NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2021
UPDATE: APRIL 1, 2021
The winner is…
ESTHER HANADA’S MEGA MANGA MIX-UP BY MARIANNE ROBIN-TANI
Marianne will receive an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate for Esther Hanada’s Mega Manga Mix-up.
Listen to the announcement.
Read the winning pitch.
Our Fan Favorite goes to…
Read the Fan Favorite winning pitch.
Congratulations, Marianne and Saanvi! Thank you to every writer who participated and the fans who voted.
You can watch the full NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2021 below.
We’re turning it up to 11!
Eleven years. That’s how long The Book Doctors and Nano Nation have been slinging words and making beautiful music (and books) together. Writers from around the globe delivered yet another batch of pulse-pounding pitches for NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2021!
As ever, we were gobsmacked by the undeniable awesomeness of the writing that poured forth from Wrimos: Love among the Wichita Whippets, Tehran’s tetherball king coming of age, an ancient syndicate of mercenaries, a moon-cursed ménage, a manga mix-up, and a death-date predictor. Of course we’ve come to expect this level of excellence.
Now for the 411
The 20 pitches were selected randomly. You can watch the recording of NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza to hear our feedback. It’s our mission to try to help all you amazing writers not just get published, but get published successfully. That’s why we’ve told you what works, but also what needs to be improved.
But don’t let our opinion sway your vote. What story intrigues you? What pitch would prod you from the couch to the bookstore (or to buy it online)?
The pitch that receives the most votes by 11:59 p.m. PDT on March 31, 2021 will be awarded the Fan Favorite, and the author will receive a free one-hour consult with us (worth $250). We’ll announce the Fan Favorite on April 1, 2021.
Here are the rules
But please note: YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE! So please choose carefully. Don’t just read the first couple of pitches — read them all. You owe it to your fellow Wrimos. Encourage your friends, family and random strangers to vote for you via the link to the poll. Connecting with your future readers is a vital part of being a successfully published author today. And this is a great way to get some practice.
We will also be posting these pitches on social media. We encourage anyone to like your entry but only poll votes from the webpage will count toward the Fan Favorite.
NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2021 voting
Click the writers' names to read their pitches. Then vote for your favorite.
- Tempestuous by Saanvi Agarwal (36%, 1,119 Votes)
- Dead Man Walking by Sienna Leaver (22%, 670 Votes)
- Esther Hanada’s Mega Manga Mix-up by Marianne Robin-Tani (11%, 347 Votes)
- Win, Lose, or Rain by Jackie Deskovich (11%, 338 Votes)
- It Takes Two to Tidy by Jessica Lin (8%, 236 Votes)
- American Playground by Michael Shokrian (4%, 113 Votes)
- You Treat Me to A Feast: If I Love You, I'll Feed You by Chelle A. Carter-Wilson (3%, 107 Votes)
- The Honeycomb by Jordan Donald (2%, 76 Votes)
- A Scarlet Thread by A.S. Bondi (1%, 16 Votes)
- The Tsarina of Snow by Lizzie Joy Broschat (0%, 13 Votes)
- Class of '79 by Holly L. Dutton (0%, 8 Votes)
- Three Ingredients by Emily Esterson (0%, 6 Votes)
- she becomes death by Marissa Goldstein (0%, 6 Votes)
- Something In-Between by Sofia Lourdette Santamaria-Micher (0%, 4 Votes)
- Bullets in the Water by Conor McAnally (0%, 4 Votes)
- Animal Acceptance by Beatrice Vargas (0%, 3 Votes)
- The Writing Journey by Hannah Sharpe (0%, 2 Votes)
- Patriot Girl of Mt. Rose by Peggy Ballman (0%, 1 Votes)
- Snobs & Silly Mothers by Julia Henkelmann (0%, 1 Votes)
- A Little Bit Yours by Anna McClain (0%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 3,071
ELEVENTH ANNUAL NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA
You wrote your 50,000 words (or got pretty close!). You’re a winner. You felt the high. Now what are you going to do with your precious manuscript? That’s where we, The Book Doctors, come in.
For those of you unfamiliar with Pitchapalooza, here’s the skinny: You get 250 words to pitch your book. Twenty pitches will be randomly selected from all submissions. We will then critique the pitches during a live webinar on March 13, 12PM PT, so you get to see what makes a great pitch. At the end of the webinar, we will choose one winner from the group.
