As self-published titles multiply and digital libraries grow more crowded, crafting an effective book pitch is more important than ever. Polishing your fiction or nonfiction book proposal can win you a free ticket to Mediabistro’s eBook Summit.
Our first-ever Mediabistro Book Pitch Party will be held on November 3, 2010 in New York City at Underbar (W New York – Union Square) — showcasing the book pitches of 10 talented writers, sharing practical book proposal advice for all writers, and forging a community of aspiring authors.
Follow this link to RSVP. If you would like to share your proposal at the party, follow the directions below to enter our book pitch contest. We will collect book pitch submissions from now until October 27th. Out of all the contest submissions, we will choose ten talented authors to feature at the party.
On November 3rd, these writers will each deliver a short elevator pitch about their book in front of a crowd of supportive readers, writers, and publishing professionals at the party–sharing feedback and ideas. At the end of the night, our judges will award three lucky winners free tickets to Mediabistro’s eBook Summit and a featured spot on our Book Pitch Panel in December.
We’ve assembled a crack team of publishing professionals to judge the book pitch party. Meet them below…
FinePrint Literary Management president Stephany Evans
Site: http://www.fineprintlit.com/
Twitter: @firerooster
Former Soft Skull Publisher and Cursor founder Richard Nash
Site: http://www.rnash.com/
Twitter: @R_Nash
Movable Type Literary founder and literary agent Jason Ashlock
Site: http://www.movabletypenyc.com/
Twitter: @jasonashlock
How to Enter the eBook Summit Book Pitch Party Contest
To enter your unpublished fiction or nonfiction book proposal, please cut and paste your one-page, singled-spaced entry into the body of an email and send it to pitchparty[at]mediabistro[dot]com.
Please submit a polished and focused pitch letter describing your book–the same letter you would submit to a literary agent. For more pitch writing advice, check out this GalleyCat post. Both published and unpublished authors are welcome to apply.
Follow this link to email your submission. All submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. (PT) on October 27, 2010. By submitting your email entry to our contest, you must agree to the official rules printed below.
“eBook Summit Book Pitch Party Contest” Official Rules
CONTEST DESCRIPTION: The “eBook Summit Book Pitch Party Contest” (the “Contest”) is an activity in which participants are asked to submit a book pitch for Mediabistro judging based on the criteria listed below.
BOOK PITCH: A short summary, on the form above, of your book writing project for the purpose of possibly being published.
ELIGIBILITY: If you do not agree to these Rules, DO NOT enter this Contest. This Contest is open to individuals who are of full legal age in the jurisdiction in which they live, however, residents of the following countries are ineligible to participate in the Contest due to legal constraints: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. This Contest is void where prohibited by law. Employees of WebMediaBrands, Inc., Mediabistro.com inc. their respective contractors, bloggers and freelancers, speakers of the eBook Summit and their respective affiliates, parent companies, and subsidiaries, and the immediate family members and persons living in the households of each are not eligible to enter the Contest.
HOW TO ENTER: Participants are required to submit their book pitch entries on this form and to submit by email to: pitchparty@mediabistro.com (the “Email Address”) Entries will be judged against the Contest Criteria to select the winners. Entries for the Contest will be accepted from 12:01 a.m. (EDT) on September 15, 2010, through 11:59 p.m. (PT) on October 27, 2010 (“Entry Period”). Mediabistro may expand or reduce the Entry Period in its sole discretion. Finalists will be announced on or about October 27, 2010 and winners will be announced on November 3, 2010.
Entries must be submitted through the Email Address. Entrants may submit only one (1) entry/book pitch
All entries must be submitted in the English language. Entrants retain ownership of the submitted book pitch. By accepting the terms of this Contest, the entrants’ are giving permission to Mediabistro, it parent and affiliates, to promote the winning entries in perpetuity, in any medium, now know or hereafter created, it may see fit including, but not limited to, Website, mobile, television, radio and/or printed materials. Mediabistro cannot guarantee the confidentially of the entrants’ contest submissions; therefore, if any part of your entry is confidential please do not enter it into the Contest.
Mediabistro assumes no responsibility for lost, late, illegible, garbled or misdirected entries, or for any computer, online, telephone, human, or other error or for any technical or other malfunctions that may occur. Proof of e-mailing or submission does not constitute proof of delivery.
