Thanks so much for all of the great contest ideas! I’m so ready for this contest. You know. Once we decide what it’s going to be.
I’ve whittled down some of the suggestions into a handy-dandy poll. Vote today, and whatever is winning when I write the This Week in Publishing post tomorrow will be the contest.
Oh — and as for the prize, I’ll let the winner(s) choose one of a query critique, partial critique, 10 minute phone conversation (I’m really not that interesting, but ok), or one of my clients’ books. Hopefully the winner(s) will find something useful out of those prizes.
Here are the contest choice finalists:
– Short short fiction (thanks to Cam for suggesting first)
– Dialogue (thanks to Steve Axelrod)
– Elevator pitch/hook (thanks to Heidi)
– Prompt contest where I provide the start and everyone has to work with it (multiple variations suggested, thanks to everyone)
– First page (thanks to Chris)
Which shall it be?
Luc2 says
Nathan, don’t do the phone conversations if you don’t want to. Hinting at it in the hope that winners won’t pick that option won’t cut it.
I’m tempted to enter and to pick just that option to spite you. Of course, my purely academic chances of winning plummeted further with this statement.
Michelle Moran says
All of these ideas look fun, but I really like the first-page idea best, since it means that writers can work with what they have, and the feedback may prove useful to them.
You’re a brave soul, Nathan!
Nathan Bransford says
luc2-
Oh, I’d be more than happy to speak to the winner, I just don’t presume to think it would be illuminating!
Josephine Damian says
Nathan: any idea what the time frame would be for the contest?
How long till it starts? How long will it run? Limit on # of entries if the people vote for something lengthy, you might be imposing limits – and wisely so.
If it were a first page, would we post the entire first page – 16 lines – here or do it as a link?
Nathan Bransford says
josephine-
All will be revealed in due time.
Christopher M. Park says
Great ideas! I cast my vote for dialogue (just in case your poll gets spammed again, and you start doing a manual count).
Kaytie M. Lee says
I also vote for dialogue.
Dwight's Writing Manifesto says
Unfortunately my writerbrain is 180° out of phase with Nathan’s readerbrain, so I don’t stand a chance with any of the options listed.
Unless it was a “worst opening line” contest, ala Bulworth-Litton.
Then I could submit my best opening line and stand a fighting chance.
Maybe a “Creepiest Avatar” contest? No? Okay.
I abstain. Good luck, Mr. Bransford.
Erik says
I went for prompt contest, mostly because the prior constraint on the entries will make it less likely that Nathan will meet an untimely end.
Besides, I’m hear to find out how agents think. 🙂
Anonymous says
I voted for first page. While all of the choices were awesome that one was my favorite.
I can’t wait to hear the details.
–Lisa
Jess says
I voted for the pitch contest not just because I also suggested it but because, really, the rest of those require somewhat longer entries, which takes longer to read and sort through. I’m trying to be nice, here. 😀
Granted, I’m sure my chances of winning are zero to none, but still.
Luc2 says
I agree! Not that you may not be interesting on the phone, but we’re people of the written word after all.
Oh, and I voted dialogue. Good dialogue can show character development, set a mood and so much more. I love dialogue.
Melanie Avila says
I voted for dialogue. I’d love to see what people come up with and it’d be fun to try to envision the bigger picture with one conversation.
Josephine Damian says
I think a long entry posted on the person’s blog and linked here might be the way to go if its a first page contest. I also wondered about sentence formatting in these skinny columns. Hundreds of page long entries would take forever to scroll through in this format.
Laurel Amberdine says
Oooh, fancy! I didn’t know blogger had polls.
They all look like good options. This should be fun.
(And at least distract me from obsessing over the Amazon/Penguin contest. Gah.)
Adaora A. says
Yay mine is winning (first page). That is, the one I selected off the list on the page (a good list by the way).
You say you’re ready now but I bet you’ve got the spicy food and hard liquor on reserve.
I wish we could pick three. I want the Almanac of Dirty Politics etc by Kim Long, the phone call, AND the query critique. This sounds like a lot of fun.
This brightened my day following the news of the hate crime at my university that occured.
Original Bran Fan says
I actually think a phone call would be interesting. I have a lot of questions that I can’t–for one reason or another–ask my own agent. I’d like to ask Nathan instead.
Chris says
Awesome! The first page is winning, keep up the voting. I know I’m being totally selfish, but I really need candid feedback from an agent on my first page. I’m excited!
Chris
midnight oil says
I know it’s too late, but how about; killing the “was”, and still have hair left on my head when I’m done contest?
