Bloghop Fun!

Luck would have it that I get to co-host not one, but two fantastic blogfests for the month of October! The Killer Characters Blogfest that I am co-hosting with E.R. King, I have already posted about...which by the way you should totally sign up for. By telling us about your most Killer Character in literary history you will get the chance to win a critique from Elana Johnson. Whaaa? Yep, no lie.


The second blogfest I am helping out with has come from a group of us from Rach Harrie's Writers Campaign and you may remember one similar to it from a few months ago as the Choose Your Own Adventure Bloghop. Join in on a journey of choices as you hop from blog to blog making up your own adventure as you go. Should be an adventure to say the least:) More details to to come!


But that's not all....

Is it just me or do you notice everywhere in the blog-o-sphere there is some awesome blogfest to join in on? Seriously, there are so many I can't do them all, but I want to! So I thought I would spread the love and let you know of some of my faves that have crept up. Enjoy bloghopping!

Juliana Brandt is hosting a fabulous Warm Fuzzies blogfest where we get to celebrate our unique writer side. She has a slew of prizes and giveaways from a 30 page editors edit to a full blog makeover! You have got to get in on this one!


Fighter writer, J.C. Martin, Flash Fiction Author Lisa Vooght, and Storyteller and author, Stuart Nager are hosting a blogfest for fiction writers to, in their words, "Showcase their skills and receive comments on their work." This one is called the Rule of Three Blogfest.



And the last one I am going to mention (but there are so many more), is the I Love Dark YA Blogfest hosted by YAtopia's Kelley York, Heather McCorkle and Christa Desir. I think the title speaks for itself so get over there and sign up. The fun will happen on Wednesdays.

GUTGAA: Week 4 Novel Critique/Contest!

Hey guys and gals!

You've asked your questions, set your creative juices on fire and tweaked your queries. What else is left to gear up for an agent, but delving into the heart of the matter?

The final week has finally arrived and we're going out with a bang! Come join us for the First 200 Word Novel Critique and Contest.

Here are the rules:

1)Post the first 200 words (please finish the sentence even if it is past 200 words) of your novel or picture book on your blog. (Any genre can join in the initial crit hop but only young adult, middle grade and picture book can be a part of the final contest. This is because agent Kathleen Rushall, who is also one of the judges of this contest is only looking for those types of books. So sorry everyone else.)

2)Once you post, sign up with the link of your post on the linky below.

3)Hop around other participants blogs and give them helpful advice on their first 200 words.

4)If you have a completed young adult, middle grade or picture book manuscript by Tuesday 3PM ET please email me the first 200 words at deanabarnhart@gmail.com for a shot at the contest. (This can be pasted into the body of the email. It doesn't have to be an attachment.
NOTE: When I say completed this is strictly a guideline. It is up to you whether or not you really do this. Just remember that Kathleen is an agent and if she loves your work she may very well ask for more from you.
5)The format for entries should look like this:

Your name

Title of book

Genre

First 200 words....

6)Eight judges will choose 10 finalists by Wednesday 7/27/11

7)Agent Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency will first pick her winner, then writer with an agent, Monica B.W. will pick hers.

8)The winners will be chosen by Friday 7/29/11.

PRIZES

Kathleen's winner will win a query and first 30 page critique from her, 
Monica's winner will win a first 10 page critique from her.

To get your excitement bubbling, here is part 1 of an interview I did with Kathleen a few weeks back (I will post a brand new part 2 Wednesday), and HERE is the interview I did with Monica.

So let's get this party started...and ended shall we?!

GUTGAA Query Winner! + Final week around the corner

What a whirlwind of a week! I can't tell you how much I've learned from all the participants in this weeks festivities. Seriously, I loath writing queries and being able to read so many good ones really gives me hope.
I have said it before and I will say it again, I truly wanted to pass everyone through. I have grown to love my blogfesters and it killed me to have to only give ten names to Lora...well fourteen and she picked the last one.

Anyhoo, that isn't what you really came here for so let's get on with it shall we. Lora has whittled the ten finalists down to one and the WINNER IS.....

LISA CHICKOS

Query for The Mermaid Gene

For a refresher on her query:

Dear Agent:

An arctic mermaid is the last thing seventeen year-old Kai Murphy expects to glimpse when she joins a beluga whale research team in Alaska.

