The ABC's of A Good Friend... "M" and a SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Reminder

(There are only a few times in life that I will lose my manners.  Being chased by hornets will cause a whole different side of me to emerge...It's not pretty either.)

It's day 13 of Arlee Bird's A-Z Challenge! Since I write for younger children and we're doing the ABC's, I thought I'd do The ABC's of A Good Friend (and throw in a few random pictures, because I have a bit of a camera habit).

~M~

Call me old fashioned, but I want a friend that has manners.  If you are going to be late, you call and say I'm running late.  If you're invited to a function, you RSVP whether it's on the invitation or not.  I'm not perfect by any means, but I try to behave like a "good" grown up when I'm around other people's kids and I hope for that same respect around my kiddo.  I like friends who say please and thank you...and don't sag.  It doesn't bother me when I see your bra strap, but when I can see your underwear it really bothers me, especially if you aren't bent over trying to fix my sink.  I like friends who wait until 3/4 of the table is served when we go out to dinner.  Call me old school and when a lady gets up from the table, I think it's lovely when the men get up too.   I really like to see people everywhere displaying good manners.  Holding doors for people in shops, offering to help someone if they can't reach an item on a shelf or just having polite chit chat with someone who is serving you at a restaurant or checking you out at Target are all ways to show you have good manners.  I think how you interact with people, all people, shows what type of friend you might be.

What good manners do you like to see people display?  Do you have any other "M" words for me?

Today, Friday, April  15th is the final day to cast your vote in Round 2 of the 2011 SCBWI Crystal Kite.  If you are an SCBWI member and haven't voted please hop over and vote.  (Hilary Wagner's book Nightshade City is up for the award in one region!)

CRITIQUE CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT...With Awesome Prizes! (And Show Me the Voice Contest Entry)

It's been a long time since I've hosted a critique session here at Random Thoughts, so I thought it was time to do one again.  This time we have a special prize.  Judith Engracia, Literary Assistant at Liza Dawson Associates Literary Agency is going to judge your entries and choose at least two winners.  The two winners will receive a ten page critique from Judith!  How awesome is that!!! 

I adore Judith and am sure you will too...

Judith is a literary assistant at Liza Dawson Associates, handling audio rights and digital publishing. She graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University with a B.A. in English and History on a full presidential scholarship. Prior to joining Liza Dawson Associates in 2010, she interned at Random House and a number of literary agencies, including FinePrint Literary and Nancy Coffey Literary Management. She is currently building her client list and looking for all types of fiction, especially middle grade, young adult, urban fantasy, steampunk, and paranormal romance. When she's not reading, she is either training for her next martial arts test or causing mischief with her Siberian Husky, Grendel.

Here are the rules...

Your manuscript must be a complete mg, ya or fiction novel.  You must email me the first 100 words...more or less, don't end in the middle of a sentence.  I will take the first 50 entries and then close the contest.  You may submit one piece to be critiqued.  If you enter, I hope that you will take the time to critique at least 10 other people's submissions.  I'll post the entries on Monday. 

Email your submission to me at skmayh at q dot com in this format:

Title:
Genre:
First 100 words

Good luck everyone!
CONTEST SUBMISSIONS NOW CLOSED...

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In case you hadn't heard Hilary Wagner's wicked cool book, Nightshade City made it to the final round of the SCWBI Crystal Kite Awards.  If you are a member...Please hop over and give her your vote!  Nightshade City is an awesome book!

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YIKES!  I forgot that I had entered Brenda Drake's Show Me the Voice Contest!  Here's my entry...Any input will be appreciated.  :)

TITLE: BEG, BORROW, AND EARN

GENRE: CHAPTER BOOK

David jumped in front of the shopping cart.

Mom stopped abruptly.

“Can I get new sneakers?”

“You can wear the ones you have until the end of the summer. We’ll get you a new pair, right before school starts.”

David tossed a box of chocolate Pop Tarts in the cart. “But Mom, school doesn’t END until tomorrow! I hafta wait all summer to get them?” David squeaked.

Mom didn’t answer, which meant she DID expect him to wait all summer.

“Oh well at least I know what kind I want. I want a pair of black and white Ninja Heelys.”

Mom continued reading the label on a box of Cap’n Crunch. Then she looked over the top of her glasses. “I can’t see the point in spending sixty dollars on a pair of sneakers that turn into roller skates when you already have roller blades.”

“But, Mom, they’re wicked cool! I have to have them or everyone’ll think I’m a loser.”

“If you save your allowance and earn the rest of the money you can buy them yourself.”

“Awe, Mom, how can I earn sixty dollars plus tax this summer? I only get two bucks a week. Summer vacation is only ten weeks, so if I save everything I’ll…” David paused, “only have twenty bucks.”

“You’re right,” Mom said. “Ten weeks times two dollars is twenty dollars, but your birthday’s in July. Grandma Pat and Uncle Ken always send you money.”

“Oh yeah, they send me however old I am in dollars.

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Have a great weekend! Don't foget to vote for the Crystal Kite Award and to send my your first 100 words of your completed manuscript by Monday...

HAVE YOU VOTED? TUESDAY IS THE DEADLINE!!!

One of our bloggy friend's names showed up on the list of nominees for the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award!  If you are a SCBWI member please log in and check who is up for the award in your region.  You never know when one of your bloggy friends might show up on the list.  I was so excited when I saw our buddy Hilary Wagner was on the list!

So here's the scoop...
Tuesday, March 15th is the final day to cast your vote in Round 1 of the 2011 SCBWI Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards! Round 2 voting starts on Thursday, March 17th.


How to vote!
1. Log in at SCBWI.org.
2. Click on the "See what's going on in your region!" link on your Member Home Page.
3. Click on the tab that says "Crystal Kite."
4. Browse through the nominated books and authors from your Regional Division and vote for the book of your choice.

If you haven't voted and you are a SCBWI member, please hop over and vote!

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Did you meet your goals for this week?  I didn't, I got a bit distracted by Katherine's birthday.  Then my car got sick...very sick...it went into limp mode.  Thankfully it was easily quickly fixed.
What are your goals for next week? Next week is a new week and I have new goals, plus my revision goals from last week.




Have a safe and happy weekend and don't forget to vote!