Monday, 28 May 2012

200 Follower Giveaway

I know this is a bit late... but better late than never. After the holiday, I feel like I came back briefly then went away again, and I've only been commenting sporadically and in odd moments. The reason for this is simple: I'm jobhunting. It's become clear that we can't manage on just one wage coming in, and I'm looking for part-time and full-time stuff so there might be childcare involved as well.

I'm sure that when (if) I find something, things will settle into a new routine and my blogging will start to flow around this, but right now I'm dealing with interminable forms and emails which are eating all my time, so hopefully you can bear with me. Also, times really have changed and it's tough out there. I've been for a number of interviews so far with no luck, while other jobs I just haven't heard back from. It was never like this ten years ago. Anyway, I'm trying to stay positive and I'll be sure to share any good news on here!

So, onto my first ever giveaway. I'm sure you'll understand that I can't do any monetary-type prizes right now... so this will be a time-based investment wherein I offer my critiquing services. However, I'm aware that not everyone who reads this blog will be a fiction writer, so I'm making the list of things I'll look at pretty wide. Basically, I'll do anything. Hey, I'm a trained editor after all.

This could include the following:
  • Short story
  • Opening three chapters of a novel or non-fiction work
  • Poem
  • News article
  • Feature
  • Interview
  • Review
  • Essay or report
  • Homework assignment
  • Blog post
  • Anything else you can think of
  • Or if you don't have anything, how about an interview on my blog? Or a guest post (with option of a critique!)

In order to have a chance to win, you must comment on this post by Monday, June 11th, letting me know what prize you'd like. You can get an extra entry by doing any of the following: Tweeting it, Facebooking, Googling Plussing or broadcasting in any other form of media, while mentioning it in a blog post will secure two extra entries. Just make sure you leave a link of evidence in your comment. Three winners will be chosen at random after midnight GMT, two weeks' time.

Good luck!! And thanks to you all for being here! :o) To be honest, I'm scratching my head wondering how it happened!

35 comments:

Kyra Lennon said...

Good luck with the job hunt - it's so hard to find work at the moment!

Congrats on all the followers! :D

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick .. good luck - it's a challenging world for us all at the moment. I do hope something comes up soon.

Congratulations on 200 followers - that's a great achievement ..

Keep well and look after yourselves .. cheers Hilary

Elise Fallson said...

All the best to you with the job search, it can be a pain. And congrats on your 200+ followers! Oh, and I'll have a Bounty please... (:

S.P. Bowers said...

Congrats on the followers and good luck on the job hunt. I wish you the best of luck and hope you find the right job.

Put me in the drawing. I'd love a synopsis crit if that's an option.

Matthew MacNish said...

Congrats on the followers. And man, I wish you luck in the hunt for work. It's definitely a tough market over here, and I'm sure no different there.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Congratulations! I'll let someone else have the critiquing as I have nothing ready at the moment.
Good luck with the job search!

Michael Horvath said...

I don't wish to offend anyone by commenting here spiritually but the hell with it. lol

It's not really "winning" but I have you in my prayers for your family and the job hunt.

Michael Horvath said...
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Michael Horvath said...
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Michael Horvath said...

Same comment three times... that would definitely be pushing spirituality if I didn't delete 2 of them.

Treskie said...

Congratulations on the 200 followers!

I'd like the opening three chapters of a novel if it's not too much trouble..?

Nick Wilford said...

Kyra - Thanks! I've been out of work for four years looking after the kid. Yep, getting back out there is hard!

Hilary - Thanks very much for your kind words.

Elise - Lol, you can have a Bounty by all means. I don't like coconut myself!

S.P. - Thanks. Of course you can have a synopsis crit. I'd forgotten all about those! Bit out of practice with synopses, hope that doesn't put you off!

Matthew - I think it's tough in most places.

Alex - Thanks a lot!

Michael - Thank very much. That means a lot. I like a bit of spirituality, as opposed to religion.

Treskie - No trouble. I'm leaving the giveaway up for two weeks as my goal is to be employed by the end of that time! Got an interview on Wednesday, anyway - fingers crossed...

C.B. Wentworth said...

