Pitch Madness 2016 MARIO KART Edition!
The submission window is now open!
To submit your MS pitch into the contest, enter your information in the form below.
What is Pitch Madness?
It’s a contest to win a request from one or more of the participating agents. (See who they are here.)
The submission window is open from NOW and until 11:59PM EST on February 26th. You should have plenty of time to get your submissions in. Make sure to perfect your entry. If you make an error, you may not resend. What do you need to enter? A 35-word (max) pitch and the first 250 words of your finished manuscript. If the 250th word falls in the middle of a sentence, go to the end of the sentence.
There will be 60 finalists moving onto the agent round. Pitch Madness will accept Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult (never before published) fiction only, novel length (no novellas) completed and polished manuscripts only. All genres (i.e. fantasy, contemporary, sci-fi, and so on) are welcome to enter. This time around we will not accept non-fiction. Only one entry per writer.
Pitch Madness will be on four blogs:
Rainbow Road Team on Summer Heacock’s site
Bowser’s Castle Team on Rebecca Coffindaffer’s site
Moo Moo Meadows Team on Sharon Johnston’s site
Yoshi Falls Team on Brenda Drake’s site
Each blog host will have a co-host helping them choose their top 15 entries. We’ll have a team of first readers who will check for formatting, grammar, and content and put their top picks through to the hosts.
This year’s first round readers can be found here.
All the twitter fun will happen on the hashtag #PitchMadness!
THE SUBMISSION WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED. Good luck to all those who entered! We’ll be announcing the winners either March 6, 7, or 8 during the team drafts. We’ll let you know as soon as we have a concrete date.
60 Comments
susan dalessandro · February 25, 2016 at 1:03 pm
So excited, but I thought this contest didn’t open until midnight. Can we really submit our entries now?
S.T. Ranscht · February 25, 2016 at 1:19 pm
Confused. Was someone so excited to get this started that she jumped the gun? If we follow this instruction and submit now, will you really delete the entry for being outside the previously designated window?
Brenda Drake · February 26, 2016 at 11:14 am
Sorry, I missed removing that bit. We will not delete any entries. We opened early.
Cynde Route · February 25, 2016 at 2:15 pm
Hi Susan! I thought it started tomorrow, too, but I just submitted my entry.
susan dalessandro · February 25, 2016 at 2:41 pm
Hello Cynde,
So glad to see you’re entering. Yes, I guess it’s starting early. I’m going to get my entry in this afternoon. Good luck!
S.T. Ranscht · February 25, 2016 at 4:04 pm
Yeah, I went ahead and submitted, too. I checked Twitter as Elizabeth Hartey said she had, but I sure wish somebody from Brenda’s camp would respond to the blog comments. Yesterday, there was a question about how hyphenated words count in the pitch, and there’s still no answer.
Heather Cashman · February 25, 2016 at 5:46 pm
Brenda loves surprises and couldn’t wait to start. The submissions will be taken starting at noon today (Thursday) but the cutoff will still be Friday the 26th at MIDNIGHT! Thanks for participating!
Best of luck to everyone.
S.T. Ranscht · February 25, 2016 at 6:19 pm
As a child of the ’60s, I know how to go with the flow. 🙂
Diana Hicks (@diana_hicks) · February 25, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Yes, according to Twitter, the window was open early.
Heather Cashman · February 25, 2016 at 6:16 pm
Yes, submit! And good luck!
Elizabeth Hartey · February 25, 2016 at 1:23 pm
I submitted my entry because I received an email that the submission window was now open. I hope that’s OK because I thought the window didn’t open until 12am. Please let me know if I need to resubmit if the email for submission was sent out incorrectly. Thanks
S.T. Ranscht · February 25, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Not only the above, but contrary to yesterday’s post, (which said, “The submission window for Pitch Madness is this Friday, February 26th, and will be open for 24 hours (12:01AM EST to MIDNIGHT EST). There will be no limit to the number of submissions. Everyone who submits during the window will make it into the contest. You will receive a receipt by email.”) the submission form now says that’s not so — there will be not email receipt.
