Research and Replenish

NaNoWriMo has left me a wordless hunchback with carpel tunnel syndrome. Since I have depleted both my fortitude and willingness to summon words this week (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!), let me direct you back to Miss Snark's Bakers Dozen Auction. Bidding has closed, but you can still get an eye-full of what agents are looking for; an easy way to research which agents will be a good fit for your work. Chances are your genre is represented, from YA to adult, fantasy/scifi to literary. Go see what grabs an agent's bids and attention.


As for me, I will replenish this week by drinking from my most favoritest word-fountain of all time: Lord of the Rings.


In regards to whether or not I reached my NaNo goal:

Happy writing and ¡Buen Provecho!

Baker's Dozen starts Fri!

While I finish up NaNoWriMo (so close!) here's a little something from Miss Snark's First Victim Baker's Dozen. Make sure you you take a good look at her auction; it's a great way to see what agents are looking for. Your book may be next!

Happy writing and ¡Buen Provecho!


The 60 winning entries for our Baker's Dozen Auction will post THIS FRIDAY! You're in for a treat.

I'll be posting all the itty-bitty details about the auction on Thursday. In the meantime, here are a few important tidbits:

• Critiquing may begin IMMEDIATELY. I will ask you to hold off on critiquing during the actual bidding window next week.
• WINNERS: If you see any formatting issues or want to change anything once you see your post, please email me at facelesswords(at)gmail.com WITH THE TITLE OF YOUR NOVEL IN THE SUBJECT LINE. I will make the changes.
• NON-WINNERS: I will be posting instructions on how to submit your excerpt to one of our 10 guest blogs for public critique. Please remember that this is OPTIONAL; you don't have to participate if you don't want to.

I'm excited! Spread the word to your writing friends and communities; this is going to be wonderful to watch as well as to participate in. The posts are already in the queue and ready to post automatically. I'm finally getting to the point where I can sit back and watch things unfold.

Well, almost. A few more emails and last-minute details. Then the fun will begin!

Another word of thanks for your donations, too. Just a reminder that all donations from this point forward will go to admin. I'm going to be placing the book order for my library this week, so I can no longer accept donations for books.

You can donate at any time during the auction. Again, thank you. I am repeatedly humbled by your generosity.

Okay -- onward! Many sparkles ahead.

Action! Oops, I mean Auction! The only difference is U.

Get your manuscripts ready - it's almost time for Miss Snark's Second Annual Baker's Dozen Agent Auction. Yes, Auction. As in agents placing bids. On YOUR work! Here's the skinny:

The Second Annual BAKER'S DOZEN AGENT AUCTION Schedule

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:28 AM PDT

Here it is, folks.  (Yes.  It was either force myself to get uber-organized, or curl up in a corner and pluck my eyelashes out.) Mark your calendars!

LOGLINE CRITIQUE ROUNDS


Each Baker's Dozen entry is required to have a logline.  We will have 3 critique rounds for those of you who would like feedback on your loglines prior to submitting.  These rounds will be run as lotteries.  Times TBA.

ROUND 1:  Tuesday, September 27
ROUND 2:  Tuesday, October 4
ROUND 3:  Tuesday, October 11

SUBMISSION DATES


ADULT ROUND 1: Tuesday, October 18 (100 entries)
ADULT ROUND 2:  Thursday, October 20 (100 entries)
YA/MG ROUND 1:  Tuesday, November 1 (150 entries)
YA/MG ROUND 2:  Thursday, November 3 (150 entries)

WINNER NOTIFICATION


25 adult category winners notified via email:  Monday, November 14
35 YA/MG category winners notified via email:  Monday, November 21

60 WINNING ENTRIES POSTED:  Friday, December 2


AUCTION GOES LIVE FOR AGENTS:  Tuesday, December 6 (for 24 hours)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• There will be an $8 entry fee for this contest.  Payment will not be required until after your submission goes through (so you're not, yanno, paying for nothing).
• A maximum of 500 entries (200 adult, 300 YA/MG) will be accepted.  Of these, 60 winners will be chosen (25 adult, 35 YA/MG).
• If the maximum number of adult entries isn't reached, the remainder will be added to the YA/MG entry maximum (because you know as well as I do that I'm going to be inundated with kidlit).
• The 60 winning entries will receive critique from editors, authors, and blog readers, in addition to being on the auction block for our participating agents.
• The (up to) 440 non-winning entries will be given the option to receive critique on participating blog sites after the auction has closed.
• A percentage of the fee is earmarked for a donation of YA/MG books to my local library (which, sadly, has one of the worst selections of YA/MG I've ever seen).  Given anonymously, of course. *grin*
• Currently, we have 14 agents who have given us a firm YES.  And 2 amazing editors.  Names of participating agents (and critiquing editors and authors) will be posted as soon as they are finalized.
• Just a reminder that there will be no Secret Agent contest in November.  October's SA will run as planned.  And, yes.  You may enter the October SA and still submit to the Baker's Dozen auction. Unless you win the SA contest, of course.

Whew!  Please let me know if I've forgotten anything.  (But please don't ask specific submission questions.  I'll be posting detailed submission instructions later.)

Spread the word.  Invite your friends.  And start working on your loglines!