Sunday 7 June 2009

Birthday Pitch Party!

How Publishing Really Works is one year old today and to celebrate, I'm having another blogging pitch party!

The last time we had a pitch party there were comments flying around all over the place: a good few bloggers who participated ended up hundreds of extra visitors to their own blogs; and most of us discovered several brilliant new blogs to add to our reading lists.

All you have to do is pitch your blog in the comments section and add a clickable link to it (instructions below), and then visit and comment on at least three of the other blogs which have been pitched by my other readers.

If you don't have a blog of your own you're welcome to pitch other people's blogs; you can write and post as as many pitches as you like; multiple pitches for just one blog will be fine so long as each pitch is different, and pitching for multiple blogs is fine too. Just remember the rule about commenting on three other blogs for every pitch you post, though, otherwise it won't work.

Please keep each pitch to twenty five words or fewer, and make each one as compelling as you can: funny, scary and outrageous will all be encouraged, but anything obnoxious, libellous or otherwise nasty will be deleted. Bear in mind that the better your pitch, the more visitors and comments you'll draw to your blog.
To make it as easy as possible 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 code 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.

Now go and get pitching!

68 comments:

Elen C said...

Happy Birthday! One is such a delightful age!

Here's my pitch:
Awfully Big Blog Adventure is an almost daily encounter with some of the UK's most talented children's authors. Like visiting our writing sheds, but warmer:

awfullybigblogadventure

I'll be back later to check out the other links!
Elen
xx

Jane Smith said...

Elen, you got in before me! OK, here's mine:

Take a trip to Greyling Bay for sun, sea, and scandal. Speculation is rife, and contributions welcome!

J. said...

Happy Birthday!

Here's my pitch

[a href="http://lacer.wordpress.com/"]Lacer's Life[/a] is the life of someone who already has enough to do but seems to find even more things to fill her time.

J. said...

And um one of the things I can't seem to do is html links oops! If you click on the J. you should be able to get to my blog.

Sorry!

Jane Smith said...

J, don't worry: I think what went wrong was that you forgot to replace my square brackets with pointy ones. I'll do it for you and see if that helps. Fingers crossed:

Lacer's Life is the life of someone who already has enough to do but seems to find even more things to fill her time.

Jane Smith said...

God, I'm good.

HelenMWalters said...

Visit Fiction Is Stranger Than Fact for my musings on writing whilst juggling four cats (not literally, obviously) and a day job.

J. said...

Thank you Jane!

Megan Burke said...

Visit:
Literary Life
for rants, raves and reviews on a Literary Life

HelenMWalters said...

Bookersatz Book Review Blog is full of reviews of books that our readers love. Great mix of old and new, literary and popular.

Thanks so much for doing this again Jane. It was such good fun last time. I'll be back to click about a bit once a few more people have posted.

Barb said...

Finding My Voice: Like an Ernest Hemingway novel - but without a civil war or fishing. Unraveling the mysteries of writing while keeping the word count down and eating chocolate.

catdownunder said...

This is the cat prowling in by tricycle from Downunder....

Jane Smith said...

Cat, you've got a little snippet appearing later today... see you then!

Jan Jones said...

Happy Birthday again, Jane!

Now edge into Jan Jones for a glimpse of all the things that get in the way of writing lovely feel-good romance.

catdownunder said...

Miaou - but it's already 19:30 here!

Anonymous said...

Well, I had a smashing time.

Nicola Morgan said...

Hi Jane, happy birthday and thanks for hosting the party! Cake too - yay!

Here's my pitch:

"Offering no-holds-barred, expert advice on publication, Nicola Morgan is the first Google result for "crabbit old bat". Publishers recommend her to all aspiring authors. www.need2bpublished.blogspot.com"

Off to find some of your other guests.

Pippa Hennessy said...

What a spondiferous idea - I'm always on the lookout for interesting combinations of words.

The Old Bat is hanging upside down from the rafters, learning how to write and writing about learning how to write... and other stuff.

Happy Birthday!

Pip x

Rob said...

Hello all!

Adventures with Words is one bookseller's attempt at making sense of writing, in books, tv and films. Random nonsense also occurs.

Back later to check out the rest!

Rob

Unknown said...

May Contain Nuts is an irreverant, fun look at writing, reading and lots of other...stuff

http://mickmal1.blogspot.com/May Contain Nuts

Unknown said...

Sorry to be a dufus, jane. Tried several versions of html thingy and couldn't get it to work!

dan powell said...

danpowellfiction

Writer’s blog. Covers all things connected to my work in progress and anything else that comes to mind. A young blog. Be gentle. Pleasethankyou.