The winner will receive an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate for his/her manuscript.
Beginning February 1, 2021, you can email your pitch to nanowrimo@thebookdoctors.com. PLEASE DO NOT ATTACH YOUR PITCH, JUST EMBED IT IN THE EMAIL. Include your title and your name at the top of your pitch. All pitches must be received by 11:59PM PT on February 28, 2021.
We will also crown a Fan Favorite who will receive a free one-hour consult with us (worth $250). On March 14, 2021, the 20 random pitches will be posted on our website, www.thebookdoctors.com. Anyone can vote for a fan favorite, so get your social media engine running as soon as the pitches go up! Connecting with your future readers is a vital part of being a successfully published author, and this is a great way to get some practice. Voting closes at 11:59PM PT on March 31, 2021. Fan Favorite will be announced on April 1, 2021.
NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA SUCCESS STORIES
Gloria Chao won the 2015 NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza with the novel that would become her critically-acclaimed debut American Panda. Her second novel, Our Wayward Fate, came out in 2019 and her third novel, Rent a Boyfriend, is out now from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
In 2016, May Cobb ran away with NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza. She’s been capturing attention ever since. This time it was a “heated six-publisher auction” that ended with Berkley winning the rights to publish her latest thriller The Hunting Wives, which was pitched as In a Dark, Dark Wood meets Mean Girls. Berkley plans its release for May 18, 2021.
“Having my pitch selected as the 2016 winner for Pitchapalooza was such a boost! Of course it was wonderful to win, but even more than that, having the Book Doctor’s feedback on my pitch was instrumental.”
–May Cobb
Stacy McAnulty has been on fire since she won our third NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza, publishing twenty-five books and counting. Her latest novel, Millionaires for the Month, is out now from Random House Books for Young Readers. Kirkus calls it “cinematic, over-the-top decadence, a tense race against time, and lessons on what’s truly valuable.” Stacy also signed a deal with Random House to publish another middle grade novel, A Penny Doubled, pitched as How to Steal a Dog meets Brewster’s Millions. Look for it in spring of this year. She’ll also publish three picture books in 2021: A Small Kindness (February 2), Mars! (February 9), and Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack (August 31).
Cari Noga was one of our first NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza winners. Her winning novel, Sparrow Migrations, went on to be a semi-finalist in the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, then she received an acquisition offer from Lake Union Publishing. Her latest novel, The Orphan Daughter (Lake Union Publishing), is out now.
“Winning Pitchapalooza gave me confidence and the courage to keep fighting. It also helped bring my manuscript to the next level.”
–Gloria Chao
IMPORTANT NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA DATES
Monday, February 1, 2021–Pitch submission opens
Sunday, February 28, 2021–Final day to submit pitches
Saturday, March 13, 2021–NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza live on YouTube
Sunday, March 14, 2021–Voting for Fan Favorite begins at www.thebookdoctors.com
Wednesday, March 31, 2021–Final day to vote for Fan Favorite
Thursday, April 1, 2021–Fan Favorite announced at www.thebookdoctors.com
10 tips for pitching your novel
Are you feeling a little unsure about exactly how to craft your pitch? We’ve got you covered.
- A great pitch is like a poem. Every word counts.
- Make us fall in love with your hero. Whether you’re writing a novel or memoir, you have to make us root for your flawed but lovable hero.
- Make us hate your villain. Show us someone unique and dastardly whom we can’t wait to hiss at.
- Just because your kids love to hear your story at bedtime doesn’t mean you’re automatically qualified to get a publishing deal. So make sure not to include this information in your pitch.
- If you have any particular expertise that relates to your novel, tell us. Establishing your credentials will help us trust you.
- Your pitch is your audition to show us what a brilliant writer you are, so it has to be the very best of your writing.
- Don’t make your pitch a book report. Make it sing and soar and amaze.
- A pitch is like a movie trailer. You start with an incredibly exciting/funny/sexy/romantic/etc. close-up with intense specificity, then you pull back to show the big picture and tell us the themes and broad strokes that build to a climax.
- Leave us with a cliffhanger. The ideal reaction to a pitch is, “Oh my God, what happens next?”
- Show us what’s unique, exciting, valuable, awesome, unexpected, about your project, and why it’s comfortable, familiar and proven.
