Thursday, April 15, 2010

April Critique Giveaway

It's critique time. Enter to win! Here are the rules and caveats:
  • I will critique TWO manuscripts each month. By "manuscript" I mean the first 1000 words of a children's magazine story, chapter book, mid-grade novel, or YA novel. Please, fiction only. No picture books or easy readers. No poetry.
  • Enter the drawing by commenting on this post AND stating that you wish to enter. This frees you up to comment, ask a question, or just say hey WITHOUT throwing your name in the hat.
  • For an additional entry, become a follower, and tell me so (or that you already are one) in the comment.
  • For an additional entry, post a link to this contest and give the URL in either the same or a separate comment. In this category, you can enter as many times as you have cyber-places to post the contest.
  • You may enter one ms. per month. While the above rules allow you to enter multiple times, those entries are for ONE manuscript. If the #2 name drawn is a duplicate of #1, drawing will continue until a new name is drawn. This way, two people are assured of a critique each month.
  • Enter anytime on April 15, 16 or 17.
  • Any story that you plan to enter in an ICL contest is ineligible. Since I am an ICL instructor, I cannot edit stories that you intend to enter in an Institute contest.
  • The level of detail I offer in a critique will vary based on my impression of the caliber of the writing. Whenever possible, I will make both "big picture" comments and zero in on more specific areas.
  • My critique is only one opinion. This business is SO subjective. Any suggestions I make that resonate with you are yours for the taking. Compare mine with those from other beta readers, critique partners, writing teachers, etc. Even if specific suggestions vary, when two or more critiquers pinpoint a certain passage or aspect, there's probably a need for revision there. Yet don't feel you must take advice you don't agree with. In the end, it's your story.
  • Winners will be announced on Monday, April 19.
So if the above sounds good to you, let the entering begin!

35 comments:

Bish Denham said...

Put my name in the hat and I will post a sidebar link on my blog!

(The word verification was...words!)

Marcia said...

Bish -- Thanks! And you're in x3. I've noticed that more word verifications ARE real words lately. Maybe they know repeating "grypfwq" just right can be a challenge.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to enter! Thanks so much!

Amy

Angela Ackerman said...

Ohhh! Me! ME!! *flails arms*

And I'm a follower too of course.

*waves at Bish*

My word verif sounds like a sneeze: snesi!

Anonymous said...

Please put my name in the hat.

Maude
mstephany at shaw dot ca

Anonymous said...

Please count me in.

mstephany at shaw dot ca

Marcia said...

Amy and Maude -- You're in! Thanks for coming.

Angela -- *Waving also* You're in x2.

Michelle L. Brown said...

Marcia,
Thanks for another great contest! Please count me in!
I'm already a follower.
I linked to it on my blog: http://www.michellelbrown.com/blog/?p=83
On twitter: mrswritebrain
On FB 2 xs: Michelle Leigh Brown, Michelle L. Brown

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win a critique! Karen

nomi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
nomi said...

I'd love to have a critique! That being for a pb manuscript...Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I'd love to enter. Thanks!

Lori

lori _ j _ alexander @ comcast . net

Ruth Donnelly said...

Marcia, thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on my Beverly Cleary post. I'd love to win a critique of the first 1000 words of my chapter book. I'm a new follower. I'll post a link to your contest shortly--URL to follow in a separate comment.

Marcia said...

Michelle -- Wow, you're in x6! That's a record! :)

Karen and Lori -- You're both in. Thanks for coming.

Ruth -- Thanks for coming! You're in x2, soon to be in x3. :)

Nomi -- I'm sorry, but I don't crit pb's for this contest. I do magazine stories, chapter books, mid-grade novels, or YA novels. But I'm so glad you came. If you have one of the above four genres, by all means enter. :)

Ruth Donnelly said...

I posted about your contest here:
http://readatouille.blogspot.com/2010/04/win-critique.html

TerryLynnJohnson said...

This is a very nice contest Marcia. Good for you.

Sarah Erber said...

Haven't seen this contest yet. Sounds great though!

Stephanie Theban said...

Please put me in the running. I posted a link on my blog: http://storiesreademwritem.blogspot.com and I became a follower. Thanks for the opportunity!

Stephanie Theban

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Great contest! I'd love to win a crit of my YA.
I will also become a new follower of your blog.

Thanks,
Teresa L.
kenski at dejazzd dot com

Laura Pauling said...

I'll throw my hat in the ring. Thanks for the contest!

Marcia said...

Ruth -- that's a third entry for you. Thanks!

Terry Lynn and Sarah -- Thanks! :)

Stephanie -- Welcome! You're in x3.

Teresa -- Glad to have you. You're in x2.

Laura -- I notice you're following, also. :) You're in x2.

McKeown Meadows said...

Hi Marcia, Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks, Patti

McKeown Meadows said...

Please enter me again as I am a follower of your blog! Thanks, Patti

Marcia said...

Hi Patti! You're in x2.

Okie Book Woman said...

I'd love a critique! I just signed up to follow your blog.

Amy Jo said...

Yay, great contest! Please enter me! I've become a follower and I've posted the contest in my contest sidebar. Thanks!

Marcia said...

Okie Book Woman -- Thanks for coming! You're in. Something weird, though...I couldn't find you in the followers, either on my site or your profile. I wonder if some glitch is going on? Maybe if you try it again...??? I visited your site and love your photos. Had to smile at many of the cat ones. :)

Amy Jo -- Hi! You're in x3. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi again, Marcia.
It took me awhile to figure out how to become an "official" blog follower. Finally made it happen today. :)
Thanks,
Teresa L.

Mary Witzl said...

I'm just here to cheer everybody on! Marcia's critiques are definitely worth it!

Marcia said...

Teresa -- Sometimes I feel like with all the stuff I *don't* get about computers it's amazing the stuff I do get. :) Figuring it all out must certainly qualify as that brain exercise we're supposed to get. Thanks for coming!

Mary -- Thank you! :)

Vonna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vonna said...

Ha, I jumped too soon for next month! I'll post next time. I'm a new follower and just found your link through Stephanie Theban's blog post.

Marcia said...

Hello, Vonna! So glad you came. Yes, do enter in May! The drawing for the May critique winners starts on May 20. :)

Melissa said...

Hi there - Please enter me in the drawing. I'm a new follower!

Thanks,

Melissa

Marcia said...

Hi, Melissa! The April critique contest is over, but I do this every month, and you can enter the May drawing from May 20-22. Do come back! :)