Write Hope - 見ぬが花

Over the weekend, Marieke wrote an incredibly moving post for Write Hope - I wanted to share it with you today. I must admit, it brought a tear to my eye when I read her words...

There is a Japanese saying that reads 見ぬが花 (みぬがはな). Minu ga hana. Not seeing is a flower. It means something along the lines of reality being unable to compete with imagination.

These last few weeks I've lived and breathed Write Hope. I was so nervous when the first auction went up, and I saw it grow beyond our imaginations. We've raised a couple of thousand dollars already and we are fast on our way to raise more. As I said in the wrap-up post, there's a lot of fun to be had with the bidding, but at the same time I'm sure no one forgets who we're doing it for.

At this halfway point, I can't help but feel a little reflective. Watching this grow from the wings has taught me a lot. About hope. About how imagination can beat reality and how sometimes reality rises up to meet the challenge. About humility. About life. And invariably, about writing.

Some things - like raising a book - take a village, but when we come together as a community we can move mountains. This community is amazing, with extra glitter, in doing so and I'm honored to be part of that. Speaking for myself, organizing isn't the hard part, it's only the logical thing to do. But almost all of you have replied immediately wanting to help out, and you are all so generous with time, donations, bids, promotion. Reading all the mails coming in is a rollercoaster of emotions, as I keep bouncing between grinning like mad and tears in my eyes.

One day, when I'm no longer in the dreaded query trenches, but further down the road to my dream goal, I hope to be able to pay that feeling forward from the other side. Although it would be even better if it was never necessary again, but it's a comfort to know there'll always be hope.

Not seeing is a flower. As a writer, most of the time I agree. This week, however, I think our bubble of reality turned out to be a garden.

Here's to next week being even more magnificent!

I do so agree. I've mentioned it before, but it can never be said too many times. I think this writing community of ours is AWESOME!!! And I'm so glad to be a part of it.

Wrapping up Week 1 - Write Hope

Then again, wrapping things up sounds like we can, and we're actually still in the middle of SO MANY fantastic auctions.

What do you think of a query critique from literary agent Tina Wexler? A critique from the mysterious Authoress? A marketing consulting session from Shelli Johannes? Signed and personalized copies of Maria V. Snyder's Insider series? A collection of picture books? And Tessa Gratton is offering a first chapter critique to bidders for every $50 bid and signed copy of Blood Magic.

So far you've all come through in an amazing way. We've had bidding wars, twitter taunting, upped offers and we're raising a lot of money for Save The Children. Because in the end that's the most important thing. On the Save The Children Blog stories about how the Japan disaster is affecting the children in Japan are heart wrenching. Just have a look at Seina's story. This nine-year-old boy has been living with his mother in an evacuation center. He's lost his sister to the tsunami.

This auction is an amazing experience so far, but it's children like Seina that are the heart of it. If you can help in any way, please do.

We have so much more to come too. Signed copies or ARCs of One Hundred Candles, Eon, Riva, Moonglass, Across The Universe, Mistwood, Imaginary Girls, and many more. A partial critique and phone call with literary agent Kathleen Ortiz. A full critique by Debra Driza, followed by a full read from her agent Taylor Martindale. A story in the Kat, Incorrigible universe written especially for you. A critique by the one and only Maggie Stiefvater.

And our mystery box, which goes live on Sunday.

So bid high, bid often, and thank you, thank you, thank you. :-)

Second Crusader Challenge Wrap-up, Crusader Notice-Board, and a Question for Crusaders

Challenge Wrap-up

What an awesome Challenge! And 87 entrants, woot! I'm amazed at the different approaches people used for their flash fiction - we've had killer goldfish, goldfish killers, were-goldfish, humans as goldfish, love scenes, magic scenes, and a whole lot more. And all in 100 words!!!

Judging of your entries will get under way soon, and I'll be announcing the winners in next Thursday's post (given the A-Z Challenge starts on Friday). Thanks to everyone who volunteered to be judges, I do appreciate it - as before, you'll still be eligible to win the prizes. We'll be letting people know if they've made it to the final judging round as the week goes by.

