Caitlin Sinead
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My #Pitchwars Wishlist 2017

6/28/2017

26 Comments

 
I know you’ve got a lot of blogs to hop to, so let’s get right to it with a simple infographic! 
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Question 1: What are you mentoring? 
I’m mentoring New Adult and Adult books. 

Question 2: What’s on your Wishlist? 
Anything that has at least some speculative elements and some romantic elements. I define both rather broadly.  
As for romance, don’t hop to the next blog just because you don’t think your book is a “Romance.”  My favorite kind of book has a heavy romantic subplot, but other things driving the main action. But I also enjoy subtle romantic subplots and full-on romances. So really, any level of romance, as long as there’s some, is going to pique my interest. 

As for the speculative part, this includes paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi, etc. etc. etc. Basically, whether you’re twisting reality a little bit or creating a whole new reality, I’ll be interested to learn more.  

But what if your book doesn’t have romance or speculative stuff? Well, if your story is a retelling or deals with real-world politics…then forget my “requirements” above and send it to me anyway!  

If you happen to have a speculative romance that’s also a retelling that also deals with real-world politics then...  
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 Question 3: Why would I want to work with you? 
Okay…so you’ve decided your novel is a good fit interest-wise. Yay! But there are other mentors too, so why would you want to work with me? 

Well, I think my novels are pretty good. But don’t take just my word for it. HEARTSICK and RED BLOODED, have received positive reviews from Library Journal,  RT Book Reviews, and USA TODAY.  My Wattpad novel, DENALI IN HIDING, has more than 250k views.   

I’ve been in the query trenches before, so I know what it’s like! I also successfully landed an agent—I am represented by Andrea Somberg. 

I don’t just write novels. My short writing has also earned accolades from  Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Glimmer Train, and Writers & Artists, and my stories have appeared in multiple publications, including The Alarmist, The Binnacle, Crunchable,  Jersey Devil Press, and  Northern Virginia Magazine.  
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I also earned a master's degree in writing from  Johns Hopkins University. While in the program I learned how to carefully and constructively offer feedback to other writers. I’ve continued to do that while CPing and offering critiques.  
 
Question 4: What is your word for the scavenger hunt?  
Off, (for the RED puzzle)

Question 5: I still have questions!!! How do I ask them?
You can leave a comment here, email me, go to my AMA on the Pitchwars Board, or connect with me on Twitter. :) 

Pictogram Credits:

Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY
Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY
Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY
Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY
Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY
26 Comments
Erin Peters link
7/19/2017 06:37:05 pm

Would you be happy to see a mystery evenly mixed with some of the elements above? =) I love your visual wishlist!

Reply
Caitlin Sinead
7/20/2017 06:44:08 am

If it has both speculative and romantic elements, yes! ...Or, it it deals with real world politics and/or is a retelling. :) Let me know if you're still unsure. Thanks!

Reply
Erin Peters
7/20/2017 11:18:31 am

Thanks for the response! I have speculative, sci-fi, and a romantic subplot. My romance has a lot of team work and a functional relationship (so no love triangles or playing hard to get).

Caitlin Sinead
7/20/2017 11:29:31 am

FWIW, I'm fine with love triangles and playing hard to get. :)

Michael
7/21/2017 06:30:44 pm

Caitlin,

I think you just made my short list of 4 possible mentors for my speculative romantic retelling.

I look forward to subbing in early August (regardless of eventual outcome).

Best regards until then,
Michael

Reply
Caitlin Sinead
7/24/2017 06:24:20 am

I'm honored, thanks. :)

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JT
7/25/2017 11:37:52 am

Caitlin - Would a novel with neither speculative nor romantic elements, but with a heavy dose of real-world politics, fit within your possible interests? Mine is literary fiction: the protagonist is a scientist who enters the political realm to work on climate change (not in the usual way), and a good chunk of the book takes place in D.C. Thank you.

Reply
Caitlin Sinead
7/25/2017 11:42:20 am

Yep, that qualifies under the "exceptions" and is right up my alley (I work in DC at a science organization). :)

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JT
7/25/2017 11:45:11 am

Me too (re: D.C. science org work). Thank you for the prompt reply. I will definitely include you as one of my mentor choices!

