The Perfect Pitch . . .

Are we talking about musical ability? If so, having perfect pitch causes extreme anguish when the gifted one encounters a slightly off-pitch note.

How about Pitchers in the game of baseball?

image courtesy of vectorolie at freedigitalphotos.net

I'm laughing to myself, because anyone who understands me, knows I am NOT into sports. I don't play them. I don't watch them. In school, I was the proverbial 'last one to be picked on a team' because I had two left feet. And I was extremely timid. Competition is NOT in my nature, and I hate to let people down

Could we possibly be talking about a Writer's Pitch?

Sounds about write right. Here's my "Vickipedia" version (I used my middle name as a child):

"to toss out quickly, in one or two tight sentences with a "hook"; the simple summary of a book or article which piques the editor's interest, causing the work to be considered for publication."

I have found that there are similarities between a writer's and baseball PITCH.

I asked my husband, a White Sox Fan(his Mom is a Cub's Fanabout the pitcher's position and responsibility. Here is what I gleaned:

• Premier Pitchers are difficult to find: Perfect writer's pitches are not the norm.
• Pitchers and catchers work closely together: The author/agent or author/editor relationship takes teamwork.
• Good pitching always trumps good hitting: A good story may not be considered if the pitch is not “catchy."

Then, let's compare the types of pitches:

• Fast ball:straight down the middle. -Pitch your story straight. Don't get off on a tangent.
• Curve ball:puts spin on the ball that is unexpected by the hitter. -The first sentence "hooks" the reader into wanting more.
• Screwball:curves the opposite way than is expected. -The pitch doesn't clearly explain the gist of the story.
• Knuckle ball:no spin; unpredictable. -The wording of the pitch is unclear and/or uninteresting. The reader has a difficult time connecting.
• Sinker ball:drops to ground; tough to hit. -Pitch is not ready for prime time.

So why the reference to baseball?

'Tis the season!

Not only for baseball, but for writer's conferences. Is your pitch ready for the big time?

You be the judge. Well, the umpire, in this case.

Try these pitching tips from the experts:

Secrets of a Great Pitch

Perfect Pitch

How to talk with Publishers and Agents

Thanks for being a good sport . . .

Now, PLAY BALL!

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- Jarmila V. Del Boccio

Jarm finds her inspiration in everyday life, but in particular, when she travels the globe, observing the quirky things that happen along the way. You can learn about those experiences and her author’s journey in her blog, Making the Write Connections.