Sunday 29 March 2009

Pitch Party!

Pitch your blog in the comments section here, using no more than twenty five words. If you don't want to pitch your own blog then you can pitch another blog that you enjoy, so long as it might interest the readers here. You can write more than one pitch for the same blog, or you can pitch a number of different blogs: the only condition is that for every blog you pitch, you have to leave a comment on at least three of the other blogs pitched here.

To make it easy for everyone to click about, please include a live, clickable link with your comment. There are two ways to do this: if you're anxious about it, you can compose your comment as a new blog post, add the links in the usual way, then copy it, HTML and all, into the comments section here; or you can write it yourself like this, which links to my blog:

[a href="http://howpublishingreallyworks.blogspot.com/"]name your link here[/a]

Replace my blog's address with yours; add a name for your link; then replace those two pairs of square brackets [] with pointy ones <>, or the link won't work.

Get pitching.

82 comments:

Jane Smith said...

Right: I shall start things off with something quick and inept, but shall attempt to make a better pitch when I've had more coffee. Here goes:

Take a trip to Greyling Bay, my collaborative flash fiction blog-by-the-sea. Submissions welcome, constructive criticism encouraged, ice-creams available on the pier.

Of Moose and Men said...

Deluded independent publisher seeks fellow ranters to upset the mainstream publishing applecart. Roar along with The Moose at Of Moose and Men.

Fiona Mackenzie. Writer said...

Writing's a lonely business. Share your experiences - or in my case, lack of it - at: www.chicklitwriter.blogspot.com

I bake every Thursday:)

Rod H said...

I recently started to post a few stray thoughts, using the blog as a notebook and also as a means of tracking other blogs.

http://fellsnod.blogspot.com/

(One of the blogs I follow is on Typepad. Every attempt I make to comment fails even when I have signed in. Does anyone else have this problem?)

Isaac Espriu said...

Ooh - party!

Come visit Isaac Espriu's Place, the blog of someone who recently began pursuing a career as a full-time writer. He loves company!

Anonymous said...

Party, party, party!

I've enjoyed visiting everyone else's blogs so far.

Come on over to my blog (you should be able to click through to it by clicking on my name above), where I will randomly ramble about writing, crafting, cooking and raising two kids.

Nicola Morgan said...

No-holds-barred advice on getting published, from an infamously crabbit old bat. Widely recommended by dreary-query-weary agents and publishers: http://need2bpublished.blogspot.com/

(Hope I did that html right ...)

Nicola Morgan said...

PS very good idea, btw, Jane! Imagine what you'd be like after coffee. Nx

BB said...

Watch a newbie writer make it up as he goes along here and see him get distracted by...ooh shiny objects!

graywave said...

My blog documents my attempts to become a published author, despite the fearsome odds against success. Read over my shoulder as I work at it.

BB said...

This is fun but I see no reason to stop at three comments. Yes, I'm in a commenting frenzy. Can't...stop...commenting...Must...stop...commenting..and...get...some...food.

Rod H said...

I recently started to post a few stray thoughts, using the blog as a notebook and as a means of tracking other blogs. The posts are mainly about aspects of writing and publishing. I have now included the live link, which I should have done before.

aspects of writing

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Join the Trevolution.

The Meet and Greet

green_knight said...

My writing blog is at Beyond Elechan and I should update it more often. Looking forward to browsing everybody else's links.

HelenMWalters said...

Fiction Is Stranger Than Fact is a record of my attempt to write, hold down a real job and keep four cats under control.

Ali said...

If people read what I blog, does that make me a writer?

Domesticali

Jenny Beattie said...

Tea Stains Living and writing in Thailand: a British woman’s adventure.

How great to discover some new (to me) blogs. (Been to Diary of a Nothing, Graham Storrs and West of Mars so far.) Thanks for the brilliant idea.

Sharon Maas said...

Good idea, Jane!
I haven't tended my blog very much of late, in fact, there's been a two-year gap, but I want to get back to it.
It's called Final Drafts: Adventures in Publishing.

An author's journey into publication: finding an agent, a major publisher, nice advances, foreign deals, sales, the French bestseller list, royalties. Then - the Rebellion, the Fall. Then, older and wiser, the slow climb back into the book biz. Or not.

And the link is: http://www.sharonmaas.blogspot.com/

Derek said...

True Small Caps Derek's Book Blog. Your chance to see what I have on my shelves.

Sharon Maas said...

OK, that link isn't live so I'll try again: Final Drafts: Adventures in Publishing
For those who do drop in, it's actually a continuous story so you're best beginning at the beginning!
I've been surfing through the blogs here but haven't commented yet. I'll be back, after I've updated my own blog.

