Dear O'Abby,
I see you guys at Operation Awesome are running a Pass or Pages competition later this month. I've always been reticent about entering contests because I've never really understood their value. Can you tell me why I should enter? Or not enter?
Yours,
Contestable.
Dear Contestable,
Entering contests is a purely personal choice. You don't have to, by any means. Traditional querying of your manuscript or sending it directly to small presses or self-publishing is equally valid.
Contests are supposed to be fun. If you don't find them fun, then don't enter.
Pass or Pages is a little different from some other contests in that Operation Awesome asks a panel agents who represent the genre the contest is focusing on to judge the entries and provide feedback. If your query isn't working out there in the trenches, it might be a good opportunity to get professional feedback on why it isn't working. Ditto your opening page.
It is also a good chance to get a peek into the personal tastes of the judging agents. Maybe you think another entry in the pool is remarkable and you'd pick it up in a second if it was on the shelf in your local bookstore, yet one of the agents tears both the query and the opening pages to shreds. This might be something that indicates you and this agent might not be a great fit, so you might decide to cross her off your querying list.
Alternatively, this might be something that gives you a fresh perspective on your own work, a kind of lightning moment that makes you realize something you thought worked well, really doesn't.
At the end of the day, I'm not going to tell you whether you should or shouldn't enter Pass or Pages or any other contest. All I can say is that I've received a lot of really great feedback through competitions, met a lot of other writers, some of whom have become valued readers/critique partners, and felt much more connected to the writing community as a result. I've even received full requests, offers of representation and for publication through contests, so for me, they seem to work.
If you do decide to enter Pass and Pages, we'll look forward to reading your entry!
And good luck!
X O'Abby
Showing posts with label contests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contests. Show all posts
Thursday, September 3, 2020
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Pass or Pages 2020 Dates!
Is there a particular genre and/or age category you'd like to see us host this year? Fill out the form below to let us know!
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Why Mentoring Feels Broken Sometimes
"I don't know where things are broken."
This was what I told a writer friend a little over a year ago, back when I was still querying my YA fantasy. I had been in the query trenches for two years at that point, sent over one hundred queries, and applied to dozens of mentoring opportunities, but somehow, I never got any positive responses. Agents weren't interested in my work. Mentors didn't even request more pages. And all I could think was, where is the disconnect here?
There are so many things that are hard about being a writer, and getting feedback can be one of the toughest – and not just because feedback is sometimes hard to take. I've advocated for the magic of beta readers and critique partners over and over, and I stand by that opinion. But the problem is, there are so many unpublished writers, and so few published ones, that it's really hard to get the information about whatever magic it is that your writing is missing. Most of us just don't know what agents are looking for, because we're not agented ourselves. Before I went through the process of signing with my agent and going through revisions and submission, it was understandably hard for other writers to place their trust in me. What right did I have to tell them that chapter three could use more “oomph”? And for that matter, why should I trust Betty from Oklahoma City that my villain wasn’t villain-y enough?
The role that's meant to bridge that gap is mentors, people who are agented or who have published books before, and who are willing to provide their experience and expertise to us hopefuls. Finding a mentor, though, is incredibly difficult. Hundreds of people apply to be mentored by a single person, hoping for that chance to find out what’s broken in their process of revisions and querying. But if you’re not picked, you get nothing – you learn nothing about your writing, nothing about your query letter, nothing to make you a better writer. You come out of the experience with no more information than when you went into it.
This is the thing I find objectionable about mentoring opportunities. More often than not, it seems as if the mentors pick the most interesting story, the one that seems most likely to succeed - and, as a result, the one that actually needs the least help. The people who truly need assistance, the writers are really struggling, seem to fall by the wayside every time. I remember literally crying on the floor in the closet in our tiny basement apartment because I’d been rejected from yet another mentoring program, and I received no feedback from the mentor once again. I didn’t know what was wrong with my manuscript. I didn’t know what needed to be fixed. I needed help with my writing so badly, and yet it seemed to always be out of my reach.
Gatekeeping in writing is HUGE, and sometimes understandably so - publishers have to make money, after all. But the process is often so obtuse, so opaque, that it’s impossible to even see the path to the other side. That’s where I take issue with mentoring. I understand that mentors’ time is valuable, that they can’t exactly pen a handwritten note to every entrant. It would take days, if not weeks, to reply to everyone with some sort of feedback. But at the same time, back when I was querying, all I wanted was a single sentence, and many times I didn’t even get that. So I urge you, if any of you out there are mentors, or want to be, or have been, please remember what it’s like to be querying. Remember how lost you felt, how little support there was for you on your journey. Give your applicants every opportunity that you can, and remember that they’re just as important as your mentee. They may never get the support that only you can give. Just give them a minute of your time. That may be all they need to succeed.
This was what I told a writer friend a little over a year ago, back when I was still querying my YA fantasy. I had been in the query trenches for two years at that point, sent over one hundred queries, and applied to dozens of mentoring opportunities, but somehow, I never got any positive responses. Agents weren't interested in my work. Mentors didn't even request more pages. And all I could think was, where is the disconnect here?
There are so many things that are hard about being a writer, and getting feedback can be one of the toughest – and not just because feedback is sometimes hard to take. I've advocated for the magic of beta readers and critique partners over and over, and I stand by that opinion. But the problem is, there are so many unpublished writers, and so few published ones, that it's really hard to get the information about whatever magic it is that your writing is missing. Most of us just don't know what agents are looking for, because we're not agented ourselves. Before I went through the process of signing with my agent and going through revisions and submission, it was understandably hard for other writers to place their trust in me. What right did I have to tell them that chapter three could use more “oomph”? And for that matter, why should I trust Betty from Oklahoma City that my villain wasn’t villain-y enough?
The role that's meant to bridge that gap is mentors, people who are agented or who have published books before, and who are willing to provide their experience and expertise to us hopefuls. Finding a mentor, though, is incredibly difficult. Hundreds of people apply to be mentored by a single person, hoping for that chance to find out what’s broken in their process of revisions and querying. But if you’re not picked, you get nothing – you learn nothing about your writing, nothing about your query letter, nothing to make you a better writer. You come out of the experience with no more information than when you went into it.
This is the thing I find objectionable about mentoring opportunities. More often than not, it seems as if the mentors pick the most interesting story, the one that seems most likely to succeed - and, as a result, the one that actually needs the least help. The people who truly need assistance, the writers are really struggling, seem to fall by the wayside every time. I remember literally crying on the floor in the closet in our tiny basement apartment because I’d been rejected from yet another mentoring program, and I received no feedback from the mentor once again. I didn’t know what was wrong with my manuscript. I didn’t know what needed to be fixed. I needed help with my writing so badly, and yet it seemed to always be out of my reach.
