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Pitch Wars Showcase

Please note: These are the entries for the Pitch Wars season beginning in 2021 and continuing through 2022. Please note that our Agent Showcase ends at 9:00 p.m. ET on Monday, February 14, 2022. Agents will not be able to leave comments requesting material after that time.
PW2019 YA #23: THE INTROVERTS’ HANDBOOK (Contemporary)
Mentee:
Karyn Riddle
Mentored by:
Rachel Griffin
Book Title:
THE INTROVERTS' HANDBOOK
Category:
2019 Entries
Genre:
Contemporary
Word Count:
85,000

Pitch:

16yo Llara attends an experimental high school divided into wings based on the Myers-Briggs personality test. Her wing is an introvert’s dream, until Netflix arrives to film a documentary about their unique school. With an upcoming school board vote deciding the fate of the school, and a fame-hungry extrovert stirring up wing-on-wing hate online, Llara must fight to save the school she loves.

 

Excerpt:

The Netflix situation starts to unravel on a Friday, in psychology class, during Individual Contemplation Time. We’re studying human emotions, and Mr. Walley wants us to think about how emotions can affect us in both positive and negative ways.

“Take fifteen minutes of ICT,” he says, which is what everybody calls Individual Contemplation Time. Everybody in the I wings, that is. E-wing students don’t get ICT because they don’t need it. One time, I mistakenly told my mother, an extrovert, that this was because, “introspection and contemplation aren’t really in the extrovert’s wheelhouse.” This led to a fifteen-minute lecture about stereotyping and generalizations and I haven’t made that mistake again.

What I meant to say was that introverts need quiet contemplation time to gather our thoughts. If extroverts can be eloquent and well-spoken without ten minutes of quiet prep time, well, color me impressed.

And jealous. I’d love to be spontaneously brilliant, but that’s not in my wheelhouse.

“After ICT,” Mr. Walley continues, “decide whether you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts out loud. Or, you can email them to me later.”

The class falls into immediate silence. I hunch over my notebook, jotting down a single emotion.

Guilt.

There was that time last week when I deliberately avoided my neighbor, Emily, at the public library. We were on-track to arrive at the check-out counter at the same time, which meant small talk.

Obviously, that wasn’t an option.

19 responses to “PW2019 YA #23: THE INTROVERTS’ HANDBOOK (Contemporary)”

  1. Tara Gilbert says:

    Omg this is the best. I’d love to see more.

    Please use the link below to submit the full along with a synopsis and query letter.

    Thank you for considering me! If more than one Corvisiero agent shows interest, please choose one of us submit to and let them know who else liked the pitch, so that we can share it with each other.

    QueryMe.online/TaraGilbert/Requested

  2. Hi, Karyn,

    I love Myers-Briggs, and I love the concept here!!! Can you send me the full and a synopsis (2-4 pages)? Please use Times New Roman, size 12, black, double-spaced text, 1” margins all around, and ½” paragraph indents. Paste your pitch in the body of the email and attach the manuscript and synopsis as two separate Word documents (docx). Sent to: lynnette (at) theseymouragency (dot) com and add “Pitch Wars Request” along with your title in the subject line. Thanks.

    If more than one agent from The Seymour Agency likes your entry, please send requested material to the agent you feel will be the best fit. #OneAgentAtATime

    Looking forward to reading more.

    Best,

    Lynnette

  3. Andrea Cascardi says:

    You had me at “Myers-Briggs”! I can’t remember the last time I saw a more original pitch. This is definitely one of those “I know it when I see it” ideas–nothing I would have thought to ask for, but everything I must read now that I’ve seen it. I’d be very excited to see this in my in-box! andrea@transatlanticagency.com

  4. Peter Knapp says:

    Hi Karyn,

    This sounds really interesting – I’d love to keep reading! Can you please send the full manuscript to queries@parkfine.com attached as a Word document, along with a 1-3 (or so) page synopsis if available (in the same document as the MS or attached as a separate doc is fine)? Please include a query letter in the body of the email and put “PitchWars Submission – Pete Knapp” in the subject of the email. Thanks so much for the opportunity, and I look forward to reading!

    With warm regards,

    Pete Knapp
    Park & Fine Literary and Media

  5. Jon Cobb says:

    Hi Karyn,

    I hope all is well! I’ve been looking for a novel about shyness and/or introversion, and the Introvert’s Handbook sounds like an excellent way to explore different personality types, while also telling a great story. I’m excited to read more. When you’re ready to send, I hope you’ll consider sending the full manuscript to me via email. Looking forward to it.

    All best,
    Jon Cobb
    http://www.hgliterary.com
    jon@hgliterary.com

  6. Mary Cummings says:

    I’d be happy to read more. Please send the first approx 25 pp and final approx 25 pp, a synopsis and some bio info as Word docs. Mark header ‘REQUESTED MATERIAL – PWYA” Thanks much.
    Mary Cummings
    Agent, Books for Kids and Teens
    Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises amsterlit.com cummingskidlit.com

  7. Carrie Pestritto says:

    THIS IDEA IS SO AWESOME! A high school divided by personality types isn’t something I’ve ever seen before (and I love the idea of a Netflix documentary causing a shake-up), so I’m definitely interested in reading more.