(Hooray! It worked!)

Sally Zigmond said...

To my shame I seem to have three blogs. The Elephant in The Writing Room is about guess what? Sally's Book Blog is another no-brainer. And The Old Chapel is about how I and my husband bought a wreck and turned it into the lovely home where I am now writing this.

I think all you need to do is click on the link and choose the blog. But I may be wrong.

Sally Zigmond said...

Goodness knows what hapopened above. My name is Sally Zigmond, not NEW. Somewtimes the logic of Blogger defeats me... Let's see if this works.

Ms Shea said...

Thanks for the opportunity to pitch my blog! I'm an aspiring writer working on my first novel and blogging about the process at Ms Shea's Musings. I look forward to checking out everyone else's blogs.

Elle Scott said...

Are you brand-new to writing? Are you unsure of the difference between multiple and simultaneous submissions? Or are looking for links to writers' resources? Then visit http://writingfornewbies.blogspot.com/.

Cathie Hartigan said...

Passionate writing teacher with GSOH offers advice about various aspects of the craft. Link to handy superhero generator. Heathcliffs' not encouraged.
http://www.cathiehartigan.blogspot.com/

ps How do you all do links in comments?

Ms Shea said...

I just wrote a new post about the pitch party and listed my favorites of the blogs I discovered here.

Jane Smith said...

I am SO good.

I've commented on every single person's blog now, with two exceptions: a Live Journal one, which wouldn't let me comment (I don't have an LJ account), and Elle's blog, which also wouldn't let me comment.

From the look of things there's a crowd of us commenting on these blogs now. I'm so enjoying this!

Mrs Shea, thanks for putting up your special pitch-party post; and Cathie, have a re-read of the original post because I think I put in instructions for making links in it--and if I didn't, I'll add them now. OK?

Cathie Hartigan said...

You are a star, Jane. Thanks for flagging the link thing. You can't expect a teacher to actual read stuff, now can you. :)

Elle Scott said...

Thanks for doing this, Jane :) Thanks, too, for letting me know that you couldn't post a comment on my blog. I didn't realize that the settings were messed up. But it's fixed now (hint, hint...)

Dorset Girl said...

This is such a lovely idea Jane! I've visited so many great blogs – it's like being invited round to tea and meeting new friends over earl grey and custard creams.

I've just started a blog at:

http://natashasolomons.wordpress.com/

It's about my experiences as a first time novelist and the publishing process. And cake. (My novel 'Mr Rosenblum's List: Friendly Guidance for the Aspiring Englishman) is being published next April.

Anonymous said...

Are YOU looking for a blog that combines aggressive secularism, ill-informed political rants and new fiction and criticism? Look no further.

Laurie Paulsen said...

fun idea! like a drunken wombat carrying a notepad in one claw and a pen in the other, i am
thedullyelloweye

great idea, jane--thanks!
*scrambles off to read blogs*

Of Moose and Men said...

Jane,

I would just like to say thanks for posting such a good idea.

Kevin. Bluemoose Books

jonathan pinnock said...

Hirsute aspiring writer (and - very - occasional Greyling Bay contributor) Jonathan Pinnock WLTM new readers. GSOH essential.

Bradley Robb said...

Fiction Matters is a website dedicated to providing writing tips, tools, and publishing news for fiction writers.

Stephen Kozeniewski said...

Manuscripts don’t burn…or do they? I’ve got a stack of stories to “burn” on the interwebs, so enjoy the best of the dregs.

http://manuscriptsburn.blogspot.com

Administrator said...

Whether you consider yourself the Brendan Cole or John Sergeant of the literary world, please visit our website Strictly Writing

http://strictlywriting.blogspot.com/

Nik Perring said...

Nik's Blog is the blog of a writer and workshop leader called Nik. He occasionally interviews interesting people.

Administrator said...

Oh gawd, i tried to link it but it failed.

I am, ahem, still finding my way around blogging.

Damien Walters said...

Come visit Secret October. A blog site about about the trials and tribulations of a writer undergoing a major edit/rewrite phase.

Warning: Here There Be Vampires

http://secretoctober.blogspot.com/

Marion Gropen said...

For those who are interested in the deep underbelly of publishing, try Publishing For Profit.

green_knight said...

I hope the livejournal wasn't mine, since I've enabled anonymous commenting (not certain how the OpenID thing works) - it should not ask you to log in :-(

I've just tried it myself, and there seem to be no limitations to anonymous comments.

Lexia257 said...

