First Line Contest

Hey all, what's in the first line of a book? Promise? Intrigue? Allure? A hook?

Writers might add hope and prayers. Why? Because you have to grab the reader's attention before that first period. My question to you is, does your first line have what it takes?

Chersti Nieveen is having an awesome first line contest to find out, and the prizes are fabulous. Check it out:

First Prize:
A query critique by agent Mary Kole (Andrea Brown Literary Agency)

Yes, you read that right. You may be excused to grab a paper bag to hyperventilate in. Just come back to finish reading about the rest of the first prize.

You also get a $30 Gift Certificate* toward Writing and Illustrating for Young Reader’s Conference, held June 13-17th, 2011 at the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah.

You can use the bag again if you need to. Just saying.

Second Prize:
A 5-page critique by author Martine Leavitt + 1 page of notes.

Use the bag now because I've had Martine critique pages for me before and the woman is brilliant. Really.

AND you get $20 gift certificate* toward Writing and Illustrating for Young Reader’s Conference, held June 13-17th, 2011 at the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah.

Even the runner ups get awesome stuff. Check this out:

Runner Ups can win one of the following books:
MATCHED by Ally Condie signed copy
FRESHMAN FOR PRESIDENT by Ally Condie signed copy
WHITE CAT by Holly Black signed copy
THE WHEAT DOLL by Alison Randall signed copy
WORLDSHAKER by Richard Harland (Simon & Schuster)
MONSTERS OF MEN by Patrick Ness (Candlewick Press)
FIRELIGHT by Sophie Jordan (Harper)
DEMONGLASS by Rachel Hawkins (Hyperion)
REMOTE CONTROL by Jack Heath (Scholastic)
THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM: LORD SUNDAY by Garth Nix (hardcover)
THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM / MISTER MONDAY by Garth Nix (paperback)
A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD by Lisa Ann Sandell (hardcover)
MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD by Francisco X. Stork (hardcover)
THE LITTLE GIANT OF ABERDEEN COUNTY by Tiffany Baker (hardcover)
DAWN by Kevin Brooks (ARC)

See? Fabulous! What do you have to do to enter? First you have to go to Chersti's blog (http://cherstinieveen.wordpress.com) and check out the rules. Then you have to enter. Then you should sign up for WIFYR because it's even more awesome than this contest. Really.

Now, go forth and do.

Really.

It's Time For WIFYR!

First off, I'm sending out one final plea for Wren to contact me about her prize from my contest. If I haven't heard from you by the end of the week I may be forced to award your prize to the second place winner so that I don't feel like I'm just sitting on it. *Crossing my fingers that I'll hear from you. Please-oh-please-oh-please!*

Anywho, on to today's post.

It's time!

For what you ask? Only my favorite conference of the year. Well, it's time for registration anyway. We're talking The WIFYR of course!

For those of you who don't speak acronym this is The Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers conference held June 13-17 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Preregistration is in full swing. This means you should click the link above ASAP. (ASAP btw means after you finish reading my post. Just saying.)

Why should you go to WIFYR? Because this week-long conference offers small classes with amazing authors. Check this out:

Beginning Class-- Sharlee Glenn
Picture Book Class-- Trudy Harris
Picture Book Class-- Kristyn Crow
Illustrator Class-- Kevin Hawkes
Chapter Book Class-- Mike Knudson
Middle Grade Novel-- Claudia Mills
Beginning YA Novel Class-- Emily Wing Smith
Novel Class -- Louise Plummer
Fantasy Class-- Holly Black
Advanced Novelist Class-- Martine Leavitt
Advanced Novelist Class-- Kathleen Duey
NEW! Writer's Boot Camp-- A.E. Cannon
Keynote Speaker-- Ally Condie

AND these guys will be there, too:

Agent-- Mary Kole, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Editor-- Alyson Heller, Aladdin Books
Editor-- Lisa Yoskowitz, Disney

Can you say fabulous? Are you drooling yet? I am.

