Pitch Wars 2020 Wishlist

Welcome to my 2020 Pitch Wars Young Adult Wishlist! Pitch Wars is a mentoring program where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns choose one writer each to mentor. Mentors read the entire manuscript and offer suggestions on how to make the manuscript shine. The mentor also helps edit their mentee’s pitch and query for an agent showcase in February 2021. I’m so excited to be mentoring YA for the fourth year in a row!

*I am not accepting NA submissions in 2020.

About Me

I’ve lived on both US coasts, in northeast Florida and central California, and a few places in between. I love writing, reading, pop culture, alternative music, and my family and our many pets. Here are some of my favorites:

My Qualifications

I have a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in professional writing and a master’s in English education from the University of Florida. I’ve been a freelance editor for over ten years, and I’ve worked in web design and desktop publishing for over five years. I’ve also critiqued fiction independently and as a group leader through the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators since 2013. My work is represented by Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn.

My Pitch Wars Experience

I write YA of many genres, most recently focusing on darker contemporary and suspense, and I’ve been a part of the Pitch Wars community since I was chosen as a mentee with a YA fantasy in 2012. I was a solo mentor in 2017, a co-mentor with Samantha Joyce in 2018, and a solo mentor again last year in 2019. I love the program because this community changed my writing life, and I want to continue to pass that forward to more writers. For me, Pitch Wars is more about a long-term support system than a single manuscript or milestone.

How I Mentor

I’ll start with an initial, overarching edit letter, addressing any aspects of the manuscript that might need work. We’ll work together to develop a plan for revision, and we’ll set a timeline for sending back the next completed draft. 

For the second round of revision, I’ll address any lingering concerns with a second edit letter. We’ll also work though the pitch and query letter so you’ll be ready to submit to agents, and I’m open to sharing my industry experience to help you move forward on your writing path.  

But don’t just take it from me! In 2019, I was the lucky YA mentor picked to mentor two mentees. My mentee Megan Scott (Insta: @meganscott_writer, Twitter: @MScott_writer) had this to say about working with me:

“Submitting to Laurie was easily the best decision I’ve made in my writing career so far. Her support and knowledge has been invaluable through the highs and doubts that come during Pitch Wars. She’s always explained her reasoning, brainstormed and answered my questions, but also left the final call up to me, because as she’s said so often in the process: she’s trying to help get the story what I want it to be. But along with her amazing editing skills, she is a genuinely lovely person. I think this can makes mentees a bit nervous when trying to pick mentors! Are they nice? So I’m going to put you at ease with confirming that Laurie is one of the great ones! I couldn’t be more grateful I can also call her my friend. So submit to her! I can’t wait to shout about your amazing book with you and Laurie come the new Pitch Wars season!”

My mentee Briana Johnson (Twitter: @wikipediabri) had this to say:

“I can’t thank Laurie enough for all that she did for me throughout Pitch Wars. She was patient and understanding, extremely insightful, and all around incredible mentor. Because of her mentorship, I had a wonderful Pitch Wars experience and came out of the experience with a brilliant manuscript.”

Briana signed with Sam Farkas at Jill Grinberg Literary Management earlier this year, and you can read her Pitch Wars Success Story here. I have been so fortunate to have the best mentees every year! If you’re curious about how my wishlist lines up with the manuscripts I’ve chosen the past two years, Megan’s story was paranormal/contemporary fantasy and Briana’s was a near-future light sci-fi. (And Sam and I mentored in Elizabeth Schwab [Twitter: @LizSchwabWrites] in 2018 with a contemporary suspense.)

So, for all of you 2020 hopefuls, what am I looking for this year?