Erastes said...

Procrastination, the lure of the shiny, being under the catspaw and the fun of writing gay historical fiction

Barb said...

Barb Ettridge's Blog: A place of bad late night movies and where the dust is removed from between the floorboards with a knitting needle. The excitement never stops!

catdownunder said...

My paws are tired with prowling some excellent blog sites above - back later. (Cats rise early so some of you should still be partying.)

Glynn said...

Faith, Fiction, Friends is about the intersection of faith and fiction, with occasional comments about work and cycling.

Faith,Fiction,Friends

Anonymous said...

An' de walls came tumblin' down: Not situational awareness. Not South Africa. This SA is something I'd be happy to give away. Anyone interested?

Happy birthday! ~Miriam

Unknown said...

How did a Finnish girl end up writing novels in English?
helenahalme

Clare said...

Happy Birthday, Jane. Well done on a year of blogging.

I write about Three Beautiful Things every single day.

Jane Smith said...

Today of all days, I'm having internet problems: my connection has slowed to a crawl and I'm struggling to get ANYWHERE. Luckily I scheduled all sorts of posts for today, so at least that will happen: I'll get to as many of your blogs as I can today, and thanks to all of you for taking part!

Brian Clegg said...

Many Happy Returns!

Popular science author Brian Clegg's blog covers writing, books and eyebrow-raising trivia encountered in a writing life.

It's called Now Appearing

Jane Smith said...

Let me try again for Michael Malone:

May Contain Nuts is an irreverant, fun look at writing, reading and lots of other...stuff

Did that work? Fingers crossed.

Unknown said...

Visit Finnish Review for books you've never thought of reading

Loren Eaton said...

Musings on the writer’s art, some literary theory and occasional book reviews. That’s I Saw Lightning Fall -- narrative, genre and the craft of writing.

Chris Stovell said...

Home Thoughts Weekly
Writing, living and trying not to murder visitors on the West Wales coast.

Unknown said...

Can I wholheartedly recommend Nicola Morgan's blog - need2bepublished. She's funny, knows her onions and isn't in the least bit crabbit. Well, maybe a wee bit

Rob said...

Found some great new blogs to follow and enjoying reading the feedback on my own.

Thanks Jane!

Jane Smith said...

Message to Elen Caldecott: I can't comment on your blog! The popup comments form won't load properly for me. Might be my computer or horrid dial-up connection. I'll try again later, but thought you might want to know.

Lane Mathias said...

Lane's Write

Writing, observations and chat. And an awful lot of procrastination.

Megan Burke said...

WOW!
What an awesome party!
This has really opened my eyes to so many great blogs.

Once again, cuz I'm a shameless self-promoter, my blog,
Literary Life
is an awesome blog chronicling my journey from bookshop girl to writing and editing student, to hopefully best selling novelist!

Plus read all about my stalking authors, reviews, rants and everything in between about publishing.

Also, check this post on the Pitch Party - add your own Pitch on my page too!

Birthday Pitch Party

Barb said...

This is such a great idea - thanks Jane.

Gillian Philip said...

Michael Malone's blog at http://mickmal1.blogspot.com is funny and acute. All about writing, reading, poetry, kids, and losing weight. And gaining it back. I can relate to all this.

Jane Smith said...

ChrisH, your link to Home Thoughts Weekly doesn't work: can you post it again, please?

Karen said...

Many Happy Returns!

Get On WIth It
is primarily about writing, but I often mention the library where I work and my dog. Cake is mentioned frequently.

Nicola Morgan said...

Michael Malone is a seriously intelligent person with a very good taste in blogs. However, his visual observational skills are a tad sketchy, which I won't hold against him as long as I can correct his spelling of my blog: www.need2bpublished.blogspot.com (Get down with the kids for the modern lingo, Michael - when was there last an e in b?) That crabbit enough for you?? (But, hey, thanks for the kind words, though.)

And in return, I'll even include a link to his.

David H. Burton said...

Happy Birthday!! I love this blog. It's so informative and I get so much out of it. I hope to be back here to comment every year!!

All the best and thanks so much!!
David

David H. Burton said...

Woops! Totally forgot to pitch my blog! Not enough caffeine this morning. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

OK, plug time:

Random Musings: Thoughts on writing, technology, and things left of centre. (With a bit of fun stuff thrown in for good measure!)

Cheers!
David

jonathan pinnock said...

Happy Birthday, HPRW from Jonathan Pinnock's Write Stuff. Do drop in and say hello - it will make a change from the Viagra spambots. Oh, and basically the site's my ego trip - links to all my stuff on the net, that kind of thing.

