable for children/young adults aged somewhere between 7 and 18 years. The full-length , manuscript should be minimum of 30,000 words and do not exceed 80,000 words in length.

The deadline to enter is midnight on December 8, 2017. Also, there is an entry fee of £15 (approximately $18.76 US). For complete guidelines and entry form, go here.

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

#DVPit Critique Giveaway Starts Today

dvpitlogo

First, for those not familiar with #DVPit, it’s a Twitter event created to showcase pitches from marginalized voices hosted by founder and literary agent Beth Phelan. The next event will be in October. So, in preparation, Beth has wrangled some agents, editors and authors to give away critiques to hone writers’ manuscripts and/or queries before the event.

In order for writers to participate, they’ll need a twitter account. The giveaway tweets for each category will post at noon ET on the relevant day. The posts will be on the twitter handle @DVpit_ starting today. The events will be as follows:

  • Tuesday, August 15 2017: Children’s, i.e. Picture Books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade
  • Wednesday, August 16 2017: Young Adult
  • Thursday, August 17 2017: Adult Fiction & Nonfiction

For the list of all the mentors involved for the specific dates, go here. As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA Fiction

2017 Book Pipeline Early Entry Ending Soon!

BookPipelineWithFox

The 4th Annual Book Pipeline Competition seeks material for film or television adaptation. Open to writers worldwide, the contest accepts any genre, fiction or non-fiction. Published and unpublished works are both acceptable.

One Grand Prize Winner receives $10,000 and circulation to:

Early Deadline: August 15th, 2017 with a $55 entry fee. Regular Deadline: November 1, 2017 with a $65 entry fee. For guidelines on how to submit, go here.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction

Massie & McQuilkin Literary Assistant Job

Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents

Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents is seeking a full time literary assistant to start as soon as possible in New York.  (This is not a remote position.) Benefits will include health insurance. Responsibilities include

  • Handling general administrative tasks and office maintenance, logging submissions and contracts, scanning contracts and royalty statements, and facilitating author/editor interface.
  • Reading unsolicited and client manuscripts and writing reader’s reports, rejection letters and editorial letters.
  • Vetting and negotiating contracts
  • Assisting with foreign rights
  • Tracking payments
  • Evaluating text and photo permissions
  • Hiring and overseeing interns
  • Updating the agency’s Facebook and Instagram pages
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office essential
  • Familiarity with BAITS a major plus
  • Familiarity with social media essential
  • At least one year of relevant experience essential.

Contact: Lexi Wangler (lexi@mmglit.com), 27 W 20th Street, Suite 305, New York, NY 10010 (Ph# 212-352-2055) DO NOT CALL REGARDING QUERIES, THIS IS FOR SERIOUS JOB APPLICANTS ONLY!

Application Instructions: Please send your cover letter in the body of the email with your resume as an attachment to the attention of Lexi Wangler at lexi@mmqlit.com, with the subject line of “Agency Assistant Position.”

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Sourcebooks

While Sourcebooks only accepts virtually all agented submissions, they’re doors are wide open for romance fiction subs—even from unagented writers! They are acquiring single-title romance fiction for their Casablanca imprint. Some of the subgenres they’ll accept are:

  • paranormal romance
  • romantic suspense
  • contemporary romance
  • erotic romance
  • historical romance (prior to 1900 only)

Please note, this is not an exclusive list as they state they’ll consider all subgenres. The manuscripts they’re looking for should be between 85,000-100,000 words. For complete criteria and to learn how to submit, go here.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Pitch Wars Submissions Are Open!

This is a quick reminder that Brenda Drake’s Pitch Wars submissions opened yesterday and will close August 6 at 10pm EDT (New York time). Go here for the guidelines and here  to submit. There are two other ways to get into the contest, a scavenger hunt  (scroll to find the info) to get a free pass into Pitch Wars and if you donate at least $20 you can pick two extra mentors. Woot! Note the participating menotrs are on the post with the scavenger hunt information. Lastly, be sure and stop by twitter to watch the #PitchWars feed because they are giving extra mentor prizes away.

Internship Opportunity for The Bent Agency

Molly Ker Hawn of The Bent Agency is looking for an intern to read young adult and middle grade fiction for her. This is a remote and unpaid internship. Her expectations are that the intern reads and reports on an manuscript every two weeks. Applicants should be familiar with all sorts of YA & MG, especially literary-commercial. Molly would like someone with knowledge of New York Time Best Sellers and has interests in authors like Katherine Rundell, John Corey Whaley, Stephanie Kuehn, Margo Lanagan, Jack Gantos, Marie Rutkoski, Naomi Novik, Jacqueline Woodson, E Lockhart, Gene Luen Yang, Libba Bray…and, of course, her own clients.

For guidelines and how to apply, go here. As always, good luck!

P. D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction

 

Operation Awesome: Pass or Pages

PASSORPAGES

Operation Awesome is hosting a Pass or Pages this month. For this round, the category is  for contemporary romance (novels intended for adults, not YA). Submissions open between July 10 (6am EST) to  July 12 (6pm EST), 2017. This is an opportunity to get feedback from an agent on your query and first 250 words of your manuscript. Peeps, this is priceless! And as a possible bonus, the agent reserves the right to request your FULL.

The participating agents are:

There will be a form for submissions on Operation Awesome when the entry window opens. For complete rules and previous feedback reveals, go here. As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.