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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Our First Blogiversary, Earth Day, and a Critique Giveaway!

Happy Blogiversary to us!
Mary Ann kicked off our celebration on Monday, but it's exactly one year ago today that we launched this blog. When we chose the date, we didn't realize it also happened to be Earth Day. If you missed JoAnn's Earth Day poem last week, I hope you'll stop and read it here now.

Today, finally, are the details of our special giveaway:
As a thank you to our readers, we're offering a critique of your choice from a TeachingAuthor!

One lucky winner will be able to choose a critique of one of the following:
  • fiction picture book (up to 1000 words) critiqued by Mary Ann 
  • nonfiction picture book or beginning of longer nonfiction manuscript (up to 1000 words) critiqued by JoAnn
  • synopsis of a middle grade or young adult novel (up to two pages max, single-spaced, 12-point font) critiqued by Esther
  • first five pages of a middle grade or young adult novel (up to 1250 words) by Jeanne Marie
  • poetry (up to thirty lines, 12-point font)--this can be in one poem or several poems, critiqued by April 
  • middle grade short story (up to 1000 words) critiqued by Carmela  
Since the manuscripts will be submitted via email, for the first time, this giveaway will be open to all our readers worldwide. However, be sure to read the rules below carefully before entering:
  • This giveaway is for our readers. Therefore, to qualify, you must follow us via Google Friend connect, Facebook/Networked Blogs, or as an email subscriber. If you are not already a follower, subscribe via one of the links in the sidebar before you enter. (We will verify that you're a follower!)
  • Post a comment saying how you follow us for one entry. Please indicate which type of critique you'd like to win, too.
  • You may receive one bonus entry by helping to spread the word about this giveaway via a blog post, Tweet, or Facebook link. As proof, you must post a second comment containing a link to your blog post, Twitter address, or Facebook wall. (Feel free to copy the above blogiversary image to your blog.)
  • No more than two entries per person. All entries must be as comments to today's post.
  • Entry deadline is 11 pm (CST) Tuesday, May 4, 2010.
  • The winner will be determined using the random number generator at Random.org, and will be announced some time Wednesday, May 5.  (It may be late in the day, as I'll be "out and about" at a school visit that morning.)
If you'd like to read about our qualifications before choosing your critique, see our "About Us" page.

Please note: your manuscript must be formatted in the same way you would to submit it to an editor or agent: in a standard 12-point font on 8 1/2 x 11" paper with one inch margins. For more on manuscript format, see this article. The appropriate TeachingAuthor will contact the winner via email regarding the submission procedure.

Important: Feedback and comments to the winner from the TeachingAuthor cannot be used as an endorsement in any way.

Hmm. I hope I haven't left out anything important. In case I did, feel free to ask questions in your comments. Good luck to all!

And if you missed yesterday's post, please take a moment to read it and give us some feedback on how we can make our blog even better in the year ahead.

Happy Earth Day and happy writing!
Carmela

    62 comments:

    1. Wow, a free critique of my nonfiction picture book manuscript would be SO fine. I'm a follower (History for Children).

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    2. Hmmmmm...... I'd love to have a critique of my nonfiction picture book (Bible story).

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    3. Hurray, Jill. You're our first official entry!
      Ticia, if you'd like to enter, you need to tell us how you follow our blog.

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    4. Yeah, for free critiques. I follow the blog on Facebook networked blogs. I'd love a critique of my fiction picture book. (DoriReads).

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    5. I follow on Facebook and e-mail. I'd like a fiction pb critique.

      Pat Zietlow Miller

      I'm also going to tweet about the contest at @PatZMiller

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    6. See my blog post about the giveaway at http://dorireads.blogspot.com/2010/04/check-out-these-blogs.html.

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    7. Thanks so much and congratulations on your anniversary. Please enter me in the fiction picture book critique! I am a follower. I subscribe via Posts and follow as a member of networked blogs.

      Janet

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    8. Thanks for spreading the word, Doraine! Pat, would you please post another comment for your second entry after you tweet? That will make it easier for me to track entries. Thanks much!

