(Note: For a plaintext PDF version of this post, click here.) Welcome to the Pitch Wars 2021 wishlist of Ian Barnes. This year I’m mentoring Adult Fantasy, Sci-Fantasy, and select Science-Fiction. If you’re not writing something with magic, space guns, or space guns powered by particularly irate dimension-hopping archfey who are absolutely Too Old For … Continue reading Pitch Wars 2021 Wishlist
Pitch Wars
#PitchWars 2020: The Final Stretch
We're in the final stretch of the Pitch Wars 2020 selection process. One more week before mentee picks are announced! How're you holding up? Calm? Collected? Waiting patiently? So stressed your body is excreting a strange, purple liquid that's slowly staining your entire wardrobe shades of amethyst and ick? Cool, me neither. A few weeks … Continue reading #PitchWars 2020: The Final Stretch
Pitch Wars 2020 Wishlist
(Note: For a plaintext PDF version of this post, click here.) Welcome to the Pitch Wars wishlist of Ian Barnes. This year I’m mentoring Adult Fantasy. If you’re not writing something with swords, magic, or emotionally crippled deities who just want someone to please take the (admittedly shoddily built) magical laser-axe they crafted and go … Continue reading Pitch Wars 2020 Wishlist
Pitch Wars 2019 Wishlist
Welcome to the Pitch Wars wishlist of Ian Barnes. This year I’m mentoring Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy. If you’re not writing something with swords, lasers, or magic (or magical laser-swords), sorry, your mentor is in another castle. If you’re here, you have excellent taste in randomly clicking on blog hop names. Unless you sought … Continue reading Pitch Wars 2019 Wishlist
A #PitchWars Inbox Breakdown Part II: Now With Extra Screaming
Yesterday I wrote a post detailing my process for sifting through the slush in my #PitchWars inbox. It focused on many of the common mistakes I saw that put me off an entry. Today, I'm flipping the script and want to gush about some of the elements of entries that made me sit up and … Continue reading A #PitchWars Inbox Breakdown Part II: Now With Extra Screaming
A #PitchWars Inbox Breakdown: Thoughts and Infinite Screaming
The Pitch Wars submission window has come and gone! Now, two things occur: Hopefuls attempt to summon requests through sheer force of will, and mentors read. Forever. (Seriously, so much reading. SO MUCH!) 3456 writers lobbed their words into the void. Of those, 1402 are adult. Of those, 267 sent their word-babies to Laura and … Continue reading A #PitchWars Inbox Breakdown: Thoughts and Infinite Screaming
Pitch Wars 2018 Wishlist
Welcome to the Pitch Wars wishlist of Ian Barnes and Laura Lashley. If you’re here, you have excellent taste in randomly clicking on blog hop names. Unless you sought us out on purpose, in which case, you are a being of exquisite refinement and grace who is clearly going places. Like this wishlist. Before we … Continue reading Pitch Wars 2018 Wishlist
Let’s Summon Demons (Because That’s Easier than Query Writing)
As the great beast that is Pitch Wars stirs to life and prepares to storm the gates of publishing once again, hey, it’s time to write a query. No, you can’t skip this part. Yes, it’s important. No, I won’t do it for you. What I will do is provide you with a few helpful … Continue reading Let’s Summon Demons (Because That’s Easier than Query Writing)
What To Expect When You’re Expecting (To Enter #PitchWars)
Hey, folks. I bet you’re here because you’re trawling the depths of the internet for any scraps of advice about Pitch Wars. Good news! You’ve hit rock bottom (and possibly found some nuggets of wisdom. Or maybe that’s an ancient Hyperborean toilet). If you don’t know what Pitch Wars is, I’ve gotta wonder why … Continue reading What To Expect When You’re Expecting (To Enter #PitchWars)
Ian Barnes 