This post is part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Check the link for some of the other blogs participating in this event!
Have you ever wished that a big YA book tour would make a stop in your hometown? Well, here's your chance for that wish to come true! YA2U is a program that features five award-winning and best-selling authors who are holding a contest to see what city they should visit in an exclusive tour stop!
The authors are collecting votes from January 1 to February 15, and any city in the continental US or any Canadian city that has an international airport can win an exclusive visit from all five authors, including an author panel and book signing! Entering is super easy--and if you help spread the word about the contest, you can also enter win a signed copy of all of their books (TEN signed books in total!)--and the book contest is open internationally!
The authors in the program are:
- Marie Lu, the New York Times best-selling author of Legend and the upcoming Prodigy
- Marissa Meyer, the New York Times best-selling author of Cinder and the upcoming Scarlet
- Beth Revis, the New York Times best-selling author of Across the Universe, A Million Suns, and the upcoming Shades of Earth
- Victoria Schwab, author of The Near Witch and the highly-anticipated upcoming The Archived
- Megan Shepherd, author of the debut novel The Madman's Daughter
And they want to have an event in your home town! To participate, just got to the YA2U website and let them know what city you want them to come to. And while you're there, help spread the word about the contest and you can be entered to win all of their books--TEN signed books in total!
Here's why the YA2U Team should come to MY hometown!
Well, I live in cold, snowy Winnipeg, Manitoba. Why would you want to come here? For the polar bear hunting and igloo making, of course.
Why should the YA2U Team come to your hometown? Why not join in the fun today and share with others about this program and your hometown. The more votes your town gets, the closer you are to having your very own personal tour stop! Vote for YOUR town here!
And if you help spread the word, you can also participate in the book giveaway. Tell them that you learned about YA2U from me and we both get extra entries in the contest!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What helps is a critique partner who says why something doesn't work or makes suggestions for improvement. Oh, and humor a must!
ReplyDeleteI agree, humor is necessary :)
DeleteCritique partners with a sense of humor, and tact, are GOLDEN!! Having a fresh, non-biased set of eyes on your work is key.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the YA panel contest!
You are right--humour is great, and non-biased eyes are necessary. haha, thanks. I don't expect to win anything, I just wanted to help spread the word.
DeleteYour CPs appreciate your efforts and time :)) I think an honest opinion is key really, say what works an say what doesn't!
ReplyDeleteWish I could enter the contest !
Aww thanks. You are right--honesty is important! It is hard sometimes when you know how much of themselves the writer has put into their story, and here you are tearing it apart ;)
DeleteHonesty in a CP is what I look for. I want to know what works and what doesn't, but without the snark. I have enough of that for ten people. :D
ReplyDeletehaha. I guess there is a time and place for snarky comments.
Deletefirst, love your tops in yesterday's post! i borrowed magic kingdom for sale/sold from my parents to re read, terry brooks is a fantasy gem!
ReplyDeletea cp needs honesty and constructive advice, specifics, but not personal opinion. pls tell me if you dont understand a scene! but dont just say "i dont like it" i have great cp's so far! very helpful!
and what a great giveaway! look at those books! (and over 4000 entries! what awesome exposure!)
happy 2013!
Thanks! Happy new year :) Terry Brooks IS amazing. Magic Kingdom is my favourite!
DeleteWhoa, awesome contest. As far as CPs go, I love it when they dig deep and ask questions about why a character is doing something or why they exist at all. What I don't love is when they psychoanalyze me through things my characters are thinking or doing as if it's my subconscious misogyny (or whatever) coming out in my writing. Ugh. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeletehaha, I haven't been psycho-analyzed so far. That WOULD be annoying!
DeleteI agree with many of the above comments. I love CPs who:
ReplyDelete- Make jokes. Mistakes are sometimes funny. It's okay to poke fun in a good-natured way sometimes.
- Does what the writer wants. I don't do line edits if they ask for pacing. If they want detailed, inline notes, I give them. No more, no less than what they ask for.
- Honesty. Sometimes things need to be shredded. Sometimes they work and are ready to query, and I deserve to know when either one of those extremes is happening.
- Someone who can say "My expertise is in X, not Y, but Y doesn't feel right to me. Find somebody who can fix the Y of your story for you."
Good comments! I agree with all of them. I do like to poke fun sometimes when mistakes are humorous, so it's nice to be comfortable enough to do that :)
DeleteMy critique partner is very good at seeing things I miss when I reread what I've written. She's patient and kind, but has some great tough love! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex - humor is definitely needed! :)
Yep, humour is great.
DeleteThe best thing about a critique partner is honesty. Now, full-on, take-no-prisoners honesty doesn't help, but real thoughtful critique that keeps in mind the plot, character arcs, and literary style helps immensely. I currently have one CP right now that is amazing at this, and it's because of her honesty that my project is approaching something I'd be willing to read.
ReplyDeleteGreat IWSG post!
Honesty and tact are key, I think!
DeleteI think in total CP's offer perspective. I hate it when you miss the obvious, you know?
ReplyDeleteBeth has great contests, huh? Thanks for sharing.
It is annoying when something is staring you straight in the face but you can't see it. That's what CPs are for, I guess!
DeleteMy CP is awesome because she notices both the little and the big things - in problems and positives. She's always kind and efficient about giving me bad news, and sweet when giving me good news. She told me in a long e-mail that I really needed to change my villainess's name, and although at first I defended my choice I knew deep down that she was right. I changed the name, and it helped the story.
ReplyDeleteIf you need a second or third CP let me know.
Hurray for honest, helpful suggestions. I might just email you when I am done the draft of my novel, Tyrean :)
DeleteI love a CP who isn't afraid to be honest... it's all about HELPING and pointing out what needs work--but in a way that's uplifting and helpful. So essential. :D
ReplyDeleteIt does take a special sort of person to be a good CP :)
DeleteThat's a cool contest. I want my CPs to tell me their favorite and least favorite parts of the book. If I hear the same things more than once, then I should really consider the comments. I just have to be open to suggestions. For Provex City I got a little defensive. I think I'm getting better.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard not to be defensive when it is your pride and joy being torn apart ;)
DeleteThe YA contest sounds cool; I hope they come visit you :)
ReplyDeleteI think a good CP should back up why they think something does or doesn't work. Just saying "this bit stinks" without any reasoning isn't very helpful.
Jamie
Agreed. I try to explain things thoroughly so the writer can decide for themselves if they agree with my critique or not.
DeleteFor me, a good CP is not afraid to tell you where your story does not work, even if they're not sure why it doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2013
Yes, though it is so much more helpful if they can figure out why :)
DeleteA good CP is critical. I can't imagine not having one.
ReplyDeleteI think they're important if you want to get published.
DeleteHehe! Love your reasons for why the YA authors should come to where you live.
ReplyDeleteAnd a good CP is so important. I like to know where I've gotten something right as well as where I went wrong. Having that balance can really help.
haha thanks. Yes, I like commenting about the things I love in the book as well as the things that didn't work.
DeleteGood CP's give you helpful constructive criticism and keep on pushing you to reach your writing goals. They're also there to inspire you when you feel on giving up your writing dreams.
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
It is cool when your CPs become good friends too :)
DeleteAmazing contest! A great CP is someone who won't hold anything back, good and bad.
ReplyDeleteGood point.
DeleteI agree with several of the other commentors, a great CP is one who will point out your weaknesses and give examples of how it can be improved. But another aspect I find valuable is when they highlight area's where I've really stood out. They bring the good with the bad! :)
ReplyDelete