Comments on: In Which We Wonder If Any Of You Actually Followed Through On Those 33 1/3 Pitches

By: DJorn

DJorn — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:09:49 +0000

@Jack Fear: I'd read that! I submitted one for Key Lime Pie a couple years ago (even going so far as to contact the band and producer to secure tentative interviews), but no go. Didn't even know about this one till after the deadline.

By: Eugene Langley

Eugene Langley — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:58:36 +0000

One of the many things I didn’t get around to last month. It was a toss up between Mclusky Do Dallas and Journey’s Greatest Hits.

By: OokieDookie

OokieDookie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:57:04 +0000

I sent one in for Pussy Galore’s Exile on Main Street. I figured if I’m going to go out on a limb, I may as well jump.

By: Jack Fear

Jack Fear — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:24:17 +0000

I sat this one out, but I did pitch Traffic's John Barleycorn Must Die in the previous open call, in 2007. I think they dinged it cos I wanted to have a 24-page pull-out comics section in the middle.

I have a friend who writes alien-abduction stories and Bible prophecies for a newspaper tabloid; he keeps saying we should collaborate on a freeform Surrealist response to Camper Van Beethoven's Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart, but somehow we've never managed to get a proposal put together.

By: humberthumbert

humberthumbert — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:26:34 +0000

@lecherousfrenchman: you really went for it. pulp, this is hardcore: world-class band struggles with their own limitations in the harsh face of stardom. i like what i'm hearing...

By: Cam/ron

Cam/ron — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:34:04 +0000

I submitted a pitch for a book on Pavement’s “Slanted and Enchanted” two years ago since it was the closest thing to a “classic album” created by a band near the Sacramento area where I live. I got in contact with ex-drummer/engineer Gary Young and most of the band via Matador’s media office, I was ready to interview the hell out of them. And then the 33 1/3 folks decided to have another writer tackle Pavement. It was a letdown but I’m still happy to see that a few of my colleagues submitted successful pitches.

By: DocStrange

DocStrange — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:23:13 +0000

No. I wrote one, but didn't send it in, because I thought the commercial appeal for a book on Barafundle by Gorky's Zygotic Mynci would be severely limited.

By: the rich girls are weeping

the rich girls are weeping — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:05:06 +0000

I had such grand plans for my proposal(s). Did I do them? Nope. There’s always next year, I guess!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:04:24 +0000

@adoinel:

I actually submitted a proposal for This is Hardcore.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:59:55 +0000

My finishing touches on my Beck Odelay proposal got in the way of writing some zingers for my Pazz & Jop ballot, but I did get the chili (and the vegetarian chili) cooked for the New Year's party. Two outta three ain't bad.

By: kurometarikku

kurometarikku — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:58:31 +0000

I did one for Give Up. I'm looking forward to my first ever rejection letter.

Well, I mean rejection letter about writing, I've got rejection letters from chicks before.

By: scott pgwp

scott pgwp — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:39:13 +0000

I wrote one up for Spiderland…

By: Ned Raggett

Ned Raggett — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:14:52 +0000

Radiohead's Kid A was my choice. We'll see.

By: bg5000

bg5000 — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:20:09 +0000

I sent in my proposal on De La Soul is Dead about 6 hours before the deadline. But i did send it in.

By: heyzeus

heyzeus — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:15:34 +0000

There goes my idea – an Elliott Smith selection is already in the works (but on XO; I would have done Either/Or or Basement on a Hill)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:05:32 +0000

Mine will be, if I ever find time to write it, about Metal Machine Music. And as written it will make way more sense to readers than a book proposal pitch would. Somehow I just KNOW this.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:04:18 +0000

I’d been playing with a concept for months and months now, seesawing between making it a 33 1/3 book pitch and something to write with the intention of getting it published elsewhere (or self-published). Too much’s been happening over the last 2-3 months for me to pull a proposal together, so Option 2 it is, and I’m happier that way, honestly. Less pressure.

By: Chris B.

Chris B. — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:03:07 +0000

I was overwhelmed with self-doubt throughout writing my proposal but I'm really glad I sent one in. For me, the hardest part was reading some really great stuff by people that have already written 33 1/3 books (if I read Amanda Petrusich's tour diary on Americana before writing my proposal, it would have stayed in my head).

Mine was on Annie's Anniemal, for what that's worth.

By: bcapirigi

bcapirigi — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:55:50 +0000

I wrote one too, which I sent in on Wednesday. I spent two months thinking about all the things I wanted to say about the Pet Shop Boys’ Very but then went with a different album at the last minute. I’m sure I have no chance, but, you know, whatever. (Which was after a month of debating about Playing With A Different Sex/Elastica/Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts/This Is Hardcore/Excerpts From The Love Circus/The It Girl/Solitude Standing/Sunny Border Blue/every other album I’ve ever liked ever.)

By: R. Morast

R. Morast — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:55:04 +0000

my proposal was sent in, focusing on Waylon Jennings’ “Honky Tonk Heroes.” We’ll see if it makes the cut.