Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Want a critique of your first 1,000 words?


Visit Teen Fire

Laura and I have been spending more and more time hanging out at the Teen Fire Ning. It's good times over there people. Lots of amazing writers and book lovers networking, critiquing and discussing all things young adult.

We even have our own page. Isn't it pretty? There's just something about pink and green that makes me happy.

Okay, moving on.

The latest addition to the Teen Fire Ning is a Writer's Forum. We've spent hours combing through the various snippets writers have posted and offering our feedback. Some of the entries are truly amazing. The coolest part is that Sourcebooks Fire editors have agreed to read up to 1,000 words of the three selections with the most comments once a week, and to in-turn post suggestions, comments or any other constructive criticism.

Given that so many of you guys are aspiring writers, we figured that we'd make you guys a deal. If you are one of our blog followers and you join the Teen Fire Ning and post the first 1,000 words of your manuscript in the Fire Ning Writer's Forum, we'll critique it. Just send us a message on the Ning to let us know it's out there.

Can't wait to read some of your work!

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW! Seriously, you girls rock! I am telling my YA buddy right now, since mine is only started! =D

Oh, and I like pink and green as well!

Stina said...

I'm not sure I'm brave enough to do that. I mean it was one thing for Elana J to rip my query apart yesterday on the QT blog. She at least knows what she's doing (and I soooo love her suggestions). :D But to have others crit my first 1,000 words! I just know what the experience is like from the MSFV SA contests. Sometimes it was helpful. And sometimes I felt like someone was out for the jugular. ;)

But you never know. Maybe I'll change my mind.

Christina Lee said...

WOW-- what a deal. I will head over and check it out today and then try to get up th courage :)

Christine Danek said...

I will pass this on to others. I am not quite finished my WIP. I wish I was. I hope to post a snipit of it soon.
Thanks!

Kristi Faith said...

This is so awesome that you pointed me to such a neat forum. I got the nifty badge and everything. I also posted the first 885 words (1000 left of in the middle of...)
of Tunnel Vision there for you fab. ladies to check out. :)

Christine Danek said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sarah darlington said...

I feel you Stina. I posted my prolouge. And I'm still nervous about that. But I still really like the site.

http://teenfire.ning.com/profile/SarahDarlington

Little Ms J said...

I think I need to seriously consider YA. Your genre is like a force to be reckoned with, the cool kid at the party and whatnot.

Hardygirl said...

Very cool! I was a little embarrassed when I signed up and had to disclose my age (the actual numerical one, not the mental one).

Love your page!!

sf

Corey Schwartz said...

Wow, you must have more hours in your day than I do!

Natalie said...

Very, very cool girls. I'm sure you'll get lots of takers (it's a good thing there are 2 of you!)

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

That's so generous! I have to admit...I'm a bit turned off my finished MS right now, and my WIP just isn't quite ready :)

Kerri Cuev said...

Holy COOL!
You gals totally rock ;)

Christine Danek said...

I will post this on my blog:)

Shannon O'Donnell said...

That is an incredibly generous offer, LiLa! I'll head over and check things out. Thanks for making us aware of it. :-)

Stephanie Thornton said...

What an awesome opportunity! I'm guessing from the name that it's just for YA?

It sounds like a kinder, gentler MSFV SA!

Abby Annis said...

What an awesome offer! You ladies are the coolest!

Unknown said...

you two are awesome! wow. how do you have the time for all this??? plus the writing...and family stuff too!

Elana Johnson said...

I joined a while back too! I can tell I need to get into it more. I'm still trying to figure out the Ning thing. I'm on the YAlitchat one too, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of activity on the forums. Maybe I'm just in the wrong place? Well, clearly.

Shannon Messenger said...

Wow--that is SO generous of you. Not sure if I'm brave enough to put myself out there like that--but I will definitely be reading the samples from everyone else. What a cool idea!

Unknown said...

p.s i tagged you on my site!

Carolyn V. said...

Awesome! I'll have to check it out! Thanks!!! =)

Jill Wheeler said...

I'm definitely going to do this. Thanks for the heads up.

Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos} said...

I'm a member too, but keep forgetting to check out the writer's forum!!

Mariah Irvin said...

I really like the word "ning". Too bad I don't know what it means!

*goes to play detective*

Unknown said...

I'm on it. Any bets on how long it will take me to figure it out? lol!

Marsha Sigman said...

This is great! Heading over there later tonight. If you like my first 1000 words...you can always check out the other 84,000. I'm just sayin'...

Verification word: unrogunb
I am sure I have used this in a sentence before.

Unknown said...

How cool! I couldn't pass up an offer like this! I joined Teen Fire, posted my first 1,000 words, and sent you a friend request! See you over there!

Hilary Wagner said...

L&L, you guys are so cool! I've gotta get to check that one out. YALITCHAT is a good one too! You guys rock! Smooches!

xoxo -- Hilary

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Very cool. Must get on this ASAP.

Note to self: Abandon insecurites. Quit being stupid. Post your first 1000 words. Just do it, you lamo.

Note to LiLa: Does this require me to include my name by any chance?

*Gulp*

erica m. chapman said...

You guys are so sweet!

Oh man, I don't know if I have the balls to post my first 1000 - it's changed at least fifteen times, I hope you have some takers! I will definitely check out the site ;o)

You've got a nifty page over there - love the colors - I swear, you guys don't take a bad picture ;o)

Dara said...

How cool! Now if only I wrote YA...:P

Sarah Wylie said...

You girls are the best! Off to check it out!

Jemi Fraser said...

Very, very cool. I'll check it out - but it'll probably have to wait until the weekend. Sounds like fun :)

Brigitte said...

I'll probably be posting mine when I have more confidence - and more work done. It's a great idea, though!

K. M. Walton said...

OMG, I joined and I posted...like 7 minutes ago. The name of my book is EVERYTHING'S NOT LOST.

Now, I await feedback.

Crap. Scary. Wish I had a pound of really good chocolate.

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

Wow. Thanks for the info. :)

Anissa said...

What a cool idea! I'll have to check it out. :)

Kimberly Franklin said...

You guys are so unbelievably cool! And very brave to take on a challenge like this.

You will definitely need lots of Prosecco and a bunch of Twizzler straws. : )

JESSJORDAN said...

Ooooh, quite the undertaking you've, um ... taken under?

Definitely checking it out now ...

Jeannie Lin said...

It's amazing you have the energy to do all this with deadlines et. al. looming. It sounds like a wonderful contribution. Hope you get to preview some interesting openings too.

Lori W. said...

Oh, I was just on there this morning! You can see how behind I've been on my blog reading, but yes that site is cool.

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