Join our newsletter to receive more tips on how to get published.
NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA FAQS
Q: May I submit more than one pitch?
A: Yes, you may submit multiple pitches. Please include your book’s title and your name at the top of each pitch.
Q: How are the 20 pitches selected?
A: The 20 pitches are randomly selected; however, we read all the pitches.
Q: Are the choices for fan favorite also randomly selected?
A: Yes. They are the same 20 pitches that we read during the webinar.
Q: Will a recording be available?
A: Yes. You’ll be able to view the recording at our website.
Q: Where can I learn more about writing my pitch?
A: We offer resources on our YouTube channel. We recommend that you watch “The Art of the Book Pitch”, last year’s NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza, and our Pitch Tips playlist. Hungry for more examples? Check out our Pitchapalooza playlist. You can find Gloria Chao’s pitch tips here.
NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2020
UPDATE: Congratulations to our 2020 winners! Thank you to every writer who participated and the fans who voted.
The 2020 NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza winner is The Eighth Wonder of Pine Mountain by Jenny Murray.
Fan Favorite goes to Operation Polar Revenge by Tara Erredge.
You can watch the full NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2020 below.
10 years. A decade. A tenth of a century. That’s how long The Book Doctors and Nano Nation have been slinging words and making beautiful music (and books) together. Six continents (come on Antarctica, we need to hear from you!) have graced us with pulse-pounding pitches, and now another crop of hungry pitches have made us laugh, cry, sigh, gasp, and thank the universe we’re alive for NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2020!
Damn Yankees, the California Gold Rush, a memory reader and a homicide detective chasing down a serial killer, New Adults confronting Nazis on the Zamzam, exploding houseboats on the Florida coast, and all manner of wizardry and witchcraft made this year our most exciting yet. As ever, we were filled with eye-popping, mind-blowing exuberation by the vast volume and overwhelming scrumptiousness of the beautiful words that flooded forth from Wrimos across our planet and we suspect, from across the universe. And yet, we were not even remotely startled. The Book Doctors could not have more gratitude in their attitude as we sucked in the rare air of NaNo Nation. We wait with baited breath for Year 11.
Now for the 411
The 20 pitches were selected randomly. You can watch the recording of NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza to hear our feedback. It’s our mission to try to help all you amazing writers not just get published, but get published successfully. That’s why we’ve told you what works, but also what needs to be improved.
But don’t let our opinion sway your vote. What story intrigues you? What pitch would prod you from the couch to the bookstore (or to buy it online)?
The pitch that receives the most votes by 11:59 p.m. PDT on March 31, 2020 will be awarded the Fan Favorite, and the author will receive a free one-hour consult with us (worth $250). We’ll announce the Fan Favorite on April 1, 2020.
Here are the rules
But please note: YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE! So please choose carefully. Don’t just read the first couple of pitches — read them all. You owe it to your fellow Wrimos. Encourage your friends, family and random strangers to vote for you via the link to the poll. Connecting with your future readers is a vital part of being a successfully published author today. And this is a great way to get some practice.
We will also be posting these pitches on social media. We encourage anyone to like your entry but only poll votes from the webpage will count toward the Fan Favorite.
How to get your pitch critiqued
Finally, through April 2, 2020, we are still offering a free webinar (worth $75) to anyone who buys a copy of our book The Essential Guide To Getting Your Book Published. Just email a copy of your receipt to nanowrimo@thebookdoctors.com and we’ll be in touch to set up a webinar.
Write on, Wrimos!
NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2020 voting
Click the writers' names to read their pitches. Then vote for your favorite.
