Chance to Win a Manuscript Critique!!

Hey everyone! I know a lot of people involved in the blogging community, whether they are readers of blogs or writers of them, are aspiring authors. I also know getting a critique from an established member of the publishing community is a huge asset and can really set your manuscript apart from other submissions to a publisher. So, for those of you aspiring YA/middle grade authors out there, I have a great opportunity for you!

The literacy charity Book Wish Foundation is holding a contest for authors of unpublished YA and middle grade manuscripts. Six winners will receive a critique from a literary agent or acclaimed author. Those who will be critiquing manuscripts are:

• Laura Langlie, literary agent for Meg Cabot
• Nancy Gallt, literary agent for Jeanne DuPrau
• Brenda Bowen, literary agent and editor of Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal winner Out of the Dust
• Ann M. Martin, winner of the Newbery Honor for A Corner of the Universe
• Francisco X. Stork, winner of the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for The Last Summer of the Death Warriors
• Cynthia Voigt, winner of the Newbery Medal for Dicey's Song and the Newbery Honor for A Solitary Blue

Pretty awesome, right? All you have to do is write a 500-word essay on one of the short stories in Book Wish's anthology, What You Wish For. Submissions are due on February 1, 2012 and winners will be announced around March 1. You can enter multiple times, as long as the entries are about different stories. There is a chance you could win all six critiques!


One of the best parts of this contest is that you have six months to submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript. This means you don't have to have finished--or even started!--your manuscript to enter. If you have a good idea, and can get 50 pages written in the six months following March 1, you should enter!


For more details on the contest and how to enter, go here!