Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

B.Miller's Pay it Forward. Best. Contest. Ever. (And I'm copying it.)

When I read B.Miller's post about her contest, I loved her idea to do THIS as a potential prize:

"If you are a writer with published work available for purchase, I will buy your novel/story collection/chapbook, etc., up to a value of $25. I will also read your work and give a review on your chosen website, as well as a review and a plug on my blog, Twitter, and Facebook fan page. I will go to my local library and booksellers and ask that your work be stocked on my local shelves in Greenville, South Carolina. And, if you're willing, I will do a guest feature on my blog for you, complete with interview and links to your media."

Isn't that AWESOMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THE AUTHOR/BLOGGER COMMUNITY??

I wrote a post awhile back It Takes a Village to Sell a Book about how supportive this community is to fellow writers. Which is one of the reasons I spend hours I really don't have blogging, commenting, entering contests, and generally supporting this online writing community that I feel proud to belong to. (Well, besides which it is fun.)

And I want to take it a step forward, follow B.Miller's example and join in her pay it forward contest, not just by entering but by JOINING. Meaning I'm hopping on her bandwagon, gravytrain, whatever and offering the same deal here on my blog. Enter over at B. Miller's blog if you haven't already, and now you can enter here, too for TWO PRIZES (soon to be revealed!) THAT SUPPORT THE WRITING COMMUNITY!!

Here are the rules for entry:

Comment on this post and add up your point tally: +1
New follower: +1
Old follower: +2
Bring a friend to follow +2
Tweet about this contest: +2
Follow me on Twitter (@KarenGowen): +2
Blog about this contest: +3
Include this post in your sidebar: +3

My prizes are just a bit different but still supportive of the writing community. Your choice of:

EITHER: I'll purchase a copy of your published book from your website or Amazon and post a review on my blog, on Goodreads with a link to Twitter. (I promise to be fair and focus on the strengths of your work. Sample of  how I review here.)

OR: I will  review and critique your first three chapters of a finished manuscript along with the query letter that you've written to go with it. (Yes, I'm an editor. Offiicially.)

OR: A $15 gift card to Borders (because they support their local authors) or Amazon because, well, just because you may not have a Borders in your town).

So this way I'm supporting both the published and unpublished authors!! Yay! We're all winners!!

OH WAIT THERE'S A BONUS!! Here it is: IF I somehow hit 250 followers by the time this contest closes (June 1), I'll double the prize! Yes, I will purchase a second book plus review, or if second winner chooses, I'll do the review and critique of their first three chapters etc.OR, give the second winner the $15 gift card.

B. Miller's contest goes until June 1 (be sure to go enter if you haven't already) and since I'm shamelessy copying her great ideas, mine will be the same! And I'll leave this post up so you can all remember to join the Pay it Forward Contests!






58 comments:

  1. AWESOME!! Thank you so much Karen! I love the variation on the prize, with the three chapters' worth of editing. Great idea!!

    7 points for me so far... loyal follower, comment, follow on Twitter and tweeting about the contest. GOOD LUCK my friend!!!

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  2. It does take a village. How wonderful of you to give your time and means to help the writers. (Wish my book were out!) (And I love the bittersweet movie Pay It Forward. I do believe that simple acts of kindness have the potential to change the world.)

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  3. I'm tallying +1
    I'm an old follower +2
    I added this on the top of my blog +3

    = +6

    I'm going to advertise in on FB even though there are no points involved.
    I love your contest and B. Miller's contest. Great idea!

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  4. Yay everyone, thanks for entering (and adding up your points because I suck at math) and Ann, you can still enter to win the gift card.

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  5. What a wonderful idea for a contest, and that's great you are hosting one as well.

    I've been following your blog awhile +2
    I just followed you on Twitter +2
    I tweeted about the contest +2
    =6
    (Oh and on the very slight chance I win, I'd choose the Border's gift card.)

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  6. It's reasons like this I'm proud to say I'm a writer. :) Thank you and B. Miller for doing this. You guys are both great. I'll spread the word about this!

    Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

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  7. Great idea Karen! And B Miller!

    I've been following your blog awhile +2
    I follow you on Twitter +2

    I will *try* to remember to tweet your contest on Twitter, too!