Gatekeeping in writing is HUGE, and sometimes understandably so - publishers have to make money, after all. But the process is often so obtuse, so opaque, that it’s impossible to even see the path to the other side. That’s where I take issue with mentoring. I understand that mentors’ time is valuable, that they can’t exactly pen a handwritten note to every entrant. It would take days, if not weeks, to reply to everyone with some sort of feedback. But at the same time, back when I was querying, all I wanted was a single sentence, and many times I didn’t even get that. So I urge you, if any of you out there are mentors, or want to be, or have been, please remember what it’s like to be querying. Remember how lost you felt, how little support there was for you on your journey. Give your applicants every opportunity that you can, and remember that they’re just as important as your mentee. They may never get the support that only you can give. Just give them a minute of your time. That may be all they need to succeed.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Didn't Make it Into Pitch Wars? Here's What To Do Next
The mentor/mentee pairings for this year's Pitch Wars will be announced tomorrow. Through the grapevine, I've heard that over 3000 writers entered this year, competing for between 200-250 slots. Those are tough odds, and it means a whole lot of talented writers with excellent books won't be getting in.
So if you're one of the 2500+ who don't make it into Pitch Wars, what do you do next? Here are some ideas:
1) Take a day or two to resign yourself to the rejection, if you need to. There's nothing wrong with feeling upset about not getting in. Take some time away from Twitter, if it hurts to see everyone celebrating. But don't unfollow mentors and mentees - you can mute them for a while if it's tough to see them pop up on your stream, but they're all good professional connections to keep. And don't forget to congratulate any of your critique partners, Twitter friends, or real-life friends who may have gotten in. You'd want them to do the same for you, right?
2) Once you feel up to it, collect the feedback you may have gotten from the mentors you submitted to. Figure out if/how to incorporate this feedback into your manuscript.
3) If you didn't get any feedback, or you feel you want more, find a few new critique partners. The Pitch Wars Hopefuls Facebook groups are great for this, and you'll be able to find a lot of writers in your shoes on these groups. Exchange first chapters with a few people to see who might be a good fit. Then, exchange manuscripts and get as much feedback as you can.
4) Once you have a good pool of feedback, go through your manuscript with a fine-tooth comb and figure out how to incorporate it. This might mean changing your beginning, changing your ending, adding or deleting characters, changing the plot, etc. Be open to really changing your book, if you feel it will make it better! But remember, you don't HAVE to take all the feedback you're given. If more than one person has the same comment, that's a good indication you need to change that aspect of the book. But it's your book, and you get the final say.
5) After you've got a revised manuscript based on feedback and your own revisions, consider sending it to another one or two beta readers. Make sure the revisions work.
6) Once you can't revise any more, you can start querying agents. Or, you can enter any of the other upcoming contests (Operation Awesome's very own Pass or Pages in September, Pitch Slam in the early fall (http://pitchslamcontest.com/), #pitmad in early September and early December (http://www.brenda-drake.com/pitmad/) and many others).
There are many, many avenues to becoming an agented author. Pitch Wars is a great one, but it's not the only one. You took a huge step just for applying, and whether or not you make it in, you've got a lot of options ahead of you!
So if you're one of the 2500+ who don't make it into Pitch Wars, what do you do next? Here are some ideas:
1) Take a day or two to resign yourself to the rejection, if you need to. There's nothing wrong with feeling upset about not getting in. Take some time away from Twitter, if it hurts to see everyone celebrating. But don't unfollow mentors and mentees - you can mute them for a while if it's tough to see them pop up on your stream, but they're all good professional connections to keep. And don't forget to congratulate any of your critique partners, Twitter friends, or real-life friends who may have gotten in. You'd want them to do the same for you, right?
2) Once you feel up to it, collect the feedback you may have gotten from the mentors you submitted to. Figure out if/how to incorporate this feedback into your manuscript.
3) If you didn't get any feedback, or you feel you want more, find a few new critique partners. The Pitch Wars Hopefuls Facebook groups are great for this, and you'll be able to find a lot of writers in your shoes on these groups. Exchange first chapters with a few people to see who might be a good fit. Then, exchange manuscripts and get as much feedback as you can.
4) Once you have a good pool of feedback, go through your manuscript with a fine-tooth comb and figure out how to incorporate it. This might mean changing your beginning, changing your ending, adding or deleting characters, changing the plot, etc. Be open to really changing your book, if you feel it will make it better! But remember, you don't HAVE to take all the feedback you're given. If more than one person has the same comment, that's a good indication you need to change that aspect of the book. But it's your book, and you get the final say.
5) After you've got a revised manuscript based on feedback and your own revisions, consider sending it to another one or two beta readers. Make sure the revisions work.
6) Once you can't revise any more, you can start querying agents. Or, you can enter any of the other upcoming contests (Operation Awesome's very own Pass or Pages in September, Pitch Slam in the early fall (http://pitchslamcontest.com/), #pitmad in early September and early December (http://www.brenda-drake.com/pitmad/) and many others).
There are many, many avenues to becoming an agented author. Pitch Wars is a great one, but it's not the only one. You took a huge step just for applying, and whether or not you make it in, you've got a lot of options ahead of you!
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Everything You Need to Know About... The Synopsis!
Contest season is coming around the bend, and whether you're planning to submit to Pitch Wars, Pitch Slam, Nightmare on Query Street, or another contest, there are some common requirements for every submission package. Over the next few weeks, Operation Awesome will be giving and rehashing tips, advice, and 'lessons learned' about each of these required pieces of the submission package.
Take a look at last week's post on THE FIRST CHAPTER, and the post from two weeks ago on QUERY LETTERS. Now, let's turn our attention to THE SYNOPSIS.
Top Synopsis Tips from the Operation Awesome Crew
KARA: It's okay if your synopsis is boring. Be sure to hit the important story beats, and how your character gets to each one. And for the love of everything, include how the story ends. This isn't the place to be coy about it.
MELINDA: Don't overload your synopsis with the names of every character in your book. Mention the three main characters, four if you must. For those of us who read through synopses, a bunch of names is not only annoying, but meaningless. I want the plot and a couple of important characters. That's it.
J: Make sure we know what to care about. The best examples include survival, hunger, sex, protection of a loved one, and/ or fear of death.
LEANDRA: Don't go chasing plot bunnies in your synopsis. Stick to the meat! (Jaime says it so much better below, lol!)
JAIME: Beginning, middle, and end. That should be your mantra while you're writing your synopsis. Make sure you're establishing your story's 'normal' at the beginning of the book, detailing what changes (the inciting incident), tracking all the main events of the plot, and then giving away the ending.
Operation Awesome's Library of Posts About The Synopsis
Tackling the Dreaded Synopsis: Part One
Tackling the Dreaded Synopsis: Part Two
How to Write a Synopsis for a Book with an Unusual Structure
Writing a Synopsis When You Have Two (or More!) Viewpoint Characters
Ten (so far) synopsis critiques between February and May 2017
As always, if you want your synopsis critiqued on this website, fill out the form here, or email your 1-2 page synopsis to me at operationawesome6@gmail.com, and I'll post one critique per week (NOTE: I'll email my critique to the author as soon as I'm done, so the author won't have to wait to see his/her synopsis on the site). Thanks for participating!
