Holy Hundredth Would You Read It, Batman!
Can you believe it?
Today marks the 100th week! The 100th brave person to post their pitch! The 100th Wednesday of Wonderfulness when we all get to learn so much from each other!
Who would have thought we’d get to 100 back on July 27, 2011 when we had our very first pitch?
So I think we should celebrate. As always, Something Chocolate shall be involved (with many many thanks to the awesome and wonderful Coleen for making this for us today – and while I’m mentioning Coleen you should go read her blog if you don’t already because she is tons of fun :))
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| This, my friends, is a Brookie – a Brownie Cookie – pretty much the best of both worlds, don’tcha think? Photo copyright Coleen Patrick 2013 used by permission |
Doesn’t that look delicious??? Help yourself to a cup of coffee or a nice cold glass of milk to go with it! 🙂
But wait! There’s more!
Because the 100th day of anything doesn’t come around all that often, I think I will give away a prize to one lucky randomly selected commenter from today’s post! Just because I love you and my blog would be nothing without all you wonderful people who come to read and comment and share your love of kidlit.
Hmmm…. what should the prize be, I wonder?
Well, you can never really have enough picture books, can you? 🙂 If you’re a parent or a teacher they come in super handy. If you’re a writer, you can learn so much from how a good one is written. So how about the prize shall be the winner’s choice of Is Your Buffalo Ready For Kindergarten by Audrey Vernick (perfect for this time of year), I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder (perfect for poetry lovers), Journey by Aaron Becker (perfect for art lovers), America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle by David A. Adler (perfect for nonfiction lovers), or, if you already have all 4 of those, something else that we pick together!
Now, just quickly before we get to today’s pitch, I have a Straight From The Editor for you. You will recall that Andrea won the June pitch pick with her pitch for The Backpack Secret (PB). This was her pitch:
On the first day of kindergarten, Amani notices that Mason won’t take off his backpack. She’s determined to find out why, especially when the other kids start calling him names. After she finally convinces Mason to share his secret, it gives her an idea that will help everyone in the class feel braver at school.
And this response from editor Erin Molta is almost a first (it certainly doesn’t happen often!):
I like this and can’t think of anything to make it more appealing. It states the problem succinctly and resolves it satisfactorily while intriguing an editor to want to find out what’s inside that backpack.
Wow! Good for you, Andrea! Well done! (And maybe you’d better send that story our on submission soon :))
Straight From The Editor reminds me that I don’t think we’ve done the July Pitch Pick, so maybe I’ll put that up on Friday.
Now then, today’s pitch comes to us from Lisa, whom you may remember from last month with her pitch for That Tommy Thompson. Lisa says, “I’m a former elementary school social worker, mom of two, and have recently made writing my full time job. Two years ago I wrote my first picture book and just this past fall I decided it wasn’t going to do any good sitting on my computer. I began taking classes, reading craft books, attending conferences and workshops and just writing, everyday, writing. The original story is long gone but at last count I’ve got 42 other drafts and ideas jotted down. Oh yeah, and about four or five ready to go manuscripts. I have worked with kids my entire adult life and I feel strongly that this is the avenue in which I am meant to reach those little hearts and minds at this time in my life. On a random note, I’m a big fan of chocolate covered gummy bears. ;)”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: The Golden Egg
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 5-8)
The Pitch: The sight of a golden egg creates quite a stir among the feathered community and the fact that it doesn’t hatch has the Whisperers working overtime. But have no fear, the Eggsperts are called in to save the day. But do they? In the end, Mother Hen knows she must listen to her heart. Through a humorous story, lies a nurturing tale about a mothers love, acceptance and healing.
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
Lisa is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to seeing how my freshly updated website and blog turn out. The marvelous Donna Farrell is hard at work trying to update, freshen, and streamline my blog and website with only the barest, minimal, cryptic information from me – such comments as, “Can you make it so it does that thing like, you know?” – very specific, detailed instructions 🙂 Good luck, Donna 🙂 But she’s a genius so I know it will turn out exactly how I want it!
Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone! And don’t forget, one lucky commenter today will win a prize! 🙂 Thank you all for your devoted readership! It makes me happy to be part of this warm-hearted, generous community!
Thanks, Meg 🙂
Thanks for your thoughts for Lisa, Stacy! And glad you enjoyed the Brookie – apparently we are needing that recipe!!! As for the blog/website, it won't be anything dramatic. I'm keeping the same general appearance, just hoping to organize, declutter, streamline… all those things I'm not good at 🙂
Thanks so much for your 2 cents for Lisa, Rosi! And the 100 is all due to you guys! 🙂
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Coleen will be glad to know she made you drool, Janet 🙂 Thanks so much for your comments for Lisa! 🙂
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Hmmm. it took a bit to decipher the story but here are my thoughts:
Working Title: The Golden Egg
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 5-8)
The Pitch: Mother Hen has laid a golden egg, but why doesn’t it hatch? Her feathered friends are all a-cluck and call in the Eggsperts to help. Does Mother Hen listen to her friends or her heart?
