Pitch Wars Blog Archive

PW #229: YA Science Fiction: DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE

Manuscript Status: Finished Mentor Name: Rebecca Sky Mentee Name: Kayla The Rivera Title: DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE Category: Young Adult Genre: Science Fiction Word Count: 99,000 Pitch: To rescue her family from war-torn Mexico, seventeen-year-old Rebecca Leroy must win a televised fight to the virtual-death where top-gamers battle for billions. But once her mind synchs with the game, its corrupt matrix takes control, transforming every in-game death into a real-life game over. Excerpt: Rebecca Leroy sat back in Read more…

By brendaadmin, ago

PW #230: YA Contemporary: SURVIVING HOPE

Manuscript Status: Finished Mentee: Eliza Knightly Mentor: Nikki Roberti Title: SURVIVING HOPE Category: Young Adult Genre: Contemporary Word Count: 84,000 Pitch: Abandoned by her schizophrenic mother, sixteen-year-old Corrine is sent to a group home for troubled teens. When she meets a runaway named Dean, she sees her chance for escape. But running away means leaving everything behind—including her opportunity to prove she’s not just another system-made statistic. Orange is the New Black meets Eleanor and Park. Excerpt: He had Read more…

By brendaadmin, ago

PW #231: YA Historical Fantasy: SEA OF RIVALS

  Manuscript Status: One Week Delivery Mentor Name: Megan Grimit Mentee Name: Isabel Davis Title: SEA OF RIVALS Category: YA Genre: Historical Fantasy Word Count: 70,000 Pitch: When it comes to her father’s war with the Merfolk, seventeen-year-old Cordelia always knew which side she was on. Nobody crosses the ruthless pirate king of Nassau. But when a merman shows mercy and spares her life, Cordelia must choose between the father whose approval she craves and Read more…

By brendaadmin, ago

PW #232: YA Psychological Horror: THE ZERO MAKER

Manuscript Status: Finished Mentor Name: Sharon Johnston Mentee Name: Amanda Donegan Title: THE ZERO MAKER Category: Young Adult Genre: Psychological Horror Word Count: 63,000 Pitch: Seventeen-year-old gamer Sunny just wants to show up her friends at Minecraft. But when she buys a laptop from a thrift store, a demonic virus lurking in the hard drive has a game of its own. The rules are simple: spread the Zer0 Maker, or die. Excerpt: Computers can die Read more…

By brendaadmin, ago

PW #233: YA Contemporary: CHASING CHAUCER

  Manuscript Status: Finished Mentor Name: Marty Mayberry Mentee Name: Becky Dean Title: CHASING CHAUCER Category: Young Adult Genre: Contemporary Word Count: 84,000 Pitch: After an injury ends Britt’s soccer scholarship dreams, her college future depends on winning a new competition. In a literary-themed version of The Amazing Race, she must overcome her lack of book-related knowledge and outwit three devious classmates in a scavenger hunt across England. Excerpt: Dreams were like knees—you didn’t realize Read more…

By brendaadmin, ago

PW #234: YA Contemporary Fantasy: THE WAXLING

Manuscript Status: Finished Mentor Name: Megan Grimit Mentee Name: Sheena Boekweg Title: THE WAXLING Category: YA Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Word Count: 70,000 words Pitch: The Waxling was supposed to be a monster, made from the mold of a dead girl. A creature Arialle spent years training to protect, for the powerful wish maturing within its seed heart. Blake’s also been trained— to hunt down the monster and steal the wish to save his dying mother. Read more…

By brendaadmin, ago

PW #235: YA Contemporary Romance: THE LOVE LETTERS OF ABELARD AND LILY

Manuscript Status: Finished Mentor Name: Marty Mayberry Mentee Name: Laura Creedle Title: THE LOVE LETTERS OF ABELARD AND LILY Category: Young Adult Genre: Contemporary Romance Word Count: 62,000 Pitch: After sixteen-year-old Lily goes off her ADHD meds, she spontaneously kisses Abelard, the brilliant boy with Asperger’s she hit by accident with a Hello Kitty lunchbox in 1st grade.  When they exchange texts, Lily falls for Abelard, but texts may not be enough to bridge their Read more…

By brendaadmin, ago

PW #236: YA LGBT Speculative Thriller: YIELD

Manuscript Status: 1 week delivery Mentor Name: Jaye Robin Brown Mentee Name: Allie Schellong Title: YIELD Category: YA Genre: LGBT Speculative Thriller Word Count: 90,000 Pitch: Adam Furling’s life is in neutral—busted car, no college plans, and a wordless crush on his best friend, Dion—until he carries a mysterious box across the road. Now, he has twenty-one days to help the FBI with their otherworldly case, or he disappears, for good. Excerpt: Adam would not drive Read more…

By brendaadmin, ago

PW #237: YA Fantasy: RESONANT

Manuscript Status: 2 months delivery Mentor Name: Alexandra Alessandri/Dannie Morin Mentee Name: Jeigh Meredith Title: RESONANT Category: Young Adult Genre: Fantasy Word Count: 85,000 Pitch: Sixteen-year-old Tenny’s ability to taste music should help her become a concert pianist, but it hasn’t. When her new crush, Egan, morphs into a fiery phoenix, Tenny discovers her synesthesia is meant for more than perfect auditions. She must learn to control her growing power before Egan steals it, along Read more…

By brendaadmin, ago

PW #238: YA Science Fiction: THE DROIDS THEY’RE LOOKING FOR

  Manuscript Status: 2-3 weeks delivery Mentor name: Samantha Joyce Mentee name: Jessica Bloczynski Title: THE DROIDS THEY’RE LOOKING FOR Category: Young Adult Genre: Science Fiction Word Count. 85,000 Pitch: When fifteen-year-old Izzy’s mad scientist dad brings home a secret project from work to heal her dying sister, Izzy must confront her father’s superhuman bosses who want their technology back—and who are willing to kill Izzy and her family to get it. MY SISTER’S KEEPER Read more…

By brendaadmin, ago