My first #RevPit #10Queries is coming tomorrow 4/25 at noon Eastern!

This weekend, I’m reading requested materials and will possibly make a few more requests the beginning of next week. I’ll pin a tweet when I’m done requesting. #RevPit

In the meantime, I have some Things I want to share and discuss.

First is the subs themselves. (No pie in this tweet, sorry) Thise who’ve subbed before will know every year we’re like, “omg these subs are so amazing!” And it’s true. I’ve been doing this kind ... #RevPit

... of contest since 2014, and each year I’ve seen the #WritingCommunity grow more informed and better prepared. Every year, it’s that much harder to choose. #RevPit

On the whole, this is definitely the best batch of subs yet. I only got a few that were outside the word count range for the genre (and they were aware it was off). In 2014, that number was close to 50% of my subs. Y’all are also much more aware of genre standards. #RevPit

I didn’t get a single sub that the genre was just flat wrong—the first time that’s happened in 7 years. Ditto on age category. So when the editors say these subs are great and you’ve clearly been working hard, this is a huge part of why. #RevPit

In the queries and pages, it also seems there’s a high level of overall understanding of what’s needed—the basic components and where the go. Getting those working together is HARD, especially when it’s your own writing. #RevPit

So, what this means is, yes, the competition is fierce BUT ALSO that each of you is fierce too. You’ve been reading books and blog and threads and getting feedback and finding new resources. You been rewriting and reworking your pages and working hard to learn about story #RevPit

I see this every day in the authors I work with in my editing business and the others I interact with online.

Y’all are DEDICATED.

Totally committed to this goal of getting published. And I have so much respect for that hustle. #RevPit

Even more than the hustle though is the vulnerability and courage of putting your work out into the world, not only knowing you’ll be critiqued but seeking it out! After you’ve spent all that time and energy writing and revising, you do The Scary Thing! #RevPit

Can we collectively just take a moment to acknowledge what a huge deal that is? Because for everyone writer I know who’s querying/publishing, I know a handful of others who won’t share their writing. Or won’t do the work of being open and truly accepting feedback. #RevPit

And don’t even get me started on how y’all support each other. I will literally cry. That’s for another thread though. #RevPit

But you know it’s scary and put your work out there anyway, and that is freaking amazing.

So. In the 7 years I’ve been doing this, I’ve seen dozens of writers who’ve subbed to me in contests go on to get agents and publish. Some of them were my winners or runners up #RevPit

But honestly most of them weren’t. (Since I haven’t had dozens of winners). The ones who didn’t win sometimes went on to find other ways to get what they needed. The were dedicated and committed and still haven’t stopped learning and growing. #RevPit

So I want to leave you with this thought: take everything you can from this contest. Take the community, the advice, the CPs. Take the win if you get it. But know that at the end of the day, it’s not just about this ms. It’s really about growth as a writer. #RevPit

As long as your keep your focus on growing, taking in what you can where you can—and hopefully sharing with those you can help—you will get there. This isn’t just a dream. It’s a goal, and one that’s achievable, as I’ve seen so many times over the years

You’ve got this, #RevPit