Pitch Wars 2020 … Mentor Picks!

It’s been a difficult and challenging year, and we’ve had mentors get sick and have family members who needed them, but in the midst of all this uncertainty and fear, our fabulous mentors have spent weeks of reading and obsessing over all the talented applicants who applied for a mentorship this year, and they have finally chosen their mentees!

Behind the scenes, there’s kindness, careful consideration, and understanding between our mentors. They’ve worked tirelessly reading all the submissions they received for Pitch Wars. They’ve shared how much they love your words and that they received so many great manuscripts written by talented writers. There were tons, TONS, of great entries, and we were sad they all couldn’t be chosen. Reading and liking a story is subjective, and mentors chose the one manuscript that grabbed their heart. One that after reading, they couldn’t forget. Couldn’t pass up.

Please know that mentors are not required to send feedback to those who submitted to them. Our mentors have their own books to write, mentees to mentor, jobs, and family life not to mention the added stress of a pandemic and in some cases a divided country. Some will have the time to send feedback and some will not. Please don’t pester mentors for feedback in their emails, their sites, or on social media. If you get feedback, it’s a bonus.

There are many pathways to acquiring your publishing goals. Pitch Wars is just one of a few. Though we know you’ll be disappointed if you don’t find your name on the following list, please remember that you are in the game. Just finishing a manuscript requires a love for writing, and putting your work out there is such a brave act. Congratulations for getting into the game! Every heartache, every victory, will get you a step closer to success.

Sonia (Managing Director): A huge thank you to everyone who submitted to Pitch Wars this year! Not only did you complete a manuscript (something so many talk about doing but so few actually accomplish), but you put your work out there, which is incredibly brave. Please don’t think of this as a rejection. Mentors can only choose one manuscript to work with out of hundreds of submissions, and Pitch Wars is not a reflection of you or your work. There are countless success stories from people who weren’t selected as mentees, then went on to get agents and sell their books. This is only one path of many.

And to the class of Pitch Wars 2020, congrats! We’re thrilled for all of you!

Brenda (Founding Director): I know all too well how it feels to be rejected. I’ve entered contests before and not been chosen. There was never a Pitch Wars for me. I’ve been rejected (a lot), had to end a relationship with an agent, and had to end a publishing deal that wasn’t the best for me. Perseverance is key in being successful in publishing. We pick ourselves up, learn what we need to get better, and head back into the trenches. I’ve made several friends on my publishing journey. This community is amazing! The community has supported me through some dark times and have celebrated with me through winning ones.  We all fail some and win some, but as long as we continue, our dreams can be realized. I’m still learning (and failing). My wish for you is to keep going, never give up, and gather friends who will cry and celebrate with you through the battles and victories. I admire each and every one of you for taking that brave leap and sharing your work. The support you all show each other touches my heart each day. I’m truly blessed to be in this community with you.

Thank you for entrusting us with your work!

And here is the Pitch Wars Class of 2020 …

Adult/New Adult

Middle Grade

Young Adult