Guide to Literary Agents - Contests

Agent Irene Goodman Auctions Off Critiques

Chuck — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:13:20 GMT

Literary agent Irene Goodman of the Irene Goodman Agency in New York is auctioning off 25 critiques this December, with all proceeds going toward Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Deafness Research Foundation. If you've ever wanted to get a thorough critique from someone who knows their stuff and has helped launch some amazing writers' careers, read on.

Irene Goodman and her son, Rob,
who was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome,
which affects sight and hearing.

All the details are on Irene's page about this. Here's the gist: You can submit a synopsis and up to 50 pages (a "partial") and she sends back her notes on how the work can be more salable. There are certain categories she likes in both fiction and nonfiction. The auctions on EBay start on Dec. 1 and end on Dec. 15, 2009. The actual EBay links do not exist yet (as of Nov. 17) but will be live as of Dec. 1.

It's a good cause, so think about getting in on this and making a bid. If you don't have anything that needs a critique, purchase one of these for a friend or writer you know as a Christmas gift! (On a side note, I am advocating to everyone I know to buy books, magazines and more books this Christmas to support the publishing industry. First on my list: Pixarpedia.)

Want more on this subject?

Want to write for the GLA blog? Learn how here.

Advice on writing memoir.

20 Tips on Query Letters.

Need some help finding the best literary agent for your work? Sign up for my webinar, "How to Land a Literary Agent," on Dec. 17, 2009. You can ask questions and hear me discuss queries, proposals, submissions, copyright and more.

New Genre: 'New Adult' ... and a Contest!

Chuck — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:31:57 GMT

The Agency Gatekeeper Blog and Georgia McBride's site let me know about this new contest by St. Martin's Press. Previously, we've talked about the emerging genres of cyberbilly, elegant erotica, and quagmire fiction. Now it's "New Adult." (By the way, I love subgenre categories - I find that stuff fascinating.)

Here's the gist: "St. Martin’s Press is actively looking for great, new, cutting edge YA with protagonists who are slightly older and can appeal to an adult audience. Since twenty-somethings are happily reading YA, St. Martin’s Press is seeking YA that can be published and marketed as adult; kind of an 'older YA' or 'new adult.' " Writer Jodi Meadows has a good look at the new genre and why it's cool.

Here is everything you need to know about the rules. The contest ends quickly! - Nov 20, 2009.

Want more on this subject?

Writer's Digest has year-round contests, including an annual competition where the winner flies to NYC to meet agents and editors!

Confused about formatting? Check out Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript.

Read about What Agents Hate: Chapter 1 Pet Peeves.

Want the most complete database of agents and what genres they're looking for? Buy the 2010 Guide to Literary Agents today! >

Winners Announced: The 'Worst Storyline Ever' Contest

Chuck — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:13:04 GMT

Thanks to all who entered the second-ever "Worst Storyline Contest" here on the GLA blog. We got tons of entries! The judging is over and the winning lines are below (as well as some commentary from me). Special thanks to several WD and WD Books staffers who weighed in on the judging, and congrats to all the winners.

"Worst Storyline Ever"

Contest Winners

GRAND-PRIZE WINNER:

"After an unidentified cow swallows an armed nuclear device in a botched Homeland Security raid, Agent Tom Anderson is thrust into an unlikely partnership with buxom organic farmer Daisy Jones to sift through three hundred cows and 10 barns full of manure as the clock runs down in a desperate quest to save Kansas City from a moo-clear disaster."
- Livia Blackburne

Chuck says: Out of all the finalists, this one was the one that got the most praise from judges weighing in. I think everyone just fell in love with the last little joke. Livia wins a query critique from me and some free WD books. Way to go, Livia! (Check out Livia's blog where she combines her love of creative writing and neuroscience.)

TWO RUNNERS UP (in no particular order):

"When a cannibalistic bonsai tree runs rampant at the local Walmart garden center, it's up to pimple-faced stock boy to step in on a quest to save all cheap garden enthusiasts everywhere using way too much Miracle Grow and the magic pruning shears, and maybe score a date with that cute cashier on lane eight."
- Kathryn Martin

"A young woman discovers she is half unicorn after farting a rainbow at her bat mitzvah, and must go on a hijinx-filled voyage of self discovery to find her real father and fit as 'one of the herd.' "
- Rebecca Knight

OTHER FINALISTS (in no particular order)

(No prizes for these, but I had
to include them because they're hilarious)