An aspiring scientist, Kai dismisses Anchorage’s mermaid myths until the late-night sighting of a silvery, speckled tail threatens her convictions. Teamed up with flirtatious twin deckhands Noah and Aidan Fischer, she decides to investigate.

Turns out a mermaid sighting isn’t her research team’s only mystery. There are also secret closets filled with hunting rifles, blood-filled plastic bins and shadowy beluga poachers haunting the inlet’s icy waters.

As Kai searches for answers and begins falling for Noah, she realizes even he isn’t above suspicion. The fate of her team, her belugas and the mysterious creature in the inlet just may rest in her hands.

THE MERMAID GENE is a YA urban fantasy novel, complete at 98,000 words. I have worked as a zookeeper and educator at many facilities, including the Alaska Zoo of Anchorage, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums published my article “The Dangers of Human Interactions with Marine Mammals” in its 2007 Ocean Literacy and Marine Mammals: An Easy Reference Guide. This experience sets THE MERMAID GENE apart and allows me to take readers behind-the-scenes into the thrilling and often-misunderstood world of beluga whale research.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Me

Here is how Lora did her whittling:

10 total points were possible, and I awarded half, quarter, and three-quarters points in categories that were so-so, a hair off, or nearly there.

Categories:

1. Muscular prose (tightness on the sentence level)  

2. Overall flow

3. Clear MC throughout

4. Clear stakes

5. Logic of plot points as revealed through query

6. Voice and voice consistency

7. Compelling plot

8. Professional bio/closing

9. Info-dump

10. Length (adhering to the 250 ideal / 300 max standard)

 Lisa, congrats! You've won your choice of a query critique or a first five page critique from Lora herself!

And congrats to everyone else here is what Lora had to say about them all:

 

Whew. SOOO hard. BTW, on the scale, nobody scored lower than a 7, and final three-way tie was broken by a quarter of a point. Great job, everybody!

***

The fun doesn't stop yet people! We have one more week and the best has totally been saved for last. Agent Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency and the ultra-talented, already hooked an agent, Monica B.W. are teaming up to help out with our final week of the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest by picking the winners of the first 200 words novel competition. Two winners will be chosen and this contest is open only to young adult, middle grade and picture book submissions as that is what Kathleen is on the prowl for. Sorry to everyone else.

Beginning Sunday evening I will put up the sign-up list along with some extra tidbits. If you haven't gotten your name on the master GUTGAA list, go here and get to it. You will be in the presence of awesomeness. I hope to see you there!

Until then...

Keep learning. Keep writing.

Blogfest Story Chain Assignments

Here we go folks.  Your assignments are below.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  If you need more detailed info on the rules of times etc.  Please go HERE.  But just so you know all times below are in US Eastern time zone.
Pretty please post by the time beside your name so we can keep the chain going.  If, by the time the next poster is to go and you haven't posted, you will be forfeit from the chain.

After reading the responses about the story I have decided to not do the copy/paste method.  I would, however like the person posting to put the link of the poster ahead of them before their post and the link the person after them, at the end of their post.  (Jen, since you are on Twitter you don't have to do that:)  That way we will have a chain and if a person wants to go to the beginning, the links will take them all the way through. If someone does forget to do this it is no biggie, just go back to this post and click on the link.

Here is an example of how your post will look.

Link of poster before you.....

Your post.....

Link of poster going next.....

Make sense?

Friday I will post the complete story on my blog.  I will also announce the winner of the double critique given by Rach Harrie from Rach Writes

Good luck and have a blast with it.  The main thing to remember is this is FUN and we are hear to meet awesome new writers and get our creative juices flowing.  

So....let the story chain begin! 

Nata - Tuesday Evening
Introduce us to the main character and pick whether you would like the story in 1st person or third.
Your words are: pickle, savage, red

Fiction and Film - 5AM
Please tell us what the MC's goal in life at this point of the story is.
Your words are: subconscious, ache, terrified

Andrea Mack - 6:30 AM
Let us know what the MC's flaw is (the thing he/she tries to work through throughout the story).
Your words are: justify, bookcase, nostril

Meghan Kirkland - 7:45 AM
Fill us in on some back story if you could, but try to weave it in instead of just telling us.
Your words are: scrumptious, bed, grass

Shelly Brown - 8AM
Introduce us to a love interest.
Your words are: erratic, boggle, zombie

Catherine Johnson - 8:30 AM
Write what you want, but show us, don't tell us about it.
Your words are: big toe, Cadillac, baby.