For topical opinion, linked to the written word or the unwritten thought try http://wwwbrendaabouelola.blogspot.com. Website with links www.write-place.co.uk

Jane Smith said...

I am truly AMAZED that so many of you have not only posted here, but have gone on to post on each others' blogs too. This is wonderful!

I don't have time to catch up with the rest of you right now but I shall, I promise: and I will do this again in a couple of months because it's been fab, hasn't it? Next time I might have more of a theme: or I might just demand chocolates from you all. That sounds good.

Thanks, all of you, for participating. I am so pleased with how it's worked out so far. Now go off and comment some more!

Nik Perring said...

It had been fab - it was an excellent idea!

Nik

Isaac Espriu said...

Wow - i've just spent the last hour replying to comments on my blog and surfing some of these blogs here. Awesome stuff! Thanks, Jane.

Anonymous said...

I'm still laughing at the blog title "Of Moose and Men" - v.funny.

I can't promise Ewan McGregor from Moulin Rouge or Paul Bettany as Chaucer, but Musings of a Penniless Writer does provide amusing witterings about great books, the challenges of writing and a picture of George Bush!

lainey bancroft said...

Oh, way to feed my blog addiction.

(apologies in advance I don't know how to do a 'proper link' as my blog is--mostly--idiot-proof)

Here's the pitch:

Lainey's Blog. Can you resist that catchy title? My daughter wanted to call the blog: The Brain of Lainey Leans Mainly Toward Insane?

Here's the place:

http://www.elaineforlife.com/LaineysBlog/tabid/463/Default.aspx

Must go visit new-to-me blogs now. =)

catdownunder said...

Miaou, growl, purr....cattish comments about life, literacy, politics, domestic and world affairs available from "Downunder". Happy to share my territory - Australia is a big place. I did not scratch Jane!

Katy said...

40 year old woman takes up squatters' rights in cyber space. Like-minded random ramblers welcome.

www.movingbackmovingon.blogspot.com

Angela said...

MyFavoriteAuthor blogs about YA books and authors that adults enjoy reading!

Check us out at: myfavoriteauthor.blogspot.com

Jane: I love your blog! I'm not a writer, but am completely fascinated by the process that my favorite authors/books go through in order to get to me!

Melinda Szymanik said...

Its not as terrifying as you'd think looking inside the head of a children's author in New Zealand as I lay it all out - the ups and downs, ins and outs, things I've discovered and stuff I've learnt.

cheers
Melinda

Luisa at Chicklish said...

UK-based site run by passionate team of teen fiction readers. Loads of book reviews, news and interviews. Chicklish: Reader, I snogged him.

Dee Martin said...

Just stumbled by - Thoughts Have Wings is where I live and where my thoughts and interests get strung together, one word at a time. Come by and say hello.

Isaac Espriu said...

Well, one of the partyers who visited my blog gave me an idea -and the result is a flash piece that's now been posted. Click on name to go read :)

Thanks again for the party!

graywave said...

Jane, your pitch party has been a huge success. I've met all kinds of interesting new bloggers and I think I've picked up a couple of new subscribers too. Thanks for organising it.

GUD Magazine said...

GUD Magazine raffles off the books/mags we review for the cost of a comment. Currently up: Scrofula by Matt Dennison.

Rod H said...

Jane, thank you for your comment. I always enjoy your posts and you have just taught me how to live link!

Your remark about Katie Price reminds me of something I read on a website recently. At the top of the page were the words, 'Writing is the easy part.' It went on to say that getting published was the hard part. But I don't think writing is easy. Writing well certainly isn't.

DOT said...

I would link your blog, Jane, as it is one of my favourites but that might prove a mite circular.

These are others I enjoy, they all being writers who are enjoying deserved success:

[a href="http://howpublishingreallyworks.blogspot.com/"]http://laneswrite.blogspot.com/[/a]

[a href="http://howpublishingreallyworks.blogspot.com/"]http://insearchofadam.blogspot.com/[/a]

[a href="http://howpublishingreallyworks.blogspot.com/"]http://jonmayhem.blogspot.com/[/a]

(I just hope I have done this correctly.)

DOT said...

Oops! Let's try that again, David, and read the instructions this time.

Lane's Write

Caroline Smailes

Writing in a Vacuum

Welshcake said...

As usual, I missed the party!

I'm Welshcake, I write children's fiction and my blog's about... attempting to become a published author(what a surprise!) No luck yet, but some progress made.

Good to see a few blogs from children's writers above me. I shall visit later (and I recognise some of you!).

Anonymous said...

Great idea, Jane. I can't quite believe how late I am for this party, but I'll have a go anyway...