- "A self-aware taco salad travels through the harsh urban jungles of his hometown, across the oceans of discontent, to the mountains of Tibet on a quest for enlightenment, love, meaning, and a reasonably good-tasting low-fat sour cream substitute."
       - Marie Hix

- "When Sparky the Squirrel wakes up without his nuts, he leaves the safety of his tree and makes the journey back to the scene of the crime, the veterinarian's office, to recover them."
       - Tracy Hamilton

- "True love intrudes on Rodney Staff's assault against the Guinness Book record for vasectomy reversals."
       - Dave Diotalevi

- "Can Joey, who becomes wheelchair bound in a freak car accident involving cotton candy, find lyrics for a country and western song by traveling in his power chair the 486 miles from one side of the state to the other even though he has to stop and recharge his battery every six miles?"
       - L. Ell

- "Leonard the narcoleptic snail sets out on his lifelong dream of running the Boston Marathon while humming 'Macarena,' and invites you to join the excitement in real time."
       - Steve Forti

Congrats again to all the winners!!!

The (Second) 'Worst Storyline Ever' Contest!

Chuck — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:02:52 GMT

This contest is now CLOSED (as of Oct. 6).
Thank you to everyone who
submitted. Judging will take place in the next 7 days or so
and winners will be notified by e-mail just before I make
the results public. Thanks!

--------------------

Have you got a horrible idea for a story? Well I want to hear about it. Welcome to the "Worst Storyline Ever" Contest - a competition that encourages terrible loglines. This contest happened once before, so feel free to check out that go-round. (If you have any problems or concerns, email me at literaryagent@fwmedia.com.)

"Worst Storyline Ever"

Contest

A logline is a one-sentence line that explains what your story is about and shows the "hook" - the unique idea that makes people want to see more. You see loglines all the time in TV Guide and on the back of DVD boxes. Here are some examples:

"Three middle-aged men defeat their midlife crises by starting a college fraternity." (Old School)
"When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by an evil prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge." (Gladiator)
"In a future where criminals are arrested before the crime occurs, a cop struggles on the lam to prove his innocence for a murder he has not yet committed." (Minority Report)

But that's all the examples I'm going to give you, because I'm not looking for good examples of a logline; I'm looking for bad examples. Nay - terrible, stupid, "oh-my-God-that-idea-is-dumb-as-hell" examples.

Examples of Bad Loglines

1. "After the death of his goldfish, a priest renounces his faith and gets a job at the local White Castle, where he becomes addicted to special sauce and tries to dance his way to getting respect on the streets."

2. "A man's lifelong plan to dress up like Jabba the Hutt and star in a new line of workout tapes finally comes to fruition, but everything goes horribly awry when the man gets ink poisoning, lead poisoning and mercury poisoning all at once."

3. "When a woman dies and is reincarnated as a power saw, she uses a telepathic link with feral cats to help trick and trap and kill her former-lover-turned-murderer-turned-taxidermist."

Here are the rules:

1. Stick to the format, but have fun with the idea. You want your logline to be one sentence only and must be 60 words or fewer, and explain what the movie is about. It's what you put in that one sentence that will win you this competition. So the trick is to make your logline a terribly creative idea that's pitched in a professional manner.
2. The contest will go until the end of the day, 11:59 p.m., PST, Monday, Oct. 5. Submissions received after that will not be considered.
3. I will judge the contest, with some possible input from other WD and WD Books staffers.
4. To participate, simply click on "Comments" at the end of this post and leave your submission as a comment with your full name and e-mail. You must include your full name and e-mail. If you are super paranoid about leaving your name (Google!), use "L. Martin Smith" instead of "Leonard Smith."
5. You can submit up to two (2) bad loglines. You can include both in the same comment post as you wish.
6. The contest is open to everyone of all ages, save those employees, officers and directors of GLA's publisher, F+W Media (formerly F+W Publications).
7. There are a lot more rules (most of them dealing with legal stuff) that you can find in the comments section of this post.
8. By posting a terrible logline for consideration in this contest, you are agreeing to the terms written here as well as the terms added by me at the beginning of the "Comments" section of this blog post.

The Prizes:

First prize (grand prize): 1) A query letter critique from me. 2) A follow-up phone call to discuss the query critique and a plan of action for seeing your work published (basically: you ask questions, I answer). 3) A copy of the 2010 Guide to Literary Agents; 4) a one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com; 5) Praise on this blog from yours truly.

Two runner-up prizes: 1) A free copy of any one (1) of the following books: the 2010 Guide to Literary Agents, the 2010 Writer's Market; the 2010 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market; or the 2010 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market; 2) a one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com.

