So, so many lessons from #PITMAD.

It is Madness. I tried to stay away from checking Twitter, but I couldn’t. It was like dating, when you’re waiting for the guy to call. (Which is why I usually ended up calling the guy.)

First of all, if Kathy at GetABookDeal101 is running her free #pitmad course, then I recommend signing up for that. Definitely watch the videos and do the exercises from Kathy. And I recommend signing up on her website for any free classes etc. She’s an excellent teacher. I learned how to write a Twitter pitch and I think that could be translated into how to write the back cover blurb. Before, I doubted I could write the back cover blurb. So, for that alone, I think it’s worth participating, even if you don’t pitch or don’t get asked to query by an agent. Or if you’re planning to self-publish.

The next #pitmad is in June, so I definitely recommend trying it out.

How Kathy’s Course GetABookDeal Works

You sign up at getabookdeal101.com/twitter. It’s free. Then you get access to the Facebook group where Kathy gives an assignment each day. Each day, she does a live video class with tips (also available as a replay). It started on a Sunday and #pitmad was on Thursday. You post your homework on Facebook and others can comment, and you can comment on theirs, as we all try to improve pitches.

How #PitMad Works

Then on Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., you post three different pitches for your book with the hashtag #pitmad as well as any other relevant hashtags allowed. And you check Twitter obsessively to see what’s happening. (This was actually my first tweet.). And retweet other pitches.

More Lessons from #PitMad

So one thing Kathy does via her live video classes is show the pitches that succeeded in getting likes. This was so helpful and, at least for me, it really seemed to unlock my brain so I could try different pitches.

Voice seemed key. Mash-ups were also successful. And spacing seemed to help. She also recommended just doing a scene from your novel, and not pitching the entire synopsis in 240 characters.

She recommends trying different things each time. This way, you can see what, if anything, gets traction with agents. She showed us how one person tweeted three different pitches: one got one heart from an agent, the second received none, and then the third received hearts from three agents. She chose brilliant examples.

I had one like from an agent on my first pitch. So happy! I also had someone comment that they’ve done that (leave the coat on the chair and the light on), so I loved that too. And someone else commented that they wanted to read this book. My other pitches were not successful, but it was still fun to try.  And then Kathy also complimented me, which also made me so happy.

It’s also an amazingly supportive community.  I loved that aspect. Some people wrote that they got 500 followers on Twitter. I didn’t concentrate on that part of it, but next time, I might. This time, I was so busy in RL that I just did the classes, worked on my 3 pitches, and tried to comment on other peoples’ pitches on Facebook. It was also my first time really using Twitter (Kathy also shows you how to set up your Twitter account). If you have a Twitter community, that may help if many people retweet your pitches.

Lessons from #PitMad in RealTime

I started with my best pitch at 10 a.m.. Here are my three final pitches:

Pitch 1. Jacket on back of chair. Check.

Briefcase in view of open door. Check.

Time to escape the office, but leave the impression she’s still there Conflict-adverse Wall Street lawyer is sure she can persuade cute fun-loving neighbor that she can balance it all. #PITMAD #A #WF #R

At around 2 p.m.:

Pitch 2: How to Intrigue your cute neighbor. What not to do:

1. Play a practical joke on him making him laugh

2. Send him welcoming homemade cookies

3. Invite him over for a home-cooked meal

4. Leave date abruptly to go to office when boss calls. #PITMAD #A #WF #R

At around 6 p.m.:

Pitch 3: WORKING GIRL x LEAN IN

Conflict-adverse Wall Street lawyer must persuade rival colleague to work together so both make partner.

Sent Feminist Fight club in inter-office mail

Sent MIRACLE ON 34th STREET

No Reply. Not surprised. Invite to BusDev lunch. And it’s a yes #PITMAD #A #WF #R

My original three pitches included pitch #1 above and then these two below. After taking Kathy’s class, I changed them to the above final pitches.

I did question whether I should use my final pitch #3 or draft pitch #3 below.

Pitch 2: When a conflict-adverse workaholic bumps into her new neighbor on the street (while checking her work phone), they strike up a flirtation. Even if he is the one, after 7 years of working nonstop to make partner, she has to put that goal first. #A #WF #R #PITMAD

Pitch 3: Conflict-adverse Wall Street lawyer is determined to make partner. She’ll “be nice,” even if her nemesis wonders aloud “if she has what it takes.” But when her 24/7 job sabotages her new love, she must figure out what partnership she wants. #A #WF #R #PITMAD (258)

Let’s Talk

Which pitch would entice you to read the book? Have you done #PITMAD? What did you think? What lessons did you learn?