- Operation Polar Revenge by Tara Erredge (33%, 222 Votes)
- The Exchange by Dominique Jolly (24%, 163 Votes)
- A Cold Night for Alligators by Viggy Parr Hampton (10%, 67 Votes)
- The Eighth Wonder of Pine Mountain by Jenny Murray (6%, 42 Votes)
- Serenity's Fire by Éowyn Power (5%, 37 Votes)
- ChainLinked! by Liz Boeger (4%, 27 Votes)
- Madam Mayhem by Marilynn Rockelman (3%, 21 Votes)
- Zahra and the Golden Scarab of Balihar by Michael Grayford (3%, 18 Votes)
- Game Seven by James Tretick (2%, 16 Votes)
- The Color of Trauma by Hollie Smurthwaite (2%, 13 Votes)
- Across the Sea by Jeni Paltiel (2%, 13 Votes)
- Lost to Follow Up by Adele Blackler (1%, 7 Votes)
- Overcast by R.H. Tyrrel (1%, 7 Votes)
- Doctor of Doctors by Lally Pia (1%, 6 Votes)
- The Eagle Order by Judy L Mohr (1%, 4 Votes)
- The Secrets of Tengu by Evergreen Lee (1%, 4 Votes)
- West by LJ Farrow (1%, 4 Votes)
- American Fledgling by Kirkley Mehndiratta (0%, 2 Votes)
- The Last Thing She Thought by Laurie Feldman (0%, 2 Votes)
- Spirited to the West by Pauline Chow (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 675
TENTH ANNUAL NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA
You wrote your 50,000 words (or got pretty close!). You’re a winner. You felt the high. Now what are you going to do with your precious manuscript? That’s where we, The Book Doctors, come in.
For those of you not familiar with Pitchapalooza, here’s the skinny: You get 250 words to pitch your book. Twenty pitches will be randomly selected from all submissions. We will then critique the pitches during a live webinar on March 14, 12PM PT, so you get to see what makes a great pitch. At the end of the webinar, we will choose one winner from the group.
The winner will receive an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate for his/her manuscript.
Beginning February 1, 2020, you can email your pitch to nanowrimo@thebookdoctors.com. PLEASE DO NOT ATTACH YOUR PITCH, JUST EMBED IT IN THE EMAIL. Include your title and your name at the top of your pitch. All pitches must be received by 11:59PM PT on February 29, 2020.
We will also crown a fan favorite who will receive a free one-hour consult with us (worth $250). On March 15, 2020, the 20 random pitches will be posted on our website, www.thebookdoctors.com. Anyone can vote for a fan favorite, so get your social media engine running as soon as the pitches go up! Connecting with your future readers is a vital part of being a successfully published author today. And this is a great way to get some practice. Voting closes at 11:59PM PT on March 31, 2020. The fan favorite will be announced on April 1, 2020.
If you purchase a new copy of our book, The Essential Guide To Getting Your Book Published, by April 2, 2020, we’re offering an exclusive one-hour webinar where you’ll get the chance to pitch your book. Just attach a copy of your sales receipt to your email and we’ll send the link to the webinar dates.
NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA SUCCESS STORIES
It’s been a great year for past NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza winners. Gloria Chao won the 2015 NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza with the novel that would become her critically-acclaimed debut American Panda. Her second novel, Our Wayward Fate, came out in 2019 from Simon Pulse. Gloria also sold the rights to her next novel Rent a Boyfriend with publication planned for fall 2020. Read Gloria’s winning NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza pitch.
In 2016, May Cobb ran away with NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza. She’s been capturing attention ever since. This time it was a “heated six-publisher auction” that ended with Berkley winning the rights to publish her latest thriller The Hunting Wives, which was pitched as In a Dark, Dark Wood meets Mean Girls. Berkley plans an early 2021 release. Read May’s winning pitch.
“Having my pitch selected as the 2016 winner for Pitchapalooza was such a boost! Of course it was wonderful to win, but even more than that, having the Book Doctor’s feedback on my pitch was instrumental.”
–May Cobb
Stacy McAnulty has been on fire since she won our third NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza. Her latest middle grade novel, The World Ends in April, is out now from Random House Books for Young Readers. Shelf Awareness gave it a starred review and called it “a smart, funny and emotionally candid book.” Stacy also signed a deal with Random House to publish another middle grade novel, A Penny Doubled, pitched as How to Steal a Dog meets Brewster’s Millions. Look for it in spring 2021. Read Stacy’s winning pitch.
Cari Noga was one of our first NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza winners. Her winning novel, Sparrow Migrations, went on to be a semi-finalist in the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, then she received an acquisition offer from Lake Union Publishing. Her latest novel, The Orphan Daughter (Lake Union Publishing), released last year. Read Cari’s winning pitch.
“Winning Pitchapalooza gave me confidence and the courage to keep fighting. It also helped bring my manuscript to the next level.”
–Gloria Chao
Are you feeling a little unsure about exactly how to craft your pitch? We’ve got you covered.
10 tips for pitching your novel
- A great pitch is like a poem. Every word counts.
