Hey guys, come join in on the fun for my It was a Dark and Stormy Blogfest Contest. The fabulous agent Weronika Janczuk from D4EO Literary Agency will be handing out prizes!
How we’re doing it: Sign up on the linky below. On February 7 and 8, post the first line of your finished manuscript (any genre) on your blog to get critiques from your followers and then hop around to the other participants’ sites and give critiques. Polish your line and enter it into the comments of the contest post on February 9 like this:
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Name: Brenda Drake
Title: Annika Britanika: Around the World in 80:45:07
Genre: MG Steampunk
Maximillian Drayson didn’t quite like girls, but he figured Annika Britanika was different.
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Okay, that’s from a work in process and probably isn’t a great example, but you get the format, right? Great.
Now about the agent and prizes:
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| Weronika Janczuk |
Weronika (pronounced ‘Veronica’) Janczuk is a writer and an agent with D4EO Literary. She also writes YA, literary, and historical fiction, and blogs about it here. I’ll be posting an interview with Weronika here on the blog sometime before the contest so come back and check it out.
Prizes from Weronika:
1st place — a critique of the first 50 pages + query
2nd place — a critique of the first 25 pages + query
3rd place — a critique of the query
Weronika is definitely one of my favorite agents and she’s so generous! Follow her on twitter here.
I <3 my followers! Don’t forget to follow me – I’ll be doing drawings from my follower list and giving out some awesome gifts during my Birthday month of March (don’t bother asking my age). 😀
Before you leave, check out a new blog site that I contribute to on every other Monday. CA Marshall, agent intern, freelance editor, and writer extraordinaire has a great post up on revising today. A special editing prize will be drawn from the followers on the DNA WRITERS’ site on contest day so go and follow, you’d be glad you did!
| Click here to follow and enter for the edit prize: DNA WRITERS |
Okay, what are you waiting for? Sign up now!
Hey, Brenda,
I just signed up for the blogfest. What a great idea. Quick and easy. Only one like to read.
Fantastic prizes too. I can’t wait. I’ll be using the line from my ABNA entry and it’s a good one.
Michael
Wow! I love getting feedback, and reading what everyone has to share- these are so fun : ) Great blog title, too
Are the prizes lines or pages? Either way, great idea!
*Sweet*
Critique is for the PAGES. 🙂
Looking forward, y’all!
I’m not sure I’m brave enough to post my opening sentence but the prize is awfully tempting. I do love Weronika…
Great contest. Thanks!
Thanks for catching my error, Kate, and Weronika for clarifying! Diet = Low Brain Power
Oh, and thanks to you all for joining the contest! 😀
I have this posted on my blogfests page.
Hi,
Have snatched banner! Will post up ASAP.
best
F
I’ll get chirruping and tweet the Blogfest on Twitter 😉
Sounds pretty cool Brenda!!
How neat! I haven’t blogged in a while, but this looks like fun. I’m really looking forward to this Blogfest contest 🙂
This is my first official blogfest 🙂
Great contest! I put up a post on my blog. Good luck everyone. 🙂
Sounds great! I can’t wait to read what everyone has posted. 🙂
Thanks for hosting this awesome blogfest, Brenda! I can’t wait!!!!
PS…Thanks for letting me know about it Bethany!
This sounds like a fun one. Thanks for hosting, Brenda!
Thanks from me, too, Bethany for the heads up!!!
I’m in, I’ve linked, and I’m following. Great contest idea. Now – I just have to remember to post it.
As a previous follower, you never fail to intrigue and impress with your posts! Can’t wait to read everyone’s work!
Awesome! Thanks Brenda and Weronika! Good luck everyone–can’t wait to read the first lines!!!
Q: Does it have to be a completed MS or can it be a WIP?
This is an awesome blogfest, and the prizes too..Thanks!
Why not; it sounds like fun. And I’m always looking to expand my circle of writing friends
How fun! I look forward to this! As long as I can remember to do this on Feb 7th/8th… 😉
What an awesome fest! Thanks!
The entry has to be a finished manuscript. Sorry for not making it clearer. 😀
Sounds interesting.
………dhole
Great idea for a blogfest. I was just about to sign up until I saw the comment about the MS needing to be finished. Never mind. Next time 🙂
Awesome! Thanks for the opportunity Brenda!! This is a great idea for a blogfest ;o)
Thanks Brenda and Weronika! Fantastical!
Love Weronika’s blog 🙂
Sounds like a fab idea for a blogfest/competition. I’m in!
I tried posting a comment before when I initially joined, but I guess it didn’t work. Trying again. 😀 Thanks, Brenda for hosting this awesome contest and to Weronika to agreeing to such delicious prizes. Best of luck to everyone!
