SHOW-MO Time!

If you've read the Breezers in Your Neighborhood post for May, then you already know the Show-Mo's are coming!

Yep, the Southern Breeze Writing Contest is right aroun--what? You don't know what a Show-Mo is? Goodness! Here's Southern Breeze Critique Coordinator, T.K. Read, with all the details:

So… June 2017 was our first SHOW-MO! You came, you showed, you read; we came, we read and we responded, and… it was such a great success, in 2018, we expanded it to include the month of May! 

This year we’re back and we’re hoping to reach more of our members and other writers. We want you to show us your best work – your first ten pages of your manuscript - and use feedback from other writers to let you submit your polished-up, dazzling, publish-ready work for Southern Breeze’s writing contest (submission deadline June 30th, 2019). Submission to the contest is free for Southern Breeze members and you can read more details at the Southern Breeze Writing Contest on our website.

So, you say, TK, that sounds a little ambitious. My response: Consider this my personal challenge to you to pick one Show-Mo from our line-up and go, just go. Find out for yourself why 55 of us attended in 2017 and even more in 2018. 

You have no excuses. Show-Mo's are a free, no-strings-attached way to get fresh eyes to give you honest feedback on your pages. We, the serious, professional writers of Southern Breeze, know that such feedback is crucial to insuring we submit our best work. So, I challenge you to take three to four hours of your time during May or June and improve your writing while helping others improve theirs.

Here are some participants’ feedback from past SHOW-MOs: 

 "Was great!" "Very helpful." “WONDERFUL SCBWI SHOW-MO today at Starbucks! Productive critique group! Loved the diversity!” And, my favorite: "Can we do this again?" 

See your pages real soon! Best, TK.


Thanks, TK! And later this month, we'll be announcing the judges for our Southern Breeze Writing Contest, so come back to the Southern Breeze blog to get more info. And more Show-Mo's are added all the time so be sure to check if one's coming to your neighborhood!

EVERYONE A WINNER AT WIK'18: Critiques! (More Than Just Your Conference Thrill Ride)

Who doesn’t love a critique? Palms sweating and stomach fluttering with butterflies as you sit down in front of the esteemed editor or agent about to pass judgment on you. Er, I mean your manuscript.

But seriously, a critique from a publishing professional can do so much more for you than feed an adrenaline habit.

My first critique taught me to let my character tell her own story.

My worst critique left me frustrated and angry…and ready to write the story that was in my heart instead of something I thought people would want to read.

At my next critique, the editor wanted to read more of that story.

And, yes, I met my agent at a critique.

WIK18 registration is open, with critique opportunities still available, but manuscripts have to be submitted by February 4. Don’t miss your chance for personalized attention from a publishing professional. Your work will grow, and chances are, you’ll discover that those august sages are nice, knowledgeable people, eager to help you in your artistic journey.

Photo by Debbie Sanders

Sharon Pegram is a Co-Assistant Regional Advisor for Southern Breeze. She writes sci-fi and fantasy and enjoys good thrill rides, both literary and otherwise.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! CLICK :::HERE:::TO REGISTER!

And The Winners Are...

Listen! Do you hear that? It's the sound of Breezers cheering all over our region! And what are they cheering about? Let's check in with Debbie D'Aurelio to find out:

Thank you to all those who entered the 2017 Southern Breeze Writing Contest. It was apparent that everyone worked very hard on their manuscripts and the judges were very complimentary about the quality of work coming out of our region. They also mentioned how hard it was to pick the winners! 

This year’s winners for the 2017 Southern Breeze Writing Contest are (drumroll) . . . 

ILLUSTRATED TEXT - Judged by Karen Grencik from Red Fox Literary

1st place: Speed and Spring: The Story of Forrest Grady (Spec) Towns by Sherri Rivers

2nd place: Bug-Truck Buddies by Heather Montgomery

3rd place: Little Bad Blue by Diane Anton Sherrouse

MIDDLE GRADE - Judged by John Cusick from Folio Literary/Folio Jr.

1st Place: The Pickle Pod Tree by Glenda Slater

2nd Place: The Wildness of Mellie Feye by Candice Conner

3rd Place: Canada or Bust by Colleen Bennett

YOUNG ADULT - Judged by Kelly Van Sant from D4EO Literary

1st place: Last Year at Little Bend High by Joan Broerman

2nd place: Address Unknown by Re Marzullo
3rd place: The Crooked Truth by Kristine Anderson

Everyone is a winner because all entries receive free critiques from the PAL judges. The finalists in each category were sent on to our professional judges and will receive an additional critique from Karen Grencik (IT), John Cusack (MG) or Kelly Van Sant (YA).  These critiques will be returned to you as attachments in an email entitled Critiques from Contest.

Congratulations!

And a big cheer for Debbie D'Aurelio, the Southern Breeze Writing Contest Coordinator, for all her hard work. (Pssst! November is the perfect month to start working on your next manuscript for the 2018 Southern Breeze Writing Contest!)