- Make us fall in love with your hero. Whether you’re writing a novel or memoir, you have to make us root for your flawed but lovable hero.
- Make us hate your villain. Show us someone unique and dastardly whom we can’t wait to hiss at.
- Just because your kids love to hear your story at bedtime doesn’t mean you’re automatically qualified to get a publishing deal. So make sure not to include this information in your pitch.
- If you have any particular expertise that relates to your novel, tell us. Establishing your credentials will help us trust you.
- Your pitch is your audition to show us what a brilliant writer you are, so it has to be the very best of your writing.
- Don’t make your pitch a book report. Make it sing and soar and amaze.
- A pitch is like a movie trailer. You start with an incredibly exciting/funny/sexy/romantic/etc. close-up with intense specificity, then you pull back to show the big picture and tell us the themes and broad strokes that build to a climax.
- Leave us with a cliffhanger. The ideal reaction to a pitch is, “Oh my God, what happens next?”
- Show us what’s unique, exciting, valuable, awesome, unexpected, about your project, and why it’s comfortable, familiar and proven.
Join our newsletter to receive more tips on how to get published.
NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA FAQS
Q: May I submit more than one pitch?
A: Yes, you may submit multiple pitches. Please include your book’s title and your name at the top of each pitch.
Q: How are the 20 pitches selected?
A: The 20 pitches are randomly selected; however, we read all the pitches.
Q: Are the choices for fan favorite also randomly selected?
A: Yes. They are the same 20 pitches that we read during the webinar.
Q: If I buy a copy of The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published, how does the one-hour webinar work?
A: We limit each webinar to 20 people, which gives everyone the chance to pitch and get feedback. To be eligible, purchase of a new copy of The Essential Guide is required.
Q: Where can I learn more about writing my pitch?
A: We offer resources on our YouTube channel. We recommend that you watch “The Art of the Book Pitch”, last year’s NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza, and our Pitch Tips playlist. Hungry for more examples? Check out our Pitchapalooza playlist.
IMPORTANT NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA DATES
Saturday, February 1, 2020–Pitch submission opens
Saturday, February 29, 2020–Final day to submit pitches
Saturday, March 14, 2020–NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza live on YouTube
Sunday, March 15, 2020–Voting for fan favorite begins
Tuesday, March 31, 2020–Final day to vote for fan favorite
Wednesday, April 1, 2020–Fan favorite announced
Writing Advice from Grant Faulkner, NaNoWriMo Executive Director
We met up with our dear friend Grant Faulkner, executive director of National Novel Writing Month, at BookCon. Grant talks about fostering the right creative mindset, building a writing community, and his writing advice.
Filmed at BookCon 2019.
WHAT WE COVER
0:15 What is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)?
2:14 NaNoWriMo success stories & NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza winners
3:43 Opening up the publishing gates: NaNoWriMo crashes through the gatekeepers and encourages everyone to embrace their identity as a writer.
5:58 Writing advice: writing is about persistence and practice, not natural talent.
6:42 What is the editing process after NaNoWriMo?
10:30 Why should writers connect with other writers?
12:49 Should writers be envious of other writers?
13:10 Grant shares his advice for writers.
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NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.
On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.
Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel. Find out more at http://nanowrimo.org
GRANT FAULKNER
As a boy, Grant spent his allowance on all sorts of pens and paper, so there was never much question that he would become a writer. He received his B.A. from Grinnell College in English and his M.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. He’s also the co-founder of the journal 100 Word Story.
He has published short stories in dozens of lit mags and placed essays on creativity in The New York Times, Poets & Writers, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer. He recently published a collection of one hundred 100-word stories, Fissures, two of which are included in The Best Small Fictions 2016. His book of essays on creativity, Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Prompts to Boost Your Creative Mojo, is out from Chronicle Books.
SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for tips on how to successfully publish your book.
Our book, The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published, takes you through the entire process of conceiving, writing, selling, marketing and promoting your book.
NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2019
UPDATE: Congratulations to our 2019 winners!
The 2019 NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza winner is Polyglot by Devyn Fussman.
Fan Favorite goes to Solving for X by Bob Luckett.
You can watch NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2019 below.