    Would you please send me your query in the body of an email, with the first 100 pages attached as a Word doc? The subject of the email should be “PITCH WARS REQUEST: THE INTROVERTS’ HANDBOOK” and you can reach me at cpestritto(at)ldlainc(dot)com.

    Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you!

  8. Samantha Fabien says:

    Hi Karyn,

    First of all, congratulations on successfully completing Pitch Wars! You did it and deserve to celebrate this huge achievement.

    My name is Samantha Fabien and I’m an agent at the Laura Dail Literary Agency (LDLA). As an ambivert, INF, and Enneagram 7, this hits SO many of my likes. This premise is so unique and I’m on the edge of my seat to see how these opposing personalities handle conflict.

    With that in mind, I’d love to read the full manuscript. Would you please send me your query in the body of an email, with the full manuscript attached as a Word doc? The subject of the email should be “PITCH WARS REQUEST: THE INTROVERTS’ HANDBOOK” and you can reach me at sfabien(at)LDLAinc(dot)com. Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you 🙂

    If more than one LDLA agent requests your book, you are welcome to send to as many or few of us as you like. Just tell us in the query, and we’ll chat amongst ourselves.

  9. Penny Moore says:

    Hi Karyn,

    This sounds so inventive and good! I’d love to read more. Please follow the directions on my query form and submit your MS here: QueryMe.online/LiteraryPenny/PitchWars2020. Thanks!

    All the Best,
    Penny Moore

  10. Carrie Hannigan says:

    Dear Karyn,

    My name is Carrie and I’m a partner and agent over at Hannigan Getzler Literary (HG Literary). 
    I’d love to read more of your manuscript! Can you please send me the first 50 pages as a word doc to: 

    carrie@hgliterary.com 

    Best wishes,
    Carrie 

  11. Penelope Burns says:

    Hi Karyn,

    I would love to see this! Can you send your query and full manuscript to penelope@gelfmanschneider.com with #PitchWars in the subject line? Thanks so much!

    All best,
    Penelope

  12. Zabé Ellor says:

    I love this concept and the voice you’ve crafted here, and I can’t wait to see more!

    Please send the query and synopsis (in the body of an email), and full manuscript (as an attachment) to zrellor . books @ gmail . com. I’m looking forward to diving in

  13. Alexandra Weiss says:

    Hi Karyn! This is such a unique concept and I’d love to learn more. Please send the first 50 pages to me at http://queryme.online/AlexandraWeiss/PitchWars2019.

    Thanks so much!
    Alexandra Weiss
    The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency

  14. Christa Heschke says:

    Fellow introvert here! What a cool premise. Please send the full manuscript and query to chquery [at] mcintoshandotis [dot] com. Please put “Pitch Wars request” and the title in the subject line. Can’t wait to read!
    –Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis

  15. Alyssa Henkin says:

    Hi Karyn,
    I would love to read 50 pages of this! Would you please email me and my assistant, Alice, the first 50 pages as a Word document or a PDF, and please make the subject line “Pitch Wars 2020”? We look forward to reading! ahenkin@tridentmediagroup.com and henkin.assistant@tridentmediagroup.com. https://www.tridentmediagroup.com/agents/alyssa-eisner-henkin/
    Best,
    Alyssa Henkin

  16. Melissa Nasson says:

    I’d love to see more of this! Please send the first 50 pages as a Word doc or PDF attachment to melissa@rpcontent.com with Pitch Wars in the subject line. Thank you!

    -Melissa Nasson, Rubin Pfeffer Content

  17. Heather Cashman says:

    Hi, Karyn! This sounds so intriguing. If you think we’d be a good fit, please query me at http://QueryMe.Online/HeatherCashman with Pitch Wars in the referral line, and I’ll respond soon with a full request so you can upload the file. Thanks!

  18. Love the conflict, love the idea of the school, love love love! Would like to see more! Please send this pitch in the body of an email, synopsis and first fifty pages attached as a Word doc, with YA PITCHWARS and your title in the subject, to Jennifer@theseymouragency.com.

  19. Kristin Nelson says:

    What a lovely opening! I’d be delighted to take a look at your full manuscript. I’ve created a special Pitch Wars link so you can send the manuscript my way.

    Query Manager Event Link
    QueryMe.online/1350/PW20192020

    Pls also include your query letter as the first page of your full manuscript to help orient me when I dive in for the longer read starting on the 11th.

    It’s also okay to send to more than one agent at NLA if you have received multiple requests. We’ll coordinate on our end.

    Congrats on being a part of Pitch Wars. I can’t wait to read.
    Kristin