Editor Pitch: Silhouette Desire

Another chance... thanks Rae!!

Thanks Rae! I've just sent mine and now have to try and forget about it until June, and not think I should've done this or that. How hard can that be?

Sue C

I'm planning my story now. I have a really good idea (if I may say so myself) and I'm brainstorming with a romance reader on Tuesday to work out the conflicts. I have the hero's conflicts down. But the heroine is still a little off.

Gosh I wasn't planning to start that story yet, but an editor pitch is a great opportunit. I won't miss it if I can help it.

Empi

Don't you ever get a day off? Well things in the bites pitch didn't go so well for me but I will be back at the drawing board for this one. Glad to see you are here, always like a friendly face!

Hey Nikki, Maybe this one will turn out better for us! Good luck and let me know if you sub your angel story and how it turns out. I am polishing up my own angel/demon story and am hoping to sub the old fashioned way before this pitch.

Good luck to all that are entering!

Karyn

Hello everyone! I sent in my pitch.

Thanks for the note, Rae. I was getting a little worried reading people who'd already sent in their submissions. I am yet to start my story, and although I already know enough to do a logline, I'd much rather complete the story or at least do about 80% of it. By May ending I should be ready to submit.

Deadline is June, right?

Good luck, you guys!!!  Pitching is quite an experience, especially if you have never been published.  I can't wait to find out who is chosen for the Desire Pitch.  I'm cheering for you all!  I just wish everyone could be a part of a pitch.  Remember, you don't have to be the first to enter!  Take your time and get it right.

Oh, this is so exciting!!!!!!

Inspiring article, Maxine!  I'm tossing around the idea of giving this a try with a story I only just barely started a few months back.  Fingers crossed that all falls into place and I'm ready to go come June!  Good luck to everyone who's giving it a shot!

I think the secrecy is part of their evil plan to make us get our butts in gear and be ready just in case.  I'd love to have a kinda-sorta ballpark though...if the Desire ladies would decide to be so generous. :D *bats eyes* 

Lacey and Sally, thanks for your kind words about my article on doing a Desire pitch. It's over 3 years now since I did the pitch (and sold to Desire because of it), but hopefully it gives you an idea of how the pitch is all done.

Good luck!

Thanks so much, Rae!!  The 15th is very attainable.  Or so I hope. LOL

I've wondered this myself, too.  I know Desire has changed some recently, to be more like Presents, but I don't know what the difference is now.  I *thought* maybe it was that Presents took place in places other than the US, but I just read one that was located entirely in the States and it didn't feature a glamorous location.  The characters weren't overly extravagant in their lifestyles either.  Not at all, in fact. :(

Anyone? :P 

Again, good question, Laurie!!

I've read a lot of both series and here's my take on the differences.

I think it's more a question of the "tone" being different. A lot of the external plots and themes are the same but Presents are darker and the alpha male is uber alpha. The internal conflicts in Presents seems to be more emotionally intense and delve into poverty, abandonment,  betrayal, etc. The heroines are usually younger, more virginal and in a much lower socio-economic position than the billionaire hero.

Desires have a lighter tone. The heroine is usually a little older, probably more experienced and often has a professional or more high powered career than her counter part in a Presents. The Hero is alpha but not to the same degree as a Presents hero.

I also think there's some overlap and some of the stories in each line could fit the other line.

Need a little help.

Does anyone have the link to the Desire podcast handy??

Thanks!!

We're Not Presents" with Diana Ventimiglia & The Podcasts Page--there's a new one updating SRS this week, too.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts on this. I've listened to the Blaze podcast ages ago, but that's the only one. I have dialup and when it loads at all, it takes hours. I'll have to make a trip to the library to use their wireless. I'm pretty sure my story would work in either with a little tweaking. I'm still working on the first draft anyway.

 Laurie

Does dial-up make downloading from iTunes difficult, too? I know that at least one community member has mentioned that she listens to the podcasts via iTunes b/c she has dial up (made me wonder how long it takes to download, but it obviously worked for her). Of course, I'm assuming that you already have iTunes or it's easy for you to get it . . . just trying to give you (and anyone else in a similar situation) another option.

Good luck!

Penn

Dee, thanks for the link to Diana V's comments on Desire versus Presents. I'd read that awhile ago and it was a good refresher to reread it.

Krista, thanks for the reminder to give our Alpha hero depth. Sometimes I focus so much on the heroine's story I forget to ensure the hero is equally three-dimensional.

Kate Walker posted about alpha males on her blog last week. Several authors have contributed their take and I found it really interesting. And someone posted a pic of the awesomeness that is Hugh Jackman - that alone is worth a look.

Rules state, log lines are all that are required. However, if you're selected and the editor wants the project, you can bet your sweet patootie she's going to want a syn. Just sayin.

Good luck,

Dee

Yeah, I got no small amount of patootie either. Sigh. Must walk more. :)

Dee

Dee thanks for answering that question.  I'm a newbie and I feel technically challeneged with my new laptop. 

I don't want to commit and not know if I could even submit. LOL 

Thanks again.

Rae, thanks so much for putting into to a nice to do list.

I'm going to put it on a post-it note on my screen.

Thanks again!

If we are chosen to do a pitch, Diana will already have seen our logline.  So do we open with additional detail beyond the logline?  Or do we start with the logline as if we're starting again? 

 And I'm assuming this is typed chat rather than voice chat.  Is that correct?

Thanks for the insight.

Besides the logline and manuscript, what other submission materials should the writer have prepared (synopsis, character profiles, summary of external and internal conflicts, etc.) in case the writer is selected to give their pitch via the Chat or is asked to submit his/her work?

Could you clarify the no multiple submissions rule?  Does this mean no simultaneous submissions to other imprints for the same manuscript or one entry per contestant?  

Thanks!