Monday, May 23, 2011

Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest...Here We Come!

Writing is my passion and blogging is a blast! 
Since joining the blogosphere I've come across some pretty darn cool people.  I've also learned the smorgasborg of aspiring authors is vast, varied and oh-so-talented.  Given this, it's only natural that some of us may be shooting for the same goals. 

Write a novel.  Get an agent. 

As these two things stand as a constant in my life, I've found four things related to them that I continuously work on to make these goals a reality.  They are...

-Gaining more knowledge about the craft

-Building my platform

-Actually writing the novel 

-Sweating bullets over the query letter

When my followers shot up from 70 to 150 this past month the wheels in my head began cranking on how my new writer buddies and I could share in this crazy journey holding hands and singing Kum Ba Yah.

SO...

Get ready because together we're going to gear up (Kum Ba Yah style) to get an agent in my month long July blogfest!  WOOT!





(Now, you'll have to excuse my complete lack of button making skillz.  I never claimed to be a graphics gal:)

Update: I've got the week by week details HERE
What does this blogfest entail? Each week in July we are going to focus on the agent-grabbing elements (platform building, learning the craft, the novel and queries) in an interactive way.  I will give more detailed information about the individual weeks at a later date, but let me just tell you this...at the end of each week I will be giving away CRITIQUES GALORE from some seriously talented people who have agreed to help me out in this department.  I can assure you, you won't be disappointed (*hint hint* think agents, writers with agents, published authors...see, you aren't disappointed are you?).

Who can join in  on the action? This is the really fun part because not all writers are bloggers, so we are opening the fun up to not only blogs, but to all the little Twitter birds out there too!  I've got some help here as well.  You may remember the last 'Firsts Fridays' interview with Agent Gone Writer, Lora Rivera.  Well, the awesomeness that is her is teaming up with me to take on the Twitter side of the madness.  So if you would prefer to Tweet with us during the blogfest let Lora know here on her Twitter.

Cool, how do I sign up? Glad you asked because all you have to do is let me know your name and blog or twitter id you'd prefer to interact with us through. 
Put it in the comment section of this post and I will get you signed up, OR hop on over and tweet, letting Lora know.  Also, if you have a blog, grab the button above and pop it on your blog to share the love.  The more people we have in on this, the merrier.  Simple enough right?

Yay, so excited to finally have the cat out of the bag.

However....as I am writing this, I'm bleary-eyed and mucho-exhausted, so if I've confused you or you have additional questions put them in the comments, email me, whatev and I'll do my best to answer them.

I can't wait to get this party started!

Until next time...
Keep writing.  Keep learning.

103 comments:

Donna K. Weaver said...

Interesting ... not sure I'm there yet. I'll let you now if I change my mind. =D

Donna K. Weaver said...

*know even

Juliana L. Brandt said...

Deana, how do you keep coming up with such amazing ideas! I am in total love with this :)

Sign me up!

Unknown said...

Nice--I might even be querying in July. Can we have a few more deets on what will be involved (esp time commitment)?

Memoirs of Me & Mine said...

Great idea!
www.rebeccabany.com
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/becbany

Shallee said...

Hi Deana, thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm glad I found yours. :)

This sounds like an awesome blogfest-- sign me up!

Theresa Milstein said...

I'm in!

http://theresamilstein.blogspot.com

Lora Rivera said...

Love this idea, Deana, and glad to help out!

As for time commitment, it'll really be as much or as little as you choose to invest--right, Deana? The query week might be a little more time-heavy, but you'll get out of it what you put in.

Can't wait to hear more of the deets!

Deana said...

Yay! So excited to those already signed up! Lora, yes you are right...it is 4 weeks with each week being a stand alone mini hop. You are welcome to participate in one or all. I will give more specific details either this week or next but for now here is a little run down

week 1- I Just had to ask...
We will post our writer questions we just have to have answers to and we will hop around helping and building platform at the same time

week 2- Story Chain
The first in the sign up list will start the story (each will have a direction and certain silly words with a min of 50-100 words)

week 3- Query Contest
Post your query. Hop around critiquing others and post final on my blog, winner (chosen by the lovely agent gone writer, Lora Rivera) chooses either a 1st 5 pg critique or query critique

week 4- First 200 word novel contest. Same premise as query contest except I will pick a top 5 or 10 depending on number of entries. Then agent Kathleen Rushall will pick a winner to get a query + 30 pg crit and 2nd place will win a crit from agent signed author Monica B.W.

