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Michelle Witte
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Michelle Witte's Groups
Michelle Witte's Discussions
Slush Day
Started this discussion. Last reply by Chelsey Blair Mar 23, 2011. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Just for fun, I'm spending today critiquing queries over at my editing blog: www.belletrinsic.com/blog if anyone has a query they'd like feedback on.…Continue
Best YA books
Started this discussion. Last reply by J.L. Spelbring Mar 16, 2010. 17 Replies 0 Likes
I need your help! For my bookstore, a distributer sent me a list of children's and young adult books they suggest I carry to start out with. the problem is that I know there are a lot of excellent…Continue
Give this little bookstore a chance
Started this discussion. Last reply by Rachel Heston Davis Mar 12, 2010. 6 Replies 0 Likes
You're a writer, and I can tell it's been your dream to write stories for teens and children, probably for a very long time. I want to write books for teens as well. But I realized that if there…Continue
Maybe not so hypothetical question
Started this discussion. Last reply by Bonita Kale Feb 3, 2010. 3 Replies 0 Likes
What would you name a bookstore specializing in children's, MG, and YA?
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Michelle Witte's Page
Latest Activity
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"The biggest thing that hits me when I read this pitch is the poor punctuation and grammar. The run-on sentences are especially bothersome, as they make it hard to understand what it means. I'd suggest spending some time on editing and making…"
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"I'm rather confused by the line about hunting season is an excused absence. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the rest of the pitch and is fairly out of place. We need more in terms of a setting, because Broadway High could be…"
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"This is a good concept, and I love that it's a fantasy based on a different culture. Also, well done with the pitch."
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"You've got such an interesting combination of elements here that it makes it hard to get a grasp on what this world really is. If it has historic elements, I doubt they'd know what autism is, nor would they use that term. Added to that are…"
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"There isn't enough at stake here, and the threat of nuclear attack just isn't an issue for modern kids. So anything involving the Red Scare or Cold War really has to have a compelling plot that gets them to feel the tension of the time.…"
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"I'll admit that the moment my eye hit the apostrophe in Enes'— I stopped. I am a huge fan of fantasy, but I've never seen a really epic fantasy YA, and for good reason. Epic fantasy generally focuses on the world and the…"
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"This plot feels just a bit thin to me. There don't seem to be any real stakes that would justify blackmail as a plotline."
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"I think Doctor Who has broken me to most time travel stories. It would have to be exceptionally well done and different for me to have any interest."
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"I'm not fond of retellings of books from a different character's POV. Or even continuations of series after the author is long gone. (Don't even get me started on all the Pride & Prejudice books.) So I'm definitely not your…"
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"That first sentence is really convoluted. Also, it might just be me, but I always wanted to save humanity from starvation . . . (Basically, that is something no one wishes for, and so it sounds a bit contrived. There's a lot here about what…"
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"I am so confused by the first sentence. Since the genre is dystop, I took the meaning to be literal. At first I wondered if dancing was what triggered the infection. This pitch needs to be clarified so that concepts and actions are clear. "
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"There needs to be more here to get this story to stand. Like Elana says, the religion aspect on its own isn't enough to carry this book."
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"I almost get a sense of Eddie, but it's just not quite there. The details are fun (like the principal's behind), but they aren't stitched together in a way that makes this into a cohesive pitch. Plus more focus on the plot."
Michelle Witte replied to Georgia McBride's discussion Pitch Slam 2 is Here!"There are a lot of cliches here, both in wording and in concepts. Discovering new powers and saving the world has been done, a lot. It has to be fresh for anyone to take notice."
Profile Information
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- http://www.michellewittebooks.com
- Kind of books I write
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Literary agent
I'm now a literary agent with Mansion Street Literary Management representing young adult and middle grade fiction and nonfiction. You can find out more at www.mansionstreet.com or my personal website, www.michellewittebooks.com/agent
Michelle Witte's Videos
Michelle Witte's Blog
It's Okay, or why little querying mistakes won't ruin your chances of ever getting published
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 6:57pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
In the relatively short time I've been an agent, I've noticed something that makes me smile and sigh at the same time: the paralyzing fear some writers experience when they query agents. To them (and you) I say: Relax. It's okay if you make a small mistake. It won't ruin your career if you accidentally query an agent twice. Or if you get their name wrong. Or if you found a typo on page three that you were sure hadn't been there before you sent your sample pages. Don't let the anxiety of the…
Continue Danger of the "Bad Boy" Fantasy in YA
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:13pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
I've been noticing something disturbing with quite a few of the beautiful paranormal romances currently shimmering on bookstore shelves, and I'm not talking about the paranormal aspects. In too many of them, the controlling and violent behavior of the "bad boy" becomes fodder for a romantic fantasy where the sweet, innocent girl tames the dark and sexy beast.
By itself, instalove is a harmless dream pinned on the idea that destiny will send a girl her one true…
Continue Can we still be friends?
Posted on March 22, 2011 at 3:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
After the somewhat recent hullabaloo that was #yamafia, I've been thinking a lot about how I approach book reviews. I love reading and then sharing my thoughts on books, not just with friends, but with pretty much everyone. I've been known to hand sell books at the library and bookstores I frequent. It's not that I'm going to shut up about books, but as a part of the larger kid lit community, I'm evaluating my place as a reader, editor, writer, and reviewer.
The…
Rules for Heroines of Paranormal Romances
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:30pm 2 Comments 0 Likes
Even though YA paranormal romances have shifted from vampires to werewolves to angels to every creature imaginable, many of the same themes present themselves in the various iterations. In an effort to take a lighthearted poke at the cliches that inhabit this genre*, I present the Rules for Heroines of Paranormal Romances:
1. Aim to be normal in every way. Paranormal guys are really attracted to this.
2. Being uncoordinated, a bad singer, or lacking in other artistic…
Comment Wall (9 comments)
- At 8:41am on April 26, 2013,
StaffLaura Chesterson said… To Michelle
From Laura and YALitChat!!
- At 4:36am on April 26, 2012,
StaffLaura Chesterson said… To Michelle
From Laura and YALitChat!
- At 10:48pm on November 8, 2011,
Suzanne Linn Kamata said… Thanks, Michelle. I'm assuming you're referring to THE ART OF BEING INVISIBLE. :-)
- At 1:59am on April 26, 2011,
StaffLaura Chesterson said… To Michelle
From Laura and YALitChat!!
- At 6:14pm on April 25, 2011,
StaffNicōle Olea said…
Nicole Olea Your Friendly Membership Ambassador
- At 2:27pm on April 26, 2010,
Candace Ganger said… - Happy birthday!
- At 10:13am on April 26, 2010,
StaffJessie Harrell said… - Happy Birthday, Michelle!
- At 1:17pm on April 25, 2010,
J.L. Spelbring said… - Happy Birthday
- At 8:14pm on February 15, 2010,
StaffJessie Harrell said… - Just checking to see if you were done with your Mark of Jasmine discussion in the first pages group. If you are, please feel free to delete it so I can keep our discussion board clean. Thanks so much! I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to get to yours.
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