Take a look at last week's post on THE FIRST CHAPTER, and the post from two weeks ago on QUERY LETTERS. Now, let's turn our attention to THE SYNOPSIS.
Top Synopsis Tips from the Operation Awesome Crew
KARA: It's okay if your synopsis is boring. Be sure to hit the important story beats, and how your character gets to each one. And for the love of everything, include how the story ends. This isn't the place to be coy about it.
MELINDA: Don't overload your synopsis with the names of every character in your book. Mention the three main characters, four if you must. For those of us who read through synopses, a bunch of names is not only annoying, but meaningless. I want the plot and a couple of important characters. That's it.
J: Make sure we know what to care about. The best examples include survival, hunger, sex, protection of a loved one, and/ or fear of death.
LEANDRA: Don't go chasing plot bunnies in your synopsis. Stick to the meat! (Jaime says it so much better below, lol!)
JAIME: Beginning, middle, and end. That should be your mantra while you're writing your synopsis. Make sure you're establishing your story's 'normal' at the beginning of the book, detailing what changes (the inciting incident), tracking all the main events of the plot, and then giving away the ending.
Operation Awesome's Library of Posts About The Synopsis
Tackling the Dreaded Synopsis: Part One
Tackling the Dreaded Synopsis: Part Two
How to Write a Synopsis for a Book with an Unusual Structure
Writing a Synopsis When You Have Two (or More!) Viewpoint Characters
Ten (so far) synopsis critiques between February and May 2017
As always, if you want your synopsis critiqued on this website, fill out the form here, or email your 1-2 page synopsis to me at operationawesome6@gmail.com, and I'll post one critique per week (NOTE: I'll email my critique to the author as soon as I'm done, so the author won't have to wait to see his/her synopsis on the site). Thanks for participating!
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Everything You Need to Know About... The First Chapter!
Contest season is coming around the bend, and whether you're planning to submit to Pitch Wars, Pitch Slam, Nightmare on Query Street, or another contest, there are some common requirements for every submission package. Over the next few weeks, Operation Awesome will be giving and rehashing tips, advice, and 'lessons learned' about each of these required pieces of the submission package.
Take a look at last week's post on QUERY LETTERS. Now, let's turn our attention to THE FIRST CHAPTER.
Top First Chapter Tips from the Operation Awesome Crew
KARA: I know I've talked about this before, but it bears repeating: If the inciting incident doesn't happen in your first chapter, then your book is starting in the wrong place. The inciting incident is the thing that happens, without which, there would be no book. It's the thing that changes the status quo for your main character and sets them on the course of events that form your novel. Give your first chapter to your CPs and ask them if they can identify what the inciting incident is. If they can't, you've got work to do.
MELINDA: Drop me into a scene. I get too many submissions where the first chapter is all inside protagonist's head, telling the reader how they met their best friend, about their relationship with their parents, about why their preferred type of cheese is Gouda. Something needs to happen in your first chapter and that something needs to be important to the overall story.
J: I should have a question in my mind driving me to read onward. Also, I should be able to figure out what genre your book is by now. (Something dramatic happened, something paranormal appeared, my heart jolted from a scary scene, I laughed, I lusted, there was a crime, I encountered something from days gone by, etc.) Finally, I shouldn't have too many characters to juggle in my mind yet. One to four is ideal. Five to seven is gray area. Over seven characters in Chapter One is a red flag.
LEANDRA: For me, I like to see something unusual in the first chapter. If it's the character getting out of bed, thinking about their day, eating breakfast--for me, nothing will have me closing a book faster. Give me something besides the norm.
JAIME: To me, the most important factors in deciding whether to read a book are the concept and the voice. Now, if I'm thinking about buying a book, I already know the concept (from the back cover, Amazon description, etc.). So the first chapter's job is to hook me with the main character's voice. I will follow a great main character almost anywhere, but I won't necessarily keep up with a great concept if I don't care about the main character. In other words, your first chapter needs to establish your main character's voice, first and foremost.
Operation Awesome's Library of Posts About The First Chapter
Weaving a Colorful Tapestry of Page-Turning Story
What First Impression is Your Character Giving?
Activate Your Story
Take a look at last week's post on QUERY LETTERS. Now, let's turn our attention to THE FIRST CHAPTER.
Top First Chapter Tips from the Operation Awesome Crew
KARA: I know I've talked about this before, but it bears repeating: If the inciting incident doesn't happen in your first chapter, then your book is starting in the wrong place. The inciting incident is the thing that happens, without which, there would be no book. It's the thing that changes the status quo for your main character and sets them on the course of events that form your novel. Give your first chapter to your CPs and ask them if they can identify what the inciting incident is. If they can't, you've got work to do.
MELINDA: Drop me into a scene. I get too many submissions where the first chapter is all inside protagonist's head, telling the reader how they met their best friend, about their relationship with their parents, about why their preferred type of cheese is Gouda. Something needs to happen in your first chapter and that something needs to be important to the overall story.
J: I should have a question in my mind driving me to read onward. Also, I should be able to figure out what genre your book is by now. (Something dramatic happened, something paranormal appeared, my heart jolted from a scary scene, I laughed, I lusted, there was a crime, I encountered something from days gone by, etc.) Finally, I shouldn't have too many characters to juggle in my mind yet. One to four is ideal. Five to seven is gray area. Over seven characters in Chapter One is a red flag.
LEANDRA: For me, I like to see something unusual in the first chapter. If it's the character getting out of bed, thinking about their day, eating breakfast--for me, nothing will have me closing a book faster. Give me something besides the norm.
JAIME: To me, the most important factors in deciding whether to read a book are the concept and the voice. Now, if I'm thinking about buying a book, I already know the concept (from the back cover, Amazon description, etc.). So the first chapter's job is to hook me with the main character's voice. I will follow a great main character almost anywhere, but I won't necessarily keep up with a great concept if I don't care about the main character. In other words, your first chapter needs to establish your main character's voice, first and foremost.
Operation Awesome's Library of Posts About The First Chapter
Weaving a Colorful Tapestry of Page-Turning Story
What First Impression is Your Character Giving?
Activate Your Story
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Everything You Need to Know About... Query Letters!
Contest season is coming around the bend, and whether you're planning to submit to Pitch Wars, Pitch Slam, Nightmare on Query Street, or another contest, there are some common requirements for every submission package. Over the next few weeks, Operation Awesome will be giving and rehashing tips, advice, and 'lessons learned' about each of these required pieces of the submission package.
So, without further ado, let's start with QUERY LETTERS.
Top Query Tips from the Operation Awesome Crew
KARA: Specific details are what make query letters stand out for me when I read them. "Character meets a horrible fate" is not as eye-catching as "Character will be kicked out of the house and be at risk of being eaten by zombies." Take out all the vague phrases in your query letter and provide specifics instead. Don't worry about a "spoiler," because query letters are meant to get an agent/editor interested in your novel, and specific details are what do that.