Jennifer Vaughn
7/28/2017 11:22:34 pm

Hi, Caitlin! Would you be open to a novel that fits your guidelines and is 100% epistolary with documents like letters, emails, reports, text messages, telegraphs, journals? Thanks!

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Caitlin Sinead
7/29/2017 04:00:59 am

As long as it meets my guidelines, great! :)

Reply
Shennon
7/29/2017 03:18:15 pm

Hi Caitlin,

My novel has both speculative and romantic elements, but also domestic violence. Is that something that would still interest you?

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Caitlin Sinead
7/29/2017 04:17:28 pm

That wouldn't be disqualifying for me, I'm okay with domestic violence as long as it's handled responsibly.

Reply
KP
7/31/2017 12:10:14 pm

HI Caitlin - wondering if my Pitch Wars MS would be interesting to you - sort of skirts fringes of what you're looking for... it's a thriller with romantic and speculative elements... romance is between MC (F) and a Hollywood celebrity (M) and the villain is also famous (like an evil Mark Zuckerberg). The spec aspect is along lines of high-tech/gadgetry rather than paranormal or science. Politics exist, but are more corporate/Wall Street than DC-type. Does this sound like something you'd want to see? Thanks in advance, ~KP

Reply
Caitlin Sinead
7/31/2017 12:35:08 pm

So, your book doesn't need to hit every one of the things I mention. :) If it has romance and speculative elements, I'm good. It just sounds like it might not have speculative elements? I'm not sure what you mean by high-tech stuff. If it's stuff that hasn't yet been created in the real-world then I think that's sci-fi, and is therefore spec. But if it's high-tech stuff that exists, then I wouldn't say that's speculative. Does that make sense?

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KP
7/31/2017 03:27:12 pm

Yes, makes sense. Based on that, I think my MS fits, so I'll send it and you can like it or lump it from there. :) Yay!
~KP

Caitlin Sinead
7/31/2017 04:47:27 pm

Sounds good :)

Stephen
8/2/2017 06:08:08 pm

Hi Catlin,

I have an epic fantasy at 128,000 words which is very heavy on the speculative side, but light on the romance, though it does include an implied rape scene and a short romance with an explicit sex scene (a minor thread in about 5 of its 36 chapters and a major part in one). Is this something that might fit you or would you rather pass?

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Caitlin Sinead
8/3/2017 07:15:08 am

Okay, let's get one thing straight, rape is definitely not related to romance in any way. Romance also doesn't necessarily imply sex scenes.

Basically, I'd like a romantic subplot. If your fantasy has a romantic subplot, then I'm open to it. :) I'll add though, that at 128,000 words, it would need to be really good! I prefer shorter, more efficient stories, even in SFF.

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John Perkins
8/3/2017 08:37:23 am

My novel has romance, no speculative, and its politics is of the historical (1920s France) brand. Does this work for you?

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Caitlin Sinead
8/3/2017 08:53:19 am

While I would say that technically meets my wishlist, when I say real-world politics, I'm really looking for more West Wing/House of Cards/The American President, type of stuff. So, honestly, this wouldn't greatly appeal to me and you're probably going to have better luck pitching to historical fiction mentors. Thanks for asking though, and good luck! :)

Reply
Julia Miller link
8/4/2017 11:01:53 am

Hi Cailin! I asked this on the Proboards, but I feel like the mentors aren't looking at that right now. Would you be open to a His Girl Friday retelling? It's not a fairy tale retelling, etc. so I thought I should probably ask.

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Julia Miller link
8/4/2017 11:05:13 am

Ah!!! I hit send and realized I left off a t on your name. *hangs head in shame* I'm sorry. :(

Reply
Caitlin Sinead
8/4/2017 11:08:35 am

No worries. :) Yeah, I'd be open to that kind of retelling.

https://ifreedownloadings.com/ link
11/2/2018 11:18:01 pm

Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I?d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don?t mind. Natually I?ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
william shriwer link
12/29/2018 09:51:07 am

Best article in the world.

Reply



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