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    9. I was going to your site via Carmela's posts on the SCBWI listserv, and 'm now following you via Facebook. I would love a critique of the beginning of my YA novel.

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    10. Congratulations on you anniversary!! I follow you on Google Friends and would love to win a critique for the opening of my middle grade novel.

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    11. I would love the synopsis critique! I'm a Google follower. :-)

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    12. For my second entry, I posted about the contest on my Facebook page which Carmela has already seen. :-)

      *fingers crossed*

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    13. happy blogiversary! i follow on FB, and am a blog subscriber. i'd be psyched to receive a picture book critique!! hi april!!!

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    14. Happy Blogiversary. Put your notice on my facebook for all to see for my second entry. There are some musical theater types following me, We will see. I would love to win a critique of the beginning of my MG novel.

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    15. Thanks for a great opportunity! I just added you to my Google friends as a follower and would love to win a critique of the first few pages of my MG story.

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    16. I love your blog! What a great contest. I can always use an extra set of experienced eyes for my latest PB. I've subscribed to your e-mail list (jeanneDOTkaufmanATyahooDOTcom)

      Jeanne

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    17. I follow you through Google. I could use the first five pages of the YA I'm working on critiqued.

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    18. I just signed up to follow this blog (Jennifer). I would love to get the 5 page critique of my MG novel.

      I'll also tweet this via JenSwanBooks

      Thanks!
      Jennifer

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    19. I receive this through email and enjoy keeping up with April as well as making new friends. I believe I'll have a picture book manuscript critiqued if I when.

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    20. Eloise Freeman
      Congratulations on your first year!!!
      I follow you on email. I would love
      a critique on my picture book fiction manuscript.

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    21. I'm a Google follower. I'd love a PB fiction critique. Congrats!

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    22. Thanks, everyone, for your congratulations, and for being our followers. Don't forget, Narda and Jenswan1222 and everyone else, you need to post a second comment regarding how you spread the word to get a second entry. (I need that to easily track the entries that Google forwards to me.)
      Good luck all!
      Carmela

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    23. Happy Blogiversary to you all! I follow on Google Friend and also on Networked Blogs on FB. Getting ready to tweet and this treat! Will comment afterward.

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    24. Okay, tweeted, here's the link:
      http://twitter.com/teachrgail

      Forgot to say I'd like the 5 pg crit of a MG book

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    25. I follow you on my email. I would love the picture book critique from Mary Ann.

      I will post about the contest on my facebook page, Patricia Nesbitt.

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    26. Happy Anniversary!

      I follow your great teaching tips on google.
      I'm a die hard non-fiction author and would appreciate a critique of a non-fiction pb.

      Congrats! Suzanne Slade

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    27. I'm now a follower and looking forward to digging into and reading past posts!

      Happy Blogavirsary

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    28. A picture book critique would be great!

      Posted (and cross-posted on blogger and LJ) here:

      http://debamarshall.com/

      Thanks again!

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    29. Wow, that's a serious bundle of prizes. There are a few I could use there, but my hopes are on a PB critique or fiction first 5 pages. Congrats on the blogaversary!

      I'm a follower. :)

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    30. Just introduced to your site and so excited to read on. Would love a critique of my YA novel. I'll be following through email.
      Thanks!
      Karena

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    31. I follow by e-mail and Google reader. I'd love a critique in any genre, but especially nonfiction picture book. Thanks.

      Sylvia

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    32. Young adult novel critique for me! And I follow you through my Twitter account Margo_L_Dill and actually I might follow you through my Google account, too: Margo Dill.

      Anyway, here's my email margodll@aol.com

      Thanks!
      Margo

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    33. I forgot to tell you, I would love to win a critic of a picture book or poems! My email is newlou2008(at) hotmail.com.

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    34. OK...my first post said, "I get your post on my email account. It's just like the morning paper, waiting for me when I open the door." (I don't know what happened to the first post.)
      MUST have forgotten to click something.

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    35. I follow you on Google Friends - would love a critique of first five pages of YA novel. Congrats on your blogiversary!

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    36. I am an email subscriber (Margo Gremmler). Thanks so much for offering these fantastic prizes. I'd love to win the first-five-page YA critique from Jeanne Marie! Thanks again.