MELINDA: Please don't tell me you've been writing since you were a kid or that your book is sure to be a bestseller. You have no idea how many times I read those words. They scream, "novice." We've all been writing since we were kids, and we all have hopes of our books being bestsellers. Tell me something relevant that will make me want to read more. Leave out the fluff.
J: If you're going to compare your book to another book, that other book better
The purpose of book comparisons is to figure out which 500people regular readers to market your book to first. Sure, everyone might love your book later, but all books have to start with a core audience. Sticking with my ridiculous example, "A History of the World in 6 Glasses" would first have been marketed to people who enjoy food history books. Would fantasy writers love the book for the new world-building angle? You bet! But they aren't the core audience, they're not where the focus belongs during the initial launch. The book isn't shelved with writing books, it's shelved with gastronomy history. If there were a magazine ad campaign, the ads would be in "Food Network Magazine" not in "Apex."
LEANDRA: Have an intriguing first line. You can't land the fish if you don't hook it first. ;)
JAIME: Make sure you answer three simple questions. What does my main character want? What's standing in their way? What will happen if they don't succeed?
Operation Awesome's Library of Posts About Writing Query Letters
Query Writing 101: Writing a Basic Query
Query Writing 102: Query Dos and Don'ts
The Ultimate Cheat Sheet on Query Letters
So, without further ado, let's start with QUERY LETTERS.
Top Query Tips from the Operation Awesome Crew
KARA: Specific details are what make query letters stand out for me when I read them. "Character meets a horrible fate" is not as eye-catching as "Character will be kicked out of the house and be at risk of being eaten by zombies." Take out all the vague phrases in your query letter and provide specifics instead. Don't worry about a "spoiler," because query letters are meant to get an agent/editor interested in your novel, and specific details are what do that.
MELINDA: Please don't tell me you've been writing since you were a kid or that your book is sure to be a bestseller. You have no idea how many times I read those words. They scream, "novice." We've all been writing since we were kids, and we all have hopes of our books being bestsellers. Tell me something relevant that will make me want to read more. Leave out the fluff.
J: If you're going to compare your book to another book, that other book better
- be in the same AGE market as your book.
- not be a cross-genre seller (Harry Potter, Divergent, Hunger Games, The Shining... if it's a top 10 best-seller, NO, don't use it).
- be in the same genre as your book.
- have enough in common with your book that one can read your query and the online description blurb of the book and draw parallels.
The purpose of book comparisons is to figure out which 500
LEANDRA: Have an intriguing first line. You can't land the fish if you don't hook it first. ;)
JAIME: Make sure you answer three simple questions. What does my main character want? What's standing in their way? What will happen if they don't succeed?
Operation Awesome's Library of Posts About Writing Query Letters
Query Writing 101: Writing a Basic Query
Query Writing 102: Query Dos and Don'ts
The Ultimate Cheat Sheet on Query Letters
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
A Chance for a Free Pass into Query Kombat!
Query Kombat is an annual query contest from writers Michelle Hauck, Michael Anthony, and Laura Heffernan. Not only do the entrants receive feedback on their query letters from a panel of judges, but there will be over 20 agents making requests from entries! Several people from last year's contest went on to secure representation for their work.
I'll be working behind the scenes to help sort through the entries before the contest, tweeting query tips and tantalizing hints. It'll be fun! AND right now both Michelle and Laura are offering a FREE PASS into the contest! That's right! Bypass the slush and guarantee yourself a spot in the first round! Check out Michelle's free pass here, and Laura's here.
I hope to see a lot of the queries I've read for Tuesday Museday in the slush, not to mention former Pass Or Pages entries! Good luck to everyone!
I'll be working behind the scenes to help sort through the entries before the contest, tweeting query tips and tantalizing hints. It'll be fun! AND right now both Michelle and Laura are offering a FREE PASS into the contest! That's right! Bypass the slush and guarantee yourself a spot in the first round! Check out Michelle's free pass here, and Laura's here.
I hope to see a lot of the queries I've read for Tuesday Museday in the slush, not to mention former Pass Or Pages entries! Good luck to everyone!
Monday, April 13, 2015
On Contests and Community
Since I'm usually the one watching our OpAwesome6 Twitter account, I get to see a lot of excitement flitting through the Twittersphere about our Mystery Agent/Editor Contests. I love the support and sense of community that comes from cheering on, and commiserating with, our fellow authors in the query trenches. Some of the writers who I went through contests with remain friends to this day, even as much as five years later.
In particular, I was thinking back to when I was submitting Crow's Rest (by query and in contests) around this time in 2013. My manuscript had been out since February, after some early interest from the WriteOnCon forums, but hadn't found a home yet.
Each contest round was a learning experience--it can be a tremendous motivation to nail down your specific voice and style, once you've read a dozen entries for your genre. Seeing them all in one place really brings home what the agent experiences in their inbox, and how your work must be fresh and different to stand out.
One of the last pitch contests I entered was The Writer's Voice, run jointly in 2013 by Brenda Drake, Cupid of Cupid’s Literary Connection, Krista Van Dolzer of Mother. Write. (Repeat.) and Monica B.W. of Love YA . The format was meant to encourage writers to establish their characters and voice right away, and grab the attention of an agent in those first 250 words. I entered Crow's Rest and crossed my fingers.
But here's the thing--I never made it past the first round in this contest, and I still learned a ton (and made those connections that I started out talking about in this post). And yes, it stung that CR didn't make the cut, but I also knew there were other opportunities out there--and I just needed to find the right match.
That right match for Crow's Rest didn't end up coming through a contest--a few weeks after TWV, I submitted the winning bid on a 70-page critique with editor Vikki Ciaffone of Spencer Hill Press in an auction. That critique turned into an offer of publication, and Crow's Rest is coming out from SHP in only a month (okay, so I glossed over a TON of steps in between)!
I likely wouldn't have even heard about the auction without my writerly connections, nor would I have taken a chance on bidding for the critique if I hadn't earned some confidence from the contest feedback.
So in honor of those connections, I caught up with some of the Alumni of The Writer's Voice 2013:
Leslie S. Rose, who I actually got to meet in person recently! She's had several short stories included in anthologies
Marieke Nijkamp, who blogged about the part contests played in landing her own agent, and whose debut THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is coming from Sourcebooks in 2016
Lucas Hargis, whose TWV entry is here, and who got two agent offers (and accepted one) by the end of that year
Christie Murillo, who also feels the contest camaraderie so strongly that she thanked a bunch of us who had been in the trenches with her in her "I Have An Agent!" announcement
Molly Pinto Madigan, whose TWV entry also had a contemporary twist on a fairy tale/legend
Pete Catalano, alias Billy Payne, whose debut novel ARTIFACTS is coming from Month9 Books in Fall 2016
Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski, co-authors of Mystic Cooking, who signed with Jen Azantian in February
J Larkin, who signed with Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency, as a result of TWV 2013
And, if you'd like to read an excerpt from Crow's Rest, Brenda Drake is hosting a reveal on her blog today! Go check it out by clicking her banner below!
