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In case you wonder why I do this competition, excerpts from Notes from our W.I.N.NERS and others...
"I tied for third in your Picture Book Manuscript category with Don't Read This Book.
I'll tell you the truth, this contest really inspired me & helped
me realize why I wanted to write for children. At the end of the
manuscript all the creatures are ready to reach out and tickle the
reader. I just pictured the adult who is reading the story to
the child doing the actual tickling, thus creating and fun moment for
the two... or what some people call God moments. Anyway if as a writer
I could create that moment for a child, that would be great. But I
don't think I realized what my purpose for writing was until reading
Franceska Rusackas' comments about kids giggling. So just another
sincere thank you." - Cindy Brunelle
"Dear Roxyanne, First, I want to thank you for hosting the WIN contest, and thank you and your staff and the judges for all of your hard work. I recently had an ICL student ask me if I recommend entering contests. I told her I do, if they are not designed as money makers. I recommended contests such as SmartWriters.com, and Highlights, and Delacorte, etc., because they can lead to attention by editors, and even contracts. (One hint of a money-maker, if the organization gives nothing in return for "winning" or makes the participants buy anthologies in order to see their work in print.) I commend you for running a first-rate contest with top name writers and editors who came on board to judge, and review the winners' manuscripts. I believe this is possible because you have built a solid, dependable reputation with an award-winning website. Respectfully yours, Christine Kohler (who placed second in the MG novel category this year, 2005, with a Civil War novel, IN SEARCH OF BEULAH LAND, and third place in the YA category in 2004 with GRIDIRON GIRLS.)"
"Even though I didn't place or win, I still want to thank Roxy for the work, time effort sweat and lost sleep she put into this contest. It took a huge amount of organisation, and because of her there are going to be a lot of happy people today and in the near future - she's not only given the winners and honourable mentions the joy of winning, but I know from past contests that every one of these ms. will be seen by editors - and a number of them will result in contracts.That's a huge boost to writers, Roxy, and thank you for the opportunity." - Bev Cooke
"I am still so stunned that my HERO OF NACOZARI won first prize in non-fiction that I can't articulate how excited and awed I feel. But most of all, I feel much gratitude to you and Kelly for your unstinting efforts at making Smartwriters THE contest. You two truly are dedicated and among the most respected individuals in the field. I promise you a proper thank you note when I am not jumping up in excitement every few seconds! For now....Thank you, thank you, thank you and Happy 4th of July. May your fireworks be as bright as mine!" - Kate Tuthill, 1st Place, Non-Fiction, for Hero of Nacozari
"I was excited to find a congratulatory email in my inbox this morning--one of my friends noticed I won an honorable mention in your contest before I even made it to the site! Thanks so much for all the work you did. This made my week!" - Deborah Underwood, HM, Picturebooks, for A Balloon for Emily
"YAY! I want to thank you for creating this competition. It gave me the boost I need to keep plugging along. I received honorable mention in the YA category and you have no idea (well, yes you probably do) how much it means to me to be recognised for my work. I appreciate the time and effort that went into the comp's organization and the hours and hours many of you spent reading our work. Well done, Roxyanne. You are an inspiration.
