Friday, December 3, 2010

Friendly Friday - Critiques for Christmas

I'm a Catholic. Grew up Catholic, went to Catholic schooling all my life. Before you stop reading because you're a different religion or have different beliefs or no beliefs, I'm not trying to talk about religion or convert anyone. Just stating a fact about myself.

As a Catholic, I celebrate Christmas every year.

While I hate how commercialized the holiday has become, I love to give presents. Seeing other people smile when they open their presents - it makes me so happy.

So while I've been looking around online for presents for my sons and my hubby and my siblings and parents, I thought about you all.

The writing world is such a wonderful community and I want to give back. So I'm going to do something special for some of you this Christmas. I've giving away critiques. Calling this contest Critiques for Christmas. (So creative, I know, but it's really late when I'm typing this post so forgive me for not coming up with a better name.)

Anyhow, if you win, you can pick your prize:

Query critique
Synopsis critique
First page critique

Number of winners will be determined at a later date.

How to enter? Be a follower and comment on this blog. If you tweet/FB this, you get an additional entry (up to one per day). Leave a link in the comments.

This contest will be open until December 17th. I'll announce the winners on the 20th. If you get back to me right away with your query/synopsis/first page, I'll try to return the critiques before Christmas.

Enjoy!

26 comments:

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Great idea!

Here's my tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/SherWordsGirl

I've also posted you in my contest column on my blog.

Cherie Reich said...

That's a very cool idea! I tweeted and put it up on facebook. :)

By the way, I enjoy giving presents too. It's a lot of fun to see what people think of a certain gift.

Stina said...

What a sweet idea! I guess I didn't scare you off when you critted my synopsis. :D

I love giving presents, too. Except for when I struggle to come up with the right one.

Tracy said...

That's a great idea Nicole! Sounds like a lot of work to take on before the holidays, but that makes you a better Catholic than me. ;o)

Bast said...

Great (and generous) idea! I love giving gifts too, except for when, like Stina said, I have no idea what to give.

Steena Holmes said...

how awesome are you :) Anyone who wins your critique should be excited - cause you're just a tad bit awesome at it! LOL

Southpaw said...

That’s a generous offer! I’m not at a place to enter so good luck to everyone else.

Colene Murphy said...

Amazing contest!!! Eep! So excited for this one!

Golden Eagle said...

This is a great giveaway!

I don't have a Twitter/FB account; does posting a link on my sidebar or in a post count?

Carol Riggs said...

Sure, I'll enter, and how sweet and generous of you to offer this. Critiques for Christmas is a fitting name. Whether it's another entry or not, I'll be linking to you on my Wednesday blog post next week! :)

Jodi Henry said...

Wounderful little contest you have going here.

I just wanted to drop you a little reminder that you signed up for my query letter blogfest happening Dec. 12th to the 18th.

Hope your query letter isn't giving you too much back talk, but if it is the other participants and myself will help you set it straight. As straight as a darn hard query can be set.

J

Jackee said...

Hooray for Christmas giving. :o) It's such a kind gesture, Nicole. Please count me in! Thanks!

Have a great day!

Jamie Gibbs said...

This is a great gift to give :) I was raised Catholic too, but the vast majority of my family are non religious so I've become more of a non practicing generic Christian. I agree completely about the commercialization of Christmas, but no one can say no to a present :)

Julie Musil said...

What a great gift idea! So useful for writers. Thanks, Nicole.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Hmmm...I hope my comment doesn't pop up twice. I lost the first one. :(

I love searching for the perfect gifts for the people I care about. It's so much fun giving. It's also nice to give to someone who's not expecting it.

Lovely idea for a Christmas "gift," Nicole. I hope you have a blessed holiday season.

Huntress said...

Love contests but they don't love me :)

However, hope springs eternal.

http://spiritcalled.blogspot.com/

Talli Roland said...

How generous, Nicole! I'd love to enter but I have nothing for you to critique right now! But I'll try my best to remember to spread the words!

Lisa Rusczyk said...

Nice! I don't have anything right now, either. Have fun!

Charity Bradford said...

Super Christmas present! Sign me up as a new follower. I also tweeted it @charitybradford.

Joanne R. Fritz said...

That's very generous of you, Nicole. I'm a follower and here's my comment!

Might get around to tweeting it later, but Twitter and I have a love/hate relationship...

Amie Kaufman said...

Hurray, what fun! Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/AmieKaufman/status/11723913302114304

Beth said...

I seriously thought I already commented on this. I'm tweeint and sidebaring you!
beth-project52.blogspot.com

Beth said...

Here is the tweet...it will take me a few to get u on my sidebar ;)
Critiques for Christmas! http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/2010/12/friendly-friday.html
less than 10 seconds ago via web
Delete

Carol Riggs said...

Here's my link, from my post for today:
http://carolriggs.blogspot.com/2010/12/giveaway-winner-your-book-movie.html

Thanks, Nicole!

Beth Fred said...

Got u in my sidebar
beth-project52.blogspot.com

Donea Lee said...

I'm in! Thanks for the opportunity - this is a fab giveaway idea! :)