Saturday, May 19, 2012

Run for Your Life! The SFSM is coming!

It’s coming!
Ladies and Gentlemen, here’s your chance to develop the thick skin you will need for dashing off query letters. I’m talking about the Speculative Fiction Summer Marathon. Boiled down to the bare bones, the summer marathon is a chance to post chapters and receive unbiased feedback. In return, you practice your editing skills by critiquing other writers’ chapters. This event is open to writers who have a polished manuscript in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal romance and anything else that fits in the speculative tent. Speculative YA’s are also welcome.
And it’s absolutely, one hundred percent free.
Whether you’re a new writer wanting to learn more or an experience grammar professional who needs help with plot holes, this marathon is for you. Chapter will receive ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ votes each week. ‘Nay’ votes will result in not passing go and heading back to start.
Warning: This event lasts for twelve weeks. It may involve shredding of your manuscript and tearing of hair. It has been known to cause fatigue, lack of sleep, upset stomach, and sudden manuscript failure.
Benefits include: The ability to catch and snag an agent. The confidence to show without telling. Beta readers hounding you day and night for more chapters.
So say goodbye to plot holes and misplaced commas. Cut out unneeded character filtering forever while eliminating those pesky run on sentences. Get your manuscript ready for the Speculative Fiction Marathon today.
Rules: See the ACQ Speculative Fiction forum for complete rules and conditions. All entrants must be members to enter. (Really, you have to ask Clippership for the password to enter the forum.) Marathon starts June 4, 2012. One chapter posted per week on Monday only. You may post as many or as few weeks as your guts allow. Agents are not guaranteed, and no prizes will be awarded.


In all seriousness, this marathon helped my manuscript, Kindar’s Cure, more than words can express. Getting eight to ten reviews per week of your twelve first chapters is priceless. There is such a variety of tastes, opinions, and skill levels that every aspect of writing gets covered. I doubled my beta readers and met many new friends. I sharpened my own editing skills by exercising them on other works. It does take guts, but it’s an experience not to be missed.
I’ll be entering my new YA dystopian, Dodge the Sun. Here’s to hoping 'yay' votes outnumber the 'nay'.

7 comments:

  1. This sounds like a great contest, Michelle. It makes me wish I had a finished manuscript to enter. LOL.

    By the way, I think you've got this blogging thing licked. :P

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  2. Blogging, yes. Publisher or agent, not so much.

    Thanks, Raven.

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  3. Whoot, I can't wait, I'm so not ready, but I'll be there to at least critique! :D Doing the crazy excited/scared dance!

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  4. Homama, I am pumped for this year's Marathon. It's going to be so nerve-wrackingly awesome~

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  5. I agree with Raven, you've hit your stride with blogging, Michelle. Congrats! =)

    (And thanks for the plug.)

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  6. Marathon! Marathon! Marathon!

    That's my chant. Of course, it also means that work is over for the summer and my daughter is off to Japan. Which one of those three am I looking forward to most? Hmmm.

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  7. I'll be there to critique again. I can't wait to read all the wonderful stories. It's one of the best parts of summer.

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