I think you are nuts Nathan but I’ll bite on this one, I think it will be fun!
Linnea says
Now that you’ve officially established yourself as a masochist, Nathan, I voted for a prompt contest. It’s challenging to work from someone else’s idea.
Josephine Damian says
OBF: you can always seek Nathan’s advice in an email – you don’t have to wait till you win that contest.
Kim Stagliano says
Oh oh! First page or dialog please! May I pretend I live in Chicago and vote twice?
KingM says
I voted for the prompt, mostly because the first page contest is likely to drag in all sorts of new readers who will flood Nathan with bad first pages.
Neptoon says
Aloha,
All of the choices will make for an interesting contest…so I’ll just wait and see what the challenge will be…
Mahalo Nathan for your fortitude.
Steph Leite says
I like the prompt one!
Jenny says
I am pretty new to reading your blog and I figured voting in a poll is a good way to de-lurk. So I voted for dialogue.
Also, why is Firefox telling me that dialogue is spelled incorrectly? Pbbt.
Nathan Bransford says
jenny-
Thanks for delurking, and I agree about firefox and the word dialogue! I thought I was going crazy for a moment.
Steph Leite says
Hmm Nathan, question. Say someone wins and they choose a partial critique but they are still in progress with their work and have to take a raincheck on that. Can they send it to you later or does it have an expiration date attached to it?
Thanks!
– Steph
Nathan Bransford says
steph-
Rain checks will definitely be accepted.
R.C. says
I voted for prompt – I just don’t want to go up against everyone’s polished work. I’m selfish that way.
Also, I love reading the entries, but don’t think I’m up to reading 500 first pages. I don’t know how you do it, Nathan.
Adaora A. says
Steph you angel I was just about to ask that.
Great minds think alike.
Tom Burchfield says
I like the prompt contest myself. I like bouncing and building off other people’s ideas.
Sue Eves says
Dialogue is a good one. I’d love to read what everyone has to say.
Steph Leite says
Adaora, aren’t I helpful? 😀
Josephine Damian says
Nathan, your poll is kinda lookin’ like the prez race with no clear front runner. You can always toss a coin to decide if it winds up a dead heat, and put off the other winning contest(s) till after you’ve recovered from this one.
Tammie says
I voted first page but they all sound great.
You’re a dream for doing this – I just hope it doesn’t turn into a nightmare for ya :o)
Taylor says
I voted elevator pitch, but I also like the dialogue one. Both are losing though. Oh well. Hope whatever wins doesn’t drive Nathan insane.
So many space monkeys needing bananas! So many space monkeys!
Adaora A. says
Steph you are so helpful I could kiss you (except I’m smack in the middle of a work in progress conquest LOL).
JaxPop says
What a combination – An agent that’s good natured & NUTS! You’re gonna burn out this time, ‘specially if you do the 1st page thing. Sounds like some eager participants are expecting personalized feedback – Keep us posted on what’s bein’ served for dinner (with Captain Morgan? or bourbon?) on judgement night. Good Luck Amigo!!!
Adaora A. says
Jax we all remember the alamo!
Loquacious Me says
I chose first page contest for purely selfish reasons, but I fear for dear Nathan’s sanity in the process.
the_glow_worm says
What would an elevator pitch be?
Nathan Bransford says
glow worm-
Basically a one sentence pitch.
December/Stacia says
I think dialogue seems fun. You could even combine them and do dialogue-with-prompt. Have a conversation about a particular subject. That would be fun (IMO).
sneak thief says
Definitely dialogue. Definitely. 2,657. I’m a good driver.
Definitely dialogue. Is it time for Judge Bransford yet. I’m a good driver.
And I’d KILL for someone in the industry to point me in the right direction and say something besides the ever polite and couched “bug someone else”.
I got a shot with dialogue. my letters a queery..not query…so far.
2657
(and no, that’s not how many rejections I’ve gotten)
(so far)
Pam Davenport says
I think all the choices are terrific. My favorite is first-page.
Ryan Field says
And, just so you know, Nathan. Some of out lurk out here because we like your blog. That’s really it. We don’t want anything from you, other than to read a nice publishing blog that often makes us laugh. The contest sounds like fun, and you’re a good sport.
NiennaC says
I can’t wait. I like all the choices, too. Though, I voted for dialogue, that sounds interesting.
burgy61 says
I like the prompt contest. I would recommend keeping the entries to a 100 or 150 words though.
Marva says
I write killer dialog, so that’s good with me.
I do. Really. My Mom says so.