Thanks again, Can't wait for next year!" - Ann Harth, HM, Young Adult, for Nioka
"I just wanted to thank you for your contest...I was using your contest to motivate myself and test my courage. I submitted to a magazine contest some 15 years ago and submitted an article to a magazine a year ago. That tells you something about my courage! I knew I was sending you a very rough first draft that had no shot at winning, but I still felt it was important to enter. I have now completed a good chunk of the book, joined a critique group and gained a little more courage. So, I just wanted to say thank you. Have a great summer!" - Nancy Bennett
"I was so excited to see my name as an honorable mention! Thank you so much for holding this contest and encouraging us to work toward a goal. It's what people like me need." - Katrina Martin Davenport, HM, Midgrade, for Losing You
"I was thrilled to find my manuscript listed as an honorable mention in the nonfiction category. Kelly's words about my writing were so kind--she's given me a confidence boost that I hope will further spark my writing. Thank you for sponsoring this contest, and for giving children's writers a wonderful opportunity. Now if I can only find an editor who will see my squirrel story the way Kelly did!" - Buffy Silverman, HM, Non-Fiction, for Squirrels of the Old Oak
"Congratulatons to you on a contest well done and congratulations to all the winners. Although my mine wasn't a winner, I gained inspiration and momentum from preparing my mid-grade entry. Over the months I have finished my book and am working on its second revision. I always look forward to your new information at Smart Writers Journal. Thanks so much for your contribution to new writers." - Jennifer Duddy Gill
"I’ve said it other places too but I want you to personally know how often I’ve thought how grateful I am for you and for all the judges of WIN. This was such a special opportunity for me since I live in Brazil. It’s given me the chance to feel like, maybe just maybe, I actually do have the ability to craft something that might catch an editor’s eye. I’m one of the Funky Ducklings crit groupers and we had 3 names on the list (Cassandra, Anne Marie and me). It just confirms what I’ve felt all along. I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of a group that is so talented. You *are* the fairy godmother of children’s publishing. I’m grateful for your sacrificial (time and energy, not to mention MONEY!) spirit." - Kristy Dempsey, 2nd Place, Poetry, for A Slice of Summer: Poems from a Day at the Park
"Oh, Roxyanne, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! I never knew honorable mention could feel so good!!!" - Pam Anzalotti, HM, Illustration, for I'm a Little Hedgehog
"I was thrilled to see my tie for 4th place in the MG category of WIN! I have only recently decided to make my dreams of becoming a published writer a fulltime job. So, this affirmation of my decision is highly appreciated! Thanks so much for all the hard work you have done to help writers (including me) make their dreams come true." - Elizabeth. E. Parker, 4th Place, MG, for The Wandering Ghosts of War
"Dear Roxyanne and Kelly, I discovered Tuesday night that my piece (on why animals don't all have the same number of toes) won fourth place in Non-fiction and I'm thrilled! I'm leaving this afternoon on vacation so this will just carry me across the Atlantic on a pillow of happiness. I'll thank you more profusely when I get back in two weeks. (And hope you'll have gotten a well-deserved vacation too!)" - Suzanne (Suzy) McIntire, 4th Place, Non-Fiction, for Toes 5-4-3-2-1: Countdown to Speed
"Dear Roxyanne, Thank you for all the hard work you do. I was thrilled to see my story listed as an honorable mention. Your site provides an inspiring and meaningful resource. Thank you for bringing our community closer." - Iliana Pappas, HM, Young Adult, for Journey Through Delphi
"Dear Roxyanne, Thank you so much for all of your obvious hard work in coordinating the W.I.N. Competition. Ecstatic that my MG submission received an "Honorable Mention", I am blown away by the originality and writing caliber of the winning submissions, and feel honored to be mentioned among them. I have no doubt that this contest will help expedite the publishing process for many by encouraging us to stay focused, squash that inner critic, polish our work and submit to editors. Thanks again to all the judges for your time!" - Eve Ann Porinchak, HM, Midgrade, for Kidz in the Wood
"Roxyanne, thank you SO much for hosting such a motivating competition! I was delighted that my story tied for fourth place in the middle-grade category - I'm still grinning! This news was most welcome, as it has given me the push I needed to edit the piece and submit, submit, submit! The feedback the judges gave was so valuable - many thanks to them for their time and energy. Hats off to SmartWriters!" - Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, Midgrade, Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different, tied for 4th
"If you heard a lot of racket recently, it was probably me. I've been shouting from the roof top how absolutely delighted and thrilled I am to earn 3rd and tie for 4th in the Middle Grade category. What an honor! Being a contest winner has been like a shot in the arm - inspiration to continue writing and the validation I needed. Thank you so much for sponsoring Write It Now! I imagine it is a labor of love. I just wanted you to know that I really appreciate the opportunity to have my work reviewed further by editors. Thank you so much!" - Nancy Craddock, Midgrade, The State of Kentucky vs. Harley Ocean Hamilton, 3rd place AND, The Truth According to Claude Brown, tied for 4th
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