Good luck!!!

New to The Guide to Literary Agents blog?

We have tons of interviews with literary agents!

See examples of real query letters that snagged agents.

Confused about formatting? Check out Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript.

Read about What Agents Hate: Chapter 1 Pet Peeves.

Want the most complete database of agents and what genres they're looking for? Buy the 2010 Guide to Literary Agents today! >

Editor Advice: Romance Expert Leah Hultenschmidt of Dorchester Publishing (Part II)

Chuck — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:33:56 GMT

This is Part Two of

a two-part interview
with Leah. See
Part I here.

Leah Hultenschmidt is an editor of Romance and Westerns at Dorchester Publishing, where she has worked for nine years. After several years in heading Public Relations and Promotions, she’s now back to doing what she loves most—editing books. Some of her most recent projects include the USA Today best-selling Immortals series and Angie Fox’s New York Times best-seller The Accidental Demon Slayer. Leah has been named among the Who’s Who of Professional Management, and in 2006 was a finalist for PASIC’s Editor of the Year Award.
Leah also founded and edits the (awesome) Romantic Reads blog.

Leah Hultenschmidt

GLA: What are a few recent books you’ve (Dorchester) published?

LH: My romance titles this summer: Siren’s Secret by Trish Albright, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley, The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox, Where the Wind Blows by Caroline Fyffe (debut), McAlistair’s Fortune by Alissa Johnson, Enchanting the Beast by Kathryne Kennedy, I Shot You Babe by Leslie Langtry, Stolen Heat by Elisabeth Naughton, and Ice by Stephanie Rowe. They really run the gamut from all kinds of historicals to fantasy to dark romantic suspense to light paranormal comedy.
        Other romance authors we publish include Nina Bangs, Christie Craig, Leigh Greenwood, Gemma Halliday, Jade Lee, Marjorie Liu, Connie Mason, Gerri Russell, Bobbi Smith, C.L. Wilson, and loads of others.
        In horror, we’re incredibly excited to present a brand new novel called The Creatures of the Pool from the living legend (literally—he won the award) Ramsey Campbell.
        I also work on Westerns, and I’m particularly proud of the Classic Film Collection we put out this spring, which are novels based on famous Western movies. The lineup includes The Searchers by Alan LeMay, The Man From Laramie by T.T. Flynn and Destry Rides Again by Max Brand. In many cases, the books hadn’t been available for decades.

GLA: What percentage of submissions do you get that are agented vs. unagented? Do you or an assistant read all unagented submissions?

LH: I personally read anything that’s specifically addressed to me. I’d say my submissions are probably just about evenly split between agented and unagented. Maybe a few more on the agented side.

GLA: Romance books, to some degree or another, follow a formula. But yet hundreds of romances are still getting published every year? In your opinion, how are writers still producing good work with a formula that readers know inside and out?

LH: I think writers are bending the rules and blending genres all the time to keep readers hooked. And really, that “formula” only consists of a happy ending.

GLA: How did your blog, Romantic Reads, get started?

LH: I started the blog shortly after last year’s RWA as a way to get information about upcoming releases to booksellers and librarians, and to give the writing community an editor’s perspective on the industry. There are a lot of agent blogs out there, and while much of the basic writing and submitting stuff is the same, I do think I have a different point of view on a number of other topics.
        The Coming Soon page lists titles by month from now through Feb. 2010 and I’ll soon be posting March. It indicates which books are debuts, whether they’re part of a series, and gives a link to an excerpt when available. At the end of each month’s listing, you can click to get to see the full back-cover description, ISBN, subgenre listing, and cover image.
        And the Inside Publishing category covers things like how we schedule books, what reps do on a sales call, production and marketing timelines, and what goes through an editor’s head (or at least mine) when reading submissions.

GLA: Let’s briefly transition to Westerns!   You also recently went to Western Writers of America conference in Oklahoma. What did you learn there that writers should know?

LH: Westerns are small but steadily profitable market for us. A lot of publishers have cut back their lines, but we still do four a month, mixing classic authors such as Louis L’Amour, Zane Grey, Max Brand and Luke Short with contemporary writers such as Johnny D. Boggs, Mike Kearby, Robert Conley, Andrew J. Fenady, John Nesbitt, Robert Randisi, Cotton Smith, David Thompson and more.
        Historical accuracy has to be dead on. The readers will know if you’re not using the right type of gun or if the saddle equipment is off or if your river is running the wrong way. Western writers also need to be just as proactive as the other genres when it comes to marketing and online presence.

