New contest open called The Writer’s Voice” is a contest hosted by Cupid of Cupid's Literary Connection, Brenda of Brenda Drake Writes, Monica of Love YA, and Krista  of Mother. Write. (Repeat.).

Plot Sumary: 

Twelve-year-old Isabelle Tresdon doesn’t have a magical bone in her body – but she does have one seriously freaky silver strand of hair.

  

The Silver Strand is that hair’s story. Okay, well, it’s Isabelle’s story, sure, but she's about to figure out that she’s nothing without that strand. Because of that hair, Isabelle can transform particles of energy into matter. Because of her strand, she will be invited to study magic at Mastermind Academy, a secret school inside the earth’s core. And because of that school, Isabelle’s life will change forever. So it’s too bad that her silver strand is about to suddenly wither and drain Isabelle’s magic and life in just five days.  

First 250 Words:

“Let me pluck your silver granny hair.”  Bianca’s voice sang out over the shouts and chatter of the school bus. 

“Why don’t you just tell everyone I still wear Barbie underwear too?” hissed Isabelle, sinking in her seat to avoid forty-two pair of eyes staring at the girl with the freaky, silver strand. 

“If anyone paid out my Christmas present to you, I’d punch them.”  Bianca flashed a cheesy smile full of horsey teeth and punched a rough, tanned fist into her palm. 

Isabelle peered over her shoulder along the aisle of black vinyl seats.  Four rows behind her, an eighth grade girl hung over the back of a seat, showing off to her friends and blowing gum bubbles.  One seventh grade boy dished out dead arms to some poor kid across the aisle.  The kid scrunched up his face, sucking up the pain of the fist sized bruise forming on his arm. 

Repeated elbow nudges fueled Isabelle’s consideration of punching Bianca’s arm.  Raised on a farm, her best friend had learned to lasso a horse at age eight and trained mustangs by ten.  Compared to being kicked, trod on or thrown off a horse, Isabelle’s punches would have felt like a playful slap on the arm. 

“Pleeaasssse.”  Bianca’s pale, almost invisible eyebrows drew together.  Her blubbery bottom lip puckered and she made a sad, puppy dog face. 

Isabelle hunted for the silver strand through honey-brown hair on the right hand side of her head.  

Pitch Contest at YAtopia

I hope you've got your 2 line pitch ready for Mandy Hubbard of D4EO Literary over at YAtopia blog.  Competition closes at midnight on Monday October 5th (USA time - no idea which timezone! Sorry).  Best of luck lovelies.

Pitch Contest with Mandy Hubbard D4EO

Sharpen those pencils...uhem prepare those nimble fingers to whip up your 140 character pitch for Mandy Hubbard of D4EO Literary over at We Do Write Blog before midnight on Friday August 19th (USA time - no idea which timezone! Sorry).  Best of luck lovelies.
http://we-do-write.blogspot.com/2011/08/official-entry-post-for-perfect-pitch.html

Micro Synopsis Competition at YA Topia

Hey Peeps, head on over to YAtopia's Micro Synopsis competition being judged by agent John Cusick from Scott Treimel NY (one of the bigwigs of literary agencies).  The trick is to condense your synopsis into 3 lines - yes 3 lines, and include the set up, story and ending (but don't give away too much, leave a little hanging to spark Mr. Cusick's interest).  Competition closes midnight 11th August (sorry I don't know if it's EST, EDT as it doesn't specify).

2 Line Pitch Contest with Agent Victoria Marini from Gelfman Schneider

Yo Peeps! It's contest time again, so put your thinking caps on and whip up a 2 line pitch for literary agent, Victoria Marini of Gelman Schneirder Literary Agency.  Check out Chanelle's blog Beyond Words here:

http://chanellegray.blogspot.com/2011/07/pitch-contest-with-victoria-marini.html

Elevator pitch contest with Bree Ogden of Martin Literary

Enter YAtopia's elevator pitch contest with Bree Ogden of Martin Literary by midnight on July 13th! See the website for all the genres (YA and MG included).  Good luck peoples!

Birthday Blowout First Page Contest Entry

Want the opportunity to show the first page (250 words) of your completed manuscript to Victoria Marini of Gelfman Schneider Literary Agency? Check out Shelly Watters’ site Is It Hot In Here or Is It This Book?

I look forward to reading your entry and repaying the favor. Thank you for reviewing my entry below.
 
Title: The Silver Strand

Genre: MG Fantasy Adventure

Word count: 55,000

First 250 words:

“Let me pluck your silver hair.” 

Bianca’s stumpy fingers crept up Isabelle’s arm and she swiped them away.  “Shhhh!”  Her skin crawled as if everyone on the crowded school bus heard her loud-mouthed friend and now stared at the girl with the freaky, silver strand.  Isabelle glanced backward at the rows of black vinyl seats.  A seventh grade boy gave a kid across the aisle a dead arm and his mates whooped.  Four rows behind her, a group of girls competed in blowing gum bubbles. 

“Pleeaasssse.”  Bianca’s almost invisible eyebrows drew together and she made a sad, puppy dog face. 

Sinking in her seat, Isabelle hunted through her honey-brown hair for the silver strand.  Thick like a skewer, it resembled polished silver, and sent tingles rippling through her fingertips.  A little voice inside her head begged her to leave it alone.  But it had caused nothing but trouble since sprouting.  Like the time in science class when magnets attracted it as if it was made of metal.  Boy that spooked her lab partner.  And news of her freaky hair spread like wildfire.  Twirling the strand around her finger, Isabelle looked at her friend, suddenly feeling torn about getting rid of it. 

Bianca sighed and slumped in her seat.  “Fine,” she said, using her navy school blazer to wipe a year’s worth of smudges from her glasses.  “Don’t whine to me next time someone calls you, grandma.”  She mimicked the high pitched old lady’s voice that had haunted Isabelle for two months.