Crusader Notice-Board

Check out these great blogfests, contests, and other announcements:

• don't forget to drop by Write Hope and bid on some of the fabulous auction items, with all money raised going to the Save the Children emergency relief fund for Japan
• J.C. Martin is calling for submissions for her STORIES FOR SENDAI anthology, edited by herself and Michelle Davidson Argyle. Stories for Sendai is in aid of victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami, and all proceeds of its sale will go to charity. The deadline for submissions is May 15th, so make sure you submit your stories and help with this great idea
• Karen (Kar_Took) is calling for submissions for stories and poems for the short fiction anthology she edits called New Writing Dundee. Check here for the official call for submissions. The deadline is 2nd April, so there is still some time to submit for the chance to be published in their anthology
• Michael is holding a Harry Potter blogfest ... WHO would be your Mates? on March 30th. Make sure you pop over and check it out
• Katherine Owens is running the I Dig Reading Challenge, where you can pledge to give any amount you like to any charity you like, for every book you read in the year
• Chenoa Fawn is running a collaborative story based on the surrealist game Cadavre Exquis. Visit her blog until March 31
• Adriana Kraft is giving away a $10 gift certificate to All Romance E-Books. To enter, leave a comment on any blog post in March

A Question for Crusaders

I know a lot of you are doing the A-Z Challenge, and I'll be doing it myself. Given that, do you want a Crusader Challenge in April, or should we give it a miss??? At this stage I'm thinking I probably won't do one, but I can easily be persuaded otherwise if heaps of you do want another Challenge :) To make it easier (hopefully) to decide, if there is an April Challenge I'll make sure to theme it according to the corresponding alphabet letter for that day, so A-Z Challenge participants can do the one post for both.

Interview with Luna (Project Fraeya)

Today I'm interviewing Luna from Project Fraeya, a Crusader and a lovely lady who I'm glad to call a friend (except when she calls me nasty names that are completely undeserved! :P). I thought I'd ask her some questions so you can all get to know her better. And keep an eye out for the artwork in this post, she drew it all herself!!!

1. Tell us who you are (let's make this challenging, I'll give you ten words exactly *grins*)

I strive to be peculiar, loyal, book obsessive and honest.

2. Your blog name is "Project Fraeya" - does it have any meaning?

*evil grin* yup and that's a secret between me and myself and will be revealed...

3. What are your passions in life?

This is hard, books are obvious but I am *cough* slightly obsessed with dance. I can't actually dance but it doesn't stop me watching it: Ballet, Ballroom, Hip Hop, Jazz I don't really care what. I flew to Philadelphia in 09 to see the DWTS tour, only to top that by flying 5000 miles to Las Vegas to see the SYTYCD* tour last year. (On both occasions I ended up in the same hotel as the cast – that was freaky.)

Before that I spent almost an entire year travelling to London every month to watch Musicals, over and over. I still try to see as many as possible but can't afford London very often. :( I love concerts... you know I think the best answer is that my passion is making memories. I'll pick those over stuff any time. When I'm old and grey I can look on these years and I will always always smile.

*We were going to Vegas anyway, we just flew 3 days earlier... 

4. Tell us about your current WIP(s)

I've got two on the go:

One which I carefully planned and storyboarded called Quarantined. A post apocalyptic / dystopian story about a young media intern called Troy who unlocks an SOS originating from Blackpool, a coastal town that has been quarantined for the last 5 years and according to every official report has no survivors.

My other WIP doesn't really have a title as its MC only started haunting me this month, her name is Bree and she's got a ghost on her shoulder which happens to be a Shinigami (death spirit) that uses Bree to do her work. I haven't even tried to storyboard it as I'm writing as I go (which is scary) but had 5000 words within the first 3 days. I haven't really had the chance to work on it since then.

5. I'm absolutely amazed at how well you draw! You drew these gorgeous pictures of Nozomi we're using for Write Hope, and so much else (*gazes around this blog post*). However did you learn to draw like that???