GLA: What attracts you to your specialties of romance and Western?   Why these categories?

LH: I acquire in romance and Westerns, but I enjoy a broad range of other genres as well—thrillers, fantasy, mystery, historical fiction and pretty much anything with a great pace and writing that really sucks me into the story. I think that’s why I especially like the books that mix things up, like Western mysteries or fantasy historical romance.

GLA: Will you be at any upcoming writers’ conferences where writers can meet/pitch you?

LH: After having been to Boston, Oklahoma City, Orlando and BEA, I’m pretty much done with conferences for this year.
        We’ve recently developed a Writer’s Corner on our website so folks who can’t make to conference can still get the same advice we often cover in any presentations or panel. And Dorchester is now accepting submissions via e-mail, so writers can always send something to my attention there.
        Authors might also want to consider entering one of the two contests we’re currently running. Romance writers should check out our America’s Next Best ‘Celler’ Contest, which we’ve created in partnership with TextNovel, a company that distributes original fiction via email and cell phone subscription service. And horror writers can take a look at the Fresh Blood contest, co-sponsored by Rue Morgue magazine and Chiaroscuro. One contestant in each is guaranteed a publishing contract.

GLA: Best piece(s) of advice that we haven’t covered?

LH: Oh, I save that for the blog.

Want more on this subject?

See Part I of Leah's GLA blog interview here.
Check out the resource, On Writing Romance, by Leigh Michaels.
Writers Online Workshops instructor Karlyn Thayer s teaching the online course "Essentials of Romance Writing."
Confused about formatting? Check out Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript.
Read about What Agents Hate: Chapter 1 Pet Peeves.
Want the most complete database of agents and what genres they're looking for? Buy the 2010 Guide to Literary Agents today!

New WD Writing Prompts Blog! (and a Cool Webinar Coming Up)

Chuck — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:33:13 GMT

Zac Petit, my coworker and all-around awesome guy, has started a brand new blog dedicated to writing prompts. He will be posting prompts three times a week and the best writer response this week will collect several writing books as a prize. Sounds pretty sweet - check it out!

Query Letter, Anyone?

Also, my coworkers Jane Friedman and Alice Pope are leading a new webinar called Extreme Makeover: The Query Letter - How to Write a Book Query Letter That Gets a Response. It all goes down at 1 p.m. EST, Thursday, July 23. All attendees will be invited to submit a one-page book query letter for potential critique in this hands-on session.

Attendees will get to see how average query letters can be transformed into strong and persuasive letters. Sign up for the webinar here!

Around the WD Properties: 7-7-09

Chuck — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:56:45 GMT

Here is a look at things going on
around the Writer's Digest world
and more.

Call for Submissions!

The editorial staff of Writer's Digest Market Books is now open to queries for the 2010 editions of Photographer's Market, Songwriter's Market and Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market (which will be published in October 2009).

These books, similar to Writer's Market, offer craft- and business-related articles for photographers, songwriters and artists as well as interviews with both newer and more experienced professionals in these areas. (Refer to past editions for examples.) If you have an idea for an article or interview, e-mail your query to alice.pope@fwmedia.com.

Short Short Story Competition

The 10th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition is accepting entries! We're looking for fiction that's bold, brilliant ... but brief. Send us your best in 1,500 words or fewer. But don't be too long about it—the deadline is December 1, 2009.

The Grand-Prize winner will receive $3,000 (that's $2—or more—per word).
For guidelines, prizes and to enter online, click here.

Sign Up for My Magazine Freelancing Webinar!

Editor's note: I did the webinar yesterday with Zac and everything went very well. Keep your eyes on www.writersdigest.com/webinars to see the next time we teach the class

I am teaching a webinar on Freelancing this Thursday at 1 p.m. It's all about the basics of freelancing for magazines, newspapers and online. We'll talk about everything - how to come with ideas, how to compose a query, how to resell old pieces, how to pitch a market correctly - all that stuff. Freelancing should not be underestimated. You bring in more money, you build your platform, you build your credentials and you make sure you're not putting all your eggs in one basket.
And as if the webinar wasn't awesome enough already, I will be joined by Writer's Digest managing editor Zac Petit, who will chime in with some great advice. Every question asked will be answered, either live during the seminar or afterward. Sign up today!