Congrats on 200 followers! :-)

hmmm . . . the candy looks pretty good.

And so does a crit. :-)

Chuck said...

Congrats on 200 and beyond! Good luck with the job hunting...there has to be something out there for your line of work and what I suspect is quite a bit of talent. Hang in there Nick!

Morgan said...

Ohhhh... so sorry for hardship, Nick! Grrrr... so hard. I soooooo hope things turn around soon... :(

But crit's are the BEST kind of give-a-way by far. I think that's waaaaay generous. Man, I'd freak to win one of those. You are awesome, friend. :)

Annalisa Crawford said...

Hi Nick, just popping in the return the follow. Good luck with the job hunting!

Suze said...

That's awfully nice, Nick. Congratulations on your followship!

Tasha Seegmiller said...

Congrats on hitting 200 followers and for stopping by my blog. And best of luck on the job hunting. It is a scary world out there right now with the economy. If I win, I would love a fresh perspective on the first couple chapters of my book.

Ciara said...

Congrats on the over 200 followers!!! Good luck on the job hunt, it's tough. I'll pass the critique on to someone deserving as I have nothing at the moment to send. :)

Nick Wilford said...

C.B. - Thanks! I wish I actually DID have a tub of it next to me.

If you win, just let me know what you want looked at!

Chuck - Thanks very much! That cheered me up. :)

Morgan - Thanks for the kind words. I'll enter you in the contest.

Annalisa - Thanks!

Karen - Hmm, that sounds like an interesting approach. What sort of industry is that? I'll look into it, thanks.

Suze - Thanks. :)

Tasha - Thanks. Things don't look like they're getting better anytime soon, do they?

Ciara - I've seen your range of works. I don't think you need the critique!

michelle said...

Good luck with the job hunting. And congrats on the 200+ followers...
A critique, by a trained editor - would be lovely...

Nicole said...

Congrats! And thanks for the fantastic contest. I'd take the opening chapter critique.

Unknown said...

Congrats on 200+ followers, and I just joined the ranking! Best of luck on the job hunt. I tweeted about your giveaway and I'll take an interview if you're offering (and if I just so happen to be one of the lucky winners):
https://twitter.com/MrPierceBooks/status/207678164338614272

kjmckendry said...

Congrats on 200+! Good luck with the job hunting!
I don't have anything to send yet.

Julie Dao said...

Good luck job-hunting! It's such a necessary evil, isn't it? And congratulations on your 200 followers, what a great milestone and celebratory giveaway. I'm definitely interested in the blog interview since I've never done one!

Mina Burrows said...

Woot! 200! Almost at 250 now too! Good luck hob hunting! :)

Elana Johnson said...

Congrats on 200 followers!

Nick Wilford said...

Michelle - Thanks. If only an editing job was coming up, sadly I have training in this area but not much concrete experience!

Nicole - No prob!

Michael - Thanks for following and tweeting!

Kathy - Thanks. There's no time limit, if you want to enter I'll owe you a critique whenever you're ready. :)

Julie - Thanks very much! I've never done a blog interview either, or conducted one - sounds like fun!

Mina - Thanks. I know I was a bit late with the giveaway, but reached 200 during April and didn't really have time then!

Elana - Thanks!

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Best of luck on your job search! It is hard here too, but finally, after several years it seems as if our construction business is getting a bit busier.

Take care,

Kathy M.

Cherie Reich said...

Congrats for having 200 followers (closing in on 250 now!)!

D.E. Malone said...

Congratulations on your legions of followers! I wouldn't mind a critique of 3 chapters if I'm a winner.
Best of luck on the job search, too!

Emily R. King said...

What a great giveaway! I'd choose the 3 chapter critique.

Congrats on surpassing 200 followers, Nick!

Nick Wilford said...

Kathy - Good to hear things are getting better for you.

Cherie - Thanks!

Dawn - No probs. Thanks!

Emily - Thanks - good luck!

Andrea Teagan said...

This is so exciting! What a great idea for a prize :)

I just found your blog and I love it. Looking forward to reading more.

Congrats on getting almost 250 followers now!

Andrea

Nick Wilford said...

Andrea - Well, you just got in under the wire with the giveaway. Thanks for following!