Frances Gilbert, Vice President and Editor in Chief at Doubleday for Young Readers [under the hood of Random House Children’s Books], acquired my debut picture book The Donkey’s Song via #PBPitch, which is a Twitter Event for picture book writers who want to pitch their books to agents and editors. I have written several posts about Twitter events, and I’ll share those at the end of this post. But today, I want us to have a little Twitter Party of our own.
[This was written as an assignment for an event I conducted. For today’s purpose, just read the tips and example pitches. I’ll do another PB Event in February of 2023.]
Assignment for Day 10:
- Practice Writing Sample Twitter Pitches for ANY Picture Books You Have Written
If you haven’t written a picture book, write twitter pitches for your favorite picture books that someone else wrote. Tip for writing Twitter Pitches below.
Here’s a Tip of My Own, I randomly test my Twitter posts on Twitter itself. I type the text that I think I want for my tweet in the Twitter window, but I don’t hit the Tweet button. All the words that are highlighted in pink won’t fit into your pitch. I keep whittling away my text until the most essential words will fit. If this is just a practice, I exit that window, but if I want to actually Tweet the words, I hit SEND/
The Following Shows My First Attempt at Trying to Place Words in a Twitter Box Before:
The Following Shows The Tweet After I Edited it so that the Most Essential Words Fit the Twitter WIndow:
To repeat your assignment for Day 10 of the #14DayPBChallenge:
- Whittle Down Your Pitch to the MOST important words that you need to HOOK & SELL your picture book manuscript idea to a prospective agent and/or editor.
- When you have the best words possible ready to Tweet, just do it–OR find an image that helps sell your post. I am a big proponent of using images on social media, but in the official #PBPitch, you can only use your own original illustration with your Twitter pitch.
Hear This: YOU DO NOT NEED AN IMAGE FOR #PBPitch. - When everything is perfect, hit Tweet. Yes! Today. Hit Tweet. Let’s have our own official Twitter Party Today. It will be fun, and it will also be great practice.
It will be good practice for the next #PBPitch.
And guess what!!!
In honor of The Donkey’s Song and its success via #PBPitch in 2020, I’m starting another #14DayPBChallenge on February 1, 2023.
The Donkey’s Song
Written by Jacki Kellum
Illustrated by Sydney Hanson
Released October 18, 2022
Published by Doubleday for Young Readers at
Random House Children’s Books
Right now, I am busy marketing my debut picture book, The Donkey’s Song, and I don’t plan to participate in the #PBPitch on October 27, 2022.
I’m preparing to leave on a couple of book tours. I’ll be gone much of November and December of 2022.
Plus, I am teaching a college writing class, and it is research paper time. Here is a tip for my college class that you need to remember when pitching your manuscripts:
In summary, I recommend #PBPitch, and I plan to participate in the #PBPitches in 2023 when I plan to teach less and write more.
A Pitch for #PBpith: How My Picture Book The Donkey’s Song Was Discovered
The images that you see in the following Twitter Pitches are my own art. You do not need an illustration to pitch your book in #PBPitch. In fact, I did not pitch The Donkey’s Song with an illustration. Read more about that:
Here are some of my Twitter Pitches from the Past:
I’d like to be your Dame, Friend-Fly, But Damsel-Quick, you fly too high! Betterflies – 286 Words #PB about 2 different kinds of bugs – a damselfly and a ladybug – who learn to overcome their differences and to be #friends. #diversity #metamorphosis
Another Tweet for Another Picture Book:
Things Are Falling Apart on the Farm – The Cow must be milked… The Lamb needs a haircut…The Foal must be fed. Waking Up the Sun – a short, rhyming picture book – Rooster learns why he needs to get out of bed on time and Wake Up the Sun!
Another Tweet for Another Picture Book:
Mrs. Cow Is Over the Moon about all the socks she bought. Lots of Socks is a short, funny & rhyming picture book about the socks that Mrs. Cow ordered online, i.e. “Socks with red, hot rocket ships to help her clear the moon.” #Humor #PBPitch #WritingCommunity #pb #amwriting
Another Tweet for Another Picture Book — No Illustration Yet!
Here Comes The Parade: Now, I see it coming, A-tapping of my feet. The majorettes a-twirling, A crispy tune a-curling, A party is unfurling, A-marching down my street. Short, Rhyming #pb 211 words #querying #askagent #pb #agent #queryingagent
Another Tweet for Another Picture Book — No Illustration Yet!
1 early morning glory, Sings her sapphire songs, Climbs along my garden gate, And clings with leafy prongs. 2 orange trumpet flowers, Dewdrops on their heads, And 3 creepy spiders Hanging by their threads. Counting in My Garden – 122 short, rhyming words #PBPitch #amwriting
Another Tweet for Another Picture Book — No Illustration Yet!
There’s a brief, enchanted moment, As the moonlight turns to day, When bullfrogs hoop and holler, And the gators let them play. … Though diamond drops of daylight fall, I’m cotton-picking blue. #PBPitch True Short Story in Rhyme Cotton-Pickin Blues
Another Pitch
We’re Going on a Raccoon Hunt [Dad] “A raccoon tail upon your cap. A coat to keep you warm. A raccoon roast for supper time. … [Boy] He hunted me instead. A fuffy tail behind him A mask across his eyes. My raccoon friend had found me. A racoon-hunting prize. #PBPitch
Another Pitch
“I have a special window seat. It’s right beside my bed. Velvet cushions for my feet, Curtains overhead. I like to sit here late at night. I listen for the loon. I love to sniff the jasmine air, And then, I watch the moon.” I Love to Watch the Moon #PBPitch The Moon’s Changes
Another Pitch
“A place where mosquitoes grow as big as pennies and where summers are steamy and as sticky as pancake syrup, New Orleans lies along the Mississippi River in Louisiana – Edgar Degas Son of Louisiana – Non-rhyming PB Biography about the French painter’s visit to America. #PBPitch
My Post about My Participation in #PBPitch – Also Shares Tips to Prepare Yourself for a Twitter Event.