As many SharingwithWriters subscribers and visitors know, I believe in contests--both book contests and those for other creative work sponsored by Web sites and literary journals. Win, place or show, they are credibility boosters. Here is one sponsored by Writer Advice straight from B.
Lynn Goodwin herself and it has some benefits others don't! And I love it because it could give an author and title a little prestige boost before the book is published! At a time when the author is shopping a book to an agent or publisher.
By B. Lynne Goodwin
Writer Advice’s Fourth Scintillating Starts Contest seeks fiction, memoir or
another prose genre that will entice us, grab our attention, make us want to
know more, and give us reasons to care. This contest is for those who have not
yet received a contract for the opening they submit. Complete details are at www.writeradvice.com.
The feedback you receive makes this
contest different from most. Here are some of the benefits you’ll get from
participating:
1.
If you enter and your work is published, you’ll
earn money before you even publish the book.
2.
You can tell prospective agents or publishers you
were a winner in Writer Advice’s Fourth Scintillating Starts Contest.
3.
If you enter and we declare that you are a
finalist, you can tell a prospective agent or publisher about that success.
4.
You will get a letter containing objective
feedback:
a.
You’ll find out what an agent with a desk full
of manuscripts might think.
b.
You’ll discover what might trip up that agent.
c.
You’ll find out whether an agent might leap at
the opportunity to work with you or is merely being polite.
d.
You’ll get suggestions for improvement before
you submit your work to an agency or publisher.
5.
You’ll get perspective and ideas to think about.
6.
The feedback may help you improve your query or
cover letter.
7.
If you don’t enter, though, you can’t win and
you’ll never discover what you might have learned.
8.
In other words, get objective feedback from a
reader who knows submissions but doesn’t know you.
So what are you waiting for? Send the opening (up to 1500
words) of any prose manuscript, including an unfinished manuscript, as long as
you have not signed a contract with a publisher. We look forward to reading your
work.
----- Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .
Thanks so much for sharing this, Carolyn. I hope it provides tools and helps build confidence. And thanks for all that you share in The Frugal Book Promoter. =)
ReplyDeleteIt is my pleasure to let people know about the opportunities you afford your fellow writers!
ReplyDelete