Stephanie writes young adult contemporary novels and is the creator of GoTeenWriters.com. Her novels include The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series (Revell) and The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet (Playlist). You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and check out samples of her work on her author website.
Wow. It's been way too long since I wrote a new contest announcement!
The writing prompt for this contest is:
I've never been the type of girl to say
or
I've never been the type of guy to say
This is a 150 word contest, and the prompt sentence must be first line of your entry. You can't add or subtract words from the prompt sentence.
Think of your entry as being the opening 150 words of a story. You're not trying to tell an entire story in 150 words, you're trying to do the same thing that the opening paragraph of a novel would do.
Your entry is due Monday, July 29th, 2013 by 11:59 pm central time and must be submitted using the Google form below.
This contest is for writers ages 21 and under, and each writer is allowed only one entry.
The judges will be using this form to evaluate entries. All writers who enter will receive feedback.
The judge's this round are:
Jill Williamson
Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms. She writes weird books for teens in lots of weird genres like, fantasy (Blood of Kings trilogy), science fiction (Replication), and dystopian (The Safe Lands trilogy). Find Jill on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or on her author website.
Roseanna M. WhiteRoseanna M. White pens her novels under the Betsy Ross flag hanging above her desk, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When she isn’t writing fiction, she’s editing it for WhiteFire Publishing or reviewing it for the Christian Review of Books, both of which she co-founded with her husband.
Can't wait to enter this.
ReplyDeleteHmm, interesting. Is there a prize? I would enter anyways but...
ReplyDeleteBragging rights :-)
Delete: )
DeleteBragging rights, my favorite! ;)
DeleteAwesomesauce!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely entering.
When do we learn more about the writing retreat? I'm away for a few weeks starting this Friday and I would really like to get my parents' permission to participate. Unfortunately, I will be without internet next week, so I would really appreciate a post explaining the rules. For example, what are the rules on age? I'm 12, so not quite a teen yet.
-Pippin
I'd also like to know if you have to be actually a teen to participate in the writing retreat. I'm 11.
DeleteComing soon :-) And 11 and up, I think.
DeleteAnonymous, you're 11?
DeleteCool. I might give this a try if I have time.
ReplyDeleteYay! A new contest! This one looks like it'll be loads of fun...
ReplyDeleteThis should be so fun! I'm glad we have a new contest :)
ReplyDeleteJust entered! Really a lot of fun... The whole time thinking about description, 'show, don't tell', avoiding adverbs and all that kind of stuff. Seems your GTW-book has had at least some results so far, Stephanie...;-)
ReplyDeleteBtw: Is it possible to change the e-mail address where the newsletter is send to?
It's so fun when you can see signs of improvement, isn't it? How wonderful!
DeleteAnd yes, it is. At the bottom of one of the newsletters there should be options about changing email preferences or updating your subscription or something.
Found and changed it ;-) Thanks!
DeleteWell, that may have been the single hardest writing project ever... Lol.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to modify the prompt sentence slightly; like, change the last word?
ReplyDeleteNope. Prompt sentence has to stay as-is to preserve the "apples to apples" element of the contest.
DeleteCan you add on to the sentence, like, "I've never been the type of guy to say I don't like a girl's outfit"?
ReplyDeleteI hope you're able to. I presume so. If not, then my entry had add on to the sentence.....
DeleteSame here.
Delete--NatalieNoel
No panicking necessary! Since it's an incomplete sentence, part of your job is to complete the sentence :)
DeleteOkay great!:) I love this contest, by the way.
Delete--NatalieNoel Truitt
Thank you! This prompt was suggested by a Go Teen Writers reader back in December. I like it!
DeleteAwesome contest! Quick question, though: Are you able to make the prompt sentence dialogue?
ReplyDeleteLike this:
"I never been the type of girl to say (insert rest of sentence)." Kari admitted.
Is that okay?
Thanks!
Yes, it can be dialogue. Good question, Eden!
DeleteGreat, thank you! :)
DeleteYay! New contest! I can't wait for the writing retreat. I just hope I'm home. :/
ReplyDeleteMe too! If it's fun/works well, we'll have more of them.
DeleteWell, I'm sure they will! :D
DeleteThis looks great! My writing buddy and I have been exchanging prompt sentences for fun, but I miss the GTW ones. :)
ReplyDeleteHow fun, Olivia! I'm glad you've been doing that.
DeleteCan it be more then one paragraph? :) I will admit that I think a weakness of mine is putting to many paragraphs in it.....
ReplyDeleteNaomi
Yep! As many paragraphs as you want with 150 words :)
DeleteI'm excited. I love prompts. And I love contests. This is going to be awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance to all of the GTW crew.
Now, let's see how hard it is to write when your eyes are dilated . . .
I just entered. I've never participated in any sort of writing contest before, so this is my first time. Unless you count speech competitions, since I did have to //write// a speech for that.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on entering, Hadley!
Deleteok, i don't think I understand it all. So you write a paragraph about a character in 150 words starting with that sentence? Please answer,, I really want to enter! And are there prizes?
