Welcome to you wonderful new followers.
Thank you for coming aboard.
This week I left my comfort zone.
I entered my first pitch slam at
and boy am I glad I did.
Don't get me wrong, my fingers quivered over the keys and I got "that" feeling in my stomach. I knew I was stepping up to the mound and tossing one out IN PUBLIC. Yikes.
I crossed everything that wasn't painful or unnatural, hoping the judges wouldn't throw me out of the game.
Why did I do it? Well, my mama didn't raise no fools except for my brothers. Here was a chance to get not one, not two, but three critiques on my pitch. Yes, the dreaded pitch, the all important grabber that must enchant an agent or editor if my work is ever going to leave the batter's box.
I want to learn how to throw a pitch that will allow my MS a chance to be hit out of the park.
Not one like this.
The Yalitchat pitch slam has done just that. I am rounding the bases of inspired pitches and home run comments by the judges.
Treat yourself and head over to the Pitch Slam for a fantastic education and grand slam examples in the art of the pitch.
I kneel before Yalitchat in gratitude for the opportunity to learn how to launch a perfect pitch. Thank you.
And next time you have a chance to leave your writing comfort zone - DO IT
So glad you participated, Leslie! It really is a huge help.... it's so hard to understand our pitch objectively when we're so close to the story. I found out I have a lot to work on still!
ReplyDeleteI agree to leave our writing comfort zones. It's how we grow and learn with the craft, by trying new things, reaching out, challenging ourselves. Congrats on fine-tuning your pitch :)
ReplyDeleteI forgot all about it. I'll check it out. It'll be interesting to see the recommendations for improvements on other pitches.
ReplyDeleteThe links not working!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stina. I fixed it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by,Pk and Joanne. I'm so impressed with the "dead on" nature of the critiques. The judges have amazing "eagle eyes."
I pitched for the first time (in person) last November.
ReplyDeleteWasn't as scary one might anticipate. But it's a challenge to keep your story straight as you explain it.
Pitch slam sounds like good practice.
Yeah, Leslie!!! Woohooo! I see your awesome humor peeking through again. My mama didn't raise no... ROFL!!! :D
ReplyDeleteAlways important to keep working on that pitch:) Crazy baseball photo;) Neat blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this, I had no idea. I totally agree about getting out of your comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
@Lee - I though synopsis drove me nutty, but pitches are even more stressful.
ReplyDelete@ Lisa - Glad I gave you a giggle
@Mark - Welcome - thanks for the thumbs up
@Sarah - You're welcome. I do so love my comfort zone.
Brothers...fools....LOL! Leslie, I'm SO glad you entered the pitch slam. Now hopefully others will have the OPPORTUNITY to read your work. And it really was fun and educational to read the pitches.
ReplyDeleteGreat things happen to me when I leave my comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteYay for pitches and homeruns.
Oh, the comfort zone. My butt has been stuck there for a very long while. It doesn't want to write less than stellar reviews for books that are less than stellar, afraid of hurting an author's feelings. It doesn't want to write because how can I compare with the stellar books I do read? It's the excuse zone for me. It lets me get away with not following my dreams. I don't even have the manuscript to pitch because I haven't gotten out of my comfort zone. I blame it on blogging, but it's me.
ReplyDeleteNow you have to go and say how great it is to get out of your comfort zone! I was happy here. So now I'm starting to squirm a little. I really like your blog and what you have to say. Could you be right? Does it feel good to step out of my comfort zone? Do I dare? I'm not starting at YA Lit Chat that's for sure!
How amazing of you to do that. How scary, terrifying, and utterly wonderful that you did that for yourself, your manuscript and all your hard work! Bravo! *shuffles back to her comfort zone*
Heather
Wow! You're brave, Leslie! I stink at pitching, so I admire your initiative. Looking forward to hearing how it goes. : )
ReplyDeletePerfect timing for me. I will head over and check this out. Maybe they'll help prepare me for NY
ReplyDeleteI did something like that over the summer. Scared me to death.
ReplyDeleteAnd your pitch was so awesome Leslie! I'm glad you did it:)
ReplyDeleteGood for you for putting yourself out there! I want to be as brave as you.
ReplyDeleteThat was brave! I never did a pitch slam or pitch session myself.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the encouragement. Y'all rock.
ReplyDeleteAh, pitches, the bane of my existence :P. Good for you for entering! And thanks for the link--great examples for those of us working on pitches!
ReplyDeleteThat's great! I actually just pitched to agents (in person!) for the first time this weekend at the Writer's Digest conference and it was terrifying but so worth it. It's so hard to put yourself out there like that. But it's a great learning experience. :)
ReplyDeleteI did the pitch slam, too! What an experience! Good luck to you! (Yikes, all those exclamation points.)
ReplyDeleteVery brave, indeed! Great practice, too. Congratulations. You might stop by the Write Game and pick up a little something I've left there for you.
ReplyDeleteHere's to more Pitch Slams and great success with yours.
It's so funny how the pitch is so easy and so hard at the same time- thanks for sharing, will check it out!
ReplyDeleteOoh hope you had a good experience at the pitch contest! And I'm glad you read LOLA... I knew you would love it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great experience. I'm clicking over to find out more now.
ReplyDeleteI just saw where you made it for resubmission! You go girl!!! I'm telling you, I can't wait to read your book on shelves:)
ReplyDeleteHey, Leslie -- CONGRATS, woman. Yay for braving the pitch, and congrats on getting the resubmission op. I'm not surprised though. You rock. Isn't YALITCHAT amazing? Miss you!
ReplyDeleteMartina
Thank y'all. I'm doing my Rose Parade wave in your direction.
ReplyDelete