tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post375001802336423864..comments2023-10-26T06:14:48.554-04:00Comments on Down Under Wonderings: PICK ME! PICK ME! Pitch Wars Mentor BioSM Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-45123716235350329262014-08-17T22:10:59.670-04:002014-08-17T22:10:59.670-04:00Hello, I submitted to you. I shall now cower in th...Hello, I submitted to you. I shall now cower in the loo....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-60604003463883172262014-08-15T01:46:44.038-04:002014-08-15T01:46:44.038-04:00Sounds awesome! 108K is ok. I can work with that. ...Sounds awesome! 108K is ok. I can work with that. SM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-36007491965457428152014-08-14T22:54:53.096-04:002014-08-14T22:54:53.096-04:00Hello fellow Aussie!
You said you want all genre...Hello fellow Aussie! <br /><br />You said you want all genres, so how would you feel about a YA epic fantasy? It is a little dark, and is based on biblical mythology. But you also said you don't like high word counts, and YA epic fantasy typically has a higher word count than other genres. (Mine is currently at 108,000, which I know is a little longer than the preferred 100,000 but I'm happy to slash.) <br /><br />Thanks, <br /><br />Rochelle. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-14684783456646207472014-08-12T04:47:48.339-04:002014-08-12T04:47:48.339-04:00As long as I can still follow what's happening...As long as I can still follow what's happening (I don't mind being a little confused along the way) then I'm happy. SM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-76947754754563777372014-08-12T00:57:18.724-04:002014-08-12T00:57:18.724-04:00Hi Sharon,
How do you feel about non-linear stor...Hi Sharon, <br /> How do you feel about non-linear story structures? Thanks!<br />ChrystalAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13363002478980684235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-10817618199893927362014-08-10T00:35:34.996-04:002014-08-10T00:35:34.996-04:00Unfortunately, they are not actually my cats. I wo...Unfortunately, they are not actually my cats. I would love kitties like that, but I have two moggies at the moment. Though in the past I've had Himalyan Persians. So much fun. <br /><br />I do remember your pitch, and thought it sounded cool in other contests. Here's the deal:<br /><br />If I have championed you before, I am not going to pick you. <br /><br />If I have seen you in a lot of contests before, then I am less likely to pick you, but it's not an auto-no pick. <br /><br />I want to make sure I don't have a MS with contest fatigue. <br /><br />I can't remember how many contests I've seen that pitch in, so I wouldn't immediately discount it. It's then up to you from there if you want to pitch to me or if you think you have a better chance with someone else. <br /><br />I'm the only mentor I know who is thinking this way, so other mentors may be different. <br /><br />I hope that helped. SM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-67639944323456467502014-08-10T00:21:31.537-04:002014-08-10T00:21:31.537-04:00Hi Sharon! I love how diverse your interest are. I...Hi Sharon! I love how diverse your interest are. I also adore your cats (they are rather similar to my own). I'd love to submit to you, but on twitter you said "If I've seen your pitch around in a lot of other pitch contests I am less likely to be interested". So how much is "a lot"? I've been in a couple contests, including pitchmadness. You may remember the pitch - a medieval Veronica Mars with the lush, sexy feel of Anna Godbersen's THE LUXE. Are you interested? I'd be sad not to submit to you, but I really respect your goal of spreading the love and support around.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11041461048761520454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-46597106366135485822014-08-09T00:49:12.405-04:002014-08-09T00:49:12.405-04:00I'm so excited about it! It's the only reg...I'm so excited about it! It's the only regional comic convention in Australia. I was like "sign me up!"SM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-63753158024455487012014-08-08T22:34:55.919-04:002014-08-08T22:34:55.919-04:00I was eating up your info and then got to the comi...I was eating up your info and then got to the comic convention! +++++ Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14800038834357995493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-59646095555702707622014-08-08T21:10:20.010-04:002014-08-08T21:10:20.010-04:00Me too :DMe too :DSM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-41689770426397433042014-08-08T21:10:03.564-04:002014-08-08T21:10:03.564-04:00The bio part can be very subjective. There can be ...The bio part can be very subjective. There can be ways to create credentials - such as blogging or taking up a role as an author's assistant. You can also talk about conferences you attended to improve your craft to show the agent that you are serious about your writing. <br /><br />If you don't have any of that, then you can talk about hobbies, but I'd only do it briefly unless there's a link to your MS. For example, if you write a story about a soldier and you've been in the army, that's worth going into a little more detail:<br /><br />Instead of: I am a PR executive and a former soldier. <br />I would put: I am a former soldier who did tours of duty in....