Please...anymore questions, let me know. I'm happy to answer:)

Deana said...

Oh, almost forgot...week 1 and 2 will have critique giveaway opportunities as well from published children's book author Margot Finke and Crusade Founder, Rachelle Harrie

Kristi's Book Nook said...

Count me in! This is a great idea.
The Neophyte Writer http://kristibernard.wordpress.com

Lori M. Lee said...

Very cool. I'm in!

Lori M. Lee - http://lorimlee.blogspot.com/

Book Lover said...

This is awesome Deana! I'm not there but I can't wait to follow along.

Mandie
http://time4mommy.com

Ezmirelda said...

Don't think I'll be able to join this, but I'll be happy to put your button on my blog and spread the news! :)

Alleged Author said...

I would love to do this but I'm gone a few days in July. Will missing a day here or there matter?

S.B.Niccum said...

Great blog Deana! Sorry it's taken me FOR EVER to come over!
S.B. Niccum
Author Website
Blog

Stefanie said...

Great idea! I'd also like to suggest to you and your readers a great site for finding an agent its called agentquery.com. Much success to you!

PK HREZO said...

Nice to meet you! This sounds great.

SIgn me up! My email is pakazo77@gmail.com and my blog is
http://pk-hrezo.blogspot.com

Or you can click on my pic. :)

mooderino said...

I'm just finishing up on my wip, so this would help a lot as I prepare to send out.

I'm in.
mood
Moody Writing

Christina Mercer said...

Count me in! My blog is christinasbuzz.blogspot.com

Shiela Calderón Blankemeier said...

Thank you so much for the opportunity! You can find me at shielawrites.blogspot.com. Now if I could just figure out how to grab that button... :)

Shiela Calderón Blankemeier said...

Thank you so much for the opportunity! You can find me at shielawrites.blogspot.com. Now if I could just figure out how to grab that button... :)

LisaAnn said...

I'm so excited you found my blog, and thank you so much for your sweet post on my blog awards! I would definitely love to take part in this, and my blog is http://lisachickos.blogspot.com . Thanks for the opportunity! :)

Unknown said...

I would love to do this, since it is my main focus right now and I'd have a motivation behind it. But it kinda scares me, lol!!

ashley-nixon.blogspot.com.

marcie_ann said...

Scares me too...and I'm also not sure I'm "there" but I can try. :)

marcieshrinks.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Deal me in!

calliekingston.blogspot.com
betterwritethanwrong.blogspot.com

Deana said...

Keep em coming people! It's gonna be fun:)

Thanks for signing up those who have so far:)

Brent Wescott said...

Cool. Sign me up.

buildingcastlesonthebeach.blogspot.com

I'm new to the blogfesting, so how to I put the button on my page?

Anne-Mhairi Simpson said...

I'm in!

http://www.annemhairisimpson.com

Mary said...

Great - I'm in - the idea of revising my finished novel to prep for query in July just might get me back to writing

Blog: marychrapliwy.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I'll give it a go. Count me in.
httpa;//educationtipster.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

please sign me up.

Karen Cioffi said...

Okay, sign me up. I'll try to make time for it.

Thanks,
Karen
Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing

Deana said...

The count is at 23 so far!

Anonymous said...

Count me in :)
Catherine

http://catherinemjohnson.wordpress.com

Unknown said...

New here...found you through someones button. I can't wait to do this. Count me in coach!

Donna Perugini said...

How cool is this??!! I understand I am supposed to grab the button and put it on my site. Then I let you know I'm in. Okay, consider it done!

Sarah said...

Sounds like fun! I'd love to participate!

www.letters-to-the-cosmos.blogspot.com

J.C. Martin said...

Awesome blogfest! And perfect timing for me! Count me in!

Blog: http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter

Twitter: @jcmartin_author

Unknown said...

Count me in, please. Novel Thinking

http://fiona-maddock.blogspot.com/

Twitter @fionamaddock

Amanda McCusker said...

This is an awesome idea! I'm in!

Amanda
http://talesfromamother.blogspot.com/

Emily R. King said...