Nano Nation Wrimos from all over the world graced us with our ninth straight pack of pulse-pounding pitches for NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2019! A lawyer who could melt your face with her mind, a teacher trying to make world peace using West Side Story, glittery ducks, a cat on a leash, a chameleon confessing, a homeless boy sleeping in his run-down car, Vincent van Gogh eating yellow paint, a serial arsonist, and a polyglot. As ever, we were jaw-dropped and gobsmacked by the vast volume and undeniable awesomeness of the writing that poured forth from Wrimos from this planet and we suspect, from several others… And yet, we were not in the least bit surprised. It was pure pleasure and privilege for the Book Doctors to breathe in the rare air of NaNo Nation. We can’t wait to do it again next year.
Now for the 411: The 20 pitches were selected randomly. You can watch the recording of NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza to hear our feedback. It’s our mission to try to help all you amazing writers not just get published, but get published successfully. That’s why we’ve told you what works, but also what needs to be improved.
But don’t let our opinion sway your vote. What story intrigues you? What pitch would prod you from the couch to the bookstore (or, if you’re really lazy, to buy it online)? The pitch that receives the most votes by 11:59 p.m. PDT on April 1, 2019 will be awarded the Fan Favorite, and the author will receive a free one-hour consult with us (worth $250). We’ll announce the Fan Favorite on April 2, 2019.
But please note: YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE! So please choose carefully. Don’t just read the first couple of pitches — read them all. You owe it to your fellow Wrimos. Encourage your friends, family and random strangers to vote for you via the link to the poll. Connecting with your future readers is a vital part of being a successfully published author today. And this is a great way to get some practice.
We will also be posting these pitches—a couple a day–on social media. We encourage anyone to like your entry but only poll votes from the webpage will count toward the Fan Favorite.
Finally, through April 2, 2019, we are still offering a free webinar (worth $75) to anyone who buys a copy of our book The Essential Guide To Getting Your Book Published. Just email a copy of your receipt to nanowrimo@thebookdoctors.com and we’ll be in touch to set up a webinar.
Write on, Wrimos!
NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2019 Voting
Click the writers' names to read their pitches. Then vote for your favorite.
- Solving for X by Bob Luckett (34%, 1,298 Votes)
- Revenge Prose by Beth Burnett (27%, 1,007 Votes)
- Hear Our Voices! by Michele LeNoir (22%, 826 Votes)
- The Fire Under the Mountain by Kirstie Ellen (5%, 196 Votes)
- East Side Story by Elizabeth Wilder (3%, 113 Votes)
- Untitled by Brianna Bolduc (2%, 69 Votes)
- Polyglot by Devyn Fussman (2%, 57 Votes)
- Amelia Raglan and the Haunted Barn by S. A. Sinclair (1%, 53 Votes)
- All the Yellow Suns by Malavika Kannan (1%, 53 Votes)
- Library Hell by Kristina Cooper (1%, 26 Votes)
- Girls Break Things by Amren Ortega (1%, 20 Votes)
- Meritocracy by Michael Sherrin (0%, 14 Votes)
- Love, Lust and Romance in the Age of #MeToo by Veronica Monet (0%, 14 Votes)
- Northern Souls by Georgiana Derwent (0%, 12 Votes)
- Confessions of a Chameleon by Becky Ances (0%, 10 Votes)
- More Than Meets the Eye by Tonya Preece (0%, 9 Votes)
- Love Boy by Margarita Maldonado (0%, 5 Votes)
- Untitled by SShea (0%, 2 Votes)
- Expect the Unexpected by Denisa Stefania Stoian (0%, 2 Votes)
- The Twilight Stone by Fiona Kehoe (0%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 3,788
Kirstie Ellen
The Fire Under the Mountain by Kirstie Ellen
(YA / (High) Fantasy)
In a dying world of magic, five tribes are divided against each other.
A sixth, has not been seen for centuries.
A tyrannical king with twisted secrets readies himself for war.
But one girl holds the answers to uniting magic and saving the planet.
The six tribes of Runelle have been divided for centuries, shutting off their magic from each other. But their separation means the planet is dying and with it, its people. In a battle for power, tribes will turn against each other, magic will be stolen and unknown secrets will be revealed as the ruthless, deranged king of the sky tribe, Kino, slaughters all who stand in his way.
Yet one brave and clever girl is the planet’s last hope. Sharmay finds herself unwittingly tasked with a quest to unite the people of Runelle. It’s a race against time to not only bring the tribes together before all is lost but to also find the missing sixth tribe. From the dark tunnels of the earth tribe, to the murky waters of the underwater kingdom, Sharmay will face her worst fears, find help in unexpected places and stand heroically for what she believes in.