So dust off your WIP and go sign up for WIFYR.

Leisha Maw

Contest Winners!

The time has come to announce the contest winners. Can you hear the anticipation? And yes, you can hear anticipation if you listen hard enough. It kind of sounds like drum rolls. Hark, I hear them now.

Here is Kid D picking winner number one:




And the winner of the Barnes and Nobel gift certificate is:



Wren!

The winner of the hand drawn facsimile of a Barnes and Nobel gift certificate (non-negotiable but still really cool) is:



Jonene! You lucky woman you.

And last of all, the winner of the twenty-five page critique is:



Donea!

Well, the drum rolls are fading so that must be the end. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. And thanks to all you guys out there reading. *Grins*

If you are a winner of one of these fabulous prizes, send me an email at klmaw@aol.com so I can get your addy. I will drop the prizes in the mail right after Christmas because I'm not crazy enough to brave the post office today or tomorrow. *Shudders*

Thanks again everyone and Merry Christmas!

Top Ten Things I Love About Writing

Sorry for the late post today. Kid D is sick and that slows everything down.

Anywho, if you haven't entered my contest for a fabulous Barnes and Nobel gift card and other almost fabulous prizes click here and follow the directions. :)

Sometimes I wonder to myself about why I write. It goes something like this:

Me: Why do I do this?

Other me: Because you are a crazy person.

Me: Well, yeah, but other than that.

Other me: Ummmm. You like pain?

Me: No. That can't be it. Try again. There must be a reason.

Other me: You sinned in a past life and must pay for eternity?

Me: What? Are you sure you're not the crazy person?

Other me: Whatever. You like this, and you know it.

Me sighing then grinning: It's true. Maybe I do like pain.

So, here is my top ten things I like about writing list.

1: I can do it in my pjs.

2: I can eat lots of snacks and say I"m feeding my brain. Yum.

3: People look at you like you are a crazy person. This is quite fun. You should try it sometime.

4: You get to be lots of different people every day. Who would want to be just one? Sheesh.

5: You get to live in cool new places in your mind--all while dressed in pjs and eating snacks at home.

6: Words are delicious.

7: So are stories.

8: Creating is magical, and we all need a little magic in our lives.

9: It makes me happy. :)

10: What could be better than getting paid to daydream?

There you have it. Why do you write, or paint, or create music, or whatever it is you do to enrich your life? What spurs you on in your quest for success?

Contest and Free Stuff

This is my ninety-fourth post. What does that mean? It means I'm approaching 100, and my 100th post will fall on December 23, 2010. What does that mean for you? It means prizes. Think of it as Christmas presents from me to you. What kind of presents? Since I'm a poor aspiring writer--books. Well, to be completely accurate, one $15.00 Barnes and Noble Gift Certificate, one authentic, hand-drawn facsimile of a Barnes and Nobel gift certificate(non negotiable, but really cool), and a twenty-five page critique of your own fabulous novel. What else did you expect from a writer?

Here are the rules:

The contest opens now and runs until midnight the 22nd.

You enter by spreading the word about my blog. You know the drill, tweet about it, Facebook it, yell it from the roof tops. Then post a comment telling me you did your duty. You get one point for every social media blurb, just leave me a link so I can check up on you (like Santa seeing if you've been naughty or nice).

You get one point if you become a follower and leave a comment.

You get two points for loyalty if you are already a follower and leave a comment.

You also get a point if you add up your points so I don't have to do math.

Each point equals one slip of paper with your name on it. The slips will all be tossed in a bowl like green salad and then eaten. Oh wait, Kid D will choose three lucky winners, and I'll announce them on the 23rd.

Also, if you don't happen to be a writer and don't have twenty-five pages you want critiqued, you can opt out of that prize or gift it to a writing buddy. Just let me know in your comment if you don't want to be included for that prize. (Crazy talk, I know.)

Anywho, thanks for making my blog a fun place to visit! Let the contest begin! Merry Christmas. :)