Brenda Drake . . . under the influence of coffee: Four teens judge your story . . . with three editing prizes up for grab!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Four teens judge your story . . . with three editing prizes up for grab!

http://picture-book.com/content/morgan-gaynin-6

Auntie B's Book Club Contest
July 17 -20

It's the final summer for the seniors in my book club that I started with my niece when the girls were in fifth grade. Three of her friends go off to college this fall, while my niece and her other friends will be seniors. Its hard to believe we're at the end of the book club. We've read so many books and had tons of laughs. I'm gong to miss my girls. So at our last meeting, I asked them what made them choose the books we read.

Their first answer was, "You did."

I smirked and said, "Okay, the times when I don't force what you read, what inspires you to buy a book?"

They just sat there blinking and picking at their pizza. When finally the quietest of the girls spoke up. "I read the back of the book and the first page before I decide. It really has to whisk me away, and the characters can't be lame."

While I sat there listening to what they considered lame, an idea hit me. How cool would it be to have a teen pick what would stand out for them in a book store? So I asked the girls if they would like to be judges in my next contest on my blog. They were so excited they wanted to do it right there and then. Well, without going on and on about how this contest came about, here are the deets.

How it's going down...

On July 17 post a 35-word pitch (logline) and the first 250 words of your manuscript on your blog. Get feed back from your followers, and then hop around and critique the other participants' entries. When you're ready to post your entry, come back here and post it to the entry post. It will be up on July 17, and you'll have until 11:59 PM EST on July 20th to enter it. The girls will then read each one and pick the top three that caught their attention.The ones they would pick up and buy in a book store. And, if they have time, they'll visit your blogs and tell you what they think. Just sign up on the linky below to join in all the fun.

What genres can you enter...

My girls love it all. If your main character is 12 to 25, the girls will read it. Any genre. Please no profanity.

Well, yeah, of course there are prizes for the top three...

The winner will receive a 10 page plus a synopsis critique, and two runners up will receive either a 10 page or a synopsis critique from the fabulous Cassandra Marshall agent intern/editor/cover art designer/writer extraordinaire. Cassandra's edits and critiques are so awesome, they're like having a writing coach. With her suggestions and by her pointing out my weakness, I was able to take my writing to a higher level. Plus her services are affordable.

Cassandra Marshall's Website

Meet our judges...

Choir Girl: Able to hit a high note in a single breath. She's the baby of the group. Next year she'll be a senior. Her interests are romance, historical, and really cool memoirs. She does love vampire stories as well.

Drama Girl: Able to shed a tear on command. She'll be going to California to college in the fall. Her interests are anything Jane Austen, mysteries, thrillers, and of course, anything with hot boys in it.

Book Girl: Able to read a book in a day. She's going back East to college in the fall. She loves all genres! She's read the Harry Potter series like five times or so. Her favorite genre is anything fantasy. She wanted me to tell you it isn't about the genre for her, but more about the story and characters.

Sports Girl: Able to out run all of us on a basketball court. She's off to Colorado for college in the fall. She loves anything to do with sports and boys. She likes strong female and sarcastic male main characters. She likes more of the edgy stuff. If it's gross, she's your girl.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up now!

55 comments:

Michael Di GesuJune 30, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Hi Brenda, Choir Girl, Drama Girl, Book Girl, and Sports Girl,

What a great idea to have teens judging a contest! Since many of us write M/G and Y/A this is a great opportunity for us (writers) to see if you works are liked by our actual target audience.

Don't Worry Brenda.... I'm not entering BG.... Although I know these girls are mature enough to handle it since they are all going to college in the fall.

Good luck to all of you. I hope you'll like my entry.
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TracyJune 30, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Cool idea. Best judge of your work? Your target audience. I'll spread the word too.
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Kit ForbesJune 30, 2011 at 12:05 PM
What a nifty contest idea. And I totally echo Michael Di Gesu. It would be super to see feedback from the target audience on the various entires.
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stickynotestoriesJune 30, 2011 at 12:05 PM
This is an awesome idea! I'm definitely pitch - do limericks count?)
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Ellen RozekJune 30, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Hey! This is a totally awesome idea. I love the idea of giving teenagers a chance to critique books, oh, written for their age group.

