Win a Teen Beta Reader: The Finalists!!!

Thanks to all of you who entered. It's been such a joy reading through your entries, and I can't wait for the kids to get their hands on the real thing. So, without further ado...

The Finalists:

Rachel Lynn Solomon  Twitch

S.Q. Eries                     Cynisca and the Olive Crown

A.K. Madison               Journey to Magic

Mia Kim                       Valora

Tiffany Simone             Falling Petals

Mike Saunders              Kids of Kingdom

Please submit the full text of your ms as a Word document to laurenmmonahan@gmail.com by the night of Sunday February 10. 

Thanks again to everyone who sent in your work; it was really good, and tough for the kids to choose.

Writing Contest!!!

Win a Teen Beta Reader

Who: 

Anyone with a manuscript (s)he want tested out by reluctant teen readers. Both aspiring writers and veteran writers in the revision process of a new book are welcome.

What: 

Email 

1. Title with a 1-2 paragraph synopsis (query text). Include word count.

                     

2. The first page of your ms.

                     IN THE BODY OF THE TEXT

                     to laurenmmonahan@gmail.com (don't forget the second "m" in the middle)

To finalize your entry "join our site" by clicking on the blue icon to the left and following instructions. :)

When: 

• Entries are due by 8PM PST Sunday Feb. 3
• Names of authors/ titles of books that are selected by the teens as the book each wants to read will be posted on this site on the night of Thursday Feb. 7
• Selected authors will email the full text of their ms as a Word document to laurenmmonahan@gmail.com by Sunday Feb.10 
• Selected authors will receive feedback from students, including the place they stopped reading (if they stopped reading) 
• Students will advocate for their books, and will select a book they most want to see get published.

             

Where: A high school classroom in Carlsbad, CA.

Why: Find out what reluctant readers think of your work AND empower teens with a voice in the creation of YA literature.

Initial post on the contest: here 

Announcement: Contest to Win a Teen Beta-Reader (No. You Don't Get to Keep Him)

 

Coming soon (submissions will be due in about a month), Thinking to Inking is bringing you a contest. More specific details (dates, procedures)to follow, but here is the premise:

Un-agented writers, agented writers, and published writers all have the opportunity to “win” a beta reader. These beta readers aren’t just any readers, though. They are, perhaps, even more terrifying than Simon Cowell. They are some of the toughest critics around: a fantastic group of sophomores in the reading intervention class at the high school where I teach (not my students).

The teens will be sifting through your synopses and sample pages to pick a book to read in class. Winners of the book selection game will be posted on the site for all to see who can lure in a very reluctant reader with their enticing premise and voice. Writers will then submit a “full” to the student to read. Students will read and  privately provide feedback to writers on what feels inauthentic, and quite possibly where the reader gave up (these are incredibly reluctant readers – no guarantees that they will finish reading your book).

At the end, students will advocate for/debate which book they think needs to be published most, and we will post the winner on the site so the whole world will know that the winner has reached some of the most unreachable readers.

Put your brave-boots on, writers, and get prepared to wow those who fill these desks…

PS Happy Holidays! I wrote a post a few years back on career histories of some of my favorite poets/authors along the lines of Jen’s inspirational “keep going” post earlier. If you’ve never heard the legend surrounding Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy  Evening”, or how David Sedaris got his break you may want to check it out. Oh, and it’s all holiday-themed for your snow-falling pleasure.

PPS If you’re in the holiday spirit and want a cool way to help the world, head over to Nathan Bransford’s blog to learn how to help Heifer International help the world.