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  8. Karen,

    I blogged about this contest, and linked back to your post. You can read the post on my blog, here: http://bit.ly/cEmApI

    I also did a contest on my site to help spread the word... I am giving away 4 Author Signed Books! (Tristi, Michele, Kim, and myself)

    My points:
    Comment on this post: +1
    Old follower: +2
    Tweet about this contest: +2
    Follow me on Twitter (@karenjonesgowen): +2
    Blog about this contest: +3
    TOTAL: 10 points.

    Thanks Karen!

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  9. I'm a Follower, don't have a WIP (but thinking about it) and hope to post a blog next week that gives a shout-out to as many as I can in the writing community (from whom I'm learning a lot and very grateful.)

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  10. Oh my gosh! I just noticed you're twittering!
    :-) That's great!!

    Good luck with this contest and B.Miller's too!

    Take care
    x

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  11. That's great!
    Okay, old follower and I'll add this to my sidebar - 5 points.
    Would you be willing to purchase future books of the winner?

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  12. Cool contest! I'd do something like that too if I ever got that many followers, but I'm totally broke. Maybe if I spent less money on coffee and candy I'd have more to spend on books, and I'd be healthier. But then I'd become even more neurotic without my chocolate and caffeine.

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  13. That's a great contest! I think I'll do it on my blog too.

    P.S. I'm not entering, BTW. I have no doubt that you'll be reading my book when it comes out. :)

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  14. What a great idea. Okay, here's my tally:
    +1 comment and tally
    +1 new follower
    +2 tweeted contest
    +2 following you on twitter
    +3 including this post on my sidebar

    9 total...how fun. Good luck to everyone and I'm happy to be following you now!

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  15. You're awesome. I think that's a great contest. Maybe I'll do something similar.

    CD

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  16. This is a lovely idea. I'm sure you'll find a worthy winner.

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  17. I love this idea for a contest! Here are my point totals:

    Comment on this post: +1
    Old follower: +2
    Follow me on Twitter: +2
    Blog about this contest: +3

    The post will hit tomorrow on my blog!

    Total: 8!

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  18. Wow, what a great idea. I will spread the word about this too. :)

    comment+1
    follower: +1
    follow on twitter: +2
    tweet about contest: +2
    total = 6

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  19. This is such a great contest!

    + 2 old follower
    + 2 twitter follower
    + 3 sidebar

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  20. Old follower - +2
    Tweeting - +2

    There are several of us having awesome contests!

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  21. I liked this contest. Tough coming up with new ideas, but this one benefits everyone!

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  22. Great contest idea! I'm an old follower (+2) and I'll post this on my sidebar (+3). I'll tally my entry (+1) for a total of +6.

    I wish I had a published book for you to review. Maybe someday...

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  23. Very nice :)

    old follower, comment & follow you on Twitter = 5 points

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  24. I'm an old follower. I love the thought behind this!

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  25. I've just been told by my publisher that my book is coming out a month earlier. This is a great to get the word out.

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  26. Love this idea! I came over with Daron Fraley.
    I commented 1
    New follower 1
    Twitted 2
    Follow on Twitter 2
    Blogged 3
    Total=9

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  27. PS I love your main picture!

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  28. Oh! I would LOVE to win the manuscript review! Oh! Oh!

    Comment, Old Follower, Twitted, Twitter= +7

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  29. What a sweet contest idea B Miller has!! (and you, too!)

    Here's my points:
    Comment on this post: +1
    Old follower: +2
    Tweet about this contest: +2
    Follow me on Twitter (@karenjonesgowen): +2

    total: 7

    Sweet!!!

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  30. Great idea - I came across your blog via Terresa (The Chocolate Chip Waffle). Sadly I can't enter not publish...yet. But will be posting link on my blog as I think this is one hell of a comp.

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  31. Comment on this post and add up your point tally: +1
    Old follower: +2
    Tweet about this contest: +2
    Follow me on Twitter (@karenjonesgowen): +2
    Blog about this contest: +3
    Include this post in your sidebar: +3

    Total: 13
    (Hope I win!)