Thanks for the opportunity!
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LynNerdJune 30, 2011 at 1:13 PM
This is a fantastic idea. What a great opportunity. My YA is edgy with some cussing, so I won't enter it, but I'll tell my writer friends about this. Very cool!
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MadElementAuthorJune 30, 2011 at 1:18 PM
Looks great, would love to see what these girls have to say about my work, and good luck in college!
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Jessica BeemanJune 30, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Swell idea! Can't wait!
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Sarah C. KeithJune 30, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Thanks so much for this opportunity! Cool!
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The East CoasterJune 30, 2011 at 3:06 PM
I can't think of a better idea than having YA judged by YAers. Looking forward to it!
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ashleymakerJune 30, 2011 at 3:14 PM
This looks like fun!! :-)
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Kate LarkindaleJune 30, 2011 at 4:30 PM
What a fantastic idea for a contest! I'm looking forward to this one...
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Eliza TiltonJune 30, 2011 at 7:07 PM
Getting feedback from your target audience? Brilliant!Count me in.
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Jamie CorriganJuly 1, 2011 at 8:42 AM
Love, love, love this idea, Brenda! & yet it terrifies me the most! Can't wait to see/hear what they think of all of our pitches. Yay!! :)
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Juliana L. BrandtJuly 1, 2011 at 10:31 AM
I'm crossing my fingers I can remember to do this on the 17th! What an awesome idea :)
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erica and christyJuly 1, 2011 at 5:51 PM
I love your descriptions of the girls. Very cool.
erica
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Linsey MillerJuly 1, 2011 at 6:51 PM
This is great.

I definitely used to read the back cover and first chapter before picking a book to read, too.
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Vicki TremperJuly 1, 2011 at 7:31 PM
What an awesome idea! I'm really excited for this and you are so lucky to have had teens to read and talk books with!

I live in upstate NY - where is Book Girl going to college "back East" (if she's comfortable sharing that info)? Email me, B!
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Sarah BillingtonJuly 1, 2011 at 8:26 PM
Great idea great contest. You always do fabulous contests, Brenda!
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MargieJuly 1, 2011 at 11:26 PM
Love this idea. Can't wait to see how it all plays out. Great idea, Brenda!
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Brenda DrakeJuly 2, 2011 at 1:06 PM
Thanks you all for joining in. The girls are a little miffed that I'm censoring this contest by asking for no profanity. They all whined and said half of them are 18, one will be 18 in a month, and the other is 17. And, really, who has profanity in their pitch and first 250 words, right?

@ stickynotestories - Book Girl says she loves limericks, so go for it, but she'll have to convince the others if she likes it because they didn't even know what it was when asked about it (her words, not mine). :D

@ Vicki Tremper - Book Girl is going to Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania.
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Brenda DrakeJuly 2, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Oh, P.S., we may have two other girls from the book club in town that week, so they might be joining in, as well. They're both sixteen (twins) and going to be juniors in high school.
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Maeve FrazierJuly 3, 2011 at 7:43 AM
Hi Brenda, Choir Girl, Drama Girl, Book Girl and Sports Girl (and the possible other two joining in) - I love the idea of having this group of teens juding this contest. I'm excited and a little nervous at the same time. But, isn't that how you are supposed to feel. Thanks for the opportunity. - Maeve
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Tanya ReimerJuly 3, 2011 at 10:28 AM
It really sounds fun! I just have no idea which story to pick; they're tastes are so divers!!! LOL. Thanks for the great contest, and have fun reading all these enteries girls.
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ninideeJuly 3, 2011 at 12:32 PM
This is such a great idea. I can't wait to participate.

