Friday, November 30, 2012

800 Contest Announcement: Build Me A Blog - Hop!


You guys continue to amaze me with your awesomeness, and for that, I'd like to thank you all for joining me on this cosmic writing journey. Because we're inching towards 800 members (I want to give this enough time for exposure), I figured, hey, why not announce my octennial-member giveaway now? But then I wondered, how am I going to do it this time? I considered what I've done before:

Free Books? ... Nah.

Gift Cards? ... Nah-huh.

A piggy-back ride at the next writer's conference?

...

Tempting, but ... *shakes head* nope!

Then it occurred to me, as I looked at my blog, what I'd do. When it comes to designing, I have a hard time putting images to paper so people can see what I see, but a few talented people have helped The Cosmic Laire become a visually fun place to visit that frames what I do best - write, and the results are stupendous! Instead of another giveaway, and to say thank you to all, we're holding this contest:


Welcome to Build Me A Blog - Hop!

Here's how this monkey's going to swing:

- Join this blog (if you already have, that's one less step!).

- Copy the button. Post it on your blog (link back to this post).

- Sign the Linky at the end of this post (closes Dec 19th).

- On December 20th, by 8 AM MST, include in your post a 200 word description of your dream blog/site/banner/avatar/etc. What would it look like? I'll read all the entries and select three winners who wowed me so much that I want to see their description come to life!

Winners will be announced December 24th, and the prizes are:

3rd place: a banner/icon/avatar designed by Tara Tyler.

2nd place: a banner/icon/avatar designed by Darren Hansen.

1st place: a blog background designed by Lisa Campbell ($50 value).

The best Runner Up will receive a rare box of Hostess cupcakes!

(Yes, it's real. No, it hasn't expired yet)

As a followup prize, my inbox will be open to query critics to anyone who wants one (all day, Wednesday 26th). This is a great opportunity to whip your NaNoWriMo query into shape before agencies open their doors for submissions after the holidays (or before the end of the world, whichever happens first), so please, take advantage. Those agents will greatly appreciate it. Details to come on the 26th.

Here's some background info on our master-designers:

Tara Tyler is amibicerebral with an alter ego as a high school math teacher - proving math is not so terrible and anyone can do it! She's had a hand at many jobs from waitressing to rocket engineering and has lived up and down the East Coast, currently rooted with three active boys and Coach husband in Ohio. Her sci fi thriller Pop Travel will be published by Curiosity Quills in 2013.

 

Darren Hansen is a graphic/web-designing wizard as well as the infamous creator of inkPageant.com, who writes urban fantasy and New Adult when he's not making code. He graduated from the University of Utah with a BFA in graphic design and enjoys designing, reading, writing, and playing ultimate Frisbee. He's also interested in creating new widgets for blogs and websites. He presently resides in Utah with his wife and three sons. 

 
Lisa Campbell is a writer and elusively talented web-designing ninja who writers whatever interests her at the moment. She changes her mind constantly and has too many hobbies, so you never know what she's going to do. But, I know she'll always love her family, friends, art, good stories, great humor, culture, language, and sushi.



All three of these wonderful people have touched this blog and turned it into gold, and they can do the same for you! So how about it?

If you have any questions, please ask in the comments below.

Spreading the word is extra credit and space-ogre repellant in one package, so be ogre-free! Tweet, facebook, blog, shout-from-the-rooftops! Dream your blog and may your odds be ever favored!

Thank you all once again, best of luck, and most of all, have fun!

I'm David, and I slay space-ogres for cosmic crullers!

Thanks, Tara!

39 comments:

  1. Congratulations in advance! Tara does awesome banners.

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  2. How fun! I'd totally LOVE any of those prizes :)

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  3. Approaching 800--Wow! Congrats. That is quite a prize package. Tara does have awesome banners.

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  4. Prizes are awesome, but too consumed with writing to play. Good luck to everyone!

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  5. thanks guys! so excited to make more!

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  6. This is awesome!!!! Congratulations on 800 followers!!!! That's a great prize package group. I can't sign up though because I recently won a banner from Tara . . and I want to see someone else win!

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  7. Didn't we just celebrate 700?! This sounds awesome David! I'm in :) I'll link everything back to you on Monday.

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  8. What a great give-away and here's to 800, David. Congratulations.

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  9. I'm in! Sounds like fun. And way to go with reaching almost 800.