And I will get around to writing another Greyling Bay piece one of these days ...

Unknown said...

Helen Hunt, loved the song from "Fame". Cheesy beyond belief, however they do say a little cheese now and again is very good for you. Nicola, eeesh, did someone pee in your shoes? Much better on the crabbit-ness.

Jane Smith said...

Ooops. Karen's link doesn't quite work. Try this one instead:

Get On With It

Did that one work too? Hope so.

Jane Smith said...

And Mr Pinnock, now I think that Greyling Bay has passed through its stormy period I would very much like another piece from you because you are such a good writer (I'd like submissions from everyone here, to be honest--I've got quite a few, but could do with more GOOD ones).

Dorset Girl said...

Happy Birthday!

Postcards from the Summerhouse:

My first novel 'Mr Rosenblum's List' is published by Hodder next year. I blog about the publishing process (meetings with my editor, the copy-edit, agents, foreign rights etc.) as well being a writer/ screenwriter in darkest Dorset.

http://natashasolomons.wordpress.com

Dorset Girl said...

I'm not tech savy and am having trouble posting the link to my blog - so either click on 'Dorset Girl' or I'm trying again:

http://www.natashasolomons.wordpress.com/

Looking forward to checking out lots of great blogs!

Jane Smith said...

If I've got this right, this should produce a clickable link direct to Dorset Girl's blog.

How did I do? If it works it's more down to luck than judgement as I have a glass of wine in my hand. God only knows what I'll be linking to by the end of the evening.

Jane Smith said...

What ever you do, don't click on the link I just posted to Dorset Girl's blog. She's having a truly horrible time right now and probably wouldn't want you to know about it. You'd be better off not even peeking at her blog. Really. It's awful what she's having to endure.

Jan Jones said...

Yeah, I thought that, Jane. Truly appalling. Especially when she could be back home, drowning and dodging hailstones like th erest of us. Poor girl.

Stephen Kozeniewski said...

What do history’s most violent trade union, a hunchback’s alien abduction, and the Third World War have in common? Find out on Manuscripts Burn.

Anonymous said...

I'm a bit late, but Jane just clued me in, so here's the pitch:

Isaac Espriu's Place

Come one, come all, to my place. Put your feet up, have a chat, share your writing goals, or anything else. I love company!

Chris Stovell said...

Sorry - just got your message - try me to be the dipstick to post a duff connection.

Home Thoughts Weekly

Is there any wine left? And - how rude - I didn't even thank you or wish you happy birthday!

Unknown said...

Many happy returns!

Squeaking in at the last minute I'll attempt a pitch:

Writer & bookseller Sara Crowley blogs at
A Salted about writing, faffing, booing and whoo hoooing. And books. (Catchy huh?)


I look forward to checking out all the linky goodness in these comments.

Thanks Jane for such an interesting blog.

Dorset Girl said...

Sorry. It's just because I'm on holiday. I promise to be more miserable next week...some looming deadlines should do it!

Thanks for posting the correct link. Sorry that I'm an techno-fool.

Dan Holloway said...

Happy Birthday - am I imagining it or has HPRW got itself a new theme (I don't remember the purple - a reflection of the blog's regality?) to celebrate?

Anyway, Agnieszka's Shoes (http://agnieszkasshoes.blogspot.com/)is the companion piece to the world's first interactive Facebook novel, and a humorous if deadly serious call for writers to start thinking smartly, collaboratively, and entrepreneurially.

Anonymous said...

I'm late to the party, but it's taken me a full day to recover from my daughter's 13th party!

Musings of a Penniless Writer

Because let's face it, aren't we all?!

Bill Kirton said...

Great idea, Jane. Sorry I'm late. My offering is:

The delights of absurdity, musings on writing, failing to take life seriously, writing parodies when I can’t think of a real blog. And other stuff.

Living, writing and other stuff

Tim Knight said...

Congratulations on your first 12 months.

I write a daily blog about geeky things like comics, films, TV, role-playing games and my life at HeroPress.

Mr London Street said...

Bad dates, bad meals, good songs, occasional smut, pedantry and so much more. Come visit! I’ve laid on tea and Bourbon biscuits (not literally, mind).

Mr London Street

Ivan said...

Happy birthday - only just found this blog.

The Gods of Irony are having a bad day, and they're taking it out on, well, me. Or my characters. Or you, dear reader....

Monk Quixote

Milla said...

Oh Lord, links die beneath myfingers. If you click on my name, you get taken to my blog. Will that do??
Great idea this and very interesting blog. And yours ain't too bad either, boom boom.