There hasn’t been any response to the question’s of word count for hyphenated words yet, either.
I feel as though I’m about to follow a white rabbit down a hole.
S.T. Ranscht · February 25, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Not only the above, but contrary to yesterday’s post, (which said, “The submission window for Pitch Madness is this Friday, February 26th, and will be open for 24 hours (12:01AM EST to MIDNIGHT EST). There will be no limit to the number of submissions. Everyone who submits during the window will make it into the contest. You will receive a receipt by email.”) the submission form now says that’s not so — there will be not email receipt.
There hasn’t been any response to the questions of word count for hyphenated words yet, either.
I feel as though I’m about to follow a white rabbit down a hole.
elizabeth hartey · February 25, 2016 at 1:31 pm
Just checked twitter. They opened submissions early. Good luck!
Heather Cashman · February 25, 2016 at 5:40 pm
This was my fault! I’m sorry for the confusion. Last year we tried sending receipts and a lot of them didn’t work, but I didn’t know that Brenda wanted to change this before I put up the post. Please know that if you see that the form was submitted, you can be assured that we have it.
As for hyphenated, we will count it as one word.
Thanks for your patience! It’s hard being the newbie.
S.T. Ranscht · February 25, 2016 at 6:17 pm
Thanks for the clarification! Still following that rabbit, but it looks like I could have carried two more words. Lol. Good luck to you through the rest of the process, Heather!
Heather Cashman · February 25, 2016 at 6:36 pm
Thanks! I feel like I am being swept away by the flow. It’ll all work out in the end, and best of luck, S.T.
Laurie · February 25, 2016 at 2:08 pm
Am I correct in assuming we submit one time on only one blog site? Not one time on each blog site…?
Thanks,
Laurie
Heather Cashman · February 25, 2016 at 5:31 pm
Only one submission for the entire contest. Not per site. Those are just to reach more writers but will redirect them to submit on Brenda’s Blog.
Marcia · February 25, 2016 at 2:45 pm
I am redirected on Team Moo Moo Meadows – any suggestions?
Debby Zigenis-Lowery · February 25, 2016 at 6:16 pm
Thank you so much for this contest! I just discovered it. Entry is in!
Heather Cashman · February 25, 2016 at 6:21 pm
That’s sweet of you! Best of luck, Debby!
Rita Feinstein · February 25, 2016 at 10:37 pm
My browser crashed as soon as I submitted, and I’m not sure if my entry went through! Is it okay if I resubmit?
Heather Cashman · February 25, 2016 at 10:45 pm
We got it, Rita! No need to resubmit. Thanks!
Rita Feinstein · February 25, 2016 at 10:47 pm
Great, thank you for checking!
Keely Parrack · February 26, 2016 at 1:06 am
The same thing happened to me! Did it come through too?
Thanks so much for doing this!
Brenda Drake · February 26, 2016 at 11:30 am
Keely, we received two for you. So you’re good. I’m deleting the other one
Gina Dewitt · February 25, 2016 at 11:29 pm
This is my first year to enter! This is so much fun! Thanks for hosting this and for opportunity it provides! (Happy Dance)
Janina · February 26, 2016 at 3:47 am
First time doing something like this. Exciting! 🙂
Bonnie Terry · February 26, 2016 at 8:40 am
Thanks to Brenda and all helping with this contest!
fallon De Mornay · February 26, 2016 at 8:44 am
Wooooohooooo!!!
Good luck to all the entrants!
Bunny · February 26, 2016 at 9:47 am
I’m confused. The original post for this contest stated “there is no limit of how many entries will be accepted.” The instructions on this page say “only one entry per writer.” Does that mean only one manuscript or only one pitch? I wish the instructions were more precise. 🙁
Heather Cashman · February 26, 2016 at 9:54 am
There is no limit meaning no matter how many writers enter we will accept them. No cap on the total number of submissions. But only one entry per writer.
