Time to get in the Game

I have a feeling that many of you fabulous friends are in the warm up area perfecting your pitching. Just remember that you have until 5 pm on Thursday to get in the game!

Go HERE to throw us a fast ball, curve ball, or cotton ball. We look forward to them all.
It is so fun to see what everyone is working on. For those who may fear too much exposure for your story, I just want to say, 'fear not' this elevator pitch should be the line you give everyone who asks what you're writing.

Here is a little scenario:
Let's say two fabulous aspiring authors are at a conference. Writer 1 (aka Bard) and Writer 2 (aka Mouse) run smack into a New York editor (aka Thor). Thor benevolently grants them each 20 seconds of his precious time to tell him what they are working on.

Mouse: "Squee! I'm working on a history of spark plugs. (Forgets to mention that in the story the spark plugs have become self actualized and taken over the planet.)
Thor: So it's non-fiction how nice.

Bard: "In my YA urban fantasy, Cassie is kidnapped by demonic zombie nuns and imprisoned in the catacombs of Rome."
Thor: "I've been looking for a good zombie nun story. Go ahead and send it over and put the conference in the subject line."

Practice makes perfect. Go ahead and Pitch it to us!

Contest: Pitch it to us!

We are all gearing up for our pitch sessions at LDS Storymakers and wanted to share the fun with our writer friends. So we here at INKING CAP are holding our 1st ever contest!!

Step up to the Pitching mound and throw us a fast ball. The Inkers want to hear your best elevator pitch. The more the merrier so don't be shy, send this contest to all of your friends. It's a great way to prepare for a meeting with an agent or editor or future queries.

The contest goes something like this:
Step 1: Become a follower.
Step 2: In the comments leave your elevator pitch (30 seconds or less to read out loud. For tips on writing a good pitch check out Kristen Nelson's workshop.)
Step 3: The Inkers will review all of the pitches and pick our favorite 3.

1st Place
An exclusive, highly coveted invitation to attend our April writer's group meeting (tentatively planned for April 26th. Lots of treats involved). You will get to practice your full pitch with all of us, including Sir-Kirk-a-lot!(He's a Senior Editor in case you didn't know. We have 3 professionals in the fields of publishing, PR, and writing and 3 genius critiquers in our group, for those who don't know us personally.) If you live out of state or too far away to join us, we will work out a conference call or google video feed. Ask Inker Arlene from Reno how well that works out. (She's still with us after 2 1/2 years.)
Also if you choose, we will review your first 10 pages. (Not all Inkers may be available for critiquing and feedback depending on scheduling, but we will give you at least 3 reviews.)

2nd Place
You win a review of your first 5 pages. (If we pick your pitch, then it must be a story we want to know more about so we'll critique it and give you our best feedback.)

3rd Place
Wins a first page review and critique.


It's all for fun. You have until 5:00 PM on Thursday, March 31,2011 (MST)to submit your pitch and get in the running.


Winners will be announced on Monday, April 4th!!

Photogenic vs photophobic

You asked for photos, did you not? Well here's proof that I'm not photophobic. The pictures from Sushi were really just BAD!







Plus the other Inkers haven't seen these yet. So I can brag about my photogenic friends. Check out Deb's skirt in the red. DJ totally sewed that for her the night before the conference cause she is super nice that way.

About my blind date...I mean pitch session

So this week we had a great 10 point discussion led by Sir Kirk-a-lot on making the most of a pitch session. Ben Hutchins and Graham Bradley guest starred at the meeting. The reference material came from an article by Cynthia P Gallagher.
Here's what I got out of it:
1) Do your homework- Don't pitch a picture book to an agent who only handles adult non-fiction and horror. (Well unless your book is on the mating habits of the Black Widow Spider, in which case the agent should love it.)

2) Be your best self--the business dressed, friendly, open, awesome you. Not the neurotic, pajama-clad, recluse obsessed with why hot dogs come in multiples of 10 and buns come in packs of 8.

3) If your blind date/ I mean editor or agent doesn't ask for your number, chalk it up to experience and get back out there. Ask questions that will help you make the most out of their advice even if you never see them again. (Who would you suggest I send this to after the rewrites/ when its finished/polished? What are you looking for in a debut author? etc.)

4) Kirk didn't mention this one, but the discussion reminded me of his advice for me last year when I went into my first pitch session. Spend most of your time listening. You paid for advice, so listen to it. (Maybe that was just for me though, since I tend to talk when I'm nervous, driving, awake...let's face it if I'm breathing I've usually got something to say.)

That's all. Studies have shown that if you don't review a lesson within 24 hours you retain only 25% of what was taught. So I'm above the average since I remembered 30% of what he taught and added a bonus point which brought me to 40%.

Until Tuesday night I wasn't nervous about my impending pitch session at LDS Storymakers Conference, but now I am. Suddenly it feels like a really overly anticipated blind date because I really really want Krista Marino to like me. I've seen her great work and think we were made to work together on my book, BUT she doesn't know that I exist. Maybe I've been reading too many Dan Wells novels. Anyway, suffice it to say that these four steps SHOULD help anyone who is going into a pitch session. If anyone remembers other points that they want to share, be my guest.

As Seen On TV

I finally succumbed. After years of easy resistance to the endlessly advertised "As Seen on TV" items, from the Chia Pet to the ShamWow, I have in my possession, a Snuggie. Yeah, that's right, a Snuggie - you know, "The Blanket That Has Sleeves!"

Driven by my inability to acclimate to Utah's winter climate after almost eight years here, I found myself talking back to the TV. "Yes, I want to keep warm AND have my hands free!" In fact, it was the only item I asked my husband to get me for Christmas (along with admission to the LDS Storymakers conference in April).

So, does the Snuggie live up to its advertising? Yes, and no. The hands free aspect of it is wonderful, as I can sip my hot cocoa with my arms fully covered. However, for me to stay really warm I would need another three layers of thickness to the thing. It is way too cold here for a blanket that thin. I usually end up with the Snuggie on and an extra blanket over my lap.

The other night I was doing just that while watching Conan and he made a joke about people who were sitting at home in their Snuggies. I squirmed a little. Then Andy Richter (Conan's sidekick) said, "Yeah, I was gonna buy a Snuggie, then I realized I could just wear my robe backwards."