Writing Contest – FINAL DAYS! AND a sneak peek at a REALLY COOL new idea you are gonna be SUPER excited about…

Posted byDan Alatorre AUTHORPosted inUncategorized

You have about a week left to enter your amazing piece of literature in my Word Weaver Writing Contest, so GET TO IT!

Word Weaver logi FINAL trimmed 2

Prizes! (possibly for YOU if you win)

Fame! (totally possible)

A critique by ME! (for the first 25 entries and maybe a few more)

For details and to enter, click HERE

Last time a had a TON of people enter the contest at the last minute. And that’s okay, but why does everybody have to procrastinate?

Anyway, tick tock. I wanna read your stuff. Get it in!

ALSO

I had this reeeeeally cool idea.

(Actually, I think I had it a while ago and now I’m having it again.)

But you’re gonna LOVE this.

I think we should write an anthology together.

A bunch of short stories from a bunch of terrific authors, all centered around a common theme. Like scary stuff or Halloween, or Christmassy stuff for… you know – Christmas.

I know, I talked about something like this before.

This is different.

The writing contest opened my eyes.

Each of us write a few thousand words, maybe 3,000 – 10,000. It’s an anthology of short stories. (Heck, write more if you want. If you have a scary item ready to go, use that.)

Whaaaaattt???

Yeah!

I guess we’d need a deadline and a theme and we work back from there. So if it was Halloween (just an example), we’d need to release the book on, say, October 1 – and promote it all through October. People don’t wanna read a Halloween anthology at Thanksgiving. (Although scary probably sells year round…)

IF it was released October 1, it’d have to be edited in September. Which means it’d have to be written in August. Which is about a week away.

Well, you weren’t doing anything anyway…

And maybe that’s too short of a timeline. But like I said, scary sells year ’round.

So, a Christmas anthology might need to start in September.

Gasp.

We could do a few of these every year!

And along with authors I already know, we could incorporate the writing contest into the anthology. Like, selected stories from the contest get into/are invited to join the anthology (probably the winners), plus others of you who write and follow the blog…

 

I can see it going a lot of different ways

Which is why I’m asking you guys for input.

Here’s the benefit to YOU:

  • 20 or so authors all contributing to and helping market a short story anthology. That’s 20x the marketing you’d have to do yourself.

  • 20 authors posting about it on their blogs.

  • 20 authors asking for blog tours and interviews to promote a book YOU are in means

  • 20 times the number of people discovering your work!

  • 20 is also just an example. Could be more, could be less.

  • And oh by the way, for some of you that’ll be your first published work, so there’s that. Ammy fame awaits.

Each selected author will be listed on Amazon as contributing, and probably have their name on the cover, too, if they all fit. I’m not sure if they will, but that’s the plan.

Okay, so – what do you think???

Can we write stories for an October 1 release, or do you need more time?

A decent theme doesn’t need a holiday release date, BTW.

GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS!

How exciting of an idea is this!

Update number one: yes, you can use something from your blog. My preference would be once we decide to use it that you take it off the blog or at least archive it for a few months until after the book comes out.
Update number two: yes, you could use a chapter from a book as long as it feels pretty standalone.

Update number three: yes, you could contribute several times to the anthology. If you get three good ideas and you want to contribute them all, if they are all good, all three will go in. Pretty much it’s going to be me deciding what’s good, though.

Update number four: you guys can ask these questions in the comments section and stop emailing me if you want. But emails are fine, too.

 

Published by Dan Alatorre AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author Dan Alatorre has 50+ titles published in more than 120 countries and over a dozen languages.

95 thoughts on “Writing Contest – FINAL DAYS! AND a sneak peek at a REALLY COOL new idea you are gonna be SUPER excited about…”

  2. What a good idea. I think a more general theme is better instead of holidays. I think it will get more readers that way for a lot of reasons. Scary sounds good or mystery.

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Well, scary was just because it occurred to me to have a Halloween target. (I get excited and rush ahead.)

      If we don’t do that, then any theme works, including scary, for a different date.

      I’m going to listen to you guys as to what date feels feasible.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Well, if it were coming out at a certain time of year, I’m sure you have stories that take place at different times of year. So if 19 of the 20 were around Hanukkah and Christmas and New Year’s and the holidays, and yours wasn’t directly about that but just happened to take place in early December when it was getting cold or something, that would be fine with me.