Deana,
I don't have a blog (long story) and I'm not a Twitter follower. Can I participate through email or FB? Please email me your reply. THANKS!
erittelking@gmail.com
Emily

Alex Villasante said...

great blogfest - with something for everyone. I'm in!
alex villasante

anvillasante@gmail.com

http://magpiewrites.blogspot.com

Emily R. King said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Emily R. King said...

My blog is up!
http://getbusywriting.blogspot.com/
See you there!

Nancy Thompson said...

Awesome...Count me in! (I'm your newest follower.)

http://nancysthompson.blogspot.com/

Andrea Mack said...

Sounds interesting, Deanna. Sign me up to participate in at least part of the blogfest.

T.D. McFrost said...

Count me in! I'll be available for everything! :D

fOIS In The City said...

Deanna, my good friend PK Hrezo has your link on her blog. This sounds like fun ... and I am thinking there is no restriction to genre since it was not mentioned.

Great to meet so many new people through those writers I already know :)

Anne-Mhairi Simpson said...

I finally put the button up on my site. Now I have to wait for July? *gnaws fingernails*

Nata said...

Sounds like a challenge, and not to mention some fun. I'll give it a try. Thanks!

-Nata

http://zeroatheart.blogspot.com/

RAD - Dot Painter said...

Love it! I'm in. Rachel Dillon. My blog is ThroughEndangeredEyes.blogspot.com

Small Town Shelly Brown said...

Wow, there are a lot of participants :)
Count me in for number 23,953,451 ;)

Shelly Brown
@sbrownwriter
WritingWithShelly@blogspot.com

Sounds like fun!
Thanks for the invite!

Christine Danek said...

I may be able to participate a couple of those weeks so count me in. Hi. I'm a new follower

http://christinedanek.blogspot.com

lindy said...

This sounds like soooo much fun! Thanks for putting this together for us writer folk! Count me in, chicky! :P

www.lindylegend.blogspot.com

@ignis_fatuus_11

Cynthia A. Patterson said...

I am a new follower. This sounds like fun. Count me in.

Email address: cynthia@dove-ministries.org

Blog address:
http://dove-ministries.blogspot.com/

Thanks a million!

amy kennedy said...

Ooh, so glad I found this! Very exciting.
Blog:
http://museandmusing.blogspot.com

twitter:
amys_kennedy

yay!

Alaisdair said...

Alaisdair
http://www.alaisdaird.com

A.J. Locke said...

This sounds great, I'm in!

Blog:
http://iqurae.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Woohoo! I am SO in!

Blog:
http://meghankirkland.blogspot.com/

alexia said...

I'm in! And hello, I'm a new follower. I'll tweet about the blogfest later this week. My blog is http://alexiachamberlynn.blogspot.com

Alleged Author said...

Okay...time to stop being a wuss!

Alleged Author

http://anallegedauthor.blogspot.com

Angela Cothran said...

I'm in too. Hopefully I'm not too late.

http://livetowrite1.blogspot.com/

D. U. Okonkwo said...

Great idea, Deana! Looking forward to reading more!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Fine. I'm in. Ugh. It's going to be painful.

Is there going to be a place where all the participants and links to their blogs can be found?

A.D.A.N. said...

Sign me up!

http://appledaysarmynights.blogspot.com/

Amanda Milner said...

I stumbled upon your button on a blog and was instantly intrigued! ☺ Sounds like a fun blogfest, though I do have a lot of work to do on my WIP... oh heck, count me in! ;) Lol!
Thanks ~Amanda

http://amandastwistedtruths.blogspot.com

Carol Anne said...

Do you have to have a book or story written out first to get in on this?

Deana said...

Lora signed up in another comment area so I'm going to put her here from me to know:)

Lora Rivera
www.lorarivera.com

Also, to answer CC's question in case others are wondering...no you don't need to have a completed novel to participate. For the final week 4 novel contest, it would help since you will be judged by an agent and if she loves your work may want a full, but that decision is yours and yours alone to make.

Donea Lee said...

This sounds like a fabulous idea! (Nice to *meet* you, btw) I'd like to participate.

You can find me here: http://www.itwillhappenoneday.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Author Joshua Hoyt said...

This sounds like a great idea I'm in for the fun. I think I will be ready to look for an agent in July as well.
Here is my blog:
http://theforsakenpetal.blogspot.com/

Nicole Zoltack said...