While Sharmay prepares to face the odds alone, Kino’s son, Radon, escapes the abuse of his father, fleeing his home on his own mission to save Runelle. In a weaving of tales, these two fated beings will find the answer to the eternal question: what difference can one person make?
Vote for your favorite pitch. The pitch that receives the most votes will be named Fan Favorite, and the author will receive a free one-hour consult with us (worth $250).
Click here to listen to our feedback on this pitch.
Michael Sherrin
Meritocracy by Michael Sherrin
In a city governed by test scores, Abel Allen is the most average citizen. He’s been stuck in the same job for years; he eats the same bland meal every night; and he’s not allowed to ask out the woman he loves, all because of his test scores.
After a co-worker is murdered, Abel discovers something that can replace studying: a pill that contains all the answers to all the tests. This answer key is rare and highly illegal. He must decide if breaking the law is a worthwhile price to no longer feeling average.
But something that valuable doesn’t stay secret for long. Abel’s boss, the mob, and the police all want the answer key, forcing Abel to decide who to trust and how to avoid getting caught. He discovers strengths and skills not found on his test results, and sets upon an adventure that puts the entire city under evaluation.
MERITOCRACY is a sci-fi noir with a dark sense of humor that questions how a standardized system can be fair to our individual qualities. Fans of bureaucratic nightmares will find much to love in this mash-up of 1984 meets Office Space.
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Devyn Fussman
Polyglot by Devyn Fussman
Polyglot: a person who knows multiple languages, AKA, Isabell Berzynski. She’s the only seventh grader who loves French class and the 6 other languages she’s learning for fun. Her dream job is world traveler, starting with Madame Angélique’s spring break trip to Europe.
Though Isabell’s immersed in the world of words, her protective parents don’t understand a thing she says about traveling. They want her safely in Plainville (population: 1,000), preparing for her bat mitzvah and making Jewish American friends. Not spending hours in GoGlobe chatrooms with foreign kids and reading travel guides. Besides, they can’t afford the class trip. They’re too busy paying for a venue, a caterer, and everything else a Jewish girl needs to come of age.
Isabell has 6 months to earn $2,100 and convince her family, especially her mother, that her baby, her only baby, is ready to leave the nest and see the world—even if she’s eleven.
Soon Isabell’s teaching English to immigrants with Madame Angélique, Latin to the deaf kids at her dad’s school, and French to her fellow classmates—all while juggling Hebrew school, regular school, and studying the Torah with Rabbi Josef. Still, earning the money is only half the battle. Winning over her mother is the hard part.
Every day Isabell’s yearning to see what’s beyond Plainville’s Jewish community grows. She has to follow her dream, even if her mother isn’t ready for it.
Polyglot is a 50,891-word middle-grade novel inspired by my Jewish American family and semester abroad.
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Elizabeth Wilder
EAST SIDE STORY by Elizabeth Wilder
Newly minted diplomat Jennifer Westfield thinks she landed her dream job in Jerusalem, until realizes she has been set up to fail. Her staff is MIA; pampered multinational toddlers (and their parents) have overrun her office; and the Palestinian and Israeli undergraduates in her program (who are enrolled in Conversational English) refuse to speak to each other.
As Jennifer gets to know her students, she realizes they are powerless in an endless conflict. Challenging typical diplomatic assumptions, she tries something (gasp!) new. The students won’t talk – but maybe they’ll sing.
Starting with six fellow music lovers, Jennifer teaches folk songs to the students. While the words are confusing – why is Suzanna crying? – their shared passion for music elevates the program and attracts both notoriety and praise. With the help of operatic UN diplomat Timot Kovac (from the ADIPOSE unit), Jennifer’s expanded show-choir attempts to stage a musical that should have been set in Jerusalem: West Side Story.
Can she find a performance venue? Will any VIPs attend? And will this ruin her budding career? Jennifer has to look within and around her to recruit a team of fellow diplomats who want to “dream the impossible dream”.
EAST SIDE STORY is a Christopher Buckley style satire crossed with a little Glee. I’m a musical-loving expatriate who sings only in the shower. EAST SIDE STORY is a 60,000-word NA contemporary novel.
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