Marcie Bridges - 8:45 AM
Begin a scene that will change the direction of the story.  Surprise us:)
Your words are: funny, Europe, fuzz ball

Deana Barnhart - 9:00 AM
Create something that will change the MC's life.
Your words are: cough, butterscotch, drown

Juliana Brandt - 9:30 AM
Expand on the thing that will change the MC's life (from the poster above).
Your words are: booger, shampoo, weasel

Frost Lord - 9:45 AM
Give us some conflicting emotions the MC is dealing with.
You words are: planet, guitar, flower

Callie Kingston - 10AM
Is MC's goal different from before? (2nd poster talked about this)  If so, tell us what it is now, if the same, give us more info about it.
Your words are: buck, ironing board, sleep

Angelina C Hansen - 10:30AM
Create a subplot (anything will do)
Your words are: suffocate, sell, shut up

J. Ro - 11AM
Write what you like, but don't use any adverbs (ly words) when you do.
Your words are: Science fiction, cramps, snag

Nicole Zoltack - 11:30AM
Give us a scene with dialog.
Your words are: butt cheek, towel, mustard

Loralie Hall - 12PM
Give us a scene with action
Your words are: awesome, dress, flake

Been there, done that - 1PM
Make the reader sad
Your words are: pixie, spike, larva

Amy Kennedy - 1:30PM
Weave some back story in (the 5th poster did this also if you want to look at it).
Your words are: kiss, delve, bruise
 
Weaving a Tale or Two - 2PM
This is the middle of the middle of the story.  Help the MC gain all the knowledge she needs to take her through the rest of the story.
Your words are: get, safe, muddle

Lindy - 2:45PM
With the knowledge MC has gained (see post above) help him/her make a plan to get what he/she wants
Your words are: bank, t-shirt, salt

A.E. Martin - 3PM
Try to make the reader feel happy
Your words are: ride, suggest, spray

Christina's Writing Buzz - 3:15PM
Have the MC interact with someone or something.
Your words are:tv, chest, brace
 
Suspending Disbelief - 3:30PM
Have the MC understand something they didn't before.
Your words are: Texas, flip flop, argue

Jamie Ayres - 4PM
Expand on the post before yours, but add dialogue
Your words are: hissy fit, drawer, ghost

Rachel Dillon - 5PM
Take the previous post and continue building tension toward the crisis.
Your words are: type, blood, jacked up

Lora Rivera - 6PM
This is the crisis point.  Give it to us!
Your words are: cliff, shout, tooth pick

An Alleged Author - 6:30PM
Take the last post and continue witht he crisis
Your words are: chalice, cage, papers

KP Simmon's Musings - 7PM
Take the last two posts dealing with crisis and bring the crisis to an end
Your words are: strapped, knee, kill

Word by Word - 8PM
Have the MC make a plan as we gear up to the climax
Your words are: retreat, shell, diaper

Margaret Fieland - 9PM
Give us some subplot closure (the 13th poster started a subplot).
Your words are: jail, concubine, heave

Taylor Roseberry - 9:30PM
Show us a serious moment
Your words are: moon, plant, fight

Robin Weeks - 10:30PM
Start the climax of the story
Your words are: song, prejudice, string

Angie Cothran - 11:30PM
Continue the climax from the above post
Your words are: Velcro, pastel, jumble

Melodie Wright - 12AM
Begin wrapping up the story after the climax (from above to posts)
Your words are: blue, seldom, carriage

The Neophyte Writer - Thursday 8AM
End the story
Your words are: shackle, base, tender

Winner for Week 1 and Sign-ups for Week 2

How smart do you think I am now?  After visiting each of the 50 blogs who signed up for the week one shindig, I'm pretty darn smart...or extremely frazzled.  Take your pick.  I learned one very important thing.  How much I still have to learn!  Thanks to everyone who participated in week 1 and made my brain churn that much harder!  I seriously love you guys:)

And now it's time to do a little dance for the winner of our first critique giveaway! 