Hope that helps
Hello, my friend! I'm glad to see you again and hope you had a wonderful time in Maine! I'm glad you got a chance to unplug – I really think we all need it! Thanks for your helpful thoughts for Lisa. And I saw you had a new post up but my internet's been down all day and I'm way behind. I'll be over as soon as I can!
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Thanks so much for your very helpful comments for Lisa, Michelle, as well as for your Happy 100 wishes! I'm so glad you enjoyed the Brookie! I think we're all going to be needing that recipe 🙂
Gee whiz, Nancy! You made me drool on my keyboard! 🙂 Thanks for your Happy 100 wishes and your congrats for Andrea 🙂 Now I'm going to rummage in my kitchen and see if I have the fixin's for that sinfully delightful dessert 🙂
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Thanks for the happy 100 wishes, Pam, and for your thoughts for Lisa – very helpful! 🙂
Hello and welcome, Delighted! I'm so glad you stopped by! I would love to be able to deliver the Brookies – I'll get Coleen on the case 🙂 Thanks for your comments for Lisa – I am sure she will find them helpful coming from a first grade expert like you!
Thanks so much for chiming in with your helpful suggestions for Lisa, Linda! 🙂
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Lisa, it's wonderful to have a fellow sociologist in the writing community! I got my degree in sociology. I loved your pitch. It's quirky and fun and makes me want to read your book.
Susanna, that cupcake brownie just made my mouth water. I must have chocolate soon!
Congrats on reaching the 100th WYRI, Susanna. That's such an achievement!
In terms of the pitch, it sounds like a lovely story. I like Linda Benson's suggestions below on how to refine it. 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. I was delighted with Erin's response to my pitch. I am definitely thinking of sending The Backpack Secret out on submission.
Lisa, based on your pitch, I'd want to read the story. I actually liked the tone and concept in the first two sentences. But I agree that it's a little long and maybe not specific enough.
I'd like a hint at how the Eggsperts will save the day. The part about Mother Hen seems too vague to me. Also, I'm wondering about the Whisperers and who they are and whether they have a big enough role in the story to be mentioned in the pitch? Just something to think about.
Glad you and Lisa have something in common, Heather. As for chocolate, there's no time like breakfast…. 🙂
Thanks, Cally! I so appreciate you being such a devoted reader and commenter on WYRI! Thanks for your comments for Lisa!
Congratulations again on your awesome pitch, Andrea! And thanks for your helpful insights for Lisa!
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Yes to the pitch (an eggs-tra big yes?)–and Happy 100, Susanna! Yay!
Thank you, Coleen! And thank you again for the wonderful Brookie! Which we have had MANY requests for the recipe if you care to share 🙂
Happy 100th! Congrats, Andrea!
Good job, Lisa. I like the enticingly humorous tone of your pitch. In my house, one cannot ignore a funny chicken story with puns!
You might consider the following.
Using “In the end” seems like you're telling us the ending and the use of a question doesn't necessarily create suspense, so why not combine these two?
Will it be the Eggsperts or Mother Hen who saves the day? Blah, blah, blah the solution lies in listening to your heart.
Y'know, something like that, but better.
'Can't wait to see it in print!
(Sorry this is late; my internet was down.)
Thanks, Joanne, for the Happy 100th, the congrats for Andrea, and your helpful suggestions for Lisa! No worries about the day – anytime is helpful. And my internet was down yesterday too. Terrible, isn't it? Puts you so behind!
So, Martha Stewart has a recipe…but I made Betty Crocker gluten free brownie mix and divided it into a 12 cup muffin tin and then dropped a ball of BC gf chocolate chip cookie mix dough on top. Then I baked it at 375 for about 20 min. 🙂 Basically you can use your favorite brownie and cookie dough recipes/mixes. Easy!
I would read it! It piques my curiosity. I think the pitch might be stronger with a slight variation from what you have. After “But have no fear, the Eggsperts are called in to save the day.” I would change it to something like: “But who knows better, them… or Mother Hen?” (Just an idea). Good luck!
Thanks, Coleen! I am always in favor of easy 🙂
Please let me know if Coleen shares! 🙂 🙂
My older son is a bit of a chicken whisperer. A lot of kids we know whose families raise chickens are often really good with them too. What else is there for farm kids to do? LOL!
Talk to cute animals like horses? 🙂 Coleen did post the recipe somewhere in the comments… If I find it I'll copy and paste, but have a go at scrolling through and maybe you'll find it before I get around to it…
Got it, thanks, Susanna! It's so simple a recipe too…well, I guess it's not that simple if you make the batters from scratch instead of using mixes. :}
I admit to using brownie mix, but I always make cookies from scratch. They're pretty much the only things I can cook 🙂
Wam! Bam! 100 pitches? Wow!
This pitch certainly sounds interesting. With the Whisperers, the Eggsperts and Mother Hen it sounds like a YA dystopian novel! Consider whether all those characters are needed in the query.
Thanks so much for chiming in for Lisa, Lauri! 🙂