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    37. And here's my mention!
      http://twitter.com/margogremmler/statuses/12765433310

      Take care, ladies.

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    38. Happy blogiversary ladies! I have been a subscriber (Google Reader) since you started this blog, but as of today I follow through Facebook and Google Friend Connect.

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    39. Sorry, I forgot to mention that I posted about your giveaway on my blog.
      http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2010/04/your-chance-to-win-manuscript-critique.html

      I'd love either the poetry or nonfiction picture book critique.

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    40. Happy blogiversary!

      I am a Google follower and hoping for a poetry critique.

      Thank you for the opportunity...

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    41. I just posted your giveaway on my blog.
      http://poemfarm.blogspot.com/2010/04/manuscript-critique-giveaway.html
      A.

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    42. Happy Anniversary! I follow this blog through Google & have an RSS feed to myYahoo page. I'd love to win a critique of my fiction picture book.
      Thanks!
      Dana

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    43. Hi again!
      I just tweeted:

      "@danaFR Win a critique (PBs, MGs etc) at the Teaching Authors blog. Click here for details: http://bit.ly/bMP8R9"

      ...so I get bonus entry in the critique drawing. :-)
      Thanks again,
      @danaFR

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    44. I'm a follower! I would love to have a critique of a picture book. :) Thanks, Ladies!

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    45. I follow via Google Reader and I would love a poetry critique with April!

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    46. I am here from the SCBWI listserve and am now a follower. Happy One Year!! Thanks for a great contest! Hmmmm, either a poetry critique or first pages of my middle grade would be awesome! Good luck, everyone!

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    47. Hi,
      I retweeted about your contest @lizkorba on twitter. I would be interested in a poetry critique. Thanks.

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    48. Thanks for the fabulous opportunity! I would love to win critique for my NF book. I just added you to my Google friends as a follower.
      Happy Anniversary!

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    49. Congratulations on your 1st anniversary! I had you bookmarked on my "favorites" and now you're also on my iGoogle.
      I'd love a critique of either a fiction or nonfiction picture book.

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    50. I'm excited to have found this site. I follow through this blog and through email. I'm interested in Jeanne Marie critiquing my YA novel. Thank you for all I've learned so far. Dennise Sleeper

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    51. I have posted this site on my facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/?ref=home

      Dennise Sleeper

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    52. Happy Anniversary!! I received this from a friend today and loved it, joined via e-mail, and am keeping my fingers crossed for a poetry critique.

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    53. How great to see so many familiar and not-so-familiar faces and names. Thanks for all the good wishes. Just remember, if you want to enter the drawing, you need to provide some way for us to contact you. Last anonymous entrant--can you give us a link to your blog or an email address, in case you win?
      Good luck to all!
      Carmela

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    54. This is a wonderful blog for me as a teacher and as a writer. I follow on Google and would love a critique of some of my poems. : )

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    55. Happy Anniversary! I'm a follower via email posts. I'd appreciate a fiction picture book critique by Mary Ann.

      Thanks!
      Kavitha

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    56. Happy Anniversary! I just "followed" you on Facebook NetworkedBlogs. I want to figure out how to get my blog into that area. I would love to have my picture book manuscript reviewed.

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    57. I really stopped by to thank you for participating in the Carnival of Children's Literature. Now here I am celebrating your birthday. I put you on my Facebook Page http://bit.ly/9KI2CG. And my manuscript is a fiction picture book. I wish you thousands of contestants and many more years of blogging.

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    58. I already am a follower, but I'm always up for a contest - especially a critique of the first five pages of a MG novel.

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    59. I love this site, hate the word verification. Please enter me with Jeane marie

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    60. Sorry about the word verification. It's a necessary evil due to so many spammers. PShaw, you need to say how you follow us to qualify.
      Carmela

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    61. Hi! Wanted to add my email address - kavithomas12@yahoo.com

      In short, I would love a pb fiction critique and I follow via email.

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    62. Great blog! I 'm a Google friend and I just signed up for e-mail. And I could use a picture book critique!

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