My 2020 Wishlist

My tastes run from lighter, heart-warming contemporary to darker mysteries and suspense. I also love whimsical and magical fantasy and light sci-fi. In this strange and unprecedented year, I want to read stories that grab me quickly and keep me engaged and turning pages. I’d love to see…

Romance

Contemporary

This is the broadest genre for me! I love everything from light, heartwarming stories to dark and twisty mysteries, thrillers, and suspense. I also enjoy a good adventure! I’m a huge fan of Sonia Hartl, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Dana Mele, Angie Thomas, Kara Thomas, and Diana Urban. I’m also open to literary writing like Laurie Halse Anderson.

Contemporary Fantasy

Science Fiction

My interests are a little more narrow in sci-fi. Again, I love immersive world building, and I would be interested in “soft” or near-future sci-fi, alternate history, or a unique take on time travel.

Other Areas of Interest

Diversity and #OwnVoices

We live in a diverse world, and teen readers need to see that in the books they read. I’m looking for diversity of all types in all genres.

Complicated Families

Things That Are Not the Best Fit for Me

This list is purely based on my personal taste and experience, for various reasons. There are lots of other great mentors who are accepting these types of manuscripts!

Westerns

Horror (or any manuscript with excessive gore)

Sports as Central Plot Elements

Heavy or Military Sci-fi

Heavy or Epic Fantasy

Novels in Verse

Retellings

I think that covers it. Thank you for checking out my wishlist. I can’t wait to read your words!  

***If you know me personally or if we’ve previously worked together professionally or as critique partners, beta readers, or writing group members, please do not submit to me for Pitch Wars. I want to be completely fair when making my decision, and there many other amazing mentors who would love your submission!  

Continue with the YA wishlists below!

Pitch Wars 2020 Young Adult Mentors’ Wish Lists

1. Aiden Thomas (Accepts NA)
2. Sarvenaz Tash (Accepts NA)
3. Chloe Gong and Tashie Bhuiyan
4. Abigail Johnson
5. Kit Frick and Carlyn Greenwald
6. Sonora Reyes (Accepts NA)
7. Laurie Dennison
8. J.Elle and Emily Golden
9. Andrea Contos (Accepts NA)
10. Emily Thiede (Accepts NA)
11. Amanda Panitch
12. Allison Saft and Ava Reid (Accepts NA)
13. Emery Lee (Accepts NA)
14. Carrie S. Allen and Sabrina Lotfi
15. Shannon A. Thompson and Sandra Proudman (Accepts NA)
16. Adiba Jaigirdar and Gabriela Martins
17. Michaela Greer (Accepts NA)
18. Tash McAdam
19. ST Sterlings (Accepts NA)
20. Maiya Ibrahim and Ayana Gray (Accepts NA)
21. Meg Long and Xiran Jay Zhao (Accepts NA)
22. Margie Fuston
23. Jamie Howard
24. Nova McBee
25. Amelia Diane Coombs and Sophie Gonzales (Accepts NA)
26. Rachel Griffin
27. Susan Lee and Auriane Desombre (Accepts NA)
28. Ciannon Smart
29. Sasha Peyton Smith and Kristin Lambert
30. Lane Clarke (Accepts NA)
31. Lyndsay Ely (Accepts NA)
32. Anna Sortino (Accepts NA)
33. Jennieke Cohen
34. Bethany Mangle (Accepts NA)
35. Sunya Mara (Accepts NA)
36. Kat Dunn and Daphne Lao Tonge
37. Sheena Boekweg and Alechia Dow (Accepts NA)
38. Liz Lawson and Dante Medema (Accepts NA)
39. Sarah Dass (Accepts NA)
40. Zach Hines (Accepts NA)
41. Hoda Agharazi (Accepts NA)
42. Dawn Ius and April Snellings (Accepts NA)
43. Kara McDowell and Kimberly Gabriel
44. Kylie Schachte (Accepts NA)
45. Deborah Falaye
46. Rona Wang (Accepts NA)
47. Becca Mix and Grace Li (Accepts NA)
48. Aty S. Behsam (Accepts NA)

Click here to view all Pitch Wars 2020 Mentors’ Wish Lists