Writing

Nomencreature

By Christopher Keelty

PitchWars 2015: #PimpMyBio Contestant Blog Hop

by 149 Comments

Hi there, fellow writers! I’m delighted to announce the third annual PitchWars mentee blog hop, affectionately known on Twitter by the hashtag #PimpMyBio. Dannie Morin, 2015 mentor and host in our first two years, asked me to take over this year, and I couldn’t be more excited.

First and foremost, one point must be made explicit:

** This is not an official Pitchwars event and is in no way required. **

This is something fun, a way for contestants to show some personality, get to know one another, and cheer each other on. As it happens, I know some mentors take the time to read contestant bios, but you do not have to write a bio to compete in PitchWars.

Is that all clear? Good, then let’s proceed.

1. So how does this work?

It’s pretty simple. No doubt you’ve already read the mentor bios [All of them, right? I thought so.] and now you have a chance to write your own. If you want examples, you can look back at my bios from PitchWars 2013 and PitchWars 2014, or look at any of the 136 other examples from last year. Then follow these simple instructions:

1. At the bottom of this entry you’ll find a link widget. Enter your name (as you are identified in your PitchWars queries) and a link directly to your PitchWars bio (ie, not to your blog’s front page).

2. In your bio, please link back to this post (again, directly to this post! Not to my front page, which on any given day may or may not have anything to do with PitchWars!)

3. Share a link to your bio on Twitter and other social media [rumor has it there are social media sites other than Twitter] using the hashtag #PimpMyBio.

4. Please do poke around and read other contestant bios! Cheer each other on, follow other writers on their blogs and on Twitter, and just generally be a font of positive energy! This is supposed to be fun, after all.

2. Do I have to write and share a contestant bio?

I think we covered this already, didn’t we?

No, you don’t. But you may want to consider this feedback from 2015 mentor Dannie Morin:

…even though the hop is NOT official, it does help us as mentors. Reviewing my bio probably tells writers I’m sort of a weirdo and smartass and some people might not be looking for that in their mentor (though I cannot for the life of me fathom why!) Your bio, even though it is primarily just for fun, is a reflection of you. Don’t ever put anything on the internet that’s not! Once it’s online you can’t take it back, guys!

…

For me, a writer’s social media presence is important. Are you blowing up at people, being rude, sharing inappropriately personal details in a public forum? For me, that tells me we might not be a good match. Do you handle adversity well, have a great sense of humor, and take writing seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously? For me, that IS a good match. It might not be for another mentor, but it works for me.

On that note, I am also going to plug three pieces from author and past PitchWars mentor Rae Chang, “The Art of Killing Your Chances,” “The Science of Appearing Unrepresentable,” and “Don’t Be This Person.” You’ll find invaluable advice on how to behave, not only during PitchWars, but in general when navigating the series of complex tubes that make up the Internet.

3. What if I don’t have a blog or social media presence?

Then you’re not prepared to enter the publishing industry in 2015. Go create a Tumblr.

4. What if I’m afraid of criticism?

Okay, I totally just included that question as an excuse to drop that Lucille GIF.

5. Chris, why aren’t you participating?

I don’t have a manuscript ready. I’m still querying the manuscript that I entered in PitchWars 2014 [which one mentor told me she didn’t select because it was “as ready as it was ever going to be”], and I’m about a quarter of the way through writing a new one. That’s why I’m putting my bio-writing energy into composing this overly-long, GIF-laden blog hop intro.

6. How’s that query process going?

7. Just kidding, there is no #7. On with the blog hop!

**AND HERE’S THE LIST**

(and the widget to add yourself)

 

Comments

  25. Avatar says

    Added my bio (Katie Green). Thanks so much for hosting this! And I love the GIFs. Arrested Development is my favorite show, and you picked the perfect pictures for this. 😀

    Reply

  31. Avatar says

    Thanks so much for organizing this! You’re awesome! I’m looking forward to connecting to other writers. Pitch Wars is such a great community. Loved all the GIF’s. Good luck with your manuscripts!

    Reply

  74. AvatarAnonymous says

    Thanks so much! Best of luck to everyone submitting. Regardless of the results, I look forward to hopefully getting to chat with you all on twitter.Tweet me at @meghanmaugeri. 🙂

    Reply

  116. Avatargenevieveangelique says

    Hi! So the first time I tried posting my url into #177, it failed and I entered again into #177’s “empty” slot. Now I see I have TWO links up (#177 & #178). Weird. Please feel free to delete one of my links. Thanks!!!! Genevieve

    Reply

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