Pinar Tarhan, Author at Addicted to Writing

How Not To Pitch An Editor: Be Vague and Impatient

Posted on January 27, 2016 Written by Pinar Tarhan

I published the post The Number One Tip for Querying and Pitching: Being Personal & Specific in 2013, and the advice remains as relevant as ever. However, a recent guest post pitch I received compelled me to write a sequel.

Now, there were several things wrong with the pitch. While the person used my name while pitching – points for finding the right name as opposed to calling me by my twitter handle – and didn’t make any glaring language mistakes, she did commit two annoying no-nos.

It goes without saying that you should find out the editor’s name if you can. With some publications it is easier said than done, but when you are pitching a one-person blog, you absolutely have to find the correct name.

And by now, pretty much everyone who’s sane and has written about writing wrote about the importance of using language properly.

But the pitch isn’t done just by using English well and finding the correct name.

Because guess what? I have four blogs. If you say “I want to write for your site,” I’m not going to lose time by asking you which one. It should have been in your subject line or at least in the body of your email.

And another thing you shouldn’t do is to follow up after a week saying you are waiting for my reply. It’s okay to follow up after two weeks if you have faith in your pitch, but before pestering the editor for a response, you might want to check if you did a good job the first time around.

Bonus tip: Don’t offer irrelevant information.

The writer said where she was from, and I couldn’t care less. I only care about your idea, your attitude, and how you laid out your idea in your post. Things like where you are from, your age and gender are irrelevant unless they have a direct relationship to what you’re writing.

If you’re pitching a post called “Dating Problems 30-Something Men Have in Manhattan”, and you are a 30-something male in the Manhattan dating scene, please do tell me that. Otherwise, I couldn’t care less.

So to pitch well, the least you can do is:

Be specific with what you’re pitching and where you are pitching.
Call the editor by the right name.
Wait for about two weeks before following unless the guidelines state you shouldn’t follow up, or you should follow up after a certain period that’s not two weeks.
Use language well.
Don’t offer any irrelevant information, and don’t leave anything relevant out.

There you go. Happy pitching!

If you have any other tips to add, share away in the comments. I love hearing from you. 🙂

Life is Too Short, David Bowie is Dead, and Why You Should Make 2016 Your Best One Yet

Posted on January 11, 2016 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Life is too fucking short. Sometimes, euphemisms and politeness just don’t cut it.

To be honest, I feel more disappointed, surprised and confused than sad about David Bowie dying. For one thing, I didn’t know he had cancer. For another, part of me genuinely believed he’d actually live forever. He was human? Are you serious?

Now, I was never his biggest fan. I appreciated his work, talent, creativity, later style and personality, but I was never the one with posters on or a collection of his albums. I loved some of his songs: Jean Genie, Dancing In The Streets, Under Pressure to name a few. I loved what he stood for.

He was just one of those people who I just admired a ton. He felt like such a big part of the world. Some people are ridiculously overhyped. Bowie never felt like that. I loved how and why he was famous.

So when I checked my Facebook yesterday to goof around and see something funny, it was seriously infruating and depressing to learn that he was dead. What the hell?

And once again it was one of world’s biggest enemies, cancer –and I really have no clue how we still don’t know how to cure it. I’d rather not have a more developed computer or a self-driving car, and and we focused our resources on curing diseases instead. Obviously this part of the rant isn’t just about Bowie, and when it’s cancer we’re talking about, I’ll allow myself not to be too logical.
But moving on…

So here’s what I did after I learned about his passing: Before posting a tribute or sharing someone else’s link, I did what felt natural to do: I opened up my writing and submitted the latest version to a reader I’ve been meaning to send to for a while.

Then I met a friend for lunch, laughed a lot and came home to work some more. I also rewatched some of my favorite scenes from Laggies and A Royal Affair. I danced to I’m So Sorry by Imagine Dragons (I just love that song), and I finally brought myself to write this post.

Nothing quite depresses and motivates like death. This isn’t my first post about it, and while it’s not easy, it’s one efficient form of release.

So it feels sad, but I do hope there’s an afterlife, and it’s a good one. Wouldn’t it be cool if he was singing Under Pressure with Mercury right now?

The point is, whatever you want to do, get on it. You might live 40, 50, 60, 70 more years, but nothing is certain, so let’s just rock the shit out of whatever we have.

Love, and write on!

Happy New Year and Where I Have Been

Posted on January 1, 2016 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Happy New Year!