Maribeth
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Nora CoonJuly 3, 2011 at 4:43 PM
Great idea - I'm in!
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DeMarieJuly 3, 2011 at 8:49 PM
Thats really awesome, I am waiting to see what comes of it!
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Shelli CornelisonJuly 4, 2011 at 10:18 AM
I've always thought it would be a great idea to have teens (unbiased, not relatives) read and give their reactions. I love this! Thanks for hosting the contest!
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Leira CarolaJuly 4, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Great idea!
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Sarah WedgbrowJuly 4, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Thanks SO much for hosting this contest. I'm going to work really hard on that pitch! And I'm going to rally my critique group to participate as well. xx
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Addley C. FanninJuly 4, 2011 at 11:32 AM
This is an excellent idea. I'm already really excited! ^_^ Thanks so much for hosting this contest, getting feedback from teens is pretty much the best idea ever.
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Christina MercerJuly 4, 2011 at 11:36 AM
This sort of feedback is a true gift. Thanks for hosting this contest, and thank you to the Young Adults for judging it!
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Sara Jane WadeJuly 4, 2011 at 6:06 PM
Very cool idea for a contest. Thanks for such an awesome opportunity!
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Robin WeeksJuly 5, 2011 at 10:09 PM
What an awesome idea! So excited!
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Callie KingstonJuly 5, 2011 at 10:21 PM
Super cool, can't wait!
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CholisoseJuly 5, 2011 at 11:29 PM
This sounds like a great idea. I'm always glad to hear what teen readers are interested in for the books they read.
- N. A. Rose
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Valentina HepburnJuly 7, 2011 at 7:18 AM
A brilliant idea and a great opportunity to discover what our target audience really thinks.
Many thanks for the contest.
Valentina
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Heather KellyJuly 7, 2011 at 7:26 AM
I love this idea. I'm not up for posting a WIP on my blog--but I'd love to be a part of this more privately. Is there any way that I could email a first page for consideration? Great idea, even if I'm not a part of it. Awesome!
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LaurelJuly 8, 2011 at 12:07 AM
Hmm. I'm not sure if I qualify... I live in Asia.
Ah, still thought I'd sign up ;)
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Brenda DrakeJuly 10, 2011 at 8:40 PM
Thanks for entering everyone! I'm so excited too!

Heather, I'll have to think about that. The entries would be up with comments from the teens. I'll get back to you, after I figure things out.

Laurel, as long as you write in English, you can enter no matter where in the world you live.
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erica m. chapmanJuly 10, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Okay! I'm entered. This sounds like SO much fun. I'll make sure it has no swear words in the first 250. LOL ;o)

Thanks, this is a great idea!!
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Alison MillerJuly 11, 2011 at 4:33 AM
What a great opportunity! Thanks!
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JessicaJuly 12, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Great contest.... I would love to have a group of kids to read with. I am excited.
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mfantaliswritesJuly 13, 2011 at 8:22 AM
What a great idea - can't wait to get started! Thanks, Brenda!
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Brenda DrakeJuly 14, 2011 at 9:37 PM
I'm so glad you all signed up. The girls are beyond excited. We had read the entire Harry Potter series together, and tonight we are off to watch the midnight showing of the Deathly Hallows Part Two. It's a bitter sweet summer for the three leaving our group, but our memories of midnight book releases and movie showings will always be with us. :D
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Georgia SummersJuly 15, 2011 at 9:20 PM
Oh I'm so excited about this! Absolutely can't wait!
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CholisoseJuly 16, 2011 at 1:21 PM
So post a 35-word logline and the first 250 words of a novel tomorrow? Sounds fun. Is it okay if we go a little over to get a full paragraph finished?
- N.A. Rose
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jennykellerfordJuly 17, 2011 at 9:51 AM
What a great idea! I always love your contests, Brenda. So very excited.
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Brenda DrakeJuly 17, 2011 at 10:55 AM
I'm so glad you're excited, Georgia, can't wait to see all the entries.

Cholisose, it's okay to cut off a paragraph, but don't cut off a sentence. If you first 250 words ends in a middle of sentence, please go to the end.

Thanks, Jenny, I'm so glad you enjoy the contests!
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Stephanie MooneyJuly 17, 2011 at 11:49 AM
This is such a cool idea. :) Thanks for the opportunity!
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foldingfieldsJuly 18, 2011 at 8:06 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
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Brenda DrakeJuly 18, 2011 at 4:23 PM
MAKE SURE TO GO TO THE CONTEST POST DATED JULY 17TH - ALL ENTRIES ARE TO BE MAILED TO brenleedrake@gmail.com MAKE SURE TO PUT 'AUNTIE B'S BOOK CLUB CONTEST' IN THE SUBJECT LINE.
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ninideeJuly 19, 2011 at 2:48 PM
I entered. Good luck everyone!
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L. VendrellJuly 20, 2011 at 8:05 AM
I am still working on the first draft, but thought I might as well give it a go. Thanks for hosting this competition.
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Wildcats WifeMay 1, 2012 at 9:25 PM
Crap! I just signed up for a contest that was last year! Typical of me.
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