The Knight Agency's 'Book in a Nutshell' Competition

Chuck — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:01:44 GMT

There's a very cool opportunity over at the Knight Agency blog. "It's called "Book in a Nutshell" and it's an awesome new contest where for writers. Here is the scoop:

"Here’s a chance to have your project reviewed
by one of the agents at The Knight Agency.
Submit three compelling sentences (150 words
max) about your completed, unpublished
manuscript to submissions @ knightagency.net
(delete spaces). Write BOOK IN A NUTSHELL in
the subject line or it will not be deemed elligible.
One submission per project, please. Twenty of the
best submissions will be chosen and requested by
various agents who will then give feedback on
your work ... and it may even lead to possible
representation. Hurry, the deadline is April 20,
2009. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2009."

Pretty awesome, no?

I like how they want you to boil the work down to three lines. I understand longer pitches in queries, but I prefer short ones that really get to the premise and hook as quickly as possible - a true "elevator pitch." This contest sounds great. It will take the agents very little time to discard the poor submissions (because of the short length), and the 20 "winners" will either get some bits of feedback on where the ms needs to improve, or they may possibly get an agent contract.

I used to think the Knight agency basically handled only romance and women, but the truth is that it handles pretty much everything because so many agents there handle such a variety of different fiction, nonfiction and juvenile topics.

Pitch away!

Around the WD Properties (and the Internet)

Chuck — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:45:36 GMT

Here are some great things going on
around the WD properties:

Harlots' Sauce, a "nonpartisan magazine on the net" has posted a long and informative interview with WD Editorial Director Jane Friedman, who discusses How the Internet Has Got Publishing By Its Tail.
Jane is a wonderful resource of information - especially about the state and business of publishing. If you're interested in how the landscape is changing, listen in.

Here are some great things going on
around the Internet itself.

Check out the Writers on Writing Blog to download audio of an interview with literary agent Vicky Bijur.

F+W Media's own "Cup of Comfort" Book Series is paying for good submissions. Check out the link for all info, but know that 1) we pay for accepted stories, 2) the book topics at hand are "couples" and "golfers", and 3) the deadline is in the fall.

One contest out there is looking for the Funniest Play on Earth.

Around the WD Properties: 2-2-2009

Chuck — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:51:10 GMT

Happy Groundhog Day everyone!
(What a sham this day is, by the way.)
Here's what's going on around all the
great Writer's Digest peeps and properties.

"So the question is:
Does Phil ... feel lucky?"

1. Alice Pope is the mad blogger in New York these past several days. Pope, who edits Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, has been at the SCBWI conference in Manhattan, and has blogged about everything and anything while up there. She has some posts about advice from children's agents, naturally.

2. The Feb. 6 deadline is fast approaching for WD's Red Heart Black Heart Contest, which is seeking love poems, black-hearted love poems, love letters, rejection letters (and we don’t mean the editor/agent kind), essays on love at first sight, and essays on love lost.

3. The new issue of Writer's Digest (March/April) will be out soon, and it takes a long look at self-publishing today and also the self-publishing companies who are doing business here and now. Already online is an article that features a directory of self-published companies. Check it out here.

Test Post

Chuck — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:48:28 GMT

Test Post

Firebrand Literary's 'Query Holiday'

Chuck — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:40:40 GMT

From Dec. 15 through Jan. 15, Firebrand Literary will not be accepting submissions in the normal "Query First" manner. Rather, they will be accepting and reviewing complete first chapters of manuscripts.

This is a big task for those agents and a great opportunity for writers of all kinds. For those of you who have never got a request for a partial (probably because your query was weak), this is your golden chance. Let your writing speak for itself.

There is more to know, so check out the Query Holiday tab on the Firebrand Web site right now!

Hat tip: Soon-to-be-famous
middle grade author
Nancy Parish

Agent Nathan Bransford's New 'First Paragraph' Contest

Chuck — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:57:06 GMT

Literary agent (and super blogger) Nathan Bransford of Curtis Brown in San Francisco is hosting another contest. This one is called "The 2nd Sort-of-Annual Stupendously Ultimate First Paragraph Challenge."

Basically, it's a contest looking for an amazing first chapter of a novel (nonfiction, too?) in progress. The rules. But hurry - the DEADLINE is 7 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec.11!

Check out his post to see the prizes and the rules and how the whole shebang will work out. This is a cool chance for writers!

Hat tip: Soon-to-be-famous
middle grade author
Nancy Parish

Around the Properties: WD News 9-16-2008

Chuck — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:10:30 GMT

There is a lot going on around the WD properties. Check out the news!

The Don'ts of Books Submissions

At the Maui Writers Conference, WD staffers were at a session where three agent panelists threw out some helpful tips on what not to do when submitting a book.