This looks like a really different and cool contest! What a cool idea! I’m polishing away… hope I do well in this one! Good luck everybody! See you February 7th & 8th!
I had a lot of fun during your last blogfest, count me in!
Great contest. Thanks for hosting, Brenda.
Thanks for your time, Weronika.
I don’t have a finished manuscript to jump into this blogfest with, but I look forward to reading everyone else’s!
This sounds fun! I <3 blog contests - count me in. Thanks Brenda and Weronika for hosting such an awesome contest!
Thank you for doing this.
Wow, I’m so glad you all are signing up – this is going to be a fun contest. I can’t wait to see the entries! 😀
This sounds FANTASTIC! Yay – prizes!
Super excited about this 🙂 thanks for putting this on!
How exciting! Weronika, thank you for offering the great prizes, and Brenda, thank you for hosting. Can’t wait to read all the first lines…
This is great! First lines can be so awesome 🙂
Yay! This is an awesome contesting; thanks for hosting!
Fantastic – exciting stuff.
Ack, I’ve just realised I’m flying to the US those days, so I won’t be able to provide any feedback. Sorry, I’m out 🙁 Such a great contest! I’ll be in the wings next time!
Wow, great contest, great prize and great #s of people entering! Thanks so much!
What a great way to start February 😉
This is a great contest! Thanks for the opportunity!
Oooh I’m actually really nervous about entering this one, but I’ve signed up now so can’t back out! Thanks for hosting this it’s a great idea 🙂
Hi Brenda
I won’t be entering because I don’t have a completed manuscript – just a first chapter!
But my first line is (currently)
Mikel stood on Judgement Rock, in the shadow of the Hanging Tree, and watched the cartway.
But my favourite first line is from an (unwritten) short story (which could yet turn into a novel) which I shared with bloggers recently:
When he awoke, he was unquestionably a woman.
I have a blogfest this weekend if you are interested. 🙂
I am very impressed that there are already 52 people signed up who evidently do have completed manuscripts! I’ll add you button to my sidebar.
Thanks all you wonderful writers, for joining in on the contest! Yay!
Awww, Amie, I’m so sorry to hear you won’t be around. 🙁
Dominic great first line and I’m sad you won’t be joining us. I love that first line for the short story – very intriguing, I must say.
My first blogfest! Woohoo! I’m excited to get some feedback.
What a great idea for a contest! I’m looking forward to reading everyone’s first lines!
What a great idea! I can’t wait to read everyone’s posts!!
Fun, fun! How did you get Weronika to join in for prizes? You have some impressive clout. 🙂
Cyndi
Cool! Sounds like a lot of fun!
I’m here via Weronika’s website and I agree that this is an awesome contest. Thank you 🙂
What a cool contest- I’m in! Thanks! How nice of Weronika:)
I’m in! Thanks for the fun blogfest and thank you, Weronika, for offering your services for such cool prizes.
Amy
I’m in, too, thanks to Amy above for posting this on her site. I’m going to do the same!
What an awesome contest. I’m so bummed though, mine is not quite finished yet. Good luck to everyone else.
Great idea and great prizes. Thanks!
This is great Brenda! You’re wonderful for hosting it and Weronika is wonderful for participating!
Hi Weronika, Thanks for this contest, it’s a great opportunity. I want to enter the BlogFest Contest in hopes of a critique, but I have an agent…am I ok to enter?
This is SUCH a fun idea! Thanks for hosting!
This is such an awesome contest that I didn’t realize before I entered that it needed to be a finished manuscript. That’s what I get for not reading thoroughly. Sorry, please disregard my entry 🙁
This is a fantastic contest that all participating can take something back from. Thanks so much for hosting and I can’t wait to read all the first lines!
Great contest. I’m excited to participate!
Took the plunge and signed up!
@Sarah B, yes, please do so!
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(Sorry for the double-post!)I am fairly new to the blogging world, but this is such an awesome contest I didn’t want to pass it up.
Great contest! I’ve entered and now I’m off to plug it on my blog. Thanks to you and Weronika for putting this together.
Awesome interview and blogfest
beth-project52.blogspot.com
I’m signed up! Contests are as much about a challenge as a prize. I always ‘get’ something out of each one…sometimes even a prize!!!
Fabulous, thanks Weronika!
A wonderful opportunity to share ideas and gain new perspectives.
This sounds like tons of fun 🙂 Thanks for hosting such a fabulous contest!
Signed up! Can’t wait!
Wow, I’m so excited and can’t wait to read all the first lines! I hope many successes come from this contest! I <3 the writing community. You all are stars in my eyes!
I’ll be posting the contest post on Monday so make sure to have your entry posted in that post by Wednesday morning at 8AM EST.
Thanks for joining and good luck!
