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)
Written by:
Woot! On it. 😀
Yay! Done <3
Mine is up!
Tadaa! Thanks for hosting!
My pleasure! Good luck!
Thank you for hosting!
Happy to! Best of luck!
Mine is up! Thank you so much for hosting this. I can’t wait to meet everyone!
Posted! Now to check out the others. Thanks!!
Entered! Thanks so much for everything!!!!!
Done.
Can’t wait to get to know my fellow submitters better! 🙂
Sweet. #17. That’s my favorite number. That’s a good sign, right? 😉 Thanks for doing this!
Hey that’s my lucky number too,!
Done!
Done. Thank you. Can’t wait to check everyone’s bio
So fun! Thanks for all the helpful info and for keeping things organized!
Burninating the countryside! Merci beaucoup 🙂
And it’s up! *waves hello*
Done! Thank you. 🙂
Thank you for doing this!
Done. Guess there’s no turning back now
*waves* I’m in! I’ll try to stop by and say hi to as many people as I can!
Thanks so much for hosting!
yay thank you!
This was so much fun to make. Thanks for hosting!
Added mine! (My name is Elizabeth Roderick…my name isn’t showing up as such on this comment).
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. 😀
Bio up and posted. Thanks for organizing this!
Happily reading all of the bios. THANK YOU for being such a gracious host! <3
All done! Now I just need to pluck up the courage to hit send!
Lucky number 49! Thanks!!
I mean 50! We’re all pretty quick on the draw it seems! 🙂
I’m a prime number! Whoo-hoo!
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!
Sheena “too many gifs” Boekweg says thanks!
yes, got mine up! Great idea! Going to read everyone’s now.
On it!
updated 🙂
And it’s officially unofficial! Unofficially official? Something like that.
Thanks so much for organizing, Chris!
Best of luck to all entrants. I’m loving these posts! Glad to be with you all.
Whoot! Whoot! It’s up 🙂
Thanks so much for hosting! These are so fun to read.
Swwwweeeeetttttt!
I’m on the list! Whoo-hoo! Thanks for making this so easy!
Thanks, Christopher!
Thanks for hosting!
thank you for hosting!!!! 😀 😀 😀
Added mine! Thanks for doing this!
This is amazing, Chris! Thank you.
Added mine. Thanks, Chris!
So excited there is another Bronwen in this contest! Off to stalk her blog now. 🙂
Thanks for hosting #pimpmybio!
Posted! Thanks for doing this!
Hey! So fun! Thank you!
Super excited!
Also, thank you for doing this Christopher! It was super fun to write.
Thanks for hosting this. Funs!!!
I hope I followed all the rules correctly! Thanks for hosting-what fun! ^.^
What a cool setup. Thanks for hosting 🙂
Thx for hosting #pimpmybio
Thanks, Christopher!
Thanks, Christopher, for giving us a forum outside of 140 characters to introduce ourselves.
Thank you for hosting!! Now, to revise my entry for PitchWars!
Just posted mine 🙂
Thanks Chris, this is a lot of fun!
Commented. 🙂
Just posted mine. Thanks for hosting the hop!
Thank you so much for hosting! 🙂
Done! This is cool. Thanks for hosting!
Hi I just posted mine! Thanks!
This is awesome! Thanks for hosting. 🙂
Mine’s up!
Thanks for hosting!
Done and done. Thank you!
Love reading everyone’s bios!
Dusting off the old blog for Pitch Wars! Booyah!
Thanks for hosting! I’ve been enjoying everyone’s bios so much I had to add my own!
Thanks for hosting the blog hop! Good luck, everyone. 🙂
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. 🙂
Let me just put this out there after reading through some bios. Writers are hilarious.
My wonderful CP is hosting my bio. Sadly, I’m blog-less. But my CP rocks!!
Thanks for this!
Just so you know, Chris, I LOVE your use of Arrested Development gifs.
#128! Thank you for hosting, Christopher!
Thanks so much for doing this! 🙂
Thank you for hosting this! You made it so easy. You are a rock star!
Thank you! This is a really fun idea!
Thank you! Great idea!
I don’t wanna say that this group is intimidating. So I won’t. But it IS.
So much fun! 🙂
Thanks for sponsoring this blog hop, Chris! It may not be an official PitchWars requirement, but it might be one of the most fun parts!
#134 Thanks! I’m reading everyone’s!
Bio added. Now it’s time to read about other Pitch Wars entrants!
I thought I added my comment, but in my post surgical haze i may not have. Anywhoo, thanks!
Added my bio, good luck to everyone entering PitchWars! 🙂
Did it. Not sure about the blog hop link back, though. I inserted a link in the text, but isn’t there a way to have the blog hop list on the bottom of my post?
Thanks for running the blog hop and gook luck with your querying, Christopher!
Thank you so much for hosting! This whole Pitch Wars experience has been so gratifying and it’s barely begun.
Thank you, Chris!
Wow there’s so many of us!! 🙂
Thanks for hosting this, it was so much fun to put a bio together!
This is such a wonderful idea – hugely enjoying reading the other bios!
Thanks very much!!
Thanks for organizing this! What fun!
Posted my bio! Thanks for hosting.
Thanks for hosting this!!!
All done! Good luck to everyone.
Just linked!
Thanks for doing this!
Done and done!
Thanks for doing this!
Wow, thank you so much for organizing this.
Just added mine!!
Just posted mine! Hooray!!!
Just added! Thank you so much!!
Christopher,
Thanks for all of your helpful posts on insider secrets on the publishing industry!
Jenn
I posted mine! Yay!!!
Posted mine! 😀
So much fun to read all these!
Woo hoo! I posted. Not sure if I linked back correctly, but let’s hope 🙂
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
So much fun – probably the only thing I didn’t take seriously in #PitchWars!
Posted. Thanks for the opportunity.
Thank you! Checked in a 189!
Thanks for hosting!
Oh my gosh! 194 is my favorite number!
195. Nice number, I think. Thanks for hosting!
Added me, Number 198 – I am not a number!
Posted mine! Can’t wait to meet everyone. Thanks for hosting this!
We made 200! I’m listed. Off to add some links in my blog post now. Thanks! Looking forward to getting to know you all. Christy
Hi, 202 here! Thanks for organizing this! What a fab list of writers!
Entered! Thanks for doing this <3
Lucky number 204! 🙂
Entered! Thanks a ton for helping people do stuff like this!
Thanks for this!
So many bios to read. So much more fun than work.
Thank you for doing this?
Thanks so much for doing this!
Woo hoo! Finally got this thing done! 🙂
Whoop! All done.
All done, thanks <3
Posted. Thanks for hosting!
Okay all done! Thanks for setting this list up!!!! Good luck, everyone!
Posted! Hope it’s not too late 😀
Posted – thanks for running this!
Woohoo! I’m on the guest list! 😀