Tag Archives | FYI

Heads Up: 2013 Minions

Now that we’ve had a week of rest from the spectacular end to Crits for Water 2012, I am of course thinking of next year. So first of all, yes, there will be a next year (well, unless the world ends or something that, yanno, I can’t control). Yes, it will hopefully be bigger and help even more people.

But I learned from the wonderful madness of this year that I can’t do it alone. I had spectacular help from Jess and of course all the amazing Guest Critiquers. However, if next year continues to grow to the extent that this year did, I’ll need help. Lots of help.

So I’m putting out some feelers right now–Crits for Water 2013 could use some minions. I’m thinking no more than 10, but I’ll be flexible depending on schedules. If you’re interested, just comment on this blog post. That doesn’t mean you absolutely must help in 2013. And you would also not have to help for the full three months.

Probably sometime in February, 2013, I’ll contact the folks who commented here, and we’ll go from there.

Tech Minions

  • Tech minions would help out with coding and forms. If anyone’s got skills in database design, especially something that could sync up with google docs or something of the like, that’d rock my world.
  • It’s possible that the campaign could use some new graphics, too, or things of that like, so anybody with an eye for design, feel free to say, ‘Aye.’

Organizing Minions

  • Organizers would help out by scheduling and writing blog posts, tweets, and also keeping an eye on active critique events. Folks would need to be comfortable with WordPress, Twitter, and be relatively obsessed with checking their emails.
  • Though, again, commenting only indicates interest (you are NOT signing a contract in blood, swearsies), running the campaign takes time. I would estimate a commitment of about five hours per week.

If you’d like to be a minion, you can still participate in the campaign (bid/enter for critiques)–but only for critiques that you’re not managing.

ALSO, even if you’re not interested in becoming a 2013 minion, if you have any suggestions to improve the campaign, I am all ears. I’d like Crits for Water to be as smooth and helpful as possible, and obviously I hope to raise even more next year. The best way to do that is to get feedback.

So let me know guys! And thanks for the last amazing three months, and ahead of time for anybody who might want to keep me from going insane during April-June 2013.

LOVE YOU.

Posted on July 8, 2012 in FAQ · Comments { 10 }

CLOSED

Crits for Water 2012 is


now closed.

Thank you so much to everyone for helping us serve over 750 people with clean, safe water. Lots of hearts!!

Posted on June 30, 2012 in FAQ · Comments { 0 }

May’s “Water Stories” Winner

For Crits for Water 2012, I’ve decided to support the running of charity: water by purchasing sweet swag from their store…for you guys. To enter for some water-themed swag, all you have to do is write a Water Story, take a photo, share a memory, whatever, as long as water’s involved. There are still two more drawings to go on the last day of June, so feel free to keep entering! No donation required–on your end. It’s a shared experience, and all to support the folks in New York who have made this campaign possible.

May had three water story submissions! Check out

And the winner of this month’s drawing is…


Linda! HUZZAH

I’ll be emailing you soon.

Linda just won this super sweet hat:

Thanks to the other fine ladies. Good news: everyone is still eligible for the grand prize drawing! And if you’d like to contribute a Water Story now, you’ll be entered for both June’s drawing AND the grand prize. I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to enter more than once, of course :D

Posted on May 31, 2012 in Giveaway, Water Story · Comments { 2 }

Agent Wishlist: INFO

FYI: Please do not donate for the agent wishlist yet! It will open on May 30th.

Group hugs are the best.

We’re gonna try something different, fun, and exciting on May 30th, so get ready guys, and tell your friends. Super Intern Jess Silva and Super Author Luvina Jean-Charles have put together a unique opportunity to get your work critiqued by one or both of them AND an agent. How?

Grant an Agent’s Wish!

Two agents, Sandy Lu of L. Perkins Agency, and Natanya Wheeler of Nancy Yost Literary have given Crits for Water 2012 three wishes of what they’d love to see in their inbox. If your MS matches one of those wishes, you can enter to get the first five pages of your MS plus a query read and critiqued. Each wish can have up to ten entries. To land an entry, comment on the blog post saying the agent and the wish.

Once your entry is confirmed by Jess, choose your donation:

$1 to enter only (no critique, unless you’re passed onto the agent).
$5 for a critique from Jess or Luvina
$10 for a critique from both ladies
(Again, please DON’T donate now.)

Whatever donation you choose, Jess or Luvina will read the entry and possibly pass it onto the Agent for another critique!

The wishes will be posted on May 30th!
The Agent Wishlist will be open for three days, or until each wish reaches 10 entries.
Whichever comes first.

So yeah. EPIC.

But also possibly confusing. If you have any questions about the Agent Wishlist, please throw them in the comments below. We’re figuring it out, too!

Posted on May 27, 2012 in 2012 Crits, FAQ · Comments { 4 }

GOAL!

I am flipping out. Y’all rock my world.