Bunny · February 26, 2016 at 11:03 am
I don’t mean to be obtuse…but does “entry” refer to manuscript or pitch? Please clarify.
Heather Cashman · February 26, 2016 at 11:29 am
Your entry is the one manuscript you decide to enter into the submission window. One per writer. And it’s okay to be confused. There’s a lot of terminology we are all used to slinging around.
Laura · February 26, 2016 at 9:52 am
This is my first year entering — thank you for hosting!!! When I hit send, though, I saw nothing that said my form was submitted. Should I resubmit?
Heather Cashman · February 26, 2016 at 11:57 am
You are there, Laura! We have it in the slush!
Laura · February 26, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Thanks so much, Heather, for the confirmation and running this contest! You guys are amazing!
Holly Collingwood · February 26, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Thanks so much for offering another amazing contest. I always learn so much from reading the entries in all your contests.
Mary Lou Newhouse · February 26, 2016 at 12:03 pm
I had the same experience as Laura, no confirmation that my submission was received. Please advise. Thank you!
Heather Cashman · February 26, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Found it!
Kim O'Brien · February 26, 2016 at 12:54 pm
I’m having the same experience as Mary Lou and Laura. I submitted my entry but nothing happened… so sorry to trouble you, but could you please confirm you have everything you need? Thanks so much for hosting this contest!!!!
Angie · February 26, 2016 at 12:59 pm
I just wanted to say thank you for giving us the opportunity to submit our work!
Lynne Constantine · February 26, 2016 at 1:44 pm
I looked for the message that my entry was received, but didn’t see it. Sorry to bother you, but just want to confirm that you received it. Thank you! Lynne Constantine
Heather Cashman · February 26, 2016 at 2:09 pm
I just moved it to the slush, Lynne. Thanks for submitting and good luck!
Lynne Constantine · February 26, 2016 at 4:08 pm
Thanks so much!
Holly D · February 26, 2016 at 1:51 pm
Comment I too did not get a confirmation. I hate to be a pain but could you see if mine was received?
Thanks again for doing all of this.
Heather Cashman · February 26, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Yep! It’s there. 🙂
Caryn · February 26, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Thanks for setting up this contest. What a great idea and such a big help to querying writers! I’m excited to submit for the first time : )
Heather Cashman · February 26, 2016 at 5:12 pm
Thanks! We’re so excited to have everyone submit, and welcome to the contest! Good luck!
Chess Kendle · February 26, 2016 at 6:20 pm
Hi Heather- I had a bit of a browser issue when I subbed the entry form. Could you please confirm that you received my entry? Many thanks to you and Brenda for all of your hard work!
Heather Cashman · February 26, 2016 at 7:58 pm
We’ve got it safe and sound, Chess! Good luck!
Chess Kendle · February 26, 2016 at 8:16 pm
Cheers! Thank you for the confirmation, Heather.
Bridgid Gallagher · February 26, 2016 at 6:40 pm
Thank you so much for organizing this contest! Good luck to everyone who is entering! 🙂
Marith Zaccarelli · February 26, 2016 at 10:27 pm
Hi I didn’t get a form submitted page come up. Should I resubmit? There is only an hour and a half left…
Heather Cashman · February 26, 2016 at 10:34 pm
It’s there! Thanks, Marith, and good luck!
Marith Zaccarelli · February 26, 2016 at 10:37 pm
My apologies if I’ve accidentally double-submitted. Please delete one as entries are identical. And thank you for all this hard work!
Marith · February 26, 2016 at 10:48 pm
Awesome. Thank you!
William Alan Webb · February 27, 2016 at 8:28 pm
I submitted Thursday night but didn’t get an email. Hoping it got through.
William Alan Webb · February 27, 2016 at 8:28 pm
LOL What’s up with the avatar? I’m not mad.
Comments are closed.