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Cathy C. Hallhttps://cathychall.wordpress.com/I write, write, write. Then I rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. THEN I submit all those polished-up words out into the world and sell 'em. It's a plan that's worked pretty well.

Finding Something Friday : Harper Collins’ Authonomy

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If you’re like me, then you’ve been writing along, doing your own thing, with no idea that Authonomy existed. (If you’re not like me, you already know all about Authonomy and can skip to the end and gloat.) So, here’s what I found out about this Harper Collins site:

1. Authonomy is a site where you can upload your book (unpublished or self-published) and hope that at some point, the readers will like it so much, that you’ll get a look-see from the HC editors. (People read, they review, your book earns points.)

2. That could take a while. Unless you have a TON of friends, willing to read your book and sort of give you a push in the right direction. (Which sorta happened last spring. Harper Collins said it wasn’t cheating. But a whole lot of a other folks begged to differ.)

3. People have actually gotten contracts from Harper Collins (three). And according to HC, other folks have been contacted by agents and garnered attention (Quantity unknown).

4. They’ve recently added Christian to the genres (Authonomy.com/Christian). They take all genres, but no pictures, diagrams or such. However, you can upload a pretty picture as a cover for your “book.” From my quick look-see, it appeared as if fiction fared better in the rankings.

5. It’s free.

6. HC wants to “flush out the brightest, freshest writing talent around.” I suppose if you’ve got something you really believe in, and all that work has so far gone down the drain, you’ve got nothing to lose, trying Authonomy. Maybe your book will be the one that rises to the top.

Okay, I’m going to stop now. ‘Cause this metaphor is making me a little uncomfortable.

Finding Children’s Writer Contest (Psssst! It’s Science!)

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Here’s what I like about the Children’s Writer Contest(s): If you haven’t already subscribed to Children’s Writer, your entry fee will include a subscription.

But if you are getting Children’s Writer, then you enter the contest free. Technically speaking, you can enter two contests, because in a year’s subscription, you’ll likely have the opportunity to try your luck twice! Now, isn’t that a sweet deal?

But enough about the subscription deal. You’re wondering about the contest deal, right? Here’s the skinny: Write a science article, targeted for 11-year olds, and no longer than 750 words, giving emphasis to a current science topic. And write fast. Submissions must be in by February 27th!

Your best chance to win will include chemistry, or physics (Eeek! Physics!) or biology. So, if you taught science, or love science, or just have a hankering to learn a little something in a science field, this is the perfect contest for you. You can get more information here, at the Children’s Writer Newsletter site.

And save all of your research. Because just in case you don’t win, I mean I’m crossing my fingers and everything, but just in case that doesn’t work, you’re still going to have a great article. And that article is going to be submission ready, once you add your bibliography.

So either way, you’ve got a sweet deal going here. Now off you go to think up something scientifically brilliant!