In particular, I was thinking back to when I was submitting Crow's Rest (by query and in contests) around this time in 2013. My manuscript had been out since February, after some early interest from the WriteOnCon forums, but hadn't found a home yet.
Each contest round was a learning experience--it can be a tremendous motivation to nail down your specific voice and style, once you've read a dozen entries for your genre. Seeing them all in one place really brings home what the agent experiences in their inbox, and how your work must be fresh and different to stand out.
One of the last pitch contests I entered was The Writer's Voice, run jointly in 2013 by Brenda Drake, Cupid of Cupid’s Literary Connection, Krista Van Dolzer of Mother. Write. (Repeat.) and Monica B.W. of Love YA . The format was meant to encourage writers to establish their characters and voice right away, and grab the attention of an agent in those first 250 words. I entered Crow's Rest and crossed my fingers.
But here's the thing--I never made it past the first round in this contest, and I still learned a ton (and made those connections that I started out talking about in this post). And yes, it stung that CR didn't make the cut, but I also knew there were other opportunities out there--and I just needed to find the right match.
That right match for Crow's Rest didn't end up coming through a contest--a few weeks after TWV, I submitted the winning bid on a 70-page critique with editor Vikki Ciaffone of Spencer Hill Press in an auction. That critique turned into an offer of publication, and Crow's Rest is coming out from SHP in only a month (okay, so I glossed over a TON of steps in between)!
I likely wouldn't have even heard about the auction without my writerly connections, nor would I have taken a chance on bidding for the critique if I hadn't earned some confidence from the contest feedback.
So in honor of those connections, I caught up with some of the Alumni of The Writer's Voice 2013:
Leslie S. Rose, who I actually got to meet in person recently! She's had several short stories included in anthologies
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| Me on the left, Leslie on the right! |
Marieke Nijkamp, who blogged about the part contests played in landing her own agent, and whose debut THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is coming from Sourcebooks in 2016
Lucas Hargis, whose TWV entry is here, and who got two agent offers (and accepted one) by the end of that year
Christie Murillo, who also feels the contest camaraderie so strongly that she thanked a bunch of us who had been in the trenches with her in her "I Have An Agent!" announcement
Molly Pinto Madigan, whose TWV entry also had a contemporary twist on a fairy tale/legend
Pete Catalano, alias Billy Payne, whose debut novel ARTIFACTS is coming from Month9 Books in Fall 2016
Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski, co-authors of Mystic Cooking, who signed with Jen Azantian in February
J Larkin, who signed with Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency, as a result of TWV 2013
And, if you'd like to read an excerpt from Crow's Rest, Brenda Drake is hosting a reveal on her blog today! Go check it out by clicking her banner below!
Sunday, March 22, 2015
The Importance of Contests (And their Hosts)
I've always been a big advocate of query contests. Its a great way to stand out from the slushpile and find agents that you may not have queried on your own. It also provides a lot of opportunities to get feedback for fellow writers and form a community online with those who are on the same path as you. There's really nothing bad about contests.
I entered in my share of contests while still in the trenches and, let me tell you, most of my partial and full requests came from said contests. In fact, my now agent, the wonderful Laura Zats, found me through #pitmad.
But now I've seen contests from the other side of the show, whether it be judging, or, in the case of this past month, organizing. And let me tell you, I was unprepared for the amount of work it can take to put together a contest. This was my first time putting together the Mystery Agent contest and it was stressful. I don't know how some people run much bigger contests on a regular basis!
So today, let's give a collective shout out to all those writers who host and help out behind the scenes with contests to give other writers a chance at landing their agent. I wouldn't be where I am today if not for those lovely people and they deserve all of the gratitude.
We are always told to give back to our community. And for many writers, this online collection of people at various stages of the writing and publishing process, is their community. So thanks to the writers who give back! We appreciate all of your hard work.
I entered in my share of contests while still in the trenches and, let me tell you, most of my partial and full requests came from said contests. In fact, my now agent, the wonderful Laura Zats, found me through #pitmad.
But now I've seen contests from the other side of the show, whether it be judging, or, in the case of this past month, organizing. And let me tell you, I was unprepared for the amount of work it can take to put together a contest. This was my first time putting together the Mystery Agent contest and it was stressful. I don't know how some people run much bigger contests on a regular basis!
So today, let's give a collective shout out to all those writers who host and help out behind the scenes with contests to give other writers a chance at landing their agent. I wouldn't be where I am today if not for those lovely people and they deserve all of the gratitude.
We are always told to give back to our community. And for many writers, this online collection of people at various stages of the writing and publishing process, is their community. So thanks to the writers who give back! We appreciate all of your hard work.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
April Mystery Agent Contest Reminder
I'm battling the stomach flu, but I wanted to pop on to remind everyone the April mystery Agent Contest is now LIVE.
What are we looking for?
A 50-word blurb!
What is our Mystery Agent seeking?
Genre: Fantasy and Sci-fi (for YA / Adult)
When can you enter?
Right now! The lottery will close Tuesday, March 31st, at 11:59pm, CST.
All the details, and entry, can be found here.
Happy Wednesday.
What are we looking for?
A 50-word blurb!
What is our Mystery Agent seeking?
Genre: Fantasy and Sci-fi (for YA / Adult)
When can you enter?
Right now! The lottery will close Tuesday, March 31st, at 11:59pm, CST.
All the details, and entry, can be found here.
Happy Wednesday.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Entangled Ever After Blog Tour of Spooky Awesomeness!
To celebrate all the spooktacular releases this month, including our own Michelle Mclean's Wish Upon a Star (squeee!!!), Ever After is doing a joint Virtual Book Tour. And there are a TON of awesome prizes to be had. :D
The tour launched yesterday and each day (from today through Oct 8th) will spotlight a different book in the line up. Michelle's book, Wish Upon a Star, will be spotlighted on Monday, Oct 7th.
So check out all the awesome books that have just released and scroll down to start entering those giveaways!!
Visit Entangled's blog HERE for tour stops. Michelle will be giving away a $20 gift card and the seriously fabulous Wish Upon a Star necklace created by the very talented Bonny Anderson(see below). Good luck with the giveaways and be sure to check out all these amazing books!
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Find Your Ever After in Under An Hour
Ruby Hill by Sarah Ballance
From her earliest memories, Ashley Pearce has been drawn to Ruby Hill Lunatic Asylum, and she's not the only one. Decades after the abandoned hospital ended its institutional reign of torture and neglect, something lurks in the shadows. Since she’s a paranormal investigator, it's Ashley's job to find out what.
