#DVPIT ADVICE THREAD

Hey everyone! Tomorrow, I’m going to be looking at pitches for #PreDV (9AM - 5PM ET), but I also thought today I’d make this thread of my Top 10 Useful DVPit tips, for those interested! Here we go:

Tip #1: Don’t feel pressured to use all the full character limit for your pitch! Agents will be skimming through these, so it’s better to be concise!

And don’t forget to leave room for the #/DVpit hashtag and your age category/genre hashtags, but less is more!

Tip #2: Make sure that your pitches always tell us these things:

1. WHO your protagonist(s) is/are
2. What they WANT
3. What their main CONFLICT is
4. What STAKES they’re up against

Tip #3: Put your “comps” (comparative/competitive titles) in ALL CAPS before your tweet and, when possible, separate your pitch from your comps with a space so that it stands out more distinctly on the feed!

Tip #4: DON’T retweet a pitch if you’re not an editor, or like a pitch if you're not a lit agent--and tell your friends not to either!

Instead, encourage them to leave comments! The Twitter algorithm will still highlight tweets with lots of engagement!

Tip #5: Your comps don’t HAVE to be books! Get creative! Use book/film characters, places, and events to pitch your book. As long as what you’re comping is known widely enough to make sense, it can be a great way to stand out!

Tip #6: Tweet your pitches at OFF PEAK times! I think I pitched my first (and most successful) pitch at 8:13 AM. Avoid the big “waves” when everyone is pitching so that yours doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. (Sadly, this does sometimes happen).

Tip #6.5 You really need to be thoughtful about timing because what y'all CANNOT do is delete a pitch that doesn't get much traction and then try to tweet again. You get 6 lucky shots, and that's all.

If you cheat the rules, I promise it will be noticed, and not in a good way.

Tip #7: On that note, spread your tweets out during the day! Some agents check the feed first thing in the morning, others over lunchtime, and some look in the evening. I’d say one tweet every 2 hours is reasonable!

Tip #8: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, keep track of your agent/editor likes AS they happen if you can! If you end up getting a lot, you may not be able to see them all later! (This happened to me and it was stressful for a minute!)

Tip 8.1 Mental Health Note: If checking Twitter constantly is going to stress you out, turn off your notifications, and just check in certain time increments (every 2-3 hrs or so). Or, ask a trusted friend to keep an eye out for you!

8.2 Agent Note: Many agents only pin their DVPit submission instructions for the day, so try to jot those down as quickly as you can. It is PAIN to try to find them later!

Tip #9: Research EVERY agent who likes your pitch, and don’t feel obligated to send your manuscript to anyone you’re uncomfortable with (this includes editors who may reach out!) Speak to current clients, check their sales history in your genre, and trust your gut.

Tip #10: The biggest thing I wish I’d known before DVPit? TAKE YOUR TIME. Don’t feel rushed to send out your MS the second DVPit ends. Research agents, and polish your MS if needed. Better to arrive LATE and GREAT. I sent out my MS exactly one month after and was still FINE.

Tip #11: Bonus tip! Engage with other people/pitches you see! Literally most of my best writer friends are people I met through DVPit. They’re your peers and a great support system. Don’t be afraid to reach out and connect!

Tip #12: Another bonus because I'm extra. DRINK WATER. Claribel told me to do this last year and I sort of thought she was kidding, but folks... by the end of the day, I was so anxious/hyped that I was almost physically sick. Drink water, practice self-care.

Good luck!

END/