From SmartWriters.com:
The 2006 Write It Now! Competition is open for entries!
Competition. There’s $1,495.80 in cash and prizes up for grabs. Entry fee: $15 first entry, $10 addtional entries; entry deadline: March 15, 2006. Enter online and polish your entry right up until we lock them down for judging! Go to right now and reserve your spot.
Judges include Cynthia Leitich Smith (MG), Sonya Sones (Poetry), Alex Flinn (YA)(author interview), Fran Rusackas (PB), Dori Chaconas (CB), Darby Creek Executive Editor Tanya Dean (NF), and Boyds Mills Press Art Director Tim Gillner (IL).
And just for Cynthia Leitich Smith readers, a special offer: reserve your spot by February 28 and get two full months of Gold Membership as a bonus, including free admission to all of our Professional Series Teleseminars through April! Other Gold Member bonuses include special articles on how to write a synopsis and how to write a query letter, plus access to our audio archives so you’ll be able to hear all of the teleseminars recordings, even if you can’t attend the day of the event.
When you sign up, write “Cynsational Writer” in the comments box and you’ll be made a Gold Member.
You don’t have to submit a manuscript today. You’ve got until March 15 to upload your entries. We’re locking them down for judging at midnight on the 15th. But to get the bonuses, you do need to come and sign up for the competition, and including the teleseminars.
Here’s what’s coming up:
Wizards of the Coast Senior Editor Nina Hess will talk about writing for a fantasy series
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006
Start Time: 9 a.m. Pacific
C. Hope Clark on The Shy Writer and Funds for Writers
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Start Time: 9 a.m. Pacific
ALA Notable Book Author Marilyn Singer Talks About Writing Poetry and Rhyming Picture Books
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Start Time: 9 a.m. Pacific
Scott O’Dell Award Winner Alexandria LaFaye Talks About Writing Historical Fiction
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
9 a.m. Pacific Std Time
Brent Hartinger on Gays and Geeks in YA Literature (author interview)
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Start Time: 9 a.m. Pacific
Cynsational News & Links
I’ve recently interviewed author Julie Anne Peters about her last two young adult novels, Luna (Little Brown, 2004)(author interview)(excerpt) and Far From Xanadu (Little Brown, 2005)(author interview)(excerpt), but I wanted to also flag her latest title, Between Mom and Jo (Little Brown, 2006), which I just finished last night. It’s the story of Nick, who finds himself caught in the midst of growing tensions between his two moms. The book is emotionally intense and affecting with welcome spots of humor. Grab a hanky and prepare to fall in love with a family in flux. Ages 12-up. See also young adult fiction, exploring diversity: themes & communities: sexual orientation/GLBT.