Boy do I have an awesome surprise for you today! Are you ready? Can you stand the excitement?
I will tell you in one second, but please promise that, even if you’re reeling with excitement, you’ll remain calm and focused enough to read and comment on today’s pitch! 🙂
Do you promise?
Cross your heart?
Okay.
Ready?
Really?
Are you sure?
Alrighty then…
I’m happy to announce that we have a great opportunity. Editor Erin Molta (of Pitch Pick Critique fame :)) is going to visit my blog!!! AND she is willing to do whatever would be most helpful to YOU!
So please tell me in the comments what you would most like Erin to talk about: common mistakes editors see from writers? what editors look for in a PB ms? how to tell if your book is a novelty book or a picture book? 10 best tips for writers from an editor? what kinds of stories or non-fiction are needed? a Q&A where you could submit questions ahead and Erin can answer….? Use your fertile imaginations! 🙂 Sky’s the limit – you guys tell us what you want to know about. And I’d love to have it be something that hasn’t been done before! What do other posts/articles leave you still wondering about?
This is your chance to get questions answered by a real industry professional, so grab it by the horns (or something like that :))
Now. Wasn’t that an awesome surprise? 🙂
I’m also happy to report that Phyllis is back on the trail. There are fabulous blog posts up from Clar and Melissa, with others coming soon from Alison, Renee, and Denise. Tina, Saba, Margaret, and Robyn will be receiving her soon, and Rosalind in the UK has a post scheduled for May 1! So don’t abandon our furry little friend yet! 🙂
Now, on to Would You Read It!
Today’s Would You Read It pitch comes to us from the amazing and wonderful Kirsten over at Creating Curious Kids. Kirsten is a former NASA PR princess, current college instructor, and mom to two curious boys. When she’s not breaking up wrestling matches she reads, writes, and runs (so she can keep up with the kiddos!) Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Out Of This World Opposites
Age/Genre: Non-Fiction PB for ages 5+
The Pitch: Space is a place of opposites. Burning stars and icy comets. Roaring rockets and silent stillness. An ancient universe and newborn planets. Everyday scientists discover something old, new, near, far, wet, dry, dark or light as they learn more about the cosmos. Come along and explore our amazing universe.
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Great advice for Kirsten and great question! Thanks, Penny 🙂
Thanks, Robyn!
You're welcome! I'll look forward to your questions!
I'm a little afraid of the answer, but I'd really like to know that too, Julie!!!
Thanks for chiming in, Leigh! I know – having worked at NASA sounds really cool!
Thank you for your very thoughtful comment, Reena!
Excellent question!
My mind is blank a lot! 🙂 Don't worry – you have some time to think!
Great! Everyone seems enthusiastic about that idea so that's probably what we'll do!
Great questions! I'll add them to the list 🙂
Yes, I would reread it!!! Can't wait to see this published Kirsten. Great job on the pitch.
Thanks, Miranda!
Great question, Jarm! Adding it to the list!
Novelty = board book, lift-the-flap, pop-up, scratch 'n' sniff, touch & feel etc. PB is just a regular picture book.
Me too – although in the PB world it seems like they're not buying too many 🙂
This seems to be the popular response and questions are flooding in, so send any you have 🙂
Everyone seems excited about a Q&A! This should be fun! And no worries – everyone is busy! If you've figured out time management please let me know how to do it!!! 🙂
For Erin: I wonder if a ms with monsters and bedtime is has been written about too much and if she would just throw it in the trash without reading the whole pitch or does she think there's a chance for it to go through.
Thanks
Well if it works for you, we're happy! 🙂
Yes, I would read it, Kristen. I remember your pitch although it's also new (old and new perhaps?) If I would change one thing it's this: shorten it to two-three sentences. You would still have a strong pitch if you picked your three favorite opposite examples. Good luck! I'm cheering for you!
Sorry, Kirsten… I know who you are. Sorry for the name slip. 😛
I was so excited to see a non-fic PB for 5 + about space, but was immediately deflated by the wordiness. This pitch wouldn't excite me very much. Come along and explore might sound better like this: 'Zoom between the stars, ride on a comet, and touch the heavens.' Just a thought.
I would definitely read Kirsten's book. Sure, the pitch could be tightened, but I found it really lyrical and poetic and kind of mesmerizing. Well done!
Hi Kirsten,
I would definitely read your book based on your pitch. The opposites you've used sound so exciting. My suggestions for improving your pitch would be to start with your opposites and remove the sentence beginning 'Everyday scientists…' as I think you've already given us enough examples of opposites before then. In my opinion, Darshana was spot on with the suggestion she gave you for how to change your pitch. Hope this is helpful and good luck with your book!
Looks like we're going o do a Q&A so let me know if you have and Qs 🙂
Great questions, Erik! I'll add them to the list!
It's not my pitch, but I like your suggestion Sharron!
Very interesting question, because that is a topic that's been done a lot. I would be interested in her answer too 🙂
I'd read it – it's intriguing – and I'm not a big science person! I think you could combine the two parts to make it more concise:
Space is a place of opposites. Everyday scientists discover burning stars and icy comets; roaring rockets and silent stillness; an ancient universe and newborn planets. Come along and explore our amazing universe.
Thanks so much for the comment Lori!
Thanks Christie. Though NASA retired the Space Shuttles, there are plenty of rockets to go around. I think Space Shuttle Discovery just arrived in Washington, DC yesterday.