Six years is a long time to blog, guys. I'm pretty sure I ran out of decent content about 2 years ago. Well, at least consistently good content. I still have moments. But I keep the blog around because it has a special place in my writing journey—it's how I met my crit partners, met my first agent, and essentially learned the business of writing and publishing. That, and I'm too lazy and cheap to pay for an expensive web site design. Heh. 'Tis true.
I owe a lot to the online writing community, so as I've been pondering what to do with my blog anniversary I ultimately landed on taking an opportunity to give back. Helping other writers is something I've always believed in, even if I have a lot less time to do so lately. It's been a long while since I held a contest for a critique—but today is the day!
So. Here are the details.
How To Enter: In comments, pitch your book in six words. Yup, six. It'll be like extreme Twitter.
Prize: Each winner will receive a query and 10-page manuscript critique.
How You Win: I will choose SIX favorite pitches—those will be my winners.
Deadline: Midnight (Mountain Time), October 14th, 2012 (Winners will be announced Monday, October 15th)
So get entering! I'm very excited to see what you guys come up with.
Non-linear YA Heathers meets Hate List
ReplyDelete30-something Medusa in modern NYC
ReplyDeleteMiracle saves a Roman priestess's life.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: The first draft of my manuscript is not yet complete, and I don't have a query yet, but I DO have 10 pages. I haven't worked on it for a while because I'm stuck. Can/Should I still enter? If the answer is yes, here is my pitch:
ReplyDeleteHyper-electric girl dominated by fae.
I hope putting in that link isn't cheating. ;)
Enna, you totally still count! There is never an expiration date on my crit offers:)
DeleteDangerous teenage animal-humans journey together reluctantly
ReplyDelete----
Gah, that was difficult. Good contest - both the method of entering and the prizes. Thanks for offering it!
I'm also following you on Twitter, because you seem cool and have the life I want to live someday. Writing for a living and spending time watching dramas and playing MMORPG with the family...now that's the life. Right now, I have no time for MMORPGS and little time for dramas, so I shall live vicariously through you. ;)
Witch vows to destroy her country.
ReplyDeleteI've recently begun to take my writing much more seriously, so a 10 page critique would be super-helpful.
ReplyDeleteHere's my crack at it:
Quasi-psychic mom must evade serial killer.
Thanks for the contest, Natalie!
Inexperienced Reaper runs from bloodthirsty assassin.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great opportunity, Natalie! And congrats on your sixth blogging anniversary!
One mind stolen, One mind lost.
ReplyDeleteHidden diary reveals civil war secrets.
ReplyDeleteMine's an MG. But I do have a complete YA, as well, if that's the requirement.
Cool contest! Even tougher than a Twitter pitch!
Laurie (hagergirl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Merlin's steampunk apprentice must save Camelot.
ReplyDeletedemon reincarnates to save her soul.
ReplyDeletewow, that was tough and awesome! thanks for the contest :)
Dream-walking spy saves boy from fate.
ReplyDeleteWhoa. That was hard. What an awesome contest!
Girl-assassins. Victorian carnival. Kill/be killed.
ReplyDeletenameless, genderless teen disposes of corpse
ReplyDeleteyup, definitely hard
Captured by pirates. Must not die.
ReplyDeleteHer touch can find a killer.
ReplyDeleteGirl navigator saves griffins. Steampunk London!
ReplyDeleteHot Summer Nights, Ferris Wheel Kisses.
ReplyDeleteThis was a lot harder than it sounds! :) But I love it.
Jack and the beanstalk with necromancers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest and congrats on reaching six years. :)
The Snow Queen Asian style.
ReplyDeleteGirl tames man-killing werewolf, protects Pack.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on six years, and thanks for the awesome contest!
Teen couple attempts friendship after breakup
ReplyDelete(Congrats on six years! I love your blog & have always found it helpful & encouraging! Thanks for this opportunity!)
Orphaned dragonknights, heritage conflicts with duty.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest! (Whew, that was hard to condense the essence of my novel.)
Love your blog. MS is YA Fantasy. It's finished, but I'm still tweaking to make it just right.
Escape him. Return to save him.
ReplyDelete***
Congrats on six years! I've been reading (happily) for the last two XD
Girl escapes bad school by inventing own heroine.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
The Sixth Sense meets Disturbia.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 6 years, Natalie! You're awesome! :)
Futuristic India girl hacks own mind.
ReplyDeleteI must say, that sounds awesome. Good luck!
DeleteThank you!
DeleteAgreed! I kind of want to read this!
Delete—Kayla :)
Three princesses + prince = fairy godmother nightmare
ReplyDeleteI know, the math symbols are cheating. Great contest, and congratulations on the six year blogoversary!
Budapest: stop human traffickers, exonerate father.
ReplyDeleteI don't need the query crit, but I'd love the ten-pages!
Operatives want Ari. She controls minds.
ReplyDeleteEx-cheerleader investigates high school financial fraud.
ReplyDelete(I hope "ex-cheerleader" counts as one word :))
Some of these entries sound sweet, I hope I get to read them someday!