Sorry about not having posted a while, but the last couple of months have been hectic. I’m planning to move abroad, but as someone who needs the proper permits for that, the research process has been overwhelming. The how and where aren’t certain yet, but I’m up for the challenge and adventure. I’ll update you the minute I know more.

2015 was full of ups and downs, and mainly the downs came in the shape of devastating news from all over the world. However, there were also hopeful moments as people supported each other and didn’t give up, so that’s amazing.

My own 2015 was pretty busy. I’m not going to lie, there was some wasted time on social media, procrastination on video games, minor health problems and some feeling down about not having a life exciting enough. But there was also a lot of excitement, new projects, completed works, major decisions (see paragraph one), inspirations and more teaching classes so I could concentrate one my favorite writing gigs, which you will also soon be updated about.

My 31st of December was the right blend of working, messing about and spending time with family. There was also some rolling in the snow and snowball fights. I finished the night true to its nature by writing a set of resolutions I have every intention to keep.

One resolution I intend on keeping is never forgetting “it’s never too late.” Now, don’t dismiss it as generic and too deep for its own good. I mean it especially for daily tasks. Those days when you oversleep, start work (or whatever you need to be doing) very late and end up disappointed. It’s okay if you haven’t started working on your novel until 8 pm. The fact is that you started is what matters. The day isn’t over until midnight. And for night owls, maybe not even then.

I was having a late day today. I seemed far away from yesterday’s productivity until I realized it was only the first day of the new year, and it was only 2 pm. Plenty of time to do whatever needs to be done.

So I’m writing this post to say HAPPY NEW YEAR. May this year make you happy in every way you wish, including seeing more resolutions accomplished than ever.

Talk to you soon!

Literary Agent/Manager Needed for 1 Novel, 1 Feature Film Script and 1 Pilot

Posted on November 20, 2015 Written by Pinar Tarhan

I write, therefore I am. :D — I write, therefore I am. 😀

Nope, I haven’t gone stark raving mad.

I haven’t lost it during the process of trying to getting my fiction published.

I’m just reacting to (and kind of celebrating) two interesting pieces of writing:

This The Billfold post: Calling All Literary Agents, Via Your Blog where Meaghan O’Connell wrote about Miles Klee, a writer who posted about his agent needs on his Tumblr.

Writer and writing coach Angela Booth mentions in one of her free e-books (I think it was called Blogging for Dollars) where a client of hers mentioned she was looking for an agent. Lo and behold, the agent found her through the description of her work online.

(I also reached out to Miles Klee to find out if he found the new agent he was looking for via his TUMBLR blog. I’ll update if I get an answer.)

Established writer and coach Marilyn Horowitz also encourages you talk about your writing and keeping a presence online.

So why not?
There are no guarantees. In fact, it probably won’t work. I. And yet, here I roll:

1 novel, 1 one-hour TV drama pilot, 1 feature drama

– They are low(er) budget, mainstream yet different enough. And they are similar in genre(s), even though the weight of romance, comedy and drama differs.

So I won’t be pissing off any producer or agent by saying I have one period drama, one CGI-heavy sci-fi and one gory horror. (Although I don’t promise never to write these, except from the gory horror.)

– I’ve a niche. I’ve specialized. I’ve been doing this for a while.

– None of the (manu)scripts are their first (or fourth, for that matter) drafts.

And they will each get their individual posts, detailing each project without spoiling anything. I have query letters and synopses for that (you know, those thing where you actually have to give away the ending and twists and all.)

– Oh, and the best of all, their medium can be easily converted into another.

My novel would work as a script, and my scripts could be turned into a novel.

So there you go, agents and producers.

And again, as Marilyn Horowitz points out in her book Sell Your Screenplay in 30 Days Using New Media (aff. link), I’m my own agent until I get one, so here I am. Letting the world know. I have stories I can’t wait to share.

In case you are in the market for contemporary romantic dramas with a sense of humor. The TV pilot placed as a semi-finalist in 2014’s Creative Writing Awards.

What do you guys have? Share away in the comments, including links to your blogs and Twitter accounts. And do read each other, follow up on the people whose work/comment you enjoyed.

That’s how communities are built upon.

And if you like what I create for you, please share the post on Twitter and wherever else you hang out on!

Where else to find me:

Stage 32

Twitter: @zoeyclark

I’m also a member of Ashley Scott Meyers’ SYS Select. (not an affiliate link.)