    1. Don't send your full manuscript off the get go. Only send what's requested in the particular agent's guidelines. (They almost always can be found online.)
    2. Don't respond to a rejection letter or ask "why." Just move on.
    3. Don't be rude or disrespectful—rejection isn't personal, it's just part of the business.
    4. Don't submit to one agent at a time. The industry is slow so it's unrealistic for agents to assume you haven't sent it to other people (unless an agent asks for an exclusive read).
    5. Don't resend a query or manuscript a day or two later with a note, "I found a mistake in my proposal and fixed it." Once it's sent, it's sent.

Constructing the Thriller

Also picked up at the Maui Writers' Conference, here are writer Gary Braver's tips on driving a thriller forward. Click here to read the whole thing - all 10 tips and an explanation on each.

    1. You need to have a good story.
    2. Write about the underdog.
    3. Multiple points of view can give you great range in a thriller.
    4. Open your book with an action scene.
    5. Early on, make clear what your protagonist wants and what he fears.

WD Popular Fiction Awards

Deadline: 11/3/2008

The WD Popular Fiction Awards is now accepting entries. Compete and win in all five Categories! The Grand Prize-Winner will receive $2,500 cash.

'Worst Storyline Ever' Contest Winners Announced

Chuck — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:11:31 GMT

Thanks to all who entered the first-ever "Worst Storyline Contest" here on the GLA blog. We got approximately 185 entries! The judging is over and the winning lines are below (as well as some commentary from me). Special thanks to several WD and WD Books staffers who weighed in on the judging, and congrats to all the winners.

"Worst Storyline Ever"

Contest Winners

GRAND-PRIZE WINNER:

"After losing badly in The Kentucky Derby, a horse is sold to the glue factory where he is processed and bottled, and we follow the stories of everyone who uses the glue, from a nose-picking pre-schooler to a dyslexic kidnapper who glues cut-out letters on a ransom note, until the last drop is gone."
- Chris Whigham

Chuck says: Out of all the finalists, this one was the one that was universally praised and liked by all seven or so people who weighed in. And for good reason. It's hilarious and creative. Chris wins a query critique from me and some free WD books. Way to go, Chris!

TWO RUNNERS UP (in no particular order):

"The grim reaper loses his weapons license and is forced to take a job as a drive-thru attendant at KFC, but when the mafia learns his identity, he hits the road on a motorcycle disguised as an old lady in fear that the new grim reaper is now after him."
- Kevin Wood

"The color, the pageantry, the beauty of Rio at Carnival, as seen through the eyes of a blind, sexually abused beggar - no, really, he's blind so the screen is black the whole time and all you get are the sounds of him being sexually abused and the carnival and ... well, it's kind of an art-house film."
- Leland Thoburn

OTHER FINALISTS (in no particular order)

(No prizes for these, but I had
to include them because they're hilarious)

- "A life-long Play-Doh phobe, once forcibly fed multicolor spaghetti straight from the Spaghetti Playshop by sadistic siblings, spends one night locked in the Hasbro factory where she fights the horror of her surroundings, finds true love with a development scientist intent on making the ultimate 'doh' and finally makes peace with the 'compound' that has haunted her for decades."
- Elizabeth Burger

- "Under investigation for steroid abuse by the LBAUSA, 87-year-old lawn bowling champion Charley Greens' reputation has been stained, his endorsement deal with Depends is about to dry up, and if he doesn't uncover who spiked his Metamucil, that shot at the cover of AARP could go to his long time rival of 47 years, Jimmy Crabgrass."
- Joseph Lindsey

- "When a man loses his index finger in a tragic lawn mower accident, he might also lose all hope of becoming Paper, Rock, Scissors champion of the world, unless he can find the inner strength to throw his way back to the top."
- Jared Nolan

- "The prophecy that tells of a young boy with a strange birthmark and a magical ring, who will save the world, never comes true."
- Wendy Elliott

- "Planet Earth faces disaster when the largest and most ill-advised prank is executed by a college fraternity that transforms the Pacific Ocean into a giant vat of instant mashed potatoes, and the only hope for salvation is Idahoan Ralph Baker, world-record holder for mashed potato consumption, who, let's face it, is going to need an awful lot of gravy."
- Kelly Neiling

SOME COMMENTARY/THOUGHTS FROM ME

A lot of people seemed to just want to cram in tons of bad aspects into one run-on sentence. Most of these didn't work too well. It's a shame, too, because some entries had a really funny snippet of an idea that was lost in a sea of other bad snippets. Entries that were both clever and brief worked better.
Priests and nuns and senior citizens were very common aspects in entries. Hitler and Satan were other common protagonists.
Loglines dealing with overly gross things were much more often bad than good.
A lot of people wrote "Hilarity ensues..."
Any entries that broke the one-sentence rule were not considered.
I liked some of the tidbits that people threw in at the end of their entries, such as "(Animated)" or "(Based on a true story)

Congrats again to all the winners!!!