Crime scene expert Corbin Malone doesn't believe in ghosts. A born skeptic, he has no interest in entertaining the hype surrounding the mysterious deaths at Ruby Hill, but he won't turn his back while more women die. He agrees to an overnight investigation, never expecting his first encounter would be with the woman he pushed away a year ago. But when he discovers Ashley is a target, he learns his greatest fear isn't living with his own demons, but losing her for good.
One Thousand and One Nights by Ruth Browne
Sheri spends her days fighting zombies and her nights chained to a wall, earning her every breath by telling stories to her captor Aleksy—stories that make them both forget the ruined world. Sheri could put up with the conditions—at least she knows her sister is safe in the community Aleksy leads—until she realizes she’s falling for him...even though he wants her dead.
When Aleksy allowed Sheri and her sister into his compound, he didn’t know about the zombie bite on her back. It's only a matter of time before she turns into one of the rising dead and threatens their existence, but Aleksy has a secret need for Sheri and her stories. For everyone’s safety, he chains her to his bedroom wall, hoping for just one more day. But how long will the community allow Aleksy to ignore his own rule: always kill the infected. Always.
Mercy by Jan Coffey
Julia Klein’s life has begun to unravel—her daughter Amy has been suspended from school, Julia is about to lose her job, and her boyfriend Garrett is being transferred thousands of miles away. Overwhelmed, she and Amy leave for a weekend at a rambling old colonial inn. Julia never suspects that Garrett, desperate to find a way to keep Julia in his life, has decided to surprise her by joining them. Nor does she expect her daughter to befriend a mischievous ghost...or that she herself would be possessed by the malevolent spirit of a long-dead mother.
As a dark secret emerges, Julia, Amy, and Garrett find themselves pitted in a fight for survival against a savage presence that intends to resurrect/repeat/relive a horrible crime committed two centuries ago. And this time, Amy and Julia will be the victims.
Haunted Chemisty by Lindsey Loucks
When bookish college co-ed Alexis heads to the laundry room in her new apartment, she runs into Ian Reese, the chem lab partner she crushed on all last semester. And the guy who stood her up on their first date. But she’s down for an awkward reunion, and no better place than her creepy laundry room.
Ian has every intention of making amends, but just when Alexis begins to trust him again, a new threat calls more than their future together into question. A ghost from the apartment’s past is hellbent on revenge, and if he wants to get his girl, he’ll have to get the ghost first.
Wish Upon a Star by Michelle McLean
Ceri McKinley never stopped wishing that her ex-fiancé Jason Crickett would come back into her life. But when he finally does, he comes with a request that puts them both—and all of humanity—into jeopardy.
Jason only wants two things: to bury his brother properly and to convince Ceri to trust him again after he jilted her. But when Ceri agrees to help him get his brother back, they end up fighting for their lives as a zombie uprising threatens them all.
Northern Light by E.J. Russell
Nothing gives art fraud investigator Luke Morganstern a bigger rush than busting forgers, the low-life criminals who dare victimize true artists. But when his latest job sends him to a remote cabin in the Oregon Coast Range, he’s stunned to discover the alleged forger is his former lover, Stefan Cobbe, the most gifted painter Luke has ever known.
Stefan, left homeless and destitute after the death of his wealthy partner, doesn’t exactly deny the forgery -- he claims he doesn’t remember, an excuse Luke can’t accept.
But Luke’s elderly client suggests Stefan may be telling the truth and presents another possibility – a dark presence in the woods, a supernatural fury simmering for decades. Luke must face down his fear of the uncanny – and admit his feelings for Stefan – if either of them is to survive.
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Friday, March 1, 2013
March Mystery Agent Contest Starts Now!
CONTEST CLOSED! Thanks to all who participated :)
Good morning, Writers!
You know what I love about writers? They can just fork over a one-sentence pitch just like that.
*snaps fingers*
No? Well, in that case, check out Nathan Bransford's one-line pitch talk.
Now all you need is a polished children's manuscript, either picture book, middle grade, or young adult. Oh, you have one? Perfect!
Go forth and enter (in the comments)!
Here is what our fabulous MA is on the lookout for:
Picture Books
Middle Grade
Young Adult
Specifically, our MA is seeking the following:
For MG and YA: currently seeking mysteries, historical, or contemporary with mystery elements
For PB: seeking manuscripts that have a voice, aka an author who is putting forward a sense of place, personality, and storytelling. Voice, voice, voice!
This contest is open to veterans and newbies alike - so long as you have a complete and query-ready manuscript on your hands within the genres of interest, our guest agent would love to hear from you.
Contest goes live 9 AM central time and remains open until all entry spots are filled. The first 50 entries we receive will go on to our MA. Remember, this is a one-sentence pitch. Cheating with grammar doesn't count. Meaning that you can't have 3 sentences with commas between them. The sentence needs to work.
The official contest rules:
1) Entries must be one-line pitches. The length of the pitch is up to you, but remember, it's only one sentence.
2) Entries must be for completed manuscripts. No NaNo projects, and no unfinished drafts, please!
3) Entries must be left in the comments section of today's post (please don't email us your entries!). We'll close the contest once we've reached our limit.
4) You can only enter once today (only one project). If you participated or won previous MA contests, you can enter this one as well!
4) Please include TITLE and GENRE, followed by your one-line pitch.
5) The contest will close when we receive 50 entries.
6) The winner will receive a FULL manuscript request!
7) If the rules aren't followed, your entry will be disqualified.
That's it! Now go and submit that awesome one-line pitch!!
Good luck to everyone! (It is lucky shamrock season.)
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| Artist at deviant art |
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
August Mystery Agent Contest Reminder
Don't forget to get those one-sentence pitches ready for August 1st! Why? Because we have an awesome Mystery Agent waiting in the Operation Awesome agent greenroom.
Reminders:
Our August Mystery Agent is looking for any sub genre of MG and YA fiction only (though the M.A rarely takes on high fantasy).
Reminders:
- Pitches should be for completed manuscripts only.
- You can enter one pitch for one novel - if you make a mistake, just delete your entry and repost.
- Yes, you are eligible to enter even if you've won MA contests in the past.
- The first 50 qualifying pitches will be accepted - don't pay attention to the comment numbers. We will close the contest when we've reached our limit.
- If the rules (which will be posted on August 1st) are not followed, your pitch will be disqualified. Please carefully read the guidelines and follow them.
- Pitches should be one-line pitches - try not to push the boundaries on this one - Four sentences separated by semi-colons will NOT count as a one line pitch. ;)
- Anyone can enter as long as your novel falls under the genres our MA is looking for. If this particular MA doesn't rep your genre, no worries - we hold these contests often and try to find agents with diverse tastes so there will be a contest in the future for your particular genre
The contest will go live at 10 am ET/9 CT / 8 MT/ 7 PT on AUGUST 1st
Please don't enter the August Mystery Agent contest via this post. Our M.A contests can be entered via a post that goes live the day of the contest (1st of each month). Thank you.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Fun Things in the Blogosphere
There's lots of fun things happening around the interwebs today, most especially the absolutely huge, uber epic, supreme virtual launch party of AWESOME for Elana Johnson's POSSESSION!!! For deets, head to Elana's blog. Do NOT miss out on this party - prizes and fun times galore :D
The lovely mistress of cool herself, Cole Gibsen is hosting Jack Blank author Matt Myklusch on her blog - and there's a fun giveway also! Go post a comment to be entered.