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  10. Man, you suck!
    My blog totally needs a re-vamp. I've tried several times to change things up on it, but I can never get them to work. But I don't have any idea what kind of look I'd like it to have right off hand, and I have no time, right now, to figure it out! Bah! Bah! Bah!

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    1. I figured that might be an issue with this contest. That's why I'm letting you guys know 20 days in advance. I hope that's enough time? :)

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    2. I'm not actually sure. I'm pretty swamped, right now. if I get caught up, I'll try to work something out.

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  11. Congrats on almost 800. At the moment I'm happy with my blog's look and header.

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  12. What an awesome way to celebrate - I'm in! And your blog is one of my favorite examples of design done well. Congrats on the (nearly) 800 followers, and a huge thank you in advance for putting together a v. cool prize. Is it sad that the Hostess cupcakes sound almost as good? ;)

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    1. Yes, because that's fewer cupcakes I get to eat. :)

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  13. Hey,

    Congrats also and what a fun event.

    While I could always use a blog makeover, do you have any plans to hold a "Combover Competition?"

    I am In Like Flynn. :)

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  14. What an awesome event! Congrats on the followers! :)

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  15. Congratulations, David! :D I don't have any need for design work, but I wish everyone luck who does!

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  16. I heard those Hostess treats can survive nuclear war. And a zombie apocolypse.

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  17. Congrats! That's quite a few followers. Best wishes to get to 900! :)

    Alexandra~

    PS: I've tagged you as the Next Big Thing in my post: http://wordsoftheworlds.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-next-big-thing-book-tag.html

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  18. Wow. That's a lot of followers! Sounds like an awesome idea for a blog hop. Thanks for hosting!!! :)

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  19. Sounds like a fun event, David! I love your prizes that you'll be handing out! It's awesome, but that piggy-ride to a writer's conference sounds tempting! Congratulations on your followers!

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  20. Can we get an honorable mention? If so, I'd like to apply, win it and watch you give Livia that piggy-back ride at the next writer's conference. :::directing telepathic persuasion at you::: Of course, a blog banner would be nice too.

    Congrats to you on your growing readership, DPK.

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  21. This is such a great idea for a contest. I'm always salivating over those cool widgets and banners and things that I don't even have a name for that I wish I knew how to make (but I'm html clueless) and can't justify buying. I am in:) And congrats on almost 800!

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  22. Kudos to you for this, David. Kinda liking my Masquerade theme so I'll see what I can do to help spread the word.

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  23. Wow, cool idea! I won't sign up because I just re-did my blog, but congrats on the 800 followers!!!

    Allison (Geek Banter)

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  24. hmmm,, that's a pretty awesome freakin idea! i'll be back to sign up. in the meantime...ur kinda mentioned in my last post...blame samantha may!! ;)

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  25. Hi David .. sounds like a great blog hop - I'm a hopping around thinking .. however you're up to 795 .. not sure how I slipped past last time .. cheers = this sounds a fun blog hop. Cheers Hilary

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  26. Thanks for sharing this great post, I really enjoyed the insign you bring to the topic, awesome stuff!


    King Iron Works

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  27. WOW fab prizes I would love to win any of these. I have been keen to do a revamp on my blog. Congrats on all those followers too :)

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  28. Congratulations on your 800 milestone! And what awesome prizes. I've changed my blog design around a few times but I'm never really satisfied with it. Part of the problem is I'm not sure what I want. But I will think about it, see what I can come up with. (:

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  29. Ooo, this sounds like a great idea! Congrats on all the followers David!

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  30. Congrats on the almost 800! Only a few more to go.

    This is such a cool idea for a prize. I really have to think about what I want. I know a general theme for my header, but not exactly what I'd like to see. I will definitely think this one out.

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  31. Totally awesome :) I'm not this creative either. I'll have to think on this.

    ......dhole

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  32. What a great offer!! I shall tweet about it. And since I just reached 800 too, cheers! :D

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  33. Congrats on reaching 800 followers. Awesome! What a great blog giveaway, too. I'm totally in. My blog sadly needs a makeover and I've been thinking about it for ages. This will give me something to work on now that Nanowrimo is finally over.

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  34. You're popular! I'm looking forward to this! It'll be fun to let my imagination go wild, and these are awesome prizes!

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  35. This sounds great, and I'd love a blog makeover...but arrrgh I have no idea how I want my blog to look!

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