'Worst Storyline Ever' Closed, Judging in Progress ...

Chuck — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:31:13 GMT

To all those of you who entered the "Worst Storyline Ever" contest last month, know that the contest is now closed and that entries are being judged. I hope to have a winner picked out within one week of today.

We received a lot of entries, so the judging won't be easy!

"Worst Storyline Ever"
Contest

The 'Worst Storyline Ever' Contest!

Chuck — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:40:10 GMT

Have you got a horrible idea for a story? Well I want to hear about it. Welcome to the "Worst Storyline Ever" Contest - a competition that encourages terrible loglines.

A logline is a one-sentence line that explains what your story is about and shows the "hook" - the unique idea that makes people want to see more. You see loglines all the time in TV Guide and on the back of DVD boxes. Here are some examples:

"Three middle-aged men defeat their midlife crises by starting a college fraternity." (Old School)
"When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by an evil prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge." (Gladiator)
"In a future where criminals are arrested before the crime occurs, a cop struggles on the lam to prove his innocence for a murder he has not yet committed." (Minority Report)

But that's all the examples I'm going to give you, because I'm not looking for good examples of a logline; I'm looking for bad examples. Nay - terrible, stupid, "oh-my-God-that-idea-is-dumb-as-hell" examples.

Examples of Bad Loglines

Here are the rules:

1. Stick to the format, but have fun with the idea. You want your logline to be one sentence only and must be 60 words or fewer, and explain what the movie is about. It's what you put in that one sentence that will win you this competition. So the trick is to make your logline a terribly creative idea that's pitched in a professional manner.
2. The contest will go until the end of August 2008. Submissions received after that will not be considered.
3. I will judge the contest, with some possible input from other WD and WD Books staffers.
4. To participate, simply click on "Comments" at the end of this post and leave your submission as a comment with your full name and e-mail. You must include your full name and e-mail.
5. You can submit up to two (2) bad loglines. You can include both in the same comment post as you wish.
6. The contest is open to everyone of all ages, save those employees, officers and directors of GLA's publisher, F+W Media (formerly F+W Publications).
7. There are a lot more rules (most of them dealing with legal stuff) that you can find in the comments section of this post.
8. By posting a terrible logline for consideration in this contest, you are agreeing to the terms written here as well as the terms added by me at the beginning of the "Comments" section of this blog post.

The Prizes:

First prize (grand prize): 1) A query letter critique from me. 2) A follow-up phone call to discuss the query critique and a plan of action for seeing your work published (basically: you ask questions, I answer). 3) Copies of the 2009 Guide to Literary Agents and the 2009 Writer's Market. 4) Praise on this blog from yours truly.

Two runner-up prizes: 1) A free copy of either the 2009 Guide to Literary Agents or the 2009 Writer's Market. Your choice.

Good luck!!!

A WD Editor's Agent Notes from NYC

Chuck — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:38:39 GMT

Writer's Digest magazine editor Maria Schneider was recently up in New York City accompanying the grand-prize winners of the WD Annual Writing Competition. The big winners get a trip to Manhattan to meet with several agents, who they can schmooze with and pitch. How cool is that?

Maria came back with some notes (in no particular order). They are worthwhile to check out, so here are the best ones:

      • The term “book club novel” is hot; consider using in lieu of “literary” fiction; “crossover appeal” is another good catchphrase.
      • Know what the core conflict/turning point of your story is.
      • It takes a long time and a lot of effort to find the right agent because you want to find an agent who shares your vision for your writing career. This is one of the most important relationships of your life.
      • Many newer/younger agents are coming into the field with strong editing background and expect to do a lot of editing. (Chuck's note: This is, naturally, good news, but you cannot expect this. Assuming an agent will help you edit is a big no-no. If they do step in, simply be grateful.)
      • Get some publishing credits however you can before you pitch a novel; this sends a signal to everyone that you are a publishable writer.

Ah. New York. I took this
photo at BookExpo America in 2007.

Cool Dialogue Contest!

Chuck — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:16:55 GMT

Fun contest online!