ReplyDeleteGreat explanation, Sierra :) Autumn, your paragraph should do the same thing that the first paragraph of a novel or short story does. It should draw the reader in and make them ask questions. Pull a few of your favorite books off the shelf and read the first 150 words. That's what you're trying to do.
DeleteAnd other than bragging rights, there are no official prizes for this contest. You do get feedback from at least one judge, which is pretty nice.
Lol. You guys overlook my typos all the time :)
DeleteOK, thanks!! Another thing, do the prompt sentence count as part of the 150 words?
DeleteThis time your entry can't be more than 150 words. (We've had other contests where it's different, but this time it's 150.)
DeleteI am right proper pleased to see another writing prompt contest. I have missed them so. I am also quite eager to see what everyone comes up with!
ReplyDeleteI love these people. Goodness! Fab prompt, amazing Stephanie, and awe-mazing judges. Is it CHristmas already? I literally squealed when I opened the email.
ReplyDeleteChristmas in July! Love it :) Glad you'll be entering, Lydia!
DeleteI was so giddy, I got weird stares from the people around me. Yes! Christmas!!!
DeleteEeee! Excited! I haven't entered any of the Go Teen Writers' contest before because I was a bit scared lol. I think I've gathered the courage to enter this one though.
ReplyDelete*contests
DeleteKnow the feeling, Lia =) I've entered a bunch of these, but I still whimper before officially submitting my entries. So glad you've joined us! You'll be grand!
DeleteI've been in the same scary place, Lia. Our judges "get it" and are honest but kind in their feedback :)
DeleteI thought of entering the last GTW contest but backed out, because of self-doubt and fear of not getting it done in time.
ReplyDeleteThe 29th still seems too soon for me, I'm not too good with deadlines, but I'll seriously think about doing this one. The last contest I did that wasn't GTW didn't give me feedback and even if I don't win this one, the feedback would help so much.
(MJ)
I hope you enter, MJ. All judges for Go Teen Writers contests have tender hearts and an understanding of how scary it is to put your writing out there. They're very kind :)
DeleteI've decided I am going to enter and I already have my entry almost done. : D Eeeek, so excited!!
Delete(MJ)
Question...
ReplyDeleteAre we allowed to change the sentence by putting 'woman' instead of 'girl' or 'man' instead of 'guy'????
I'm considering entering! ;)
~Abrielle Lindsay~
http://thebooksbooksbookblog.blogspot.com/
Good question, Abrielle. Nope, girl or guy only. I hope you enter anyway!
DeleteOk, thanks! I will enter, once the story is formed. ;) Thanks for doing this!
Delete~Abrielle Lindsay~
http://thebooksbooksbookblog.blogspot.com/
I've never actually entered in any writing contests on GTW other than for one-liners....I've been slacking off my writing lately, partly because of no computer access and partly because of self-doubt. Thanks for getting me writing again!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like too much fun to resist! :D I'm totally using this prompt to start up another story!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like fun. (-: Does the entry have to be exactly 150 words or can it be more or less?
ReplyDeleteIt can be less but not more.
DeleteThanks! I'm totally going to enter the contest!
DeleteI have a question: I know you said already (many times) that we can't modify the prompt, so does that mean we have to write first person? Or can we change to something like 'Zoey had never been the type of girl to say...' ?
ReplyDeleteYep, it has to be in first person this time.
DeleteOK, thanks! I started writing it, and it came naturally in first person anyway. Yay! Have to go finish it now.
DeleteAwesome contest, I'll definitely enter! :D
ReplyDeleteI have a question not relating this contest: On the novel I'm writing at the moment, I'm worried that my idea isn't strong enough, and that it will fall through before I've finished the story.
Do you think I should carry on with my idea or try something else?
Thanks!
-Ella
If you really love it, I would stick with it :)
DeleteStephanie, how long after the contest end will we have the results/feedback? :-)
ReplyDeleteWhile it depends on our judges schedules (they obviously need to prioritize their writing) usually the finalists are announced within a few days of the contest closing, and then the winners a week or week and a half later.
DeleteWell, I just entered. *fidgets nervously* I've never done anything like this before, so it'll be interesting to see the results.
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, Stephanie, I picked up 'Me, Just Different' at a book sale a while back. I had a booth set up, and had to sit for a long time, so I wanted something to read. I started reading it at the booth, and finished it the next day, which almost NEVER happens! haha I absolutely loved it! (I also went back to re-read it, which happens even more rarely than my finishing a book in one day.) :)
Oh, thank you, Carrie! That's so nice. Thanks for letting me know :)
DeleteDoes the 150 have to be the opening paragraph of a novel or could it be something that goes in the middle?
ReplyDeleteKelly Ann
I would recommend making it sound like the start of a story. Otherwise the judges will be lost. Keep in mind they're reading a bunch of these back to back.
DeleteOkay, thanks :) This is a tough one!
ReplyDeleteKelly Ann
Are contractions counted as one word or two?
ReplyDeleteOne :-)
DeleteAm I correct that you can only enter once?
ReplyDeleteYes.
ReplyDeleteI just sent mine in... I can't wait to hear what the judges have to say!
ReplyDelete