*blushes* why thank you. I think of them as doodles... I never learned it anywhere, I just have this tendency to draw on notepads at work while being stuck on phones. Manga/Anime was a big thing while I was growing up so I copied and then started doing my own thing. I struggle drawing “real” people and I haven't really been doing a lot of drawing since the last time I did something for charity.

6. What piece of writing advice do you think is the most important?

Get the right kind of help... the amount of stuff I've learned from my writing buddy and critique partners is invaluable. The thing is, you need to pick people who either match or complement you. There is no point in having a crit-partner who doesn't read the stories you write. While my writing buddy has a different style we have enough similarities to be able to help each other. And the differences there are, are what also brings a new viewpoint when crit-ing each other.

Yes you are the one writing and editing and re-writing but without help I think it's a lot harder because you can't always see that needs to be seen. (I'm channelling my inner philosopher here >.<)

7. Chocolate or cupcakes?

Chocolate, always chocolate. I don't actually like cake all that much... I'll eat it to be polite but even when I was little I never got excited about birthday cakes. I was more excited about the my mum making quiche LOL.

8. Anything else you'd like to add?

Write Hope

Yes please, please, pretty please with sugar and icing and a cherry on top visit Write Hope. All of us there have been working hard to get everything organised for the charity auctions starting today and there is some awesome stuff in there; signed copies of If I Stay/Where She Went (ARC), first chapter critique by Tessa Gratton (increasing to additional chapters) plus a signed copy of Blood Magic, signed ARC of Memento Nora, Haven prize pack, a critique of your first twenty pages by Carrie Harris and the mystery box plus so much more....

Rach: And it's for such a good cause - Save the Children emergency disaster relief in Japan

I loved finding out more about you Luna, thanks so much for stopping by!

If you haven't popped over to Project Fraeya yet, hie thee over and meet Luna where she usually hangs out :)

Write Hope for Japan, Second Crusader Challenge, Crusader Notice-Board

Happy Friday everyone! Today's the start of the Second Crusader Challenge, woot (and wait 'til you see the awesome prizes)! But before I get into that, have you followed our Write Hope blog yet? We'll be auctioning off books, swag, and critiques and donating the money raised to the relief fund of our chosen charity, Save the Children, to help with the Japan Disaster. Auctions will start Monday, so spread the word if you can, and make sure you come and bid. Not convinced yet? Here's five reasons why you need to take part in the auction:

1. 30 minute Skype chat (on any subject whatsoever - your choice!) with Meredith Barnes of FinePrint Literary Management!!!
2. 50 page critique (in a genre she's looking for as per her blog) plus a 20 minute phone call to answer any questions the winner may have about the critique - with Kathleen Ortiz of Lowenstein Associates, Inc, woot!!!
3. critique of a full manuscript, YA or fantasy (and any fantasy subgenres), up to 100,000 words from author Jodi Meadows
4. First chapter critique by Tessa Gratton (increasing to additional chapters) plus a signed copy of Blood Magic
5. critique of your first twenty pages by author Carrie Harris

And there's much, much more!!! So pop over to Write Hope, follow along, then come right back to see what the Second Crusader Challenge is all about below :)

Nozomi

Crusader Notice-Board

Check out these great blogfests, contests, and other announcements:

• Crystal Collier is holding a most unusual contest on her blog until March 22. Give her ideas for her music video, and the winner will receive: (if their idea is used) their name in the credits, plus a free download of the current soundtrack for Immortal the Musical (which isn't out yet), plus one free book from Amazon (up to $20 value)
• Margo Benson is holding a 200 followers giveaway, with some awesome books as prizes - better hurry, not much longer until she reaches 200 and the prize is drawn
• Sarah Ketley (The precocious scribe) is having a competition to celebrate reaching 200 Followers. Prize is currently a $10 Amazon Kindle Voucher. Entries will close the weekend after she gets to 200 followers
• Tony Benson is also having a 200 followers giveaway, with 2 books as the prize. Check out the details here
• Kelsey Sutton is giving away an ARC of The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong on March 26. Check it out here
• Chenoa Fawn is running a collaborative story based on the surrealist game Cadavre Exquis. Visit her blog until March 31
• Adriana Kraft is giving away a $10 gift certificate to All Romance E-Books. To enter, leave a comment on any blog post in March
• LB Diamond (and Tessa Conte) are holding their The Nature of Magic blogfest on March 26
• Alison Miller is inviting all writers to join the Write Brained Network, a writing group which is free to writers at any stage of development. Check out her invitation here. The group is also hosting its first conference this year in Harrisonburg, Virginia