The Queen of Chocolate, Steena Holmes, just released her book, THE MASTER, and has been celebrating with a few prizes this week. Go check it out :D
Annnd her fantasy highness Rebecca Knight just released her book LEGACY OF THE EMPRESS and is celebrating with an awesome contest. Hurry and enter!
If you know of any other awesome happenings, leave them in the comments! :D
The lovely mistress of cool herself, Cole Gibsen is hosting Jack Blank author Matt Myklusch on her blog - and there's a fun giveway also! Go post a comment to be entered.
The Queen of Chocolate, Steena Holmes, just released her book, THE MASTER, and has been celebrating with a few prizes this week. Go check it out :D
Annnd her fantasy highness Rebecca Knight just released her book LEGACY OF THE EMPRESS and is celebrating with an awesome contest. Hurry and enter!
If you know of any other awesome happenings, leave them in the comments! :D
Monday, May 23, 2011
Linktastic Monday! (contest, auction, and giveaways)
Happy Monday! I love it when life converges to bring the awesome on a Monday. It makes an otherwise exhausting day much more endurable. :)
Here are some things going on today that you might not know about:
Teenreads Beach Bag Contest! This includes a bunch of 2011 faves like DIVERGENT, NIGHTSPELL, and SUPERNATURALLY. And as if the contest weren't enough, several of these have excerpts and "search inside this book" links so you can read the first few chapters of books that haven't come out yet. I'm currently reading the first bit of Kiersten White's sequel to Paranormalcy, SUPERNATURALLY.
All 4 Alabama Disaster Relief Literary Auction!
This is ongoing, but tonight at 8pm Central Time, all bidding for Day 6 items ends, and this includes our own Michelle McLean's pre-released picture book--signed! I bid on it, and I'm perfectly happy to win it, but I'm torn because I also want to share the awesome and promote the charity bidding. Here's the blurb for A Magical World by Michelle Raynor (pseudonym), Illustrated by Toni Wilson.
Afterglow's Beginning of Summer Giveaway!
From all of us at Afterglow Book Reviews to all of you, here's a fun way to celebrate the onset of summer. We've got ten books, including ARCs and signed copies, that could be yours.
And now, to keep the cheeriness going, what's your favorite thing about Monday?
My favorite thing is the return to normalcy, like putting on an old pair of jeans.
Here are some things going on today that you might not know about:
Teenreads Beach Bag Contest! This includes a bunch of 2011 faves like DIVERGENT, NIGHTSPELL, and SUPERNATURALLY. And as if the contest weren't enough, several of these have excerpts and "search inside this book" links so you can read the first few chapters of books that haven't come out yet. I'm currently reading the first bit of Kiersten White's sequel to Paranormalcy, SUPERNATURALLY.
All 4 Alabama Disaster Relief Literary Auction!
Alex and his sister Izzy are stuck inside during one stormy, rainy week. But, they still manage to have the most spectacular adventures. They sail the seven seas on a pirate ship, swing on jungle vines, swim through the ocean, roam with the dinosaurs, and visit many other fantastic places! Just how, they never tell a soul. They simply smile and wink and zip their lips, and then disappear into their room. Into a wonderful, magical world.
Here's my brief but glowing review of A Magical World (or rather my four-year-old son's review):
My 4-year-old son asks for this every day at nap time.
One day after we read it, he said, "I don't have a little girl" (meaning little sister like Alex has Izzy in the book) "I just have my Layne." *cheesy little boy smile*
So I know he's imagining himself playing pretend with his little brother like the characters in your book, seeing himself as the brave big brother, Alex!
The sense of wonder this picture book inspires is exactly what I want for my kids as I'm introducing them to literature and a lifelong love of reading and imagining.Michelle's debut nonfiction book, Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers, also went up for auction yesterday. It's an incredible resource for teens and adults faced with the challenge of writing school papers. And it's funny, to boot!
Afterglow's Beginning of Summer Giveaway!
And now, to keep the cheeriness going, what's your favorite thing about Monday?
My favorite thing is the return to normalcy, like putting on an old pair of jeans.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Contest Surprise #2 :D Mystery Agent Revealed!
Okay, well, we realized after posting yesterday that we couldn't keep our Mystery Agent a secret because we needed to let the finalists know who she was so they could send in their pages. Soooo…we figured we’d let the rest of you in on the secret as well :)
Our May’s Mystery Agent is none other than my own supremely fabulous agent.....
I asked Krista a few questions which she was kind enough to answer :)
What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to queries or submissions?
Are there any concepts that you are seeing way too much of?
What is your favorite part of being an agent?
Do you have any exciting client or agency news?
Any last thoughts for queriers?
Nonfiction of all kinds, including:
Mind/body/spirit titles of all kinds
Innovative health/wellness/nutrition/diet books
How-to books of all kinds
Self-help titles from top-platformed authors
Anything that brings an innovative or fresh perspective or format to long-standing parenting topics
Books related to college admissions or college survival
Books about movies or TV
Narrative nonfiction titles by platformed authors
Interesting, nichey cookbooks
She is also actively looking for novels, including mysteries, thrillers, paranormals, and romances.
Thanks again everyone! And stay tuned for other mystery agent contests, coming soon!!
Our May’s Mystery Agent is none other than my own supremely fabulous agent.....
Krista Goering!!!!
I have absolutely loved working with Krista and am so excited for our finalists. Good luck to all of you!!!I asked Krista a few questions which she was kind enough to answer :)
Is there anything specific you’re just dying to get your hands on?
I love mysteries and thrillers – and would love to get my hands on a great one. I’m also interested in paranormal, romance and historicals, including alternate history novels.
My biggest pet peeve is being addressed as “Dear literary agent” or (worse) “Dear editor” or (worst) “To whom it may concern.”
Too many Twilight clones, too many “guardian” paranormals.
After working with an author to bring her book into the world, my favorite thing is holding that book in my hands for the first time.
I recently had an editor suggest a nonfiction book to me that he thought was a better idea than the one proposed by my client – and it turned out that my client and I agreed with him. The new proposal is getting a lot of attention. You just never know where the great idea will come from.
When you write your short pitch (25 words) make sure you’ve captured the excitement of the novel, not just the basic who/what/when/where/why.
Thanks so much for joining us this month, Krista! And congrats again to our finalists!
For more information on Krista and her agency, check out her website HERE. Krista is interested in:
Nonfiction of all kinds, including:
Mind/body/spirit titles of all kinds
Innovative health/wellness/nutrition/diet books
How-to books of all kinds
Self-help titles from top-platformed authors
Anything that brings an innovative or fresh perspective or format to long-standing parenting topics
Books related to college admissions or college survival
Books about movies or TV
Narrative nonfiction titles by platformed authors
Interesting, nichey cookbooks
She is also actively looking for novels, including mysteries, thrillers, paranormals, and romances.
