Contest
Win a Ten-Page Critique with Sarah LaPolla of Curtis Brown!
Newsflash!
For all of you writers of YA and Adult fiction, Vicki and I will be giving away a 10-page critique by the fabulous Sarah LaPolla of Curtis Brown as part of our upcoming Brawl ‘n Haul Contest from March 28 to April 1. And there are plenty of other great prizes for those who aren’t into writing. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!
If you aren’t yet, be sure you’re following both my blog and Vicki’s. And though she’s on a blogging break until April 6, go check out Sarah’s blog where she publishes novel excerpts, short stories, flash fiction, memoirs, and personal essays.
(And if you want to enter but don’t have a way to follow, contact me via my handy-dandy “Contact Me” tab. Vicki and I are low stress.)
T-minus 5 days and counting until the fun begins!
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Contest, critiques, Sarah LaPollaJillian Michaels’ Writing Boot Camp
Trying to reach those health resolutions I set back in January, I’ve been exercising a lot. My friend recommended Jillian Michael’s 30-day Shred workout video, and let me tell you, it is killer.
Still, it seems to be working, so I’ve started imagining Ms. Michael’s as my personal trainer to help me reach my writing goals. Here’s what I’m hearing:
- “Come on people! If you want to write for only 20 minutes a day, then you’ve got to WORK! It can replace hours at the computer, but you can’t stop. You have to TYPE! You can’t stop typing!”
- “I know it’s hard. It’s hard for me. But when you’re done and you see the results . . . it’s worth it people!”
- “Okay, this is our last speed-writing circuit. When it’s through, I want to see your hand CRAMPING!”
- “When it hurts the most, that’s when you’re accomplishing the most! Keep writing! Come on, just give me five more words . . .”
- “You’re probably thinking I’m a crazy person, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been called that, but I get results! And when you see what you can write, and you see what you can accomplish, it will influence every other part of your life!”
I’m inspired, people! I hope you are too. 🙂
*Note: These are not real quotes but rather parodies stemming from a half-crazed mind in the throes of one of her killer workouts.
**And a heads up for a week of fun and silliness starting March. 28th. Vicki over at Rambles and Randomness and I are planning daily prizes, easy entries and lots of fun to celebrate our 1 year mark together. And we just added an AWESOME prize. Details coming soon!
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Contest, Jillian Michaels, Rambles and Randomness, writingWe interrupt this regularly scheduled day off . . .
I know I don’t usually post on Tuesdays (minus that week I thought is was 2012), but I wanted to let you know that I’m over at Chris Phillips’ blog today doing a guest post for his “Music To Make Write To” feature.
If you haven’t seen it, he invites different bloggers to share the music that inspires them in their writing. You should definitely check it out (and not just because I’m the featured blogger today). 😉
**And a heads up for a week of fun and silliness starting March. 28th. Vicki over at Rambles and Randomness and I are planning daily prizes, easy entries and lots of fun to celebrate our 1 year mark together. Hard to believe we’ve been at it this long!
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Chris Phillips, Contest, Music to Make Write To, Rambles and RandomnessWhat is Your Platform?
A little over a year ago I discovered the writing blogosphere. I was amazed at the wealth of information and at the giving nature of all these folks. For months I simply visited blogs, until I decided I was ready to jump in with two feet and start a blog of my own.
Deciding was the easy part. But when I sat down to plan it out, I realized I had no idea what to blog about. I was in awe with these bloggers who made it look so easy. Topic upon topic related to writing; funny vignettes from their lives; serious ponderings about their frustrations. Blogs where you could get your work critiqued. Blogs that offered marketing advice. Blogs that gave information about agents. Blogs that interviewed agents. Blogs that gave grammar instructions. Blogs that focused on Asian settings.
It seemed everyone in the blogosphere knew their place and their platform, and how could I enter that? What could I possibly add? It was definitely intimidating. But I had decided to try, so there we were.
I looked at my background to find my strengths, but I decided that few people had need of French translation services (though if you ever do, feel free to ask away!); and having done the English professor stint, I initially dabbled in the mockery of grammar, but I got tired of it.
I’m sure you’re waiting for a point right about now, but the thing is, I’ve been doing this writing blog for almost a year now, and I still am not sure I’ve found my platform. I still wonder what I should blog about more often than not (because you can only do so many posts on license plates).
So this is what I wanted to ask: Do you have a platform for your blog? Do you know what you are trying to convey to your readers? How did you get there? And what keeps you coming back to a blog?
Maybe one of these years I’ll figure it out!
**As I’m nearing my year mark, another blogger and I have a week of fun and silliness planned from Mar. 28 to April 1. Lots of prizes, easy entries, and a big grand prize you won’t want to miss!
