Contests and Writing Advice

OOOOO, PICK ME!

One wonderful thing about having savvy writer friends is they pass along wonderful contest information. I post this information here in my blog for two reasons: one, because this is how I keep track of some of the contests I enter; two, because I think it is so wonderful that sites offer opportunities for writers to improve their craft so I want to link to them. Yes, I did just use the word wonderful three times in one paragraph, oh wait, four.


Contest One - a cool book launch idea! I want to do this kind of thing when I launch my next book.

Deborah Halverson, has been an editor with Harcourt Children's Books for over a decade and is  an award winning YA author. In any case, her new book Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies is having a Virtual Book Launch which starts 6/29.

Link:   http://DearEditor.com/

     From June 29-July 5, DearEditor.com will feature daily “free first chapter
     critique” giveaways, free downloads, excerpts from the book, and profiles of
     the 13 amazing authors, editors, and agents who so generously contributed
     sidebars to the book. As a grand finale, The Editor is giving away a full
     manuscript edit on the final day of the launch. 

 So, for any of you who might be interested in winning one of the daily "free first chapter critiques" or a full manuscript edit on July 5, just go to the link above.For the first day of the launch she includes a download of her book's "cheat sheet." I got more advice on the second day too!

Contest Two - mystery agent one line pitch at Operation Awesome on July 1.

The agent is interested in YA and MG: southern gothic, historical fiction, magical realism, science fiction, supernatural/ paranormal, ghost stories, humor, fantasy,thriller/ suspense,  edgy YA, friendship MG