      Liked by 1 person

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  4. Pingback: Writing Contest – FINAL DAYS! AND a sneak peek at a REALLY COOL new idea you are gonna be SUPER excited about… | Campbells World

  5. Great idea and I’d be happy to contribute. BTW, have you heard of Indies for Charity? (https://www.facebook.com/yourenotalone2015) Their second anthology, themed around “Freedom” is due out soon. I think your timeline is impossibly tight, given the need for proper editing, even if we edit each other’s work ss happens over there. You still need an overall editor to co-ordinate it all (you?). They use Dropbox to enable everyone to contribute.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Yeah, I was thinking each person could look at another person’s story and I would look at them all. Maybe me and one other person.

      As far as dropbox, we will probably email but it’s an option.

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  6. Like, we could market Syfy anthology on to Syfy website and people would say heck I like sci-fi I’ll give it a shot maybe there is one out of those 20 stories that I like and I find a new author who I like a bunch of their stuff

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  7. I think this is a wonderfully awesome, and amazingly exciting idea!

    I have two ideas.

    Rather than rushing with a Halloween one, and rather than making one just, about Christmas, how about a holiday combo anthology.

    You know? There are so many holidays between October, and the first of the year, and so many different belief systems, we could each contribute a story about the holiday of our choice.

    We could call it, Jumbo Holiday Combo, and have it ready to release, right about Thanksgiving. You know? In time for Black Friday, and Cyber Monday!

    Or

    We could do a theme of awareness, and each contribute a story about something weҀ™re passionate about.

    Everyone has something that theyҀ™re trying to raise awareness about. IҀ™m raising awareness about multiple disAbilities. An author friend of mine is raising awareness about Juvenile Diabetes and another is raising awareness about bullying.

    We could call it, Worlds of Awareness, or something like that, since there are so many people from all over, that would be contributing.

    Anyhow, IҀ™m in it with you all the way, and even if my stuff doesnҀ™t get in, IҀ™m absolutely there, for promoting!

    I, however, have several short stories in draft, that are about 5 or 6 thousand words long, just waiting on my amazingly talented editor to edit, and ready to enter.

    So, what do yall think about any of that?

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    1. I’m in! *drops the mike. Great ideas so far, everyone. Holiday anthologies are popular, but there are many of them, as well. My theme thoughts are: Hope (for the New Year). Angels. Stories from the Past. And all the genres! Dropbox is a good idea, too (not for a theme, for us to use, although it could be an interesting title/theme- “The Short Story in My DropBox”)

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. I love that! Especially the theme of stories from the past, how do you mean past, our Pastore history past LOL or, is that the same thing? LOL I also absolutely love that dropbox title idea stories in my dropbox I like that! How awesome!

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      1. Yes, for many it’s an issue. Me, not so much! I have bipolar, and have learned to channel it into my writing. Mania strikes! I write!
        Depressed! I write.
        Bored! I write.
        So! Pretty much always writing.

        Also, I don’t work outside the home, and live alone, so I don’t have near the demands others do, but it wasn’t just the deadline I was speaking of, but anyhow, just thought I’d give my opinion, since you asked.

        I also have learned to go with the flow, which means, what everyone wants, I go along with.

        Liked by 1 person

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          1. LOL! Well, as I say, I am just one of many in a huge ocean of riders. And, I am already doing a story for a Christmas anthology. So, I am just going with the flow here. Majority, of course, always rules, and, of course, it is your anthology. So of course, your word is final. You have a nice rest of your day.

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    1. It doesn’t surprise me that some other anthologies aren’t successful. Most authors don’t know how to market, so getting a bunch of them together probably just multiplies the ineffectiveness.

      Here, we will have multiple people who know how to market books.

      I think if the premise is that each of us market to our existing readership with the idea of connecting our readers with potentially another author they might enjoy, that will be the difference. I think if everyone expects everybody else to market, we can expect it to fail. However, it will be a success either way because people who have never been published before will now be published. I’m not above doing some promotions to help get things out there but we may also need to think about having it be free just so that all of our existing readerships will get exposed to other people.

