Thursday, October 21, 2010

October Critique Giveaway

It's critique time. This is the final critique opportunity for 2010, so enter now to win! Critique giveaways will resume in January. 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).
  • For additional entries, post links to this contest and give the URLs.
  • You may enter one ms. per month. No one person can win both critiques in a single month.
  • New: Include your email in the comment. Some of you are already doing this. If you'd rather not, that's fine -- but then be sure to check back to see if you've won!
  • Enter now through Sunday October 31.
  • 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.
  • 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 Monday, November 1.
So if the above sounds good to you, let the entering begin!

34 comments:

Bish Denham said...

I'd enter Marcia, but my plate is FULL what with Angela's crit of my novel! Whew!

Kelly Polark said...

I'll enter!!! I have a middle grade I'd love to have new eyes look at!
Thanks for your great contests!

Anonymous said...

I'll enter! Thanks for being so generous with your time and talents.

Marcia said...

Kelly and Christina, thanks for coming and entering. Bish, it's so great that you won that mentorship. What an exhilarating way to exhaust yourself. :)

Blee Bonn said...

Ooh, I'd love to enter again. I did win one awhile back so not sure if you have a waiting period.

Thank you.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Best wishes to everyone that enters...Marcia's critique will really help you!

Marcia said...

Blee -- there's no waiting period. You're in! :)

Sharon -- thanks! :)

Liz Straw said...

I'll enter. I would love fresh eyes on my work.

SoaringEagle said...

Hey! I'm a fellow writer and I have several very incomplete manuscripts, but I'd love to have you critique one of them :) so...i'm entering!! here's my email address: soaringeagle13@gmail.com

Marcia said...

Hello Liz and Soaring Eagle, thanks for entering. :)

Nora MacFarlane said...

I'm in! I'm also a follower. I'll post on twitter, facebook and my blog as well.

Nora MacFarlane said...

http://twitter.com/NoraMacFarlane
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1431351270
http://noramacfarlane.blogspot.com

Susan Fields said...

I've already won one (and it was awesome!) so I won't enter again, but good luck to everybody!

Marcia said...

Hi Nora, thanks for entering.

Susan -- thanks! :)

Jamie Manning said...

Oh this is so great, please enter me! I'm a new follower now!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

This is a great opportunity. I won't be able to enter before oct 31 but I'll keep an eye out in January.

lotusgirl said...

Please enter me. I'm a new follower. This is very kind of you to offer this kind of prize. lacmoss (at) gmail (dot) com.

MaDonna Maurer said...

I'm a follower and I posted on my blog.
http://umdmaurer.blogspot.com/2010/10/another-wip-day.html

umdmaurer at gmail dot com

Marcia said...

Jamie, lotusgirl and MaDonna -- you are all duly entered! :)

Lynda -- Thanks for coming, and do return in January. :) One thing, though -- just to clear up any misunderstanding, all you have to do is ENTER by Oct. 31. You don't have to have your 1000 words ready that soon; you get a couple of weeks to tweak it.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

oooh, well, in that case I'll enter!
lynfaw at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Count me in! Thanks for the opportunity, Marcia! :)

Anonymous said...

Oops, got so excited I forgot to sign my name to the above post! :)

Thanks!

Amy

Marcia said...

Hi Lynda and Amy -- you're entered. :)

Jackee said...

Hi, Marcia! You are so sweet to do this always. I haven't won yet, but please enter me for another try. :o)

I'm already a follower, I'll post a link in my blog header, and my email is jackee(dot)alston(at)gmail.com

Thanks for the opportunity!

Marcia said...

Jackee -- hope your perseverance is rewarded. :)

Rachael Harrie said...

Hi Marcia, would love to enter. Thanks so much, it's very generous of you :)

I'm a new follower.

Rach

rachael[dot]harrie[at]gmail[dot]com

TerryLynnJohnson said...

I can't get over your generosity of your time. Wonderful! I'd like to enter.
wolfpaw6 (at) hotmail (dot) com
I'm a follower and I'm posting on twitter
http://twitter.com/TerryLynnJ

Emy Shin said...

I would love to enter! I've just become a blog follower, and have tweeted about it here: http://twitter.com/emy_shin/status/29193227751. :)

Marcia said...

Rachel, Terry Lynn and Emy, thanks for coming, entering, tweeting, etc. Everybody here is making this contest so much fun! :)

Marcia said...

Oops, that's Rachael! :)

Jeff King said...

I thank you for your time and effort.

I would like to enter and I'm a new follower.

One question: my WIP is in second draft form, are you willing to do a critic on material that’s not polished yet? If not I’ll wait until next time.

Thx either way.

Marcia said...

Hello and welcome, Jeff! You are entered. :) Yes, it's okay if your ms. isn't polished. Glad you came!

Jessica A. Briones said...

I would love to enter, I am a new follwer and blogger and I never had anyone other than my sister see my work.

Marcia said...

Hello and welcome, Jessica! Thanks for entering. By the way, people who enter just before the deadline have been having very good luck in this contest. :)