free-tique round: red light, green light!

DOORS ARE CLOSED!!! 

Hi everyone, just back from a wonderful holiday. I am caught up on my emails, my voicemails, etc., AND I got a major chunk of work done. So guess what it's time for…

A FREE-TIQUE ROUND! Woohoo! Read on…Snoop has planned something special.

It's called RED LIGHT/GREEN LIGHT (not to be confused with TRAFFIC COP). This round is open to all tiquees – new and "re". NEW WORKS ONLY (stuff I haven't tiqued before so no one has an advantage here. First page crits do not count. You may sub those but read this first—> Do you all know how to play the game? Snoop stands at one end of the yard, back turned to the players. He says, "Red light, GREEN LIGHT!" On green, the players race toward him (by sending him a page of their manuscript). Snoop then says "Red light!" He will look at your pages to see who's still in the game (i.e., whose book he'd still like to read.). He will make his decisions at each Red Light and some players will have to go back to the start line. When Snoop says, "Green light" the players continue to race toward him by sending another page. The lights will continue to alternate until two picture book/ER writers and two chapter book/novel writers cross the finish line.

Now how does this work again?

1. You send Snoop your first page. (pasted in an email–don't worry about formatting.) This would be the first half-page of your double-spaced manuscript–just like a real editor would see when she receives your manuscript. You title the email with the page number, book type (i.e., PB, ER, Chapter Book, MG novel, YA), and ms title to help Snoop keep track. Snoop will give you an entry number in return. 

2. Snoop will let you know when the light turns "red" here at http:www.cynthealiu.com. You will see entry numbers that have been asked to go back to the starting line. Snoop will not tell you why you were asked to go to the beginning except to say "Not right for me." That is all. (Which is, sadly, very much like real life). You may ask him later, though, when doors are completely closed, why. You will allow Snoop time for a response.

3. Snoop will say "Green" again. If you're at the starting line, you may submit a new first page of another work. Your old entry number will be retired. So don't title it with that number. You'll get a new number for your next submission. If you aren't at the starting line, you email the next FULL page of your competing entry like it appears in your real manuscript. (Please include the entry number and the book type in that email. Thanks).

4. This continues until all of the following happens… I have two winners for a PB or ER (you make it to the last page of your book). And two winners for a novel/chapter book (you must make it through the first seven pages of your book). Remember, this is easier said than done. It should be just as hard to get Snoop's attention as it is to get an editor's or agent's attention. THIS RACE MAY TAKE DAYS. You will not have to be attached to your computer though. Snoop will let you know when the next light announcement will be made (He's a busy bunny, too!).

6. Bonus play for novels. Grand prize. If your novel makes it to page seven, you may continue to play against other novelists for the grand prize. You may even compete even when all the winning slots have been won. But you may only have one entry competing at a time. The novelist who makes it through the most pages by a set time (To Be Determined -Snoop is checking his calendar) wins A FULL-TIQUE. Did you hear that? A FULL-TIQUE. (This is what I only do for my personal critique buddies. And I doubt I will offer this again soon!)

7. All other winners will receive a regular RESERVED slot for the winning work they subbed to me. This will be the winners' chance to see comments on what Snoop thinks could still be improved in their manuscript. Yes, even green-lighted work probably could be revised (just like real manuscripts when they are acquired by editors). The reserved slots are redeemable at the winner's discretion and pending my schedule as well. All reserved slots will expire in September and should be saved for when it's really needed.

8. Important thing to keep in mind: Childrens' fiction only. ANYONE MAY PARTICIPATE. NO WORKS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION BY AN EDITOR OR AGENT. AND ANYONE CAN ENTER THE RACE AT ANY TIME WHILE THE DOORS ARE OPEN.

9. Breaking any one of the rules will make you subject to complete elimination from this free-tique round.

10. That is all. (I just needed a number ten for aesthetics.)

Now are you ready?

SNOOP SAYS:

Red light………………. GREEN LIGHT!

PASTE, PASTE, PASTE your first page to cynthealiu AT yahoo DOT com. < -note the e in my name.

TITLE ALL EMAILS WITH THE PAGE NUMBER (Like Page One: MS Title)