Cruasders, if you have a blogfest, a contest, or a something-or-other you want me to let people know about, drop me an email and I'll run it in the following Friday's post. Please include all the relevant details in your email, including links, name, and when it runs/ends, so I don't have to chase them down.

Second Crusader Challenge

Before I tell you what the Challenge is about *grins* does anyone want to help me with judging the Challenge? Shoot me an email if you do: rachael[dot]harrie[at]gmail[dot]com. I'd really appreciate it :)

The Challenge:

Write a flash fiction story (in any format) in 100 words or less, excluding the title. Begin the story with the words, “The goldfish bowl teetered” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional, and not part of the judging criteria), see if you can write the story in your own genre (eg if you’re a horror writer, write a horror story; a romance writer, a romance story, etc).

Once you’ve posted your Challenge post on your blog, pop back here and link directly to it in the linky tool below (make sure you include the direct link to that post, not just the link to your blog!).

Entries in the Second Crusader Challenge will close next Friday, March 25th (at 11.59pm EST), so make sure you get your post in the linky link before then! 

And the prizes:

• C.A. Marshall, freelance editor, YA writer, and literary agent intern will be contributing a $35 gift certificate. That $35 can be used towards a ten page critique, a four-page synopsis critique, a submission package prize (a look at the writer's query and first ten pages), or used towards a full edit. Thanks heaps Cassandra. Awesome prize, yes!!!
• An interview for the runner-up (or the winner if they'd prefer) on Rach Writes...
• A Crusader winner's badge
• And I may throw in a little something extra as well :)
  

Here's Cassandra's bio: C.A. Marshall is a freelance editor, lit agent intern, YA writer, and loves to play with her dog Mollie. She dreams of one day owning a small house near the water, preferably in England, with a shelf full of books she has written and has helped others to write. She can be found in Emmett, MI and at camarshall.com for writing, editorcassandra.com for editing, and on twitter @CA_Marshall. 

Everyone is very welcome to take part, though only Crusaders will be eligible for the prizes. Entries over 100 words will not be considered. Entries will be judged on various criteria, including originality, word count, and entertainment value.

Have fun! Can’t wait to see what you come up with (and sorry for the goldfish bowl thingy, tee hee).

Please make sure you include the direct link to that post, not just the link to your blog (I can't edit your entries on the Linky Link!)

WRITE HOPE for Japan

I think by now it’s impossible not to have heard about Japan and everything that’s been happening there. The devastation is overwhelming with so many people dead or missing, entire villages wiped away and the ongoing problems in the nuclear plants. I lived in Japan for a year, and studied the country, culture, and language for nine years, so the tragedy has hit very close to home for me.

With some of the most amazing people in the world (Marieke, Luna (Project Fraeya), Tessa Quin, and Amanda Milner) we formed Write Hope. Right now we’re working hard to set up a charity auction, auctioning off all things kidlit. ARCs, books, critiques, swag. Donations are stacking up and we’ve only just started!

Visit WRITE HOPE and meet our fantastic mascot Nozomi:

Over the next couple of days we’ll post details of the auction on the blog: the when, the how, the what.

Write Hope is a very proud sponsor of the Save the Children emergency relief fund for Japan.

Please, please help. Spread the word. Follow along at Write Hope. Take part in the auction. Spread the word.

As we said on Write Hope: Together we can move mountains.

Thank you!