Each day we expect the sun to rise. What if it didn't? Read Lights Out, episode one of a blog story. Other things there too.

Simon Kewin said...

Spellmaking : A catalogue of the disasters and occasional triumphs of a (would-be) writer. Including diversions into books and writer's software and the occasional joke.

Christian Writer said...

No theology but plenty of words www.christianwriteruk.blogspot.com

Shakespeare's Housekeeper said...

..So you write.
But who keeps you going? who makes your dinner? Who goes through every agonising hour with you while you're waiting for that e-mail from the publishing house?
http://shakespeareshousekeeper.blogspot.com
You can't do it on your own....

Smashing idea Jane!

Jo said...

Oops, probably too late but can I join the party?
I blog about my life in France but I've been so obsessed with working on a new writing project I haven't posted for a week or so.
I must paste some stuff on my 'Writing' website too. Do drop by and leave your comments,
www.franceforbetterorworse.blogspot.com

K M Kelly said...

Hey - I've just arrived - I hope you haven't drunk all the wine!

Follow the fiction and see where it leads you - And check out some of my SciFi shorts stories!

Scribbling SeaSerpent

Litlove said...

I had three lives: mother, academic literary critic and chronic fatigue sufferer. Now I'm trying to squeeze them into one freelance writer.

(http://litlove.wordpress.com - but clicking on my name should do the trick.)

Graeme K Talboys said...

Spleen. Vented.
grumblog

TOM VOWLER said...

'I'm writing a novel.'
'Neither am I.'
No, really, I am.
Follow the folly:
How to Write a Novel

Sarah Garrigues said...

Aspiring Writer With Lots of Questions?

Sarah Garrigues has the answers!

This blog is a great resource for novice and veteran authors alike. Enjoy!

Jane Smith said...

I still haven't had a chance to catch up with the rest of the pitch party people (I will, I promise, but today I had to find new glasses which is far less fun--I ordered two pairs, spent far too much money, and long to be able to wear contacts again or to have my eyes lasered, but I'm too chicken for that): but meanwhile, have a look at the new Absolute Write Blogroll gizmo that I've added to the blog which should result in new hits for you all. It's easy to get your blog added: just join AW, get obsessed, add the blogroll to your blog and request inclusion via the link provided.

CekaTB said...

Anyone who aspires to write for the women's magazine market cannot do better than visit the Womag blogspot site - full of invaluable information!

Leela Soma said...

Fantastic Party.Had to join in. Read the hesitant jottings of a debut novelist promoting an Asian- Scottish novel- the first from Glasgow.
www.leelasoma.blogspot.com

Jane Smith said...

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Naughty, naughty, NAUGHTY. We do not like spammy comments here.

I have now deleted the comment from "Sheena" but for your information here's the text of it. It's a typical spammy comment which I've seen on many blogs now: if you get a similar one then delete it and do not click on any of the links it contains.


I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.


Kaylee


Kaylee, with all due respect (which isn't much) I do hope that you DON'T come back here. I am not interested in what ever it is you're selling, and I doubt that any of my readers are either.

Anonymous said...

If you're looking for snark, chocolate martinis, margaritas, and an unreliable beagle mixed in with an editor's view of the publishing industry, then transport yourself to the Behler Blog.

LOL: word verification, goutfr. Sounds like gout with attitude.

Frankie Anon said...

Writer Desperately Seeking Readers:

We all know the unexamined life is not worth living. But what about the unexamined toaster oven? Is it worth living with? If we are what we eat, are we also what we own? My blog is my effort to find out. And a place to hone my craft. Published memoir to follow (she said, hopefully.)

Object Wisdom

Barry Walsh said...

Jane,
Thanks. All your good advice and this gracious offer too.
Many thanks.

Aspiring novelist and occasional blogger on, among other things, writing would be pleased to see you and to hear from you at http://pimlicokid.blogspot.com/

April Hollands said...

How's this:

Take a break from the daily grind and experience the observations of an Australian living in France: Le Franco Phoney - all things French as seen by an outsider.

Manuela said...

What a treasure trove, and great community - thank you Jane!

Visit around and get inspired, and when you tire of that you can come for a rest at Today This Poem - come let the poems and their music soothe you.

Whitney said...

Fan who has finally decided to preach the gospel Winchester in a smart critical blog, Supernatural Scribbles, and maybe review a few teen books too.

Jane Smith said...

Just to let you know, there's now a second pitch party for you to participate in if you'd like, which you can find here.

It's to celebrate my blog's first birthday, which is today. There might even be cake!