Hey, all. I haven't posted in quite a while, mostly because all my final projects were eating me alive. But, now I'm done with them. And I'm done with my first semester at Hampshire College. So, hooray for me!
You know what's coming soon? (And no, it's not Christmas. Although that's coming soon, too.)
The annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. Also known as ABNA. Also known as, "that crazy writing thing Brigid will be ranting about for the next few months."
If you don't know what it is, you can read about it here.
Basically, it's a contest for unpublished and self-published authors. You need to have written a complete novel between 50,000 and 150,000 words. You also need to write a pitch. There are various stages of the contest––starting with a judgment of the pitch, then the first 5000 words, then of the entire manuscript (assuming you get that far in the contest).
So, if you've written a novel and you're not (traditionally) published yet, it's worth checking out. Even if you don't get too far in the contest, you can meet a lot of other writers on the forums and get advice from them. It's a terrific learning experience about the publishing industry. And if you do make it far in the contest, you get a review from Publishers Weekly... which is pretty dang cool.
Oh yeah. And if you win, you get a publishing deal with Penguin and a $15,000 advance. And that's also cool. But, you know ... the chances of getting that prize are 1/5000.
So, yeah. I'm entering this thing for the third year in a row. I plan to do what I've done for the past two years: frantically edit my manuscript throughout the remainder of December and January, until the deadline (which is January 23rd). Hopefully I'll get some feedback of some sort. I'll probably edit some more. Then I'll spend the summer sending out queries and most likely drowning in rejection letters. HOORAY!
This year I'm entering Unraveling, which I finished writing in February. So, we'll see what happens.
Anyone else entering? Or thinking of entering?
Wow, thanks for telling me about that. I didn't know about it, and it's perfect for me!!! I'm going to check it out right now, but I'm already pretty psyched. Who knows, right? It's worth a shot.
ReplyDeleteQuestion though, (and maybe this question is answered somewhere in there). If I'm planning on releasing a self-published novel in March, and this is the novel I'm going to enter...can I still self-publish it?
I'll check out the site for myself. You don't have to answer it. :)
No problem! Good luck if you decide to enter. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, you can still self-publish something after you enter it in the contest. So long as you don't have a publishing deal yet, you're fine.
Awesome!! Thanks for the heads up about this. I'll be checking it out :)
ReplyDeleteOo, good luck! I've considered entering, but I don't have the willpower to edit my own work. >.< I love editing other people's pieces though! XD
ReplyDeleteI've never actually entered, because I never have a novel ready when the deadline comes around, but I love following what's going on with ABNA. But good luck to you!! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, gal, you never failed to impress me. That's probably why you're a better and popular writer than I am. Despite me telling myself that I shouldn't care, and even blogging about it on my blog...oh dear I seemed to have let every blooger who read my blog and myself down.
ReplyDeleteI just don't take my own advice.
*Sigh* I really admire you!
Good luck!
Ooh! Please update us on this! I love hearing how everything's going! Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could enter this; sadly, Chaos isn't done yet. lol! I loved what I read of Unraveling. I hope those judges can see talent and it does well!! :D Keep us updated, please!
ReplyDeleteAww well maybe next year? :) Thanks! And I will most definitely keep everyone updated.
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI also entered ABNA and thought I'd check out some of the bloggers. Nice blog, btw.
Good luck with college. Good luck with ABNA
Cheers.
Hey, congrats on making round two! I saw your name when looking for mine (not that I was like, looking for you or anything. *nervous laughter*)
ReplyDeleteSadly, I didn't make it :( But there's always next year! New opportunities, new books!
Thanks, Maddie! Sorry you didn't make it. :( But true, there's always next year...
ReplyDelete