CONTEST CRITERIA: All eligible submissions will be initially judged by Mediabistro employees (“Judges”) who shall be selected by Mediabistro, in Mediabistro’s sole discretion, to select a group of ten (10) finalists (“Finalists”). A group of three (3) winners (“Winners”) shall selected from the Finalists by a panel of other judges selected by Mediabistro, in its sole discretion (“Judges”). Entries will be judged based on the following “Contest Criteria,” each of which are weighed and ranked as Mediabistro and the Judges deems appropriate, in its sole discretion: Creativity, quality, interest, and other criteria determined by Mediabistro and/or the Judges.
Finalists will be expected to share their submissions at a Mediabistro book pitch party in New York City on November 3, 2010. If a Finalist cannot attend the book pitch party, a Mediabistro employee will read the submission for the Finalist. Finalists will be provided free admission to the book party but are solely responsible for all other costs of attending the book party.
Winners must attend the eBook Summit in New York City on December 15, 2010. Winners will be provided with free admission to the eBook Summit but are solely responsible for all costs or travel and other costs of attending the eBookSummit. The Judges’ decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. Winners will be announced and notified via email. Winners must reply to the notification e-mail within five (5) days or the next-eligible highest ranking entry will be deemed the winner. Winners must confirm attendance at the eBook Summit or the next-eligible highest ranking entry will be deemed a winner.
PRIZES Finalists will be featured and invited to attend an eBook Summit party in New York City, prior to the eBook Summit – dates and times to be confirmed. Winners will be featured at the eBook Summit for thirty (30) minutes with reviews by the Judges.
PRIZE CONDITIONS: All prizes are awarded “AS IS” and without warranties of any kind, express or implied, (including without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose). Should a winner decline a prize for any reason whatsoever, the next-eligible highest ranking entry will be deemed the winner of that prize. Any applicable taxes on the prize or expenses are the sole responsibility of the winners. The prizes have no cash value. No barter, transfer, or assignment of any prize is permitted. Mediabistro does not guarantee that a Finalist or Winner will have its entry published.
GENERAL CONDITIONS: The book pitch must have been created solely by the entrant, and the entrant must have a non-restricted right to submit it into the Contest. The entry cannot defame or invade publicity rights or privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person’s personal or proprietary rights. Modifying, enhancing or altering a third party’s pre-existing work does not qualify as entrant’s original creation. Entries must not be offensive, as determined by the Judges in their sole discretion. Any entrant whose work includes likenesses of third parties or contains elements not owned by the entrant must be accompanied by legally binding releases (“Releases”) for such use, in a form satisfactory to Mediabistro. Entries not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification. By entering, each entrant grants to Mediabistro (including its affiliates, employees, agents, and contractors), and to the Judges, an irrevocable, royalty free, fully paid up, worldwide license to use, review, assess, and otherwise analyze the entry/book pitch and all of its content in connection with this Contest. Permission is also granted for Mediabistro, and its parent and affiliates, to promote winning entries in perpetuity in any medium, now know or hereafter created, as it may see fit including, but not limited to, Website, mobile, television, radio and/or printed materials. Entrants shall not receive any compensation for use of entries, other than as disclosed in these rules. Entrants agree to be bound by the terms of these Official Rules.
Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for WebMediaBrands Inc, and Mediabistro.com inc. and their agents to use the winner’s name and likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation. By entering and/or accepting a prize, participants agree to forever release and hold harmless WebMediaBrands Inc, and Mediabistro.com inc and their respective subsidiaries, and affiliates, and all of their employees, officers, directors, shareholder’s and agents from any and all liability or any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with, in whole or in part, this Contest, the use or review of any entry, or the acceptance of any prize won including, without limitation, for defamation.
IN NO EVENT WILL WEBMEDIABRANDS OR MEDIABISTRO, THEIR LICENSEES, SUBSIDIARIES, PARENTS, AFFILIATES AND RELATED COMPANIES, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES AND AGENTS, BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF THE CONTEST.
DISPUTES: As a condition of participating in this Offer, you agree that any and all disputes which cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Offer, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively, before a court located in the State of New York having competent jurisdiction, which Court shall solely apply the laws of the State of New York without regard for doctrines of Conflict of Law. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will you be permitted to obtain awards for, and you hereby waive all rights to claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than your actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with entering this Offer), and you further waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased and any right to a jury trial.
WHO WON: A list of winners will be posted online.