The Pitch! Bottom line, finding an agent is a bit like dating. You’ll need to meet a few, learn who they are, and eventually decide if your chosen person is someone you can trust. Also, he or she needs to adore you and your work. An agent, in many ways, is as important as a loving and supportive spouse. He or she will be your artistic advocate for years to come. Take your time. Find the right match.
1. I am struggling a bit to meet my goal of completing my memoir draft by September. I find that mundane things like dishes, vacuuming, shopping for groceries, cooking gardening, appointments for different things and Pilates seem to all get in the way. I know you have mentioned before a formula that you use when you know you have to get a lot of writing done in a short period of time. So, I have two questions . How do you eke out the time in your very busy schedule?
What is the word per day/week formula that you use?
Hi, my friend! I am unsure what it means to "PIN" a comment, but I've pinned yours because I want to write a post about the second question about formulas. I will write it this afternoon and post it in my next offering. 7/3 Thank you for the question. Truly. And for now, remember that you are a warrior in the battle for truth. This is difficult work to schedule, plan, and produce like you might a meal. Just give what you can and remember to REST! I'll take on the schedule question in a moment...
Okay, I'm back to expand on the first question, which is about making time in a busy schedule. As you know, I don't write my long-form work while teaching during the year. I save it for the breaks we take in Dec/Jan and again in Mar/April, and then I write over the summer. And I block out writing time on the books. Three hours (though I usually need five). It's like scheduling with a student or blocking out a class. If I make an appointment with myself, I feel as if I am taking this work (and myself), seriously.
AND...there are times when I don't feel like writing...I'm too sad, too distracted, too rattled, and too convinced I have to do other and more pressing things. When that happens, it's about what's going on with my heart, which I'll expand on more with tomorrow's post. Hope that helps. And please, to the folks reading out there, offer up your thoughts too. We both would love to know about how you schedule writing in a busy life). XO J.
This is the 200 word "pitch" that I sent to Cloie last week in anticipation of the publishing intensive.
July 1968 – while the war across the world rages, Artie, a handsome twenty-three year old soldier on leave, is out to enjoy the last few weeks before leaving for Guam. In his big gray boat of a car, all the windows are open to capture a breeze; the night air hanging on to the heat of the day like a fist. He spots a gaggle of girls, one he knows, out strolling and stops. As they get in his car a redhead sitting in the back catches his eye. Thick lenses blur the color of her eyes but Artie is intrigued by this quiet girl.
He stares at her in the rear-view mirror; “Who is that attractive girl hiding behind her glasses?” Nine words that would transform a shy, insecure nineteen year old named Susan forever. In this sleepy Connecticut town, sweet first kisses are shared and a promise to be there when he returns becomes a pact.
This is a story of love, with twists and turns like a frustrating maze. Right and wrong turns reveal passion, confusion and unmet expectations. There is no way out.
Follow along on this journey of love at first sight.
A challenge now is to write a pitch. Follow the examples above, and see if you can make your book sound interesting, intriguing, and irresistible in two to four hundred words. Finally, post your pitch in the comment section. I’d love to read it.
Hi Jennifer,
1. I am struggling a bit to meet my goal of completing my memoir draft by September. I find that mundane things like dishes, vacuuming, shopping for groceries, cooking gardening, appointments for different things and Pilates seem to all get in the way. I know you have mentioned before a formula that you use when you know you have to get a lot of writing done in a short period of time. So, I have two questions . How do you eke out the time in your very busy schedule?
What is the word per day/week formula that you use?
Hi, my friend! I am unsure what it means to "PIN" a comment, but I've pinned yours because I want to write a post about the second question about formulas. I will write it this afternoon and post it in my next offering. 7/3 Thank you for the question. Truly. And for now, remember that you are a warrior in the battle for truth. This is difficult work to schedule, plan, and produce like you might a meal. Just give what you can and remember to REST! I'll take on the schedule question in a moment...
Okay, I'm back to expand on the first question, which is about making time in a busy schedule. As you know, I don't write my long-form work while teaching during the year. I save it for the breaks we take in Dec/Jan and again in Mar/April, and then I write over the summer. And I block out writing time on the books. Three hours (though I usually need five). It's like scheduling with a student or blocking out a class. If I make an appointment with myself, I feel as if I am taking this work (and myself), seriously.
AND...there are times when I don't feel like writing...I'm too sad, too distracted, too rattled, and too convinced I have to do other and more pressing things. When that happens, it's about what's going on with my heart, which I'll expand on more with tomorrow's post. Hope that helps. And please, to the folks reading out there, offer up your thoughts too. We both would love to know about how you schedule writing in a busy life). XO J.
This is the 200 word "pitch" that I sent to Cloie last week in anticipation of the publishing intensive.
July 1968 – while the war across the world rages, Artie, a handsome twenty-three year old soldier on leave, is out to enjoy the last few weeks before leaving for Guam. In his big gray boat of a car, all the windows are open to capture a breeze; the night air hanging on to the heat of the day like a fist. He spots a gaggle of girls, one he knows, out strolling and stops. As they get in his car a redhead sitting in the back catches his eye. Thick lenses blur the color of her eyes but Artie is intrigued by this quiet girl.
He stares at her in the rear-view mirror; “Who is that attractive girl hiding behind her glasses?” Nine words that would transform a shy, insecure nineteen year old named Susan forever. In this sleepy Connecticut town, sweet first kisses are shared and a promise to be there when he returns becomes a pact.
This is a story of love, with twists and turns like a frustrating maze. Right and wrong turns reveal passion, confusion and unmet expectations. There is no way out.
Follow along on this journey of love at first sight.
The kick in the pants I needed this morning. <3
And your comment was a kick to read! TY!! ❤️❤️❤️
I am writing my pitch at this very moment :)
Go girl go!
Thanks for this. I’m accepting the challenge. 😉
Your Turn 🎤:
A challenge now is to write a pitch. Follow the examples above, and see if you can make your book sound interesting, intriguing, and irresistible in two to four hundred words. Finally, post your pitch in the comment section. I’d love to read it.