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  32. Wow, what a terrific idea!!

    comment - 1
    old follower - 2
    sidebar - 3

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  33. Awesome contest! And I totally agree with you about how supportive this community it, I love it, and it's fun :)

    comment +1
    old follower +2

    total =3

    Thanks!

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  34. This is fantastic Karen!!! I'll be sure to give you some blog love this week and a little sidebar love to support!! Great prizes!!! I always love a good gift card sinc I've run a little low on funds for the book department!

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  35. OMG, I wish you'd said something sooner, this is a great space! Especially enjoyed the Psychotic Writer's Prayers. I noticed the Xena picture a few weeks ago, and tried to track it back, but hit a wall.

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  36. Hooray! Shamelessly copying benefits us all. I'm overwhelmed...

    So, let's see... five points for me and you can give Theresa Milstein and Jenn Daiker points for telling me you were having a contest.

    Thanks, Karen! (BTW, sorry I've been absent from your blog lately--I've really missed it!)

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  37. Oops! Nevermind, it was just Theresa, I guess. :o)

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  38. Awesome contest! You're very generous!

    Comment +1
    Old Follower +2

    Total = 3

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  39. Wow, what an awesome offer! Wish I had something, published or self-published... Soon, soon!

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  40. Comment, new follower, tweeted, followed blog, followed on twitter, facebooked!

    Good luck with the contest!

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  41. What a fantastic idea! Ok, I'll be blogging about this tommorrow, I'm already a follower (here+Twitterland), I'll be tweeting about this tomorrow and ... that's 10 entries all together.

    Awesome!

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  42. What a wonderful generous idea Karen. I don't have a manuscript, so I don't qualify, but I do applaud you! Take a bow!!!

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  43. Wonderful!! And thanks for reminding me of B's pay-it-forward contest. I meant to enter and haven't yet.

    Here's my comment +1
    Old follower +2
    Sidebar love +3

    Total= +6

    Thanks, Karen!

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  44. Wow if i ever get published i will def join that community! And let you know about the book! lol.

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  45. Awesome! Count me in for +6 - comment, old follower, sidebar link! :-)

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  46. I will do some of these later.
    I'm commenting, sidebar link, blog about it (tomorrow), tweet it (shortly), old follower, follow you on twitter. Gives me 13.
    There's something for you on my blog. :)
    I will check out B. Miller after the thunderstorm. seriously there is a thunderstorm going on outside my window. yikes!

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  47. What an amazing contest. I love your attitude to help out others.

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  48. What a fantastic contest! I am a 5 (commented, old follower, have followed you on twitter already!) I will try and remember to tweet about this as well. I do love the blogging community, so very, very supportive. :)

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  49. I"m a follower, and I would loooove that gift card! Great idea! Someday when I'm published, it would be great if someone has a contest and my book is bought!

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  50. Regarding the comment you just sent: HOORAY!!!! I'm so excited to have someone move to Houston. We moved three years ago from Des Moines, IA and it's been nice, I love the sunshine.

    Maybe us writers will have to have a meet-up!!! I'd love to meet some fellow blog buddies it would be so neat! Do you know where you are going to live?? I live on the northwest side of town! 290 & Spring Cypress.

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  51. Jen, How I wish I were going to live there. I'm so stir crazy right now I just want to pack up and move, but it's my son whose moving and me who is visiting!!

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  52. I just became follower #240. You're almost there!!

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  53. I'm a new follower +1
    Great way to get a good book, to read during the Summer. Thanks for doing this.+1
    Total 2
    Jolynn_Reads@yahoo.com

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  54. Wonderful contest!

    new follower 1
    tweeted 2
    follow you on twitter 2
    total 5

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  55. What a wonderful contest! So very generous. I have 6 points: new follower, tweeted, followed you on Twitter, commenting on post.

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  56. Six more points now that I'm following you on Twitter and I blogged about the contest :P

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  57. Okay, let me do my math correctly!

    Comment 1
    Follow 1
    Twitter 2
    Blog 3

    Total: 7

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  58. I am going to comment.

    I am a new follower.

    I sent Cassandra over to follow.

    That makes my total: 4
    Thanks!!!!!!

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Comments are welcome!