More on Contests, April Mystery Agent Lottery, and Nestpitch

I really enjoyed Aimee's post yesterday about contests--and I agree that they're a great opportunity for writers to get their work in front of agents and editors.

I also agree that organizing contests is a lot of hard work--and I'm lucky to have all my Operation Awesome operatives to help when we run pitch contests here (have you entered the April Mystery Agent Lottery yet? Time is running short!)

I'd also like to plug another contest I'm involved in from the other side--Nestpitch, which will be commencing April 1. It's a pitch contest with an Easter theme.

Though I'm sure the judges will be more tolerant than this egg.

More information on Nestpitch can be found here, but here's a brief run-down:

The submission consists of:

(i)    35-word pitch

(ii)    Answer to this question: If YOUR MC was an Easter Egg, what flavor would s/he be? (no more than 15 words)

(iii)   1st 300-words of your manuscript

Throughout the month of April, multiple teams will look at the entries and pick their favorites. Yours could be one of them.

And of course, you should still enter the April Mystery Lottery too, if you can.

Finally, here are some tips if you plan to enter a contest:

• Make sure you have something ready and polished. Nothing like getting a request for half-done manuscript!
• Make sure your pitch includes your protagonist, what they want/need more than anything, and what gets in their way
• Make sure you follow all the contest specifications, especially submission guidelines, which can vary greatly 

And here are some tips if you plan to be a contest judge:

• Make sure you know the full extent of what's expected
• Make sure the timetable fits into your schedule, and that you are clear on what is supposed to happen when
• Make sure that you can glean/learn something from the experience

Question for all: What has been your experience with contests? 

The Eternal Struggle

I can't believe we almost into May! Now we are saying goodbye to April, I've started to think about the writing projects I want to finish (and start writing) in the next few months. I don't know about you, but I like having a potential idea that I can think about/make notes on. 

I'm almost done with the first draft of a new MS (with two others that are in the various stages of writing and editing). We all know that writing, while wonderful, is a bit of a roller coaster. There, as always, those high peak moments when the words are flowing. When everything feels like it is coming together. Then you get those stomach dropping moments where every. single. word. makes. your. brain. bleed. 

And here is the eternal struggle of a writer: 

Source: www.wordpreneur.com

Also, I just wanted to remind you about the pitch opportunities Angelica posted about on Monday. Missed the post? Here's Angelica to remind you: 

With our Mystery Agent Contests still in limbo while we figure out how to streamline them--and also how to add some new energy--I know you all are itching to enter something! Here are a few opportunities coming up in the next few weeks:

First up is a Pitch Event with Spencer Hill Contemporary, the contemporary YA imprint of Spencer Hill Press. The fabulous Brenda Drake will be hosting it April 28 through April 30.

You’ll need only the meat of your query (hook & mini-synopsis), and you only have 200 words (max). The submission post with instructions will go live on April 28 12:01AM EDT on Brenda Drake's blog.

Then on May 1st, a Rafflecopter will go up on Brenda Drake's blog for The Writer's Voice Contest. TWV is open to the following genres:

Adult Historical

Adult Fantasy

Adult Science Fiction

Adult Romance

YA fiction (all genres)

MG fiction (all genres)

If you're one of the 150 randomly selected entrants, you'll get to post your query and first 250 words for agents to fight over!

But maybe novels aren't your thing and you're more into short fiction. WOW! Women on Writing has quarterly flash fiction contests, and their spring contest closes May 31. This time around the judge is literary agent Sally Apokedak, and she'll be looking at entries that fall within the 250-750 word limit. There is an entry fee of $10 for this one, FYI.

So polish up your pitches and take a leap into a contest! What are you waiting for?