It blows my mind that I’ve gotten the opportunity to have snippets from my manuscript published in a national magazine. How crazy is that?

This makes me reflect on the manuscript that’s featured in the contest, Dark Future. Not only is this my first manuscript, but I wrote it from an intimate place. The book started simply with my passion for telling stories. I wrote Dark Future before I knew what point of view was, active writing, or even much about grammar.

Dark Future was written from a place of truth. I took my life’s experiences and put them into book. I used my feelings of anger at my father’s abandonment, my fear of disappointing my mother, my isolation from being a new mom, and my need to get lost in a different world.

I’m still surprised at how dark some scenes from my story became. I remember feeling nervous as I wrote scenes that seemed more personal to me then just words on the page. It might have been different people in different circumstances, but they were the same feelings.

It’s scary to rip off the façade and show the world what’s underneath. It’s also addicting.

I began to write every spare second I could, longhand in a blank notebook, on a lunch hour or when the kids were napping. For me, simply completing this book was a huge accomplishment. I never dreamed it would get this far.

So, to whet your appetite, here is the pitch I used at a national conference one year.

Armageddon has arrived. One soldier stands between two worlds. One woman, chosen out of her time, stands in his way. Only together they can change the past…or face a  Dark Future.

Go and read my first paragraph and last line; it’s now up at the RT reviews books website. www.rtbookreviews.com/content/writing-stars-vote-first-paragraph-and-last-line.

And please remember to vote. This round goes from now until October 24^th, and it only takes 10 seconds!

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In one word—terrified, okay, maybe that’s not entirely true. I was also happy, elated, honored, but terrified sure was up there.

I hadn’t known the competition even existed until Erin Kellison, my crit partner, emailed me the announcement. After reading the email, my stomach tightened, and my heart rate reached dangerous levels. I knew my manuscript, Dark Future, was perfect for the contest, and for some reason that scared me all the more. Being the fearless and intrepid person that I am, I decided not to enter. I had too many legit reasons. The Brava line was too sexy, too bold. What would my mother think? With over five hundred entries, the chances of me becoming a finalist were nil at best.

I entered anyways.

A few weeks later, I received an email from Megan Records asking me to call her with my contact information. I emailed her instead, and immediately went in search of my mobile phone. My phone was ringing before I even got downstairs. Megan told me I was one of the ten finalists. I don’t remember much after that. Soon there was a flurry of emails. Bios needed to be sent, headshots taken and web sites launched. And of course, I had none of these things.

I spent a few sleepless nights researching the other competitors and realized I had some stiff competition…a lawyer, a housewife, multiple mothers, and many, many contest finalists. My palms got a little sweaty, and then I reminded myself that hey, I’m a multiple contest finalist too, (a winner of the Revel Your Inner Vixen), but this didn’t help the sweat rings under my arms.
One thing is for sure, even if I get booted out during the first round, this competition has put a fire under my rear end, and because of that I am one step closer to being a published writer.

Please visit me at kckleinbooks.com, and don’t forget to vote. You can cast your vote beginning on Oct 11th on the RT website at RTBookReviews.com.

KC

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Our own Suzanne is hosting a query contest at another of her blogs and we’d like you to take a look and enter. Also, enjoy her blog as well.

http://writingouttheangst.blogspot.com/2010/05/heeeellllooooooo-contest.html

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The second is by Sourcebooks. They are launching a new young adult imprint called Sourcebooks Fire and is hosting a contest for YA writers. For more information, check out Georgia McBride’s blog. Contest runs from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28, 2010.

If you know of contest offered to writers, please let us know, and we will try to keep track for everyone.

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Sarah is writer looking for an agent. She is currently working on novel # 4, editing novels 2 and 3, and querying novel # 1. For more insight to her work, visit: http://legendoftheprotectors.wordpress.com/ or http://legendoftheprotectors.blogspot.com/

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Directions:

1. Entries must be between 500 and 1500 words.
2. Email your entry to ifyougiveagirl@gmail.com.
3. The Girls will choose the top five.
4. The final stories will be posted September 12 (two weeks).
5. Comment on your favorite short to elect the winner!
6. Winner will receive a copy of Donut Days.