Catherine Johnson

Yay for you!  Email me, Catherine, and I will get you and Margot Finke connected so you can collect your very valuable winnings:) 

As for everyone else who commented, you will not walk away empty handed.  Margot is giving each of you a pdf of her new children's adventure!  Be on the lookout in your emails.

On to the next item of biz...

***

Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Week 2

Story Chain

Are you ready to take the blogfest into second gear by getting those creative juices flowing?  The story chain is going to get you there.  Everyone who signs up will have a part to play and we will take this story through fun twists and turns and see where we end up.

Don't know what a story chain is? 

Basically it is a story written by a chain of people.  I give you a set of things to work with in your specific chain, you write it, then the next person takes over where you've left off until we have a complete story.  Here are the specifics to this chain.

The Rules:

-Sign up in the week 2 linky below and beside your name let me know the best time for you to post your portion of the chain on your blog so I can get a list made up of who goes when.  A note on the time: You don't have to post exactly at that time, just BY that time so the next person in line can follow.  So if you want to post in the morning but your time isn't until 12pm than that is fine because it will be ready when the next person is ready.

-Today through Monday, as the sign-ups come in, I will make assignments for each participants portion of the story chain along with a time to post for Wednesday.

-While I'm working studiously behind the scenes, get to know your fellow blogmates, stop by their blogs, follow them, make connections.

-I will post the final list on Wednesday (I know I already said this but repetition is a good thing), which will have your time to post.  If the time doesn't work for you, let me know in the comments section. 

-If you miss your time during the fest then the next person in line will go when he/she is assigned and sadly you will have to bow out of this blogfest round  :( 

-The length of each post should be between 10-100 words.

How do I know what to post for my story?  Well Lora Rivera, writing buddy, fellow blogfester and  lit agent in a past life helped me come up with a splendid idea. 

Here it is:

-We are going to write a story and like any story we will have a protagonist (main character). 

-This protag will have something that he/she wants (a goal).  This will be the thing that carries him/her through the story.  These two things will be a constant throughout the story chain (the protag and the goal).

-Your part will come when I throw things out to each of you to work into the story while still trying to make the protag reach their goal.  For ex: Protag (goal)wants to make it to work on time BUT (this is the 'thing' I throw out) a car revs its engine and heads full speed in his/her direction.

-Important note: Aside from provocative and lewd scenes that are not allowed, I want this to be your individual creations, so if I send a car toward the protag and you don't want it, it will be up to you for the protag to dodge the vehicle.  Makes sense so far?  If not ask questions below:)

Alrighty then moving on...

-Along with the 'things' I throw at you, you will also have three specific words you have to use in your piece.

So let me give you a full example of an assignment I will give...

*This is only an example*

Lora Rivera
Time to post: 10AM
Protag: Johnny Appleseed
Goal: To get to work on time

Event for you to deal with: A car revs its engine and heads full speed at Johnny

Words to use: pickle, full-blown, castle 

-One more thing, everyone will see the list and times they are to post on Wednesday, so if you aren't the last person on the list, don't end the story.  I'd also like to have a crisis and climax in the mix as well so if you see your spot and think it is a good place for something like that, by all means bust it out!

-Oh and one more, one more last thing, if you want to do this through Twitter than go for it!  When you sign up just put your twitter address in the linky and still put the time by your name.  When you post on Twitter just use the hashtag #GetanAgentBlogfest so the person who posts after you will know where to look. 

How does this sound?  Confusing?  Fun? Again, I'll answer any questions.  Ask away.

***

Prize for Week 2 

Rach Harrie, Crusade guru will be giving away a double query critique! And by double I mean she will critique it not once, but TWICE. This should really get you geared up for week three...

-If you haven't signed up for the blogfest yet and you want to now, go here to sign up and let me know your blog address, twitter, if you have one (tweeting under the hash #GetanAgentBlogfest) ,and what you write. ex: YA Urban Fantasy and I'll get you signed up!

Until then...
Keep learning.  Keep writing.



Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest Specifics

One month from today it's happening people!  We are going to put our writing caps on, sharpen our pencils (or turn on Word as the case may be) and get ready to rumble.  I'm excited, are you???

I've had two main questions come up that I will answer, as well as give the week to week deets for the blogfest.  So let's get this party started shall we....