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blogging, Contest, platform, writing blogosphereGuess that car!
It’s been months since I obsessed (publicly) about personalized license plates. But I certainly haven’t stopped finding fun ones. Yesterday I saw:
and
Seriously, they’re like the ultimate twitter. How much can you say about yourself in 7 letters?
But I digress. So here’s the game: Guess the car make, model and color.
Simple enough, right? Last time it was WAY too easy. And I foolishly gave a hint. *snort, cough* This time it will be harder. Maybe.
First person to get it right, I’ll mail their favorite candy bar. Or they can choose to be surprised. *big grin*
Ready. Set. Go!
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Contest, personalized licence plates, twitterI Know You Want This!
I know the word contest turns some away, but if you write, you want this. Trust me.
Wait, actually, no, you don’t want this, because I WANT IT! Seriously. Like, a lot.
C.A. Marshall, freelance editor extraordinaire, and literary agent intern, is offering a free substantial edit (i.e. plot, pacing, character development, etc) up to 100,000 words.
I know! Awesome.
You do have to be a follower, but she gives such great advice, I would recommend it anyway. Click here for the link.
So good luck and all that jazz, yada, yada, yada. But did I tell you I want this? 😉
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C.A. Marshall, Contest, free editThe Happy Dance!
Okay, okay, I’m supposed to be packing up the last of our things to be moving to our new place, and my internet will be cut off any second, . . .
BUT I peeked in my e-mail and got a little nudge from Amy over at The Green Bathtub (Thank you!) that I won the pitch contest on Renae’s blog The Siren’s Song. (!!!!!) So excited!
I couldn’t help sharing the good news with all of you (my extended support system, no?). While it’s not as exciting as, say, landing an agent or getting a book deal, it’s always encouraging to get positive feedback. I say celebrate the small steps too, so . . .
. . . I’m home, in a half-empty apartment doing my happy dance. 😀
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Contest, Pitch, The Green Bathtub, The Siren's SongWinners!
Thanks to everyone who entered our 101-follower contest! And boy, SO close to hitting 150 yesterday. I’m totally in awe!
So on to the important stuff. I had 58 entries (54 people). I wish everyone could win, but alas . . . random.org has chosen 2 of you.
1st Prize: Melissa at YA Bookshelf has won the $25 Amazon Gift Card
2nd Prize: Lynn at Place to Create has won a mystery prize. She has selected door #3:
Lynn, you have selected the fabulous prize of a book of your choice (up to a $15 limit)! Let me know what book you want and I’ll order (or pre-order) it for you, delivered directly to your door. You really
chose well, this was the good prize. I think I’ll leave you all guessing and save the other prizes for another contest. 😉
Congratulations! Please send me your addresses at rjljohnson (dot) janet (at) gmail (dot) com within 48 hours to claim your prizes. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll choose new winners.
And just to let you know, I am moving this coming week, so I’ll be out of commission for a while. Have a great week, and thanks again for following and entering our contests!
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Contest, Place to Create, winners, YA BookshelfLast Day to Enter Our Contests!
Just a quick reminder: TODAY is the last day to enter mine and Jessie’s contests. Click here for the details.
And wow, since I’m so close to having 150 followers, if I get there before the contest ends, I will let 2 people choose a mystery prize. Doors 1–4. Woo hoo! Aren’t you excited? 😉
Have a good one!
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Contest, Mystery prize101-Follower Contest!
The day has finally arrived! I hit 101 followers, and Jessie Oliveros at Louder than Noise has hit 101. Hurray!
Not one to beat around the bush, the rules are simple:
- You must follow both my blog and Jessie’s blog.
- Leave a comment on THIS post.
- Enter by midnight EDT on Tuesday, June 22, 2010.
And that’s it. If you spread the word any old way, just let me know and I’ll give an extra entry (I trust ya’ll, so you only need to put the link if you want).
And drumroll please . . . .
The Prizes.
1st Prize: A $25 gift card to Amazon.
A pre-order of Mockingjay, you ask? Done. Matched? Taken care of. Your prize is up to you with this dazzlingly glorious item. (Yes, I used to write prize descriptions for The Price Is Right . . . or should I say Write?) 😉
2nd Prize: Mystery Prize!
I have pre-designated 4 prizes behind doors number 1, 2, 3, and 4. You, as lucky winner number two, will get to choose which one you want! Are they all AB FAB you ask? Why, of course not! Where’s the fun in that? But at least one is exciting. Another not so much. And the last two are satisfactory to varying degrees.
Good luck, everyone!
P.S. Jessie has her own contest running with separate prizes, so to enter her contest, be sure to click on over and follow her contest rules!