Contest Circuit: So Many Contests, So Little Time

This week's list is so exciting, I had to post a little early. Several of these contests happen over the next couple days - including today. Make sure you hop over to these sites and take advantage of them!!

Contests:
Ruth Lauren Steven and Michelle Krys are hosting Christmas in July on July 9th with ten agents! On July 9th send in your query and first 500 in hopes that you'll be picked to be a finalist! Head over to either of their sites NOW and submit your entry!!

Writerly Rejects is hosting a 3-5 sentence pitch contest on July 9th. They will pick their 20 favorite pitches to send to Claire Anderson-Wheeler at Anderson Literary Management. Of them, Claire will choose one to receive a FULL MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUE!!

YAtopia is hosting a New Adult Pitch Contest judged by super-agent Sara Megibow and Managing Editor at Entangled Publishing, Heather Howland. Include your 35 word pitch on July 10 to win a request from these ladies!

Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes is hosting a pitch contest with Entangled Publishing on July 16. Again, post your 35 word pitch. Brenda will accept the first 200 entries. Even if you don't get picked for a request, her planning partner Adrien-Luc Sanders will be critiquing ALL 200 pitches.

Savvy Authors hosts MULTIPLE pitch contests with fabulous agents. Agents in July's upcoming pitch contests include Jill Marsal of Marshal Lyon Literary, Laurie McLean of Larsen Pomada Literary Agency, Peter Knapp of Park Literary Group, Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency. You need to be a member to participate, but basic membership is free.

KT Hanna is celebrating her one year Blogiversary with a critique contest featuring literary agent Judith Engracia of Liza Dawson Associates. Enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win. Contest ends July 10.

Deanna Romito from I Write For Apples is having a contest where you could win a first page critique or a query critique from Amanda Lewis of the Doe Coover Agency.

Writer's Digest is hosting a short story competition. Write about your best summer tales or fictional stories in 1,200 words or less. Winning stories will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Writer's Digest store and promotion on WritersDigest.com. Ends July 15.

Giveaways:
Elizabeth Norris, author of UNRAVELING (my newest book obsession - I can't stop thinking about it!), is giving away her favorite July read SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY by Suzanne Dennard. Ends July 20.

Courtney Vail at Gotta Have YA is giving away a $25 gift certificate and copies of Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER and LAMENT. Ends July 10.

Ingrid Paulson is giving away an ARC of her debut novel VALKYRIE RISING, which comes out in October 2012. Contest ends July 12.

Blog Hops:

Sharon Bayliss and Courtney Young are hosting the Buccaneer Blogfest, an event designed to help bloggers build their platform and create connections. This will run from July 9 - August 3 with three prompts per week.

Falling For Fiction is hosting a Hookers and Hangers Bloghop. On July 16, you post your "Hookers" - aka the first sentence from a chapter. Then on July 18, you'll post your "Hangers" - the last line from a chapter. Winners will receive a 10 page critique!