I don't think I'm quite ready for an agent, can I still join?  Oh yea!  This blogfest is gearing up to get an agent...if that is tomorrow great.  If it is three, six, even ten years down the line, that's ok too.  We are getting ready by building our platform, moving those creative juices in our brains and, if you are to the point, working on queries and submitting part of your novel to an agent for the final contests.  You can join in on part, or all the fun...the choice is yours.  There will be critique contests at the end of each week so even if you don't have a polished manuscript or query, you can still win a critique!

How much time is needed to go into this blogfest? As much or as little as you'd like.  There will be four different mini-fests.  As I said in the previous question, you can do one or all.  It is up to you as well as the amount of time you take visiting other blogs, making connections and building your platform.

Now we're going to get down to the nitty-gritty.  If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click on the button above or go here.

Here is the layout for the blogfest...

Week 1:
I Just had to ask...
What burning questions (about writing of course) do you have?  It doesn't matter how ridiculous you think it may be, just ask.  Post the question on your blog and we will hop around the blogs trying to help each other out.  Discussions about topics on writing can really pump you up for your novel, plus you can make connections, follow one another, brainstorm platform building ideas...whatever.  This will be our time to ease into the blogfest and get to know one another.

Giveaway for week 1: a critique overview of a picture book ($30 value), or an overview of the first 3 chapters of a YA or Mid-grade novel ($55 value) from Margot Finke, published children's book author and critique extraordinaire.

Week 2:
Story Chain
We are really going to get those creative juices flowing with the story chain. 

Rules of the Story Chain
-I will create a list for the participants of this mini-fest, each will have a time they have to post their story by on their blog and a word limit of 50-100 words. 
-Follow, make connections with as many in the chain as possible. 
-The first in line will start the story having a certain theme and a few special words that have to be used.  
-The next person in line will continue it with there own direction and words for which they have been assigned to take the story. 
-Each theme will be pretty vague so the individual can really do their own thing and make the story unique. 
-By the end of the day we should have a story...who knows how it will turn out:)

Giveaway at the end of week 2: Rach Harrie, Crusade guru will be giving away a double query critique!  And by double I mean she will critique it not once, but TWICE.  This should really get you geared up for week three...

Week 3
Query Critique Contest

Rules:
I think this one is pretty self explanatory.  If you are ready to query then we are ready to help. 
-Monday post your query on your blog. 
-We will hop around giving our input
-Tuesday take your polished query and email it to me deanabarnhart@gmail.com
-Wednesday I will pick top 5 or 10 depending on number of participants and post on my blog
-Friday agent gone writer, Lora Rivera will pick a winner and he/she will get a choice of query critique or a first 5 page critique. 
One thing about Lora and her critiques...
She may not be an agent anymore, but she still thinks like one.  She has told me her critiques are very thorough, therefore I believe they are extremely beneficial!

Week 4:
First 200 Words YA Novel Contest

Literary agent Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency and author Monica B.W. (rep by Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary Agency) have been awesome enough to help me host this contest!  Sorry, but this contest is only for YA or mid-grade novels. 

Rules:
-Monday post first 200 words of your completed manuscript along with your name, title, genre and novel length
-Those participating and anyone else who wants to help can hop around giving constructive criticism
-Polish manuscript as you see fit
-Tuesday email your final submission to me
-Wednesday I will pick top 5 or 10 (depending on entries) and post on my blog
-Friday Kathleen will pick a first and second place winner
-1st place will win a query and first 30 page critique from her
-Second place will win a first 10 page critique from Monica

***

Do any of these sound like something you could dig your heels into?  If so go here to sign up.  Just give me your name, email address and blog and I will contact you the closer the contest to find out what weeks you want to participate in.

You may want to sign up for email updates or rss feed updates to stay up on the latest and greatest info for the contest.  Other than that, let the countdown begin!!!

Whew!  That was a mouthful.  Please let me know if you have any more questions.  The closer we get to the big day, the more I'm sure I'll remember extra things and let you know.

Until then...
Keep writing.  Keep learning.

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!




<center><a href="http://deanabarnhart.blogspot.com/2011/05/gearin-up-to-get-agent-blogfesthere-we.html"><br /> <img src="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m216/deanabarnhart/blogbutton.jpg" border="0"/><br /> </a></center>
(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.