Great contest. We’ve all had enough form rejections we really appreciate feedback.
What an awesome contest. Entering the first line from my new title! Nice thing to do!
Im in! FUN!
Hi! I’m a late signer-upper, but I’m totally excited about the fest! There’s nothing better than a great blogfest…unless it’s a great blogfest with prizes. *grin*
wow this is a really cool contest!! I can’t wait to read the entries!!
Thanks Brenda, this is so fun! and btw, I think Annika Britanika sounds terrific.
The number of entries is making me nervous!
Just signed up but HOW MANY PEEPS are there!
WOO! Count me in.
This was a fun blogfest, Brenda. Thanks for giving it. I enjoyed myself so much that I’m a winner already just from that! Roland
I’ve just signed up, technically it’s not Feb 8th in some parts of the world I know, so I’m still in time 😀
WOW!! I just made it! It’s only 11pm where I am!!
I’ve returned comments on mine and am now starting from the bottom with random comments =D
Awesome blogfest! Good luck to all! Dare to Follow Your Heart
So glad I found your blog via Book Dreaming! Thanks for hosting this contest.
I’m entering late, but I’ll do my best to catch up! This sounds like fun.
Super late, but willing to give it a shot. Sounds fun.
Name: Beth Fred
Title: Phantom Fires
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
First line: “Violent blue and orange flames leaped from the ground swallowing Laurent.”
Great contest! Thanks for the fun opportunity!
Even later than the late, but willing to give it a try. Thanks for the opportunity, Brenda.
NAME Kerrianne Coombes
TITLE Darkling
GENRE Urban Fantasy Romance
Complete at approx 99.000 words.
Lilly glared up at the black sky, irritated by the relentless wind whipping and slapping her wet hair about her face
Thanks Brenda for hosting.
NAME: Denise Covey
TITLE: Ruby
GENRE: Sweet Romance
Complete at 50,000 words
The moment Ruby laid eyes on his chiselled body in his captain’s whites, she could no longer breathe.
Thanks for the contest! This was enlightening.
Name: Corinne O’Flynn
Title: Wise Jim and The Expatriates
Genre: YA Fantasy (adventure)
After working with the tigers then getting a busted lip from my brother, I wasn’t in the mood for the waitress who wrinkled her nose as I wafted into the diner.
Thanks again, Brenda.
NAME: Susan Oloier
TITLE: Outcast
GENRE: Young Adult
Emergency lights throbbed atop the ambulance, yet there was no sound.
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Name: Linda Gray
Title: And When I Die
Genre: Suspense
A shadow breezed past my left elbow in the form of a dark suit.
Thanks again!
NAME: Erin LaVallee
TITLE: The Eyes Beneath
*Complete at 81,000 words
GENRE: A conglomeration of a YA romance & paranormal fiction
Some refer to me as the fallen.
Name: Donna Hole
Title: Not Her Mother’s Fate
Genre: women’s fiction
Amy pressed back against the wall as another group of revelers stumbled towards the keg.
Good morning Brenda! Thank you for running a great contest. We had so much fun. And this really helped all of us tighten up our writing.
Name: Karlene Petitt
Title: Flight For Control
Genre: Thriller
The storm raging outside the cockpit window reflected the nightmare Sandra called her career.
Thanks so much for this amazing contest and blogfest. I had sooo much fun!
Name: Kristina Fugate
Title: Broken
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Snow makes little kids go crazy–it’s a fact–and my brother is certainly no exception.
This was really fun! Please do it again sometime!
Name: Halli Lilburn
Title: Simbiote
Genre: YA urban scifi
“Kal, stay with me,son.” The surgeon urged, his silhouette looming over me,blocking the intense lights of the makeshift operating room.
Wow. I made new friends, I met incredibly talented writers, and I loved all those first lines I did read– wish I could have read them all! So, thanks Brenda for a great contest, that got us actively out there, mingling.
Name: Tanya Reimer
Title: Surviving the Storm
Genre: Urban fantasy
First line:
Unlike my son, I liked the idea of not knowing who I was in past lives.
Name: Nicole Wolverton
Title: Between Seasons
Genre: Commercial Fiction
Anyone who thought dying comes easy had shit for brains.
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Name: David F. Weisman
Title: Absorption
Genre: Science Fiction
At first the young girl’s eyes looked identical, but when she glanced around the room the left didn’t keep up with the right.
This sounds super fun! I will be entering shortly! Thanks for another chance to get our work out there Brenda!
Emily,
Host Gater sent out some old posts of mine to my subscribers. This contest was from 2011. So it’s not a new one. So Sorry. Pitch Madness will be in March, though.
Oh, wow. I feel silly. 🙂 I guess I better check out pitchmadness! 🙂 Thanks!