And there’s still another month left. We can change so many more lives. I am so excited for June! Also, be on the look out for information about the first Agent Wishlist coming soon. :)

Posted on May 26, 2012 in FAQ · Comments { 2 }

Halfway Point: Redux

So, Crits for Water 2012 is more than halfway over, and I am just FLABBERGASTED. Y’all have gone above and beyond my expectations. There’s so much generosity, sometimes I’m not sure I even know how to spell generous. Thank you so much for showing how truly giving and kind folks can be, and thank you for all of your support.

And with that, a few housekeeping notes.

First of all–Rachel Bateman, editor and author extraordinaire, is offering a fantastic opportunity for any YA or MG authors out there. Her auction for a full manuscript critique (with copy-edits) went for $400 (enough to give TWENTY freaking people clean, safe water). Rachel’s offered up another full MS crit. With copy-edits. The first person (with a YA/MG MS) to comment on this blog post willing to match the $400 donation gets it.

Secondly, as we close on $9000 with nearly five more weeks–or more than thirty-five more days of chances to change lives–I thought I’d give some shout outs to awesome people. Go visit them, follow them on twitter, and give them thanks from me. Crits for Water would never have been as successful without their support.

First, of course, Jess, the PB to my jelly: for designing the Crits for Water website, offering to run the agent wishlists with Luvina, for your support and enthusiasm, and listening to me freak out–you rock my life, lady. Thank you.

Next, to the Soozinator: for helping me hammer out Crits for Water last year, and her never-ending support and enthusiasm this year. Acting as liaison to countless contributors (not to mention contributing herself), and making me feel special. Much loff.

And likewise to Amie Kaufman: her excitement and readiness to help made Crits for Water grow by leaps and bounds, connecting me to so many selfless folks of the Lucky 13s. Plus it’s always nice to have friends who live on the same time zone (albeit different hemispheres).

And of course, of course, our donators on both sides of the spectrum: authors and agents and editors helping the cause with their skills, and the authors donating for that expertise. Guys, we have done so much good already. I am so amazed by all of you, and so very, very happy that I could see this level of awesome.

I’ve been 25 for about two months, and this is already the greatest birthday present ever.

Now let’s have a rocking end of May, a ridiculously spifftastic June–the bestest five weeks ever, dudes and dudettes.

<3

Posted on May 19, 2012 in FAQ · Comments { 4 }

Donate: Crits for Water 2012

Well, it’s officially March 31st in both Japan and the US, which means I’m 25 years old across the whole world. (Happy Birthday, me!) That’s also means that Crits for Water 2012

is now open.

http://mycharitywater.org/critsforwater2012

  • You can donate at any time for a Kat-Crit. (Please check the about page for calculating donation amounts.)
  • You can also send me a water story at any time. You don’t have to donate, and it enters you into a monthly raffle for awesome prizes. Plus, it’s nice to share.
  • If you would like to donate for a Guest Critique, please wait until the date of the critique event for further instructions. (Posted on this blog.)
  • If you have any questions or concerns, email me (kat@katbrauer.com), write a comment, or use this form.

Thank you so much everyone! US$10,000, 500 people, two water projects. LET’S DO THIS.

Posted on March 31, 2012 in FAQ · Comments { 0 }

We interrupt your scheduled programming…

So I’m in Tokyo. Which is great, PS. I’m here to watch a baseball game (yes, closet Mariners fan). I’ll be back home in plenty of time to get the campaign ball rolling, bur as my interwebs is maybe not so readily available, I thought I’d let y’all know why the emails are unanswered/the Crit Theory series is as yet unfinished.

I know, you are so dispondent despondent (I swears I can spell right, Ma!) ;)

Posted on March 27, 2012 in Uncategorized · Comments { 0 }

It’s Springtime for Crits for Water

Crits for Water 2012.

$10,000.

Two water projects.

500 people with clean water.

Helping authors with connections, friendships, and critiques.

Opens March 31.

Check around the website for more information or contact me with any questions, concerns, or clarifications. I would love a Water Story! Follow the blog and twitter for the fastest updates, and come back next week as I begin waxing poetic about water and critiques. (I know, you’re excited. You’re welcome.)

Posted on March 16, 2012 in FAQ · Comments { 1 }

Patience, young padawans.

Crits for Water, 2012, will open on March 31. It will last for three months, until June 30. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about charity: water, the ins-and-outs of the campaign, or guest critiques, have a look around. Also, I’d love if you would write a water story. (Seriously.) Anyone can contribute, and they’re accepted NOW until June 28.

This website and its pages will be updated as the campaign gains steam. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to comment, contact me on twitter, email me, or use this handy-dandy form.

Hold onto your hats, folks. It’s gonna be a freaking rocktastic ride.

Many, many, many oodles and oodles of thanks for everyone who’s agreed to contribute, and also to the amazing Jess Silva. She designed this blog and rocks my life with her awesomeness.

Posted on February 20, 2012 in FAQ · Comments { 3 }