Boundaries in a Virtual World.

So, today I've been thinking a lot about boundaries. Most of y'all know I'm a mom. I don't make a secret of that, or that I'm married to a dude named Mike. I'm pretty transparent, and also, it gives me something to talk about (because my babies are awesome!).

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll get random updates about housecleaning and kids mixed in with books and writing and #revisiontips. It's just part of my life.

But what about boundaries? I'm sure a lot of you heard about the attack on agent Pam van Hylckama. I didn't address this then other than a general, 'WTF, dude??' tweet.

But let's face it. There are crazy folk out there. In our industry, as nice and sunshine and roses as we like to think it is. So what do you do to protect yourself and your family while still being real and accessible?

Wait, N, this doesn't apply to us. We're Rejects--no one cares about us right now.

Okay, that's not true--WE CARE!! But I get the point. You aren't an agent, you aren't a publishing professional, you aren't an author with crazy fans (or haters) filling up your inbox. Your just an aspiring writer. Who cares if you tweet about your kids or post pictures from your babies daycare on Facebook?

Fun fact: I so rarely use my childrens names on facebook that my sister-in-law actually addressed a Christmas present to my youngest by her internet name. (Bug). Amusing, yes? But also, it means I'm doing what I want. Because sure, I have lots of family on Facebook. And I post pictures of my kids there.

But I have lots of writers there that I've never met, and probably never will. Some of them--Auzy and Liz, for example--I wouldn't care if they knew my kids names and fun stuff like that, but the fact is, I'm not comfortable sharing that kind of personal details with the general public. It's not need to know information.

Okay, but why can we know Mike's name. Don't you care about him?

Well, duh. But dude, he's an adult. He can take care of his own self.

That's my line--I don't share personal details about my kids, like names and where they go to school. Same goes for my nieces and nephews. Everyone else is fair game.

What boundaries do you have in the realm of social media? What aren't you willing to share?

The Winner of the Agent Contest with Pam of Larsen Pomada

First off, I would like to thank all those who participated in our agent contest. We got some really great entries and for our first contest the turnout was wonderful. So thanks again everyone. Also a shout out to Pam van Hylckama Vlieg for choosing the winner and offering a 30-page-critique. Thanks :)

So without further adieu the winner is:

Violent Delights by Rachel S.

Congratulations!!

Rachel please email us your 30 pages at writerlyrejects(at) gmail (dot) com.

Lotsa love,

The Writerly Rejects

Agent Contest! Top 10!

It’s today! Which mean we have NEWS!

Okay, for the good news: We had fewer entries than we anticipated, so EVERYONE who entered is getting a crit! If you wanted a 5page crit, please send your pages to writerlyrejects@gmail.com and include your number in the subject line.

Now, after a ton of deliberation—seriously, good work you guys—we’ve narrowed the pool down to the top ten for Pam to peruse. And those ten are:

1) Arkasia—Stephanie Sauvinet

10). Violent Delights—Rachel S

34) That Succs—Larissa Hardesty

35) The Unleashing—Amanda Burckhard

45) Shut Up and Kill Me—Sarah Nelson

17) The Girl With Porcelain Wings—Tristina Wright

25) Silver Pool of Light—Kristen Wixted 

29) Lovecraft—Karen Junker

8) A Legacy of Frost and Fire—Heather Davis

24) The Family Vygil—April Wall

Congrats, you guys! These will be going to Pam today and we will announce her winner sometime next week.

All other critiques will be sent out by next Friday.

You guys, thanks so much for joining us for this! I know there were some hiccups in the process (my fault) but hopefully we’ll smooth those out before our next contest. If you have any suggestions for us, please leave them in the comments! :)

AND! Next week we will concentrate on queries all week. There will be thoughts from us, and some really rough queries from our early days and logline pitch posts. It's gonna be fun! :) 

Agent Contest!!

You guys!! It's here, the very first Rejects agent contest! I am so excited for y'all to get in front of our guest agent, Pam van Hylckama Vlieg of Larsen Pomada Literary.  She’s an active blogger and just announced her first sale as an agent, after less than two months! Here’s a little more about Pam:
Pam van Hylckama Vlieg joined Larsen Pomada as an Associate Literary Agent in 2012 to represent young adult and middle grade children's book authors. Over the past four years Pam has become one of the top YA book bloggers in the country at Bookalicious.org. She also works part time at Hicklebee's, a children's bookstore in San Jose, CA.

Pam writes fantastical YA and MG fiction and is represented by Laurie McLean, also of Larsen Pomada Literary Agents. She lives in the Bay Area of California with her Dutch husband, two children--a boy and a girl the perfect set--a Jack Russell terrier, a bull dog puppy, and a small guinea pig. It is her greatest dream to own a menagerie.

This contest is open to:

Picture books: Authors/Illustrators ONLY.

YA: Contemporary, fantasy, science fiction and urban fantasy.

MG/Tween: Contemporary, fantasy, action/adventure

Romance: historical, paranormal, urban fantasy

So, here's how this is gonna work. On May 22, send your entry to writerlyrejects@gmail.com. We'll take entries from 9am to 12midnight (EST). Each submission will receive a number and will go into a lotto.
The Rejects will narrow the initial pool of 60 entries down to 10, and Pam will pick a winner from these top ten.
What does the winner receive (yeah, that's why your still reading. I know). Pam is graciously offering a thirty page critique! How cool is that?!?
Wait a second, though. We think everyone should win *something* so here's the bonus: all sixty entries will receive a query critique OR critique of their first five pages, by one of the Rejects.

Not too bad, right?

Okay, so to submit, format your entry:
TITLE
Your Name
Genre

One sentence logline

Query.

 Your preference of query or 5 page crit.

Make sure your following the blog, and then send your entry to writerlyrejects@gmail.com between 9am-12midnight on TUESDAY MAY 22. Please place AGENT CONTEST in the subject line. THIS IS IMPORTANT: If you DON’T, you will NOT be entered.

You will receive confirmation that your entry was received, and later will receive a number for the lotto. 
The 60 entries chosen by the lotto will be emailed by Thursday, as well as being posted here. The Rejects will then narrow that pool down to 10 for Pam and she will pick her winner.

You guys, I'm super excited! I'm looking forward to reading y'all's entries!
 Good luck!!
N~

P.S. Don't forget the launch raffle that we're having until Friday! Check it out here.