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My Pitch For Pitch Your Novel
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Publishing is a culture and if you don’t speak the language, you’ll fumble around. Consider me your sherpa. I’ve been involved in publishing for over 20 years as an author, but every week I research the most up-to-date information to help you succeed and flourish in this complicated business.
Wondering what a typical paid post looks like? SAMPLE NEWSLETTER
Here are the things that I keep up with:
The latest in submission tips.
Five years ago, no one talked about comps. Now it’s probably one of the most important parts of a query letter. The synopsis is getting shorter. A once-sentence pitch is critical. The best way to compile an agent list.
What’s trending and what’s not. What are the best ways to break in?
Horror is all the rage but what kind of horror? Are you familiar with weird girl fiction? Is romantasy on the wane? You shouldn’t write to market but there are other ways to break-in. How to devise deals that sell.
Publishing news every author need to know
How to brand yourself, creating platforms, why titles and subtitles are so important and so much more.
Every thing I post is research based. I don’t share info that I haven’t checked out.
Also, I provide a GET YOUR STORY STRAIGHT challenge, where I teach you how to use your structural pitch to pre-plan important elements of your novel.
Here’s an FAQ:
1. What qualifies you to write this newsletter?
I’ve been writing novels since 2004 and have experienced several publishing models: Big 5, small publisher and indie. Over the years, I’ve studied and evaluated pitches in Publishers Marketplace. I love pitching so much I wrote a novel about it called “The Pitch Queen.” I’m also a former book reviewer who still gets thousands of pitches from publishers a year. I also have an MFA in Creative writing and have taught college writing for ten years and have headed dozens of fiction workshops. I also attend regular webinars and workshops with publishing professionals so as to offer the latest advice.
2. How do you help your newsletter readers with the pitch?
Anything that helps sell your book falls under the pitch umbrella, so my content looks at book blurbs, taglines, query letters, titles, first pages and more. Also, I share timely links and news that authors need to best manage their careers.
Can I hire you? Yes. See below.
WRITING SERVICES: CLOSED FOR NOW. I’ll announce when I’ll open up again. (Please see below for a referral if you need a beta read.)
Query Letter Critique $90 (includes a courtesy look at revisions, and I’ll help you write a one-sentence pitch) Anyone who is querying should have a pro take a look. I’ve looked at hundreds of letters over the years and about ninety percent need a major overhaul. My first agent once told me I had the best query letter she’d ever gotten. But trends in query letters have changed since then, and I regularly keep up with those trends.
Submission Packet Critique. $130
Includes synopsis, query letter and first ten pages. (If you want more pages evaluated, ask me for a quote.)
First ten pages: Line edit and marco edit for $35.
Consultations. $50 an hour, $25 minimum
Sometimes you need to talk your issue through. I have knowledge in self-publishing, traditional publishing, MFA programs, idea exploration, and literary agent issues. I’ll be happy to walk you through the solutions.
Beta Read: I no longer do beta reads but I highly recommend
who has a PhD in creative writing, writer coach training and is a published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. She has the best bookside manner of anyone I know. Link to her websiteENDORSEMENTS:
“Wow. Just wow. In a day, you have gotten to the heart of what I want my query to say so succinctly - something I have been struggling with for years.” ~Katherine Caldwell, women’s fiction novelist
“Karin’s query critique while I was in the early stages of writing my manuscript was immensely helpful for getting the stakes right. Her very specific query feedback helped me avoid structural issues later! When I completed the draft, her beta read notes were also amazing and specific as another reviewer noted. I have no doubt that her notes will strengthen the work, and the specificity makes planning the revision feel achievable.
~L.D. Hawke
"Thank you for your help! Since tweaking my Query with your advice- An agent asked me for a phone call and full pick-up!!!!!~Angelique Fawns
"This is so helpful!I struggle so much to articulate the stakes, the desire, the antagonist, and my protagonist's arc. Your notes are really amazing and specific. I actually feel like I have all of these in my book, so now I can re-write the query letter to reflect what is happening in the book. " Carley Moore, author of four books; a LAMBDA and Firecracker Finalist.
For more info, message me below, or email me at Karin.gillespie (at) gmail.com