      In other words, it’s no big deal if I put a story out to my existing readers. They know me and they’re probably going to read it anyway.

      But having 19 other people expose my story to their audiences, that night give me a bunch of new readers. So I think that’s really what we would be shooting for.

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. Love the anthology ideas, Dan! I would love to contribute, however the idea and/or theme shapes up. Also, I like the marketing idea, here, expressed. Everyone contributing to the overall promotion through their own blogs, etc., possibly mentioning a fav author, too, as well as the anthology in general. I have 20 blogs, so I could spread that around a bit, and it’s a way for me, and others who are more home-bound, to help with the marketing process.
        Way back when, I did a modest anthology effort every few months, with stories written by children from all over the country, etc. So, I can see this, your idea, easily happening with the help of WordPress writers and the Internet. Onward… !

        Liked by 1 person

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  10. Pingback: Anthology UPDATE: 4 Authors Confirm They Will Contribute To The Anthology | Dan Alatorre - AUTHOR

      1. I do have something for the holiday themes, but if the theme were different I would give a go at writing something new, as long as I can meet the deadline. Not sure I would be of value with marketing, so not my forte, but I’ll help wherever I can πŸ™‚

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  13. Pingback: Writing Contest – FINAL DAYS! AND a sneak peek at a REALLY COOL new idea you are gonna be SUPER excited about… – All About Writing and more
  14. Pingback: Wondering what authors have confirmed they are contributing to the anthology? Well here they are… | Dan Alatorre - AUTHOR
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  18. Hi Dan, what about including ‘flash fiction too of say 500 to 1000 or so words. As it happens I have a 750 word ‘scary’ piece ‘Destination Reached’ ready to go and it’s been edited by an independent professional too. I don’t blog nowadays but can be found on Twitter (@EDC_Writing), you have my email too from yonks ago when I beta read ‘Poggibonsi’. Cheers. Eric.

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  22. Great idea, Dan!
    IΒ΄ve already joined two anthologies and the experience was great, as you describe here.
    I wish I could write well in English to participate, but IΒ΄ll be following the progress of this idea.
    Congrats!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Well, I can say itΒ΄s hard to check everything and sometimes it takes longer than we think at the beginning. It depends on the authorΒ΄s commitment and the quality of the texts, of course. But once you are on the way, itΒ΄s gratifying to see the results. As you say, itΒ΄s an excellent opportunity for those who have not published yet. The hardest part is for the person in charge of reading everything, editing and so on (YOU?), so IΒ΄d advise you to be strict on the dates you assign for each task.
        I was part of one anthology where I only sent my text and I was checked and said: “ok, congrats, you are in!”, and months later I saw my poems and my name everywhere. ThatΒ΄s cool and great. But then, with the other one, I was part of the team in charge of checking 30 emails (at least), then the feedback with each author, the editor asking for changes, writers not delivering their texts on time and so on. It was great and the result was perfect. But we had to modify deadlines and ways of working on the way to edit and publish. Of course, I learnt a lot, and I never regret having been part of such anthology.
        (I hope you can understand my English, Dan).
        ItΒ΄s a great idea! IΒ΄ll be in touch to read this anthology πŸ™‚

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

    1. Macabre sounds great.

      Use the “contact me” button to send it. If you can’t fit it in, then send me a note that says so and I will reply. You will be able to attach your document to the reply.

      Can’t wait to see it!

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    2. That’s what confuses me. Your contest has a 3000 word limit. My story is about 6500. If it’s not eligible for the contest, do I still need to pay the entry fee?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. That’s not quite how it works. You can enter any size story in the contest but I’m only going to critique the first 3000 words – if it’s one of the first 25 entries or if it appeals to me to do so. If a story strikes me, and I think the person wants the input, then I want to give it to them, you know?

        So don’t feel limited. Send it in!

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      2. You will want to send your entry by way of the “contact me” button. If it’s too big, I will reply and you can attach it to the email.

        We don’t want people to see the entries before we are ready to reveal the winners!

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  25. Pingback: TICK TOCK: Update on the WRITING CONTEST, the ANTHOLOGY, and maybe some other stuff. (About 7 quick bullet points in all.) | Dan Alatorre - AUTHOR

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