Here are the three prompts: Choose one that fits your style.

1.Visual Prompt

2. Musical Prompt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL9qjKyR_yc

3. Finish-the-Sentence Prompt
As I rounded the corner my nostrils filled with the acrid stench of smoke. Flashing lights, headlights, and an flickering glow filled the blackness, making the generic streetlights no longer necessary…

Good Luck!

Rules for Short Stories

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Directions:

1. Entries must be between 500 and 1500 words.
2. Email your entry to ifyougiveagirl@gmail.com.
3. The Girls will choose the top five.
4. The final stories will be posted September 12 (two weeks).
5. Comment on your favorite short to elect the winner!
6. Winner will receive a copy of Donut Days.

Are you ready?

Here are the three prompts: Choose one that fits your style.

1.Visual Prompt

2. Musical Prompt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL9qjKyR_yc

3. Finish-the-Sentence Prompt
As I rounded the corner my nostrils filled with the acrid stench of smoke. Flashing lights, headlights, and an flickering glow filled the blackness, making the generic streetlights no longer necessary…

Go!!

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And here is the winning query:

Dear Mr. or Mrs. Agent,

I’m writing to you about my novel, THE GLOBAL WARMING NIGHTMARE.  In this story, global warming makes it too hot for ice to stay frozen, so the polar bears can’t live up north anymore and they come down and start eating people.  (I know that if all the ice really melted, there would probably be floods and stuff, but the book is for kids, and they don’t know stuff like that.  I babysit a lot so I think I know something about kids LOL.)  The main character of THE GLOBAL WARMING NIGHTMARE is a kid, like maybe 11 or 12, so kids should be able to relate to her.  She lives in Canada, and that’s where the polar bears go first because it’s still kind of cold.  So people are fighting the polar bears, and this girl, who’s name is Sarah, rescues this one polar bear cub and names it Snowy.  Then Sarah figures out about the whole global warming thing, and she takes Snowy down to Washington D.C. and calls a conference to tell all the world leaders how they have to be more careful of the environment.

THE GLOBAL WARMING NIGHTMARE is probably going to be at least a hundred pages when I finish it.  I’m about halfway through now.  If it needs to be longer, I can put more stuff in.  Maybe there could be snow leopards too or something.

Here are the first 6 chapters, plus the 11th chapter which I skipped ahead to write because I was really excited about the scene where Snowy runs away in the Pentagon.  Isn’t it awesome?  This book would probably make a great movie, too, especially if it used that girl who was in INKHEART.  Anyway, I did spell check but there might still be some mistakes.  But that’s what editors are for, right?

Can’t wait to hear what you think!

- Nicole (but everybody calls me Nikki) Smith

P.S.  Snowy is my cat’s name.  I think he would like to be a polar bear!!!

Thanks to everyone who participated! I had fun reading them.

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Sarah is writer looking for an agent. She is currently working on novel # 4, editing novels 2 and 3, and querying novel # 1. For more insight to her work, visit: http://legendoftheprotectors.wordpress.com/ or http://legendoftheprotectors.blogspot.com/

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I gripped the wheel hard, my widened eyes taking in as much of the awful scene as possible. The trees approached too quickly, my headlights flashing over the endless sea of them on the side of the road.

No way a car can fit through there.

Squeals from the tires filled the cab somehow. All I could think was…

Enter to win a pack of Uniball pens. Winner will be chosen at random Saturday July 11th. At this time, we are only permitted to ship prizes within the Continental US.

Good luck and get creative!!

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Email me your bad queries, or post them in the comment box here. I will post my favorites and announce the winner on the 11th of July.

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Sarah is writer looking for an agent. She is currently working on novel # 4, editing novels 2 and 3, and querying novel # 1. For more insight to her work, visit: http://legendoftheprotectors.wordpress.com/ or http://legendoftheprotectors.blogspot.com/

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