Time Curving risks world destruction.
ReplyDeleteSix years! That's an amazing accomplishment :) Thanks for the awesome contest!
Congratulations on six years! And thanks for the contest. :)
ReplyDeleteBlood transfusion grants thief supernatural abilities.
Girl in drag eliminates brother's ghost.
ReplyDeleteJane Austen, magic, and Ocean's Eleven.
ReplyDeleteCursed Manhattan lounge, magic, kissing.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on six years!! Thanks so much for the contest!
Let's just pretend I said "and" before kissing to make it six words. :)
DeleteSynesthetic girl tastes Phoenix music. Dangerous.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Natalie! I'm a long-time lurker, and I *love* your blog. :) Can't wait for Transparent!
ReplyDeleteSix words. Man.
Female teenaged Hamlet meets Grimm fairytales.
—Rachel (rachelatarms.livejournal.com)
Swimmer struggles to impress sportswriter father
ReplyDeleteAmerican girl with superpowers fights Nazis.
ReplyDelete(Congrats on six years and here's to many more! I don't need a query crit but would be delighted with a 10-page critique!)
Disguised alien attends school for misfits.
ReplyDeleteBlood, guts, and lots of death.
ReplyDeletej/k ;P
Teen girl. Aphrodite's descendant. Vampire queen.
ReplyDeleteNatalie congrats=o)
I feel like Ernest Hemingway, with his six word story: "For Sale: Baby Shoes. Never Worn."
ReplyDeleteErm...
Rebel spy. Evil government. Sword fighting.
(Please don't send the grammar cops after me for that one!)
Super congrats, Natalie! Six years is so AMAZING.
~Riv Re
Riv Reads
Perfect-pitch enchantments, secret messages, stopping (the) Dark-Fae.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this, Natalie! Love seeing all of these great critiques. :D
ReplyDeleteIdentity and temptation destroy those Eclipsed.
Earthling teens halt magical alien invasion!
ReplyDelete=)
(Don't enter me for the contest. I just had a good entry already and wanted to include it :-)
ReplyDeletePost-apocalyptic, dragon-riding ninjas. With mechs!
Love blossoms despite the SOUL CUTTER.
ReplyDeletePitching 2, if that's okay?
ReplyDeleteHistory books said he was handsome
&
Favorite books help girl woo boy
This certainly isn't easy! Let's see...
ReplyDeleteChild sorcerers, magic carpets, medieval India.
Approaching apocalypse triggers girl's quantum evolution.
ReplyDeleteSiblings join otherworldly army protecting Earth.
ReplyDelete~ ~ ~
Congrats on six years blogging! I love your blog...I have been a lurker for a long time. ;)
Congratulations on another milestone, Natalie! As a long-time blogger myself I know just how hard each successive year gets. You've already given back so much to your readers just through your posts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a challenge to capture the essence of a book in six words. Was fun, though.
To kill, or not to kill?
Okay, I've got two here:
ReplyDeleteBoy's greatest wishes come true—unfortunately.
+
Ancient genie feud meets Amazing Race
—Kayla :)
Congratulations on six years - and this is totally not easy, haha!
ReplyDeleteSleuthing teen must find the stalker.
~ Tara Cooper
Congrats on 6 years!! This is a really fun contest... so here we go:
ReplyDeleteStop the plagues? Solve God's clues.
Phew... that was pretty hard!
-Ella
Congrats on 6 years! That's a long time to blog.
ReplyDeleteSix words is a lot harder than it sounds, but thanks for the challenge!
When the dead speak, gargoyles awake
Teen's inherited anamnesis reveals unnatural adversary.
ReplyDeleteGirl meets boy. Boy combusts...naturally.
ReplyDeleteWow, six years! That's a lot of content, and I love your blog. Very helpful to me. :)
ReplyDelete***
Rogue assassin v. Schizo sister = War.
Congrats on six years, Natalie, that's pretty amazing! The fact that you can even come UP with content, let alone really good stuff, is very awesome. :) Here's my entry! I've never done one of these before, *think* I'm glad it was so challenging. ;)
ReplyDelete"Self-proclaimed bounty hunter seeking reluctant sorcerer."
"Surfer girl, meet mountains--and boy."
ReplyDeletebtw, thank you for your dedication to this blog for 6 years. As a reader for past several years, I still look forward to your posts!
Evil King Arthur. Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteWill hang for grandfather's crimes. Pirates.
ReplyDeleteLongtime lurker here! Thanks for the contest!
Post-apocalypse with international organizations and aliens.
ReplyDeleteAlso a longtime lurker. Can't wait to read TRANSPARENT!
Timmins alone sees maggots. Combat ensues.
ReplyDelete"Wicked Witch reforms, accidentally destroys Oz"
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this, love your blog!
Disease causes souls to swap worldwide.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the anniversary. Pre-ordering the book now.
(Are you sure it can't be seven words? Or eight? LOL.)
ReplyDeleteImperiled ruler hides heir in past.
Warrior siren tamer doesn't know it.
ReplyDelete