You can help the victims of Hurricane Sandy (and boost your writing)

Write Now Relief – How you can help the victims of Hurricane Sandy and also get a little first aid for your novel.

WHAT: Bid on a 50-page critique of your novel by a published novelist. Highest bidder will send their amount to Samaritans Purse for their relief efforts for the victims of superstorm Sandy. Authors include Susan Meissner, Rachel Hauck, Hannah Alexander, Ginny Yttrup, Ruth Axtell, Jill Williamson, Miralee Ferrell, Kathleen Y’Barbo, Kathy Fuller, Donita K. Paul, Gayle Roper, Missy Tippens, Nicole O’Dell, and more.

WHEN: Begins Friday, November 9, ends Friday midnight EST November 16.

HOW: On Nov. 9, head to the blog of the author you’d like to have critique your 50 pages. Find their Write Now Relief blog post and place your bid in the comments section of that post. Monitor it closely so that you can re-bid. Check back on this Facebook page for updates on all the bids. If you are the high bidder at the end of the week, make your donation to Samaritan’s Purse and email a copy of your receipt to the author with your 50 pages. It’s that easy.

How much is a 50-page critique worth?

Most authors and editors can easily charge $35 an hour and a fifty-page critique is well over three hours of labor. But this labor of love is for people who have lost everything. Their need is huge. One blogger who hosted a similar campaign last week had a top donation bid of $1,000 for a 50-page critique!

What will the critique entail?

The author you choose will read your fifty pages with an eye to giving you insights and feedback on all aspects of your story excerpt, including plot, character, story arc, mechanics, pacing, and reader appeal.

What is Samaritan’s Purse?

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational Christian organization providing aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Here is a video from Samaritans Purse on their efforts to help Sandy’s victims.

http://youtu.be/rd7KyY2p6ms

How do I donate to Samaritans Purse?

You can head to the Samaritan’s Purse webpage on Hurricane Sandy http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/hurricane_sandy/

and click on the GIVE link imbedded on the page. Whether you are the highest bidder or not, do consider donating to this effort.

How do I start?

Check Susan Meissner’s blog on Thursday, Nov 8 for the full list of participating authors and their blog addresses. Pick an author, head to their blog on Friday, November 9, and make your opening bid.