This sounds awesome, count me in!

Nicole Zoltack
http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com

Ru said...

I'm in

http://andthenshewaslikeblahblahblah.blogspot.com/

Karen A Wyle said...

Sign me up, please!

--Karen A. Wyle
(WordsmithWyle on twitter)

Karen A Wyle said...

If some aspects of this event work better on a blog than on Twitter, then please add my blog, even though it's somewhat neglected....
http://looking-around.blogspot.com

Michelle Fayard said...

I'm in! The first, third and fourth weeks look especially interesting. Thank you very much for providing this opportunity, Deana.

I'm a new follower and subscriber and will tweet the blogfest and post the button. And, before I forget, my blog address is http://michellefayard.blogspot.com.

Michelle

Vicky Bruere said...

Hi Deana, I'd love to join. Sign me up! My blog address is
http://vickybruere.blogspot.com

Screaming Sardine said...

This sounds like a great idea. :) I don't have a novel but have had one dinking around in my brain for several years. Maybe this will be the thing to get me motivated to finally write it. Count me in!

Cheers,
Tracy Screaming Sardine

TayLyee said...

Ooh, I like this idea! But if I win a critique would I be able to save it for later?

Taylor Roseberry http://www.taylyeerose.com/

Deirdra A. Eden said...

Count me in!

Deirdra Eden Coppel

http://astorybookworld.blogspot.com/

Caity Reese said...

What if I don't have a blog? Can I still enter?

Stephanie M said...

I love this blogfest idea. I'm so in.

Stephanie M

http://steph-wordbyword.blogspot.com/

Christa Desir said...

Deana,

I am up for this (bites nails) but I will be out of town for the first two weeks, is it okay if I just do week 3&4?

http://www.christaramblesandwrites.blogspot.com/

Suzanne said...

Suzanne Purvis

www.suzannepurvis.blogspot.com

Margaret Fieland said...

Sign me up

http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/

Anonymous said...

Please sign me up.


http://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com

Beth said...

If it's not too late I'd like to sign up. I'm at bethfred.com
bethfred.com

McKenzie McCann said...

Can I still sign up?

My name is McKenzie McCann and my blog is The Ubiquitous Perspective.

Hope I'm not too late.

McKenzie McCann said...

Oops, forgot to include my email.

mrhmccann@gmail.com

The East Coaster said...

Sounds great!

http://publishedinayear.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Wow! LOVE your site and your idea. Just came across this on Twitter. Hope I'm not too late:)
www.jamieayres.wordpress.com or
twitter.com/jamiemayres

Jasmine Walt said...

I want in! My blog: www.jasmine-walt.blogspot.com.

Unknown said...

Just found your idea!!!! Thanks to Christine Danek. Though I have a blog I blog a week in advance so can't do it this week... but TWITTER is wide open baby!!!

Here is my info:
Blog: Unedited - http://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jenunedited

Loralie Hall said...

Is it too late to sign up? What a fantastic, fun idea ^_^

I'm at http://blog.apathyshero.com

twitter: @aszreal

Jill Campbell said...

I'm gonna try it. The worst thing that can happen is I'll still be where I'm at only a little smarter, right? http://meoutsidethelines.blogspot.com

Jill Campbell said...

I'm gonna try it. The worst thing that can happen is I'll still be where I'm at only a little smarter, right? http://meoutsidethelines.blogspot.com

Sharon Bayliss said...

Sorry I'm late, but I just found this blogfest and would love to participate in the last two weeks. Thanks for the opportunity!

http://sharonbayliss.blogspot.com/

Candice said...

I;m a new follower....would love for you to follow back :)

http://wherenothinggoodcomeseasy.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Hi Deana,

As you know, I didn't find your blog until last week or so but took part in the query contest. But just incase - sign me up!

http://freyamorris.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

Jaye Robin Brown said...

Well I never signed up on this post - but did weeks one and two, and want to do four.

http://jrowrites.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Stina said...

I just found out about this. Sorry to have missed the fun. Good luck to everyone who participated.

Cortney Pearson said...

This looks so great, too bad I'm too late! (Didn't mean for that to rhyme...anybody want a peanut?) I hope it went well, and what a fantastic idea!

Unknown said...

Kathleen, you like what I like (saw your interview (03/2011)), so look out for me, I'll query you soon. Ugo