Ah, Pitchwars. The rising hopes, the self-doubt, the camaraderie, the long nights of editing and piles of ignored dishes, the giggles and gifs...
At the beginning of 2018, burnt out from years of pursuing a career as an author while raising twin boys, I took a step back from my pile of manuscripts and let up on the pressure of marketing my published books. I forgot about querying for a blissful eight months, blogging my happy little heart out on the Steem blockchain.
I've had so much fun!
But something pulled me back to Twitter this week, and, lo and behold, it’s #Pitchwars time again. Whoohoo!
For the last few years, this time of summer has meant a heavy amount of revising. Usually I’m frantically finishing a manuscript and editing it in the same few weeks. Thankfully I’m not doing it that way this year. But now it’s time to do a #boostmybio for Pitchwars, and I figured I might as well do my post on Steemit, since this is where I blog lately.
Pitchwars
Visit Pitchwars.org to learn more.
For those of you who don’t know, Pitchwars is mentoring program started by author Brenda Drake.
It's an annual event where writers basically go through the query process, but instead of subbing to literary agents we submit to authors who are offering to share what they know—mentors who spend a great deal of time and effort to help lift talented writers up to the next level of awesomeness.
Friendships are formed, agents are sometimes landed, and the whole thing is loads of fun to follow along with on Twitter. It’s a great way to meet other writers, and an incredible community.
If you're on Twitter, check out #pitchwars — a tag that has a lot more activity over in the Tweetisphere. While you're there, look me up and say hi.
I’ve subbed for the past three or four years (they all run together at this point), and am stoked to be back inside one of my manuscripts, editing with my sights on the chance of being a 2018 Pitchwars Mentee.
So what are you submitting, Katrina?
Hey, thanks for asking! ;)
I’ll be subbing an adult space opera that wanders into the realm of fantasy, with a slow-burn romance to keep things interesting. It's basically a mashup between Rogue One and Moana, with psychic and shamanic magical elements.
Did I mention romance? Oh, yes, I did. But seriously, I’m proud of myself for writing a slow burn this time. Trying to draw a relationship out over a planned trilogy is a precarious thing, when all I want to do is make them kiss!
I must say, it feels great to have my novels out after letting them rest for more than half a year. Taking that step away was so good for me!
I dug another manuscript out earlier this week for the First Chapter Challenge, sponsored by 
Right now the space opera is the one I really want to make shine!
Weren’t you supposed to be doing a writing bio?
Oh, that. Yes.
Writing and music help me process this whole being human thing.
I’m grateful to be blessed with muses who constantly feed me ideas—some are people, some are dragons. (Yes, I have dragon muses. Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not real.)
I am the mother of seven fiction manuscripts, a non-fiction yoga manual, and that screenplay I wrote way back when. We won’t talk about the screenplay.
My most recent writing accomplishments have been on the Steem blockchain, where I’ve been writing more poetry and lyrics.
I found out today that I won the Daily Bread Poetry Contest with my poem This Path. I’m so excited, and super honoured to be chosen!
I also got a Curie and placed seventh (out of 189 entries) in Open Mic this week! Chocolate Kiss is a fictional scene wrapped into a wintery whisper of a song, inspired by the writing prompt: chocolate.
Here’s the Open Mic video for those of you who want to listen but don’t want to go to the post.
Chocolate Kiss:
On Self-Publishing and Traditional Publishing.
I have two published works, which you can check out below.
I chose to self-publish these, and did the bulk of the process myself. I did hire editors, and a graphic designer to help do the interior layout for Yoga for Dragon Riders. I also commissioned the dragon art on the cover from a talented artist named Liiga Smilshkalne.
Even though I have a background in graphic design, and I think self-publishing is excellent route for those who have the vision to do it, it can be soooooooo hard. I definitely don’t recommend doing it yourself if you can help it.
It takes a village to raise a book, and that's true any way you publish.
Also, don’t do what I did and burn out so hard you have to walk away for a while—get help with your launch and give yourself enough time to do everything. Remember, publishing and marketing are a long haul. Pace yourself.
That's my unsolicited advice from the self-publishing trenches. ;-)
I am still working on the dream of traditional publishing, and I know if I keep at it one day I’m going to get that “yes.”
Pitchwars is excellent motivation to get a manuscript in the best shape I can, and submit it in the hopes of landing the literary agent of my dreams! If I don’t get a mentor in Pitchwars, I’ll gather my courage and get back to querying.
My books:
YOGA FOR DRAGON RIDERS is an extensive yoga manual that’s been used by students and teachers alike.
This book merges the realms of fantasy and reality in a fun yet detailed journey through the study of yoga and subtle energy. Find it on Amazon.
WILD HORSE HEART is set in the film industry, and lands somewhere between contemporary romance and commercial women’s fiction.
Read more on Amazon
A note to my Twitter friends, if you make it over here:
The Steem blockchain (Steemit and other front end platforms) is a fantastic place to blog.
I write whatever I want, share art, stories, music, and make fabulous friendships. The social media side of the Steem blockchain is an evolving experiment, and it's not perfect, but nothing is. There's crap on Twitter, too.
And even if my posts sometimes don't make a lot (they didn't in the beginning), I never got paid to be on Facebook, and I've never enjoyed blogging so much. As for community, I've found a family here. 💖
No, I don't make anything if you join, I'm just sharing my stoke for a good thing. It was a steep learning curve at first, but I understand more about the blockchain every day. I get more interaction with readers here than I ever did blogging elsewhere, and I don’t even have to make a book sale to earn cryptocurrency with my writing. Yay!
Feel free to DM me on Twitter if you're curious and want help wrapping your mind around this Steem thing. I'm no expert, but I'll do my best to explain what I can, or point you to helpful posts. You might fall down a few (hundred) rabbit holes, but it's worth it. ;-)
Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my blog. I’m a writer, but my work isn’t worth much without someone coming along and giving the words wings in their head. Readers are THE BEST! You are so appreciated!
Long live the imagination!
Author bio: Katrina Ariel is an old-soul rebel, musician, tree-hugging yogini, and mama bear to twins. Author of Yoga for Dragon Riders (non-fiction) and Wild Horse Heart (romance), she's another free-spirit swimming in the ocean of Steemit.
dragon art: Liiga Smilshkalne
Witnesses keep the blockchain alive, and it costs nothing to vote for them, so please do so. 
