Writing Perks -- Complete Your Draft Contest

This morning, I opened an email from the winner of Cindy Pon's ARC, Lesley. Thanks to her, I now know about the "First Annual Complete Your Draft Contest." You can be a newbie, be published, be aspiring -- it doesn't matter. The only requirement is that you write :)

Curious? Head on over to Anne Marie's blog and sign up -- if you desire -- for a chance to earn prizes while you finish your WIP draft this June. You can be at any stage with your novel, it doesn't matter: the point is to get the words in!! There are gift cards and book prizes to be won as well as a query critique from NYT best selling author Angie Fox of The Accidental Demon Slayer and The Dangeous Book for Demon Slayers fame.

Not only do you get a little nudge for completing your book, but you could win a prize for doing so! Consider spreading the word on your own blogs. After all, the more the merrier!

Hop on over -- check out the rules and regs, prizes and kudos. Hope to see you there!

Chain Reaction: Next Book Give-Away

Haven't won a book yet? Hoping your luck will change? Well, here's your chance. Head over to Dogtrax's blog and enter your sweet little self into his Book Give-Away. Recipient of the Artemis Fowl book I gave away, Dogtrax has risen to the challenge of hosting his own give-away AND upped the ante to five books. Woot!

I am, however, totally blaming him for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' song tumbling through my head right now. over and over. and again.

And the Winners Are...

The Annual Hated Book Give Away officially ended on December 31st, 2008. Then came the difficult and arduous task of scribbling names on slips of paper and drawing them, blindfolded, from a velveteen hat while standing on one foot and chanting Gregorian er...chants. Those names then had to simmer for several weeks before I could bring them to a boil and present them, hot hot hot, for public consumption. Without further ado, the winners are...

*drumroll please*

1. Otherlisa wins the Succubus Blues

2. Diane wins Vampire Academy

3. and Dogtrax wins The Time Paradox -- hard back copy, no less!

If you're a winner, please email me w/ your mailing info so that I can get these books out of my house and into your eager little hands!

Join the Fun: Don't sniffle. The fun is just beginning! Even if you didn't win, it doesn't mean you can't thoroughly enjoy the next romp through book land.

• Comb through your own library


• Pick out three books you no longer wish to own


• Pass them on (preferably through a blog give-away, but you're the boss)
  

First Annual Hated Book Give-Away Details

Because this is the first annual and much lauded Hated Book Give-Away, I thought I'd better go over some of the finer points. Expectations, being what they are, exist only in my head. Do as you wish, since Free Will Matters, and join in only if you please.

The Three Non-Rules to the Hated Book Give-Away:

1. Tell me you want a much hated book via email or commenting. Please include the title of the preferred book (first draw gets first pick, of course). If you win, I will mail you the book before the end of January. Yeah, I'm cool like that.

2. Even if you don't want one of my books, pick out three of your own (recently purchased) hated books and put them up for giveaway on your site/blog/twitter/road sign. Then let me know so that I can participate and possibly win.

3. (This is my favorite part) Commit to buying three new books from three new authors. If you're a new author with a new book coming out (first book only, please), email me or leave a comment and I will buy your book. (If more than three contact me, your name will be put in a hat along w/ everyone else's and -- in a most fair and equitable manner -- I will draw out the winning three.)

So, if you haven't figured out what the three books are yet, despite the many clues located on this blog, here they are in no particular order:

1. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (paperback)

2. Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead (paperback)

3. Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer (hardback)

Let the games begin!

Bransford's First Paragraph Challenge

Wanna have some frivolous fun? Wanna win a partial critique? (or query critique or 15 minute phone call with an agent?) Well, then, this is the post for you!

1. Go to Agent Bransford's blog.

2. Read the rules of his contest.

3. Post first paragraph of your WIP in the comment section.

3b. Do not post any snarky comment or nit-picky question about rules.

4. Do all of this before 4pm Pacific Time, Thursday, December 11th.

5. No angst. See rule 3b.

Since many of us have already posted our first paragraphs sometime in the past year for good old fashioned peer review, this is a natural second step! Woo Hoo.

Win $1000 in Unpublished Novel Contest

That well-developed muscle where the intersection of cynicism and skepticism spasm sporadically is currently twitching. But I'm willing to ignore it for now, if you're willing to suspend your belief system(s) as well.

Zirdland (sponsor of That First Line writing contest these many years) is hosting a new contest for unpublished novels. They're unabashedly up-front about their motives: After 4 years of development, it’s ready. Zirdland’s Story Arc Angel and analysis tool is in beta test right now. You can help us by entering our new contest. All you need is a completed novel that is unpublished. (Self-published works are acceptable.) There's no entry fee.

Since we're all being up-front about our motives, here's my request:

1. Explore Zirdland. It's not entirely up and running, yet, but it looks promising. What do you think?

2. Consider the Arc Angel Story Analysis. Can software really do this?

3. Think about registering a copyright for your novel. It's only $35 - $45.

4. If you're comfortable with the premise, enter the contest.

5. Come back here and post your thoughts. Collective wisdom far outweighs my humble little ploddings, and I'd appreciate knowing your gut reactions.

Bottom line for the contest:

• No entry fee;
• $1000 for first prize;
• Enter as many times as you want;
• Enter variations of the same novel;
• You maintain all rights to your novel;
• Only excerpts of top three are posted on-line;
• Your win will be publicized (via a press release to literary journals, publications and our publisher/agent database)
• The Contest ends at midnight on 10/10/08. The winner will be the highest scoring entry at that time.
• Download a desktop widget so that you can track contest standings.

Oops, I almost forgot: they're sponsoring a screenwriting contest as well, which will open up as soon as the novel one is finished.