Yes, this is another Pitch Wars post.
Non-writers: Due to editor input, I have given your consolation monkey a festive hat. I hope you enjoy it.

Writers: Here is is, the day you’ve been waiting for: Happy Pitch Wars Mentor Bio Day!
Today is the day, my friends, where I hope to convince you that I am the mentor you are looking for.
But first, some reminders and information:

Submissions start today (11/26)! The cut off time to get your applications (query & first five pages of manuscript) in is 8PM EST on December 5.

Send your applications to brendadrakecontests@gmail.com. Writers can apply for up to 3 coaches. The coaches’ categories are set. Coaches can only consider the categories they’ve signed up for. Writers cannot apply for a coach that is not in their category. (Note: My category is Middle Grade.)

For additional information about this contest go HERE.

· This is open to finished manuscripts only.
· You may only enter one manuscript.
· Only the genres requested by each coach will be considered for the contest.

Formatting
Subject line: Pitch Wars Application: Coach Name you want to apply for: Title
(Example: Pitch Wars Application: Brenda Drake: GONE WITH THE WIND)

Name: Your Name
Genre: The genre of your manuscript
Word Count: The word count of your manuscript

Query letter here (embedded in email). Single spaced. No indentions. A space between each paragraph.

First five pages of the manuscript here (embedded in email). Single spaced. No indentions. A space between each paragraph.

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REMINDER: You can send an application for up to 3 coaches.

Check back soon for a complete list of the amazing agents participating in the contest. There are over a dozen!

Now, about me

First off, let’s talk about what kind of project I want to work with.
Give me your Middle Grade!
I read and enjoy middle grade in all genres, but I am most interested in mentoring for fantasy adventures, fairytale retellings, or horror. Bonus points if you can make me laugh.
Some of my MG favorites are: The Peculiar, The Graveyard Book, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, The Sea of Trolls, Breadcrumbs, and The True Meaning of Smekday.
Less recent, but still oh so relevant is absolutely anything by Roald Dahl.

Okay, you have a manuscript that fits the bill. What kind of notes can you expect if we work together?
I will give a thorough content edit, with some line editing of things that particularly stand out to me.
For more details regarding these kinds of edits, I’m going to refer you to this post by Rachelle Gardener.

Now, why should you choose me?
Besides the fact that I draw awesome monkeys?
Because I will be the Rufus to your Bill and Ted, the Mr. Miyagi to your Daniel-San, the Professor X to your Jean Grey–and when you are discouraged, I will be the Atrayu to your Artex.

Only better, because you will not give up and die.

Here is what I have to offer:
I get stuff done. So far, this year managed to finish my own manuscript, write an awesome query, sign with an amazing agent, and go through two rounds of fairly extensive revisions. At the same time I have read more than 80 books (many of them MG) and made time to work on a few favorite critique partners’ projects. I have done all this while homeschooling my daughter; maintaining a household, friendships, and a happy family life; doing volunteer work; and hand-crafting three Halloween costumes–including one for a chicken.
The point is, I work exceptionally hard for the things that are important to me. Your manuscript is important to me. I want to win, but more than that, I want to see you succeed.

I have query letter skills. I wrote a query letter that The Query Shark liked enough to refer me to my agent. If you’d like to see some of my query crit work, you are welcome to take a look at a critique I did for Slush Pile Tales.

I’m really good at critiquing. This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I really don’t like to brag–at least not about things that I’m actually good at. I bluster and trash talk for fun, but the things that I know I excel at I usually keep pretty close. That little personality quirk was making it tough for me to figure out what to say here, so I went to a friend and critique partner for help (Annie Laurie Cechini, author of LIBERTY, Rhemalda, 2/13). I asked Annie if she would write up a little testimonial for me. One hour later, she emailed me this awesome video:

If that doesn’t convince you, nothing will.

I’m looking forward to working with one of you. Choose me for your mentor and I’ll even let you pick our team name.

The Competition

Today all the coaches are posting bios/wish lists on their blogs. Before choosing your top three picks, check all the coaches’ posts in your category. To jump from blog to blog, just click on our pictures below.

Disclosure: I am using Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase any of the books I have linked to, I get a teeny-tiny commission. However, I would much prefer you purchase from your local indie bookstore.