Thursday, May 20, 2010

May 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 May 20, 21 or 22.
  • 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, May 24.
So if the above sounds good to you, let the entering begin!

6 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

I'd love to enter! How very generous of you, Marcia!

Thanks for commenting on my post today about social media. I responded basically with a, "well argued".

I wonder though if the writers that spend most of their "writing" time on FB and Twitter and blogging would be writing, even if there were no social media? Would they just find another distraction?

Marcia said...

Hi, Laura! You're entered x2.

You make a good point. A lot of people who procrastinate with writing b/c they're on social media would be procrastinating anyway. What's new about social media is that, as writer/teacher Susan Bell said in THE ARTFUL EDIT, the distraction is actually lodged in our writing instrument. Kind of scary when it's put that way. :)

Blee Bonn said...

I'd like to enter too. I am already a follower.

Thanks for the contest - this is great!

Mary Witzl said...

I'll definitely tweet about this, but you don't need to put me down for another critique; I've already benefited. (Though if you want to help me, you can send me subliminal 'Stop procrastinating!' messages.)

Marcia said...

Blee Blon -- you're in x2! :)

Mary -- thanks so much for the tweet. :)

cleemckenzie said...

Good luck on your critiques, Marcia. That's a very generous offer.