Monday, 15 August 2011

WriteOnCon Ninja Agents

I've crawled out of my writing cave to remind everyone that WriteOnCon starts tomorrow!

I've issued a warning to the family that, unless it's an emergency (or Alexander Skarsgard happens to be in our backyard) I'm not to be interrupted if I'm on my laptop. Although this doesn't apply to my CP's of awesome/blogging friends. I'm pretty sure we'll all be in the same place for the next three days!

This year there are Ninja Agents stalking the forums. Here are the details:


This program will take place in the forums–so you must be registered and using the forums to participate. If you haven’t already done that, go HERE.

Here’s what you’ll do:
1. Post your absolute best, polished query letter or writing sample in the appropriate critique threads in the forums. (Please look carefully and ask questions if you’re unsure about where to post, and make sure you follow all our forum guidelines)
2. Don your thick dragon skin, cross your fingers, and keep checking your forum posts, because our Ninja Agents will be sneaking around, leaving feedback on whatever strikes their fancy–which could very well be YOUR QUERY.
3. Pray you’ve perfected your work enough to generate a request. Some agents may be requesting from the posts they read.
4. Remember your manners. Please don’t engage in hurtful behavior toward an industry professional because of feedback they might leave on your query. Remember, publishing is SO SUBJECTIVE.

That’s it. That’s all there is to it. All you have to do is use our forums the same way you should be using them anyway (because they’re AWESOME) and you could have a super-cool Ninja-Agent critique your work. And even if they don’t comment on your work (they promise they will try to comment/critique on as many as they can) you can learn SO much from the comments they leave for others.
So how do you know when to look for them?
Watch the @WriteOnCon twitter feed for when we tweet: “A Ninja Agent just entered the forums!” That’s how you’ll know exactly when they’re there. But really, the best part about the forum is that you can go read the feedback whenever your schedule allows.

What the Ninjas will do:
1. Each Ninja Agent will be in the forum for at least one hour (some have multiple slots). You won’t know who, and you won’t know when…that’s the beauty of a ninja. They strike when you’re least expecting it.
2. Ninja Agents have been encouraged to leave feedback—as detailed or as vague as they want—on as many queries as they can. They can also request from the queries they read.

The Ninja-Agent Program is open for business starting on Monday, August 15, one day before the conference begins. That’s when we’ll open the main conference forums and let you start posting your work. This will give you time to get your writing in tip-top shape and in the forums before Tuesday, when our first Ninja will arrive.





Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, 6 July 2011

You may have been there already, but I'm blogging over on Operation Awesome today. 

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Also, head over to Katrina's blog. She's interviewing awesome author (and one of our critique partners, Angela Townsend) about her novel, FROZEN FURY. 

Friday, 1 July 2011

Mystery Agent Contest Day

It's July 1st! And Operation Awesome is holding a Mystery Agent contest. Get your one sentence pitch ready for when the contest goes live.

Here's what our Agent is looking for:

YA and MG: southern gothic, historical fiction, magical realism, science fiction, supernatural/ paranormal, ghost stories, humor, fantasy, thriller/ suspense, edgy YA, friendship MG.




Happy Friday! 

Wednesday, 29 June 2011

Jack Sparrow, Mystery Agent Contests, And Wednesday LOLS

I'm over on Operation Awesome today. Last week was my potty training/writing analogy. This week I'm sharing writing wisdom from Jack Sparrow.

Also, I have to let you know that July 1st will be Mystery Agent time over on Operation Awesome. More details to follow, but here are the genre details our M.A. is especially looking for:

YA and MG: southern gothic, historical fiction, magical realism, science fiction, supernatural/ paranormal, ghost stories, humor, fantasy, thriller/ suspense, edgy YA, friendship MG. 

And now some Wednesday lolcats:
    







Happy Wednesday!

Monday, 27 June 2011

Danger: TBR Pile.

It has been a while since I posted about my TBR pile (that threatens to topple over and crush me in my sleep). Here are some of the pretties on my list this week: 

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles, #1)

Goodreads blurb:

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one except the thing inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no 
normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch.
Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of 
them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits. Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.
Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.
But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her.


Beauty Queens

Goodreads blurb: 

From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island.
Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to email. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.

I was also lucky enough to read Twisted Velvet Chains in May. And, thanks to the lovely Jessica Bell, I got this in the mail last week: 

Twisted Velvet Chains

Goodreads blurb: 

Twisted Velvet Chains is a collection of poems which follows the experiences of one woman growing up with a bipolar, drug addicted, gothic musician mother. Each poem represents specific moments of their life that embrace vivid rich imagery, and illustrate the turmoil of emotions both experience while together. The collection is divided into four parts that flow one into the other from childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and post-death.

Huge thanks to Jessica

How about you? What books are on your TBR pile this week? 

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

I'm Not Here...

I'm over on Operation Awesome today talking about Pee Pee & Writing.

Pop over and say hi if you get chance.

But I'll leave you with a writing moment:
That WTF moment where you're writing and something happens you weren't expecting.

Monday, 20 June 2011

Writing Is A Wonderland?


1) The best adventures start with curiosity. We always want to know the how, what and why:


2) So take a chance. Let yourself fall into the unknown:



3) And it will open up a whole world of adventure:

      

4) Sometimes you won't know which road to take:



5) But each step leads you to where you need to be. And a new adventure can begin:







How is your WIP/adventures in writing wonderland going?