Agent Nathan Bransford of Curtis Brown, LTD is sponsoring a new contest to find the next great writer who can compose scintillating speech and dominating dialogue (not to mention awesome alliteration).

It's a dialogue contest! Being that my first love was playwriting, this contest excites me (and I may even submit). All the details are on his blog, so you may want to open up a new tab/window and check those out. Here's the gist. You submit 250 words of dialogue and the necessary prose/description that goes with it. Logically, it would have to be a bit dialogue heavy.

Submit it by Wednesday, May 21, for consideration and the winner will be announced soonafter. The winner gets a variety of prize choices, including a phone conversation with Nathan or a query critique.

Reservoir Dogs had good dialogue.

Hat tip on this great
info: future famous
writer Nancy Parish.

Around the Properties 3/12/2008

Chuck — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:57:50 GMT

This weekend (March 14-15), I will be in Newport News, Va., presenting at the Christopher Newport University Writers' Conference. If you're around the area, pop on over. Children's agent extraordinaire Michelle Andelman will be there, and so will Virginia's poet laureate, Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda.

Submit your work today to the Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition. WD runs several contests, but this is the big one. It includes numerous genres and categories (from literary fiction to screenplays) and the grand-prize winner gets a trip to NYC to meet with agents and editors. The entry deadline is Thursday, May 15.

If you've ever considered going back to school for writing but don't have the time, consider one of many Writers Online Workshops. The online classes usually last six or 12 weeks and are taught by Writer's Digest staffers and contributors.

Contests: Good News and Bad News

Chuck — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:16:46 GMT

This weekend, at the Space Coast Writers' Conference, I sat down on a large panel of agents and editors. During the panel, we pretty muched talked about everything. One particular subject of interest that came up was online writing contests, and whether or not winning such contests was a good way to hook an agent.

The bad news is that all five agents said they never looked online at published contest winners, such as the winners of any Amazon.com contests. Both audience members and agents remarked about how such contests were gaining popularity and Internet buzz; however, the agents aren't looking online at the winning stories.

The good news is that a few agents present did mention that when they judge a competition, they may indeed contact winners and ask about representing them. This is not new news, exactly, but it was promising to hear agents confirm that contests will still lead to a contract for representation. (You just have to make sure some awesome agents are the judges.)

And remember: Just because agents are not reading online contests, that doesn't mean that the accolades are worthless. On the contrary, including these awards in your query letter will show an agent that you're a serious and skilled scribe.

Writing Contest for Mothers

Chuck — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:08:23 GMT

Christine Fugate, a friend of mine, has a cool new contest for mothers out there, so I figured I'd spread the word. The gist is below. Click on the links to learn more.

"The contest is the 2nd Annual Mothering Heights Mother's Day Essay Contest. This year's topic is 'What do you know now as a Mom that you wish you'd known before giving birth? What wry, witty, honest and personal observations would you share with Mothers and Mothers-to-be everywhere?' Last year's contest was so successful and fun that we have a deal to publish a book from this year's submissions! In order to make this Mothering Heights Mother's Day event a success, I need your help."

Contest for Romance Writers

Chuck — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:02:18 GMT

Thanks to the Writer Beware blog, I heard about a good writing competition for romance scribes.

It's called the First Chapters Romance Writing Competition, and writers can submit until Aug. 22.

All the nitty-gritty details are online, but the basics are these: The contest calls for full romance mss that have never been published, save those that were self published. There were be online judging early on by peers, then the winners get money and publication (through Simon & Schuster).

See the site and read the details thoroughly. All in all, it sounds like a solid contest. If you were able to prove yourself through winning (or at least doing very well) in such a competition, agents may come a' knockin.

Letter Writing Contest

Chuck — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:35:50 GMT

Agent extraordinaire Lori Perkins, another cool agent blogger, has passed on a cool contest for writers - specifically, mothers.

Here's the gist: A pair of professional writers are putting together a book called Dear Daughter: On the Day You Were Born ... and they're seeking contributors through a writing contest.

Mothers who wish to participate should compose a letter, 500 to 1,000 words in length, that is addressed to their daughter, discussing the day of the daughter's birth. According to the press release on Perkins' Web site, "Judges will be looking for candid, honest letters that evoke strong emotion, and offer insight and depth." The contest rules are liberal, and the term "daughters" includes stepdaughters, daughters-in-law and more.

It has a money prize and winning stories will be published. The deadline is Sept. 31. I haven't read the rules thoroughly so make sure you do. With a contest like this, it's a great opportunity, but always important to check what rights you're giving away. Best of luck!