<br /><br />I recommend: No writing credits and no hobbies/work that link to MS then keep it to one sentence (but do look to see if any of your hobbies match with the agent's - DON'T MAKE STUFF UP)<br /><br />No writing credentials but have work/hobbies that link to MS/Writing then have a par. <br /><br />I do have some writing credentials, but I thought I'd share my query bio to give you a break down:<br /><br />I have short stories in anthologies with the Australian Literary Review and my story Karma was runner-up in the Australian Literary Review’s Young Adult short story competition (my writing creeds). I have a Bachelor of Communication and work as a senior specialist of public relations overseeing marketing and branding for an exporting/logistics company (shows I understand promoting myself). I blog at YAtopia, Aussie Owned & Read and Down Under Wonderings. I am also a regular pitch contest host along side Brenda Drake with Pitch Madness and Pitch Wars (both show I am invested in Publishing Community). In my spare time, I intern for Heather Howland at Entangled and volunteer for my city’s comic convention – Sugar Con (writing cred again, along with showing show my nerdy tendencies). <br /><br />Sometimes I will add my love of cats, beaches, coffee, and so on, if it fits with the Agent bio. SM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-69991189027181438152014-08-08T21:01:34.880-04:002014-08-08T21:01:34.880-04:00Sounds awesome! Hope I get to read your pitch. Sounds awesome! Hope I get to read your pitch. SM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-34198363707743389822014-08-08T19:57:42.457-04:002014-08-08T19:57:42.457-04:00So Query Whisperer, if a writer has no previous wr...So Query Whisperer, if a writer has no previous writing credits, how do you prefer they handle the bio paragraph of a query? Skip it? Share something personal like their job or hobbies? I asked on Twitter but received conflicting answers, so now I am taking the question to the mentors I am considering.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195239241944644996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-47900953252578444702014-08-06T10:05:24.668-04:002014-08-06T10:05:24.668-04:00The Query Whisperer? I'm sold. Love that you m...The Query Whisperer? I'm sold. Love that you mention you're a Christian, too. I have a YA contemp/sci-fi that's also a space opera... sort of like a cross between Alienated and Across the Universe :) Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-47768094305327109352014-08-05T10:20:03.140-04:002014-08-05T10:20:03.140-04:00Thank you for doing this. I hope we're a fit.Thank you for doing this. I hope we're a fit.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15190264170421157123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-88058543986764574092014-08-04T21:17:13.953-04:002014-08-04T21:17:13.953-04:00More about church corruption than being pro devil....More about church corruption than being pro devil. But unfortunately, it being a fantasy the supernatural stuff does show up. It's probably not for you because it does have an anti-vibe to it (similar to His Dark Materials). That's why I asked. Thanks for your reply though!<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796893339635601106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-23079031292152806842014-08-04T17:12:35.292-04:002014-08-04T17:12:35.292-04:00Well, I am a Christian. If your book is anti-God/J...Well, I am a Christian. If your book is anti-God/Jesus/Holy Spirit or Pro devil then it's not for me. If it's anti-religous establishment (criticising church leadings corruption) then I'm ok with that. SM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-89595110663729894422014-08-04T17:10:11.743-04:002014-08-04T17:10:11.743-04:00I'd recommend comping it with books outside th...I'd recommend comping it with books outside the category - so YA or adult equivalents. So 'This book meets this book but with this element'SM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-91931204070227661912014-08-04T17:08:32.911-04:002014-08-04T17:08:32.911-04:00I don't mind if it's minus sand :DI don't mind if it's minus sand :DSM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-37185332556905156332014-08-04T15:22:33.461-04:002014-08-04T15:22:33.461-04:00I think my book has your name on it,
Dark-Check ...I think my book has your name on it, <br /><br />Dark-Check (very dark, the protagonist is about turning Charlie Brown into Freeza)<br /><br />but I'm going to ask: Anti-religious overtones? My novel while praised by judges in contests for its controversial content/original plot, is still controversial and may rub someone the wrong way. Are you offended by any of that? If not, game on!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796893339635601106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-74335069636482191482014-08-04T15:09:35.856-04:002014-08-04T15:09:35.856-04:00The fact that you are wanting to look at books whi...The fact that you are wanting to look at books which can't pin down the genre makes me so happy :) I have a NA with equal elements of dark contemporary fantasy, suspense, and romance. it's a task in its self trying to figure out what to query under without looking completely mental. Any suggestions on how to list such a book for the big PitchWars query day? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16500773725403695480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-2963535722058794792014-08-04T08:49:05.814-04:002014-08-04T08:49:05.814-04:00Oh no! Poor pre coffee choice of words on my part....Oh no! Poor pre coffee choice of words on my part. Beachy in the sense it's light hearted and yummy, the type you'd read at the beach while oogling the cute lifeguard. No actual beach or sex scenes but there's the rock and roll hall of fame aaaand an a main character who's introverted and quiet but totally unopposed to whipping off her shirt if the situation calls for it?Writer_Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10825777917692122878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-53575820144934871322014-08-04T07:47:14.130-04:002014-08-04T07:47:14.130-04:00Ahhh - beautiful. I would definitely be interested...Ahhh - beautiful. I would definitely be interested in seeing a beachy themed contemp. It'd be like Losing It, but at the beach and with less sex? SM Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546994863993080465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997511604626000850.post-89668662703785582172014-08-04T07:37:56.395-04:002014-08-04T07:37:56.395-04:00Siiiigh, if only I could submit a picture of my ca...Siiiigh, if only I could submit a picture of my cat with the query.... But seriously, I know you mention specifically you like darker novels, and some of your list; curse workers, easy, etc, are pretty serious/dark in nature. Hoooowever, you also mention you like everything including funny, so i thought I'd ask how you feel about beachy, lighthearted contemp YA? <br />ps, my cat looks like a clone of Henri, from the youtube series Le Chat Noir (worth a google if you haven't seen it :)Writer_Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17334050677919363744noreply@blogger.com