Thanks again everyone! And stay tuned for other mystery agent contests, coming soon!!
Friday, February 11, 2011
BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY Winner (and agent query critique contest!)
And the winner is...
Samantha Sotto-Yambao
Please send your shipping info to katrina (dot) lantz (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll get this baby pre-ordered for you!
Samantha won BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY as part of our Operation Awesome Month of Follower Love.
Come back on Valentine's Day for some even bigger Follower Love!
TWO fabulous (and so generous) literary agents have offered up query critiques to help us celebrate our 300+ awesome followers: you guys! We'll have a random drawing from the comments, so be sure to stop by on Love Day!
Here's the awesomeness Samantha will be getting:
Samantha Sotto-Yambao
Please send your shipping info to katrina (dot) lantz (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll get this baby pre-ordered for you!
Samantha won BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY as part of our Operation Awesome Month of Follower Love.
Come back on Valentine's Day for some even bigger Follower Love!
TWO fabulous (and so generous) literary agents have offered up query critiques to help us celebrate our 300+ awesome followers: you guys! We'll have a random drawing from the comments, so be sure to stop by on Love Day!
Here's the awesomeness Samantha will be getting:
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| Add it on Goodreads |
Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.
Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously—and at great risk—documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.
Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously—and at great risk—documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Win a Customized Blog Banner
I did this a while back on my personal blog, and got a good response. I'm no professional, mind you, but I do love to play with banners. If anything, it is a great way to procrastinate editing. (grin) I also play around with our little mascot, Oliver. Here are a few examples of the work I've done.
I've seen a lot of blogs with the basic template banners, and I'd love to fix you up with something personalized. If you'd like a chance to win a custom made banner by yours truly, there are several ways you can earn points.
Comment on this post: +1
Previous OA Follower: +2
New OA Follower: +1
Tweet about this: +1
Facebook Post/Linkage: +1
Blog about this: +3
I'll end this contest a week from today. Please post in your comments which points you are taking advantage of, plus links to any posts, etc.
Good luck! I'm sooo excited to create something new!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
I Swear, You Swear, Who Swears?
I'm going to let you into a secret, lean close and I'll whisper it. Ready?
Most kids swear!
I said it. I uttered the words no parent/adult/relative of a teenager wants to hear. But they do, and they do it in secret.
I've no doubt that there are some kids who don't. Take my teenage self as an example, I swore.
I knew the words. I tried it. But, for some strange reason, people told me (and still tell me) it doesn't suit me. When I asked my friends why, they told me it's because I look too innocent or something. hehee.
My word choice is now limited to bloody (a great British, non-swear word).
But what about swearing in YA?
The topic has been debated around the web and various blogs about the subject. It isn't something I tackle lightly (and I'd hate to offend) but I've read posts by agent Mary Kole discussing the topic here and here. There is also an author perspective from Gayle Forman.
So I wondered do we, as responsible writers, close our minds (and ears) and pretend that this generation has never uttered a profanity? I heard my Seventeen-year-old cousin let one slip during a heated conversation with my uncle. For a second I thought his pulsating neck vein would explode!
I've also heard some choice phrases from groups of kids in shopping centers. And it creeps me out when I hear really young kids swearing (I'm not kidding, some kids on Supernanny have fruity language!)
I'm not talking about a book littered with F-bombs, although I'm sure it happens. No, I'm talking about the heated moments when a swear word may slip out. Do we, as readers, see a word like this and close the book vowing never to read that author again?
There are the handy alternatives to swear words. The hell, damn it and crap (my new favourites around my toddler goddaughter are what the flip and crud). But some people take offence to these too. And that is their right to do so. This world is a wonderful mix of opinions and choices and I would never try to change that for one second.
I think it comes down to personal choice, one that you make for your character, book and story. I have mild profanity in my completed MS and wip. It's not an f-bomb. In fact, I'm gonna call it an s-bomb.
I tried other words. I didn't shove it in to be topical or controversial. I thought long and hard about including it. But the situation called for it and an OMG wouldn't do.
I'm not advocating a book littered with profanity. But why is it less acceptable in books but not in films? How many films have you seen where they utter the f-bomb/other curse words on a regular basis?
Here is another view on the subject.
Now, I'm curious as to your thoughts on this subject.
P.S. Don't forget to check out Katrina's contest round-up post.
Oh, and we have the frawesome query chat with Elana Johnson coming up on the 28th of October and something special happening on November 1st.
Too. Much. Awesome.
Most kids swear!
I said it. I uttered the words no parent/adult/relative of a teenager wants to hear. But they do, and they do it in secret.
I've no doubt that there are some kids who don't. Take my teenage self as an example, I swore.
I knew the words. I tried it. But, for some strange reason, people told me (and still tell me) it doesn't suit me. When I asked my friends why, they told me it's because I look too innocent or something. hehee.
My word choice is now limited to bloody (a great British, non-swear word).
But what about swearing in YA?
The topic has been debated around the web and various blogs about the subject. It isn't something I tackle lightly (and I'd hate to offend) but I've read posts by agent Mary Kole discussing the topic here and here. There is also an author perspective from Gayle Forman.
So I wondered do we, as responsible writers, close our minds (and ears) and pretend that this generation has never uttered a profanity? I heard my Seventeen-year-old cousin let one slip during a heated conversation with my uncle. For a second I thought his pulsating neck vein would explode!
I've also heard some choice phrases from groups of kids in shopping centers. And it creeps me out when I hear really young kids swearing (I'm not kidding, some kids on Supernanny have fruity language!)
I'm not talking about a book littered with F-bombs, although I'm sure it happens. No, I'm talking about the heated moments when a swear word may slip out. Do we, as readers, see a word like this and close the book vowing never to read that author again?
There are the handy alternatives to swear words. The hell, damn it and crap (my new favourites around my toddler goddaughter are what the flip and crud). But some people take offence to these too. And that is their right to do so. This world is a wonderful mix of opinions and choices and I would never try to change that for one second.
I think it comes down to personal choice, one that you make for your character, book and story. I have mild profanity in my completed MS and wip. It's not an f-bomb. In fact, I'm gonna call it an s-bomb.
I tried other words. I didn't shove it in to be topical or controversial. I thought long and hard about including it. But the situation called for it and an OMG wouldn't do.
I'm not advocating a book littered with profanity. But why is it less acceptable in books but not in films? How many films have you seen where they utter the f-bomb/other curse words on a regular basis?
Here is another view on the subject.
Now, I'm curious as to your thoughts on this subject.
P.S. Don't forget to check out Katrina's contest round-up post.
Oh, and we have the frawesome query chat with Elana Johnson coming up on the 28th of October and something special happening on November 1st.
Too. Much. Awesome.
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