Mentor Wishlist Blog Hop
Hi, Pitch Wars Hopefuls!
This is my first year as a PitchWars Mentor and I couldn’t be happier! In 2016, I was a mentee under the brilliant and ever encouraging Pintip Dunn. Being in PW changed my author life forever. Now, I’m beaming that I get to be on the other side.
~If you are just visiting my blog or have no idea what Pitch Wars is, let me explain!~
It’s a mentoring program where published/agented authors, editors, and industry interns choose one writer each to spend three months revising with. We read our mentee’s full manuscript, offer feedback, help guide them through revision, and work on a pitch and query letter. It ends in February with an agent showcase, where agents can read a pitch/first page and request to read more. If you’re a writer with a finished, unpublished manuscript, check out pitchwars.org for more info!
Moving on, I am accepting Young Adult entries only, so if that is what you write, great, read on! Thanks for coming to check out my wishlist! (More info about me at the end…)
Let’s get started!
THE WISHLIST
A rich, high-stakes dystopian with a unique premise, fresh setting, deep world building, and preferably no final battle but a new, unique ending.
A retelling either a unique spin on a classic or fairytale or old movie, with relatable characters, a complex plot, and plot twists.
A fantasy or portal with a compelling quest, world building that makes everything come alive, romance, and good vs. evil. (Not the right mentor for dragons, elves, witches, fairies, unicorns, or paranormal/high fantasy.)
A contemporary with deep, thoughtful, and funny characters. Light hearted. Some spin on reality. A unique background or goal, (gifted? a spy?) or grand adventure/trip, or (maybe) a splash of the supernatural. A modern day Anne Shirley?
A Sci-Fi Alien story like The 5th Wave or I am number Four.
BOOKS THAT FEEL LIKE:
Legend Series by Marie Lu
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Cress by Marissa Meyer
Legendary by Stephanie Garber
Storm Siren by Mary Weber
Destined for Doon Lorie Langdon & Carey Corp
The 5th Wave & I am Number Four (as mentioned above)
The Gallagher Girl Series by Ally Carter
We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizel
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
The Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Namey
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
WELL KNOWN BOOKS I LOVE:
The Giver
Hunger Games
The Book Thief
Anne of Green Gables
Little Women
Count of Monte Cristo
Great Expectations
Brothers Karamazov
Narnia
Lord of the Rings
The Martian
WHAT I LOVE WORKING ON IN MANUSCRIPTS:
First chapter set ups: the intro of a unique main character with a distinguished voice, strong world-building, compelling hook–the goal & conflict, pacing, & themes.
Tension & Mystery, Questions to make me turn the page.
International settings
Diverse & Relatable characters
A thrilling, believable, and root-worthy goal
Humor, I love to laugh–even during an apocalypse.
Intense, but believable emotions!
Pay-offs!
First and last lines.
Happy or hopeful endings.
ROMANCE:
If your book has romance (a plus), my preference is slow burn & deep development. Make it believable. I’m a sucker for a Peeta/Katniss (Anne/Gilbert) development style. Like Stein on Writing says about writing romance, “what you don’t say is saying more.”
NOT THE RIGHT MENTOR FOR:
Anything that isn’t YA
Murder mysteries
Historical fiction
Horror
Anything with self-harm or suicide
Abuse of any kind: sexual, substance, or abuse toward animals
Excessive violence/cursing.
AS A MENTOR I AM:
Super excited, optimistic and committed. I’ll have your back.
Always developmental first. Playing with sentences and finessing prose is last.
An outward processor and BRAINSTORMER. I love talking through plot holes and character development and ways to increase stakes. So, expect at least one brainstorming session–if you’re into that.
Grammar is NOT my forte. Others do that for me. I promise you I will not know where commas go. Sorry.
I’ll communicate primarily via email and, if you’re into it, text messaging, video chats, etc.
I LOVE seeing authors reach their goals. My hope is that no matter what happens you walk away LOVING your manuscript even more.
So. Are we right for each other?
A BIT ABOUT ME
Morning person here, hi, (4/5am club!)
I grew up in a multicultural home with internationals regularly living with us. I also lived half of my life abroad –mostly in Asia (14 years) also in Europe and the Middle East. (My mother is a dual citizen of another country.) We’ve always had different languages in the house.
I’m the creator of Write A Novel Workshop & The Spinning Pen, a blog for readers/writers, which gave me years of experience reading and critiquing manuscripts & queries.
I am represented by Amy Jameson of A+B Works Literary.
My debut, Calculated, has exciting news that I can’t share yet. But I can say this, I had a very backwards journey, starting with a film option! In October you can hear the other good news. That said, every author’s journey is unique. Yours will be too 🙂
I was a 2016 Pitch Wars mentee under NYT best selling author Pintip Dunn. With her and my fellow mentees, I learned how many times I could revise my manuscript. And guys, it got so good. Never give up.
A MENTEE I’D LOVE TO WORK WITH:
You’re motivated to work.
You also know how to rest.
You stay in communication.
You believe in yourself and your writing.
You ask questions, brainstorm, and we make a plan.
You’re open to changes but you’re also honest if something isn’t working. I’ve been where you are. Writing is creative. There are always more ways than one. This is also YOUR manuscript.
If you are a parent, you remember that your kids/family well-being is higher on the priority list than the MS. That said, you also have some kind of a game plan for support during the PW season!
You are excited and friendly.
MOVIES I QUOTE
Star Wars, Matrix, Indian Jones, Mission Impossible, Prince of Persia, Princess Bride, Avengers, LOTR, Sound of Music, Anne of Green Gables, Back to the Future, The Saint, The Count of Monte Cristo, Romancing the Stone, Kung Fu Panda, Ninjago & all LEGO movies.
MORE RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME
I graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a bachelor of International Relations & have met heads of state and ambassadors in multiple countries.
I am married to a craftsman/photographer. We have 3 wild kiddos.
I’ve surfed all of the west coast of America and Hawaii; worked at a Rugby Pub in Italy where I had to wear a kilt; ridden camels in a far off deserts in Central Asia where I had to sooth a crying baby camel by singing to it: survived natural disasters in foreign countries; walked through a packs of rabies stricken dogs unharmed; been on TV in 3 foreign countries; recorded my own album in Italian; slept on volcanic island beaches while watching lava spit all night; I play guitar; have eaten yak (in all forms) and yak butter tea in Tibetan tents miles from electricity; have danced with strangers and written poems on trains, in grassland yurts, Asian mountains, tropical islands, Middle-Eastern ancient cities; have eaten very strange things throughout my life and have best friends all over the world.
Best place to connect is on Instagram @nova_mcbee. *I have Twitter but I’m not a regular there.