Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Contest Expectations
I entered another contest.
I’m not sure if I should have. My mom actually talked me into it. She's here, distracting me in the last week before my kid comes. I was explaining how the last contest I entered was only the first chapter. I was wondering how my second chapter would go over with readers, especially because the second scene in my second chapter (got that?) ends a little disturbingly—with my heroine (a mistress) being raped by her benefactor.
My mom said I should enter a contest that would get that scene in front of readers because an agent/editor is going to read that if they request a partial. So, if it’s going to fall flat, it’d be nice to have some indication of that sooner than later.
Mind you, both my CPs have really liked the scene which alleviates a lot of stress. But it’d be nice to have some additional feedback from folks unfamiliar with my writing and the opportunity to get in front of an agent/editor.
I realized this might be an odd reason to enter a contest. But in my mind, I think it’s good to go into a contest having a realistic expectation. Maybe it’s that just for some general feedback. Maybe a contestant enters, interested in getting in front of a dream agent/editor. Or maybe the entrant is trying to get a final or a win to put on their query letter.
I know there’s a love/hate relationship out there about contests. So I thought we could chat about why you would (or wouldn’t) want to enter a contest. Have you had good experiences? If so, please share. If not, why do you think they weren’t positive? Why do you enter or not enter contests? Are there any things that would make you enter?
Sorry for the short, lame-ish blog. I'm a little off my game right now. (Less than 5 days and counting!!)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Books by the Crew
104 comments:
PS What are you writing these days? Another para?
Marn,
Five days and counting to hold that wee bundle... SQUEE.
I think that is a good reason to enter contests. I did that for The Surrender of a Lady. My book opening was very different from what I imagine is out there. I fared better in some over others. If you want readers reactions, then it's great to enter contests. If you want to win... (which I don't think is the case) then I'd have to say sorry to other contest lovers... it's a total crap shot.
Good luck regardless :)
Five days! Whoohoo!! There's a full moon tonight though, so maybe that'll coax him out sooner. :)
Tiff - I can't wait for SOAL to hit the stands. I loved the opening. (Thought the book was great as a general). :)
Thanks for the good luck. We'll see what they have to say. If nothing else, it'll be a couple more opinions.
I'm actually writing a straight historical right now. Well, I guess it's a Regency-set historical suspense. If that makes sense. Not a whiff of paranormal about it.
I've only ever entered one contest and it was for this same reason, to get initial feedback on what I was writing. Only a few months into this endeavor, I wanted some unbiased opinions on whether I was wasting my time. In general, the judges said exactly what I needed to read.
"Has potential." :)
I'll consider entering more contests in the fall when this baby is polished up and looking pretty. Definitely entering the GH this year.
When will you hear back from the contest, Marn? And WHOOHOOO! for FIVE DAYS. Now I want to come visit just so I can hold the wee bairn. LOL! (Like you're going to need another person under foot.)
Marn, I like the thought of a full-moon bambino! :)
I think you were absolutely right to send this to a contest, with the goal of feedback on that particular scene. Even so, you're likely to get different responses from the first-round judges than from the final judges. It doesn't mean this won't ever work for publication if their comments aren't favorable -- it just means it could be trickier finding "the right one". And you're likely to get wildly varying scores too, based on the topic (in spite of how well written).
I started entering contests about a year and a half ago, because I was getting frustrated with the agent hunt. The book that did get me an agent -- I actually entered it into a contest to see what the reaction would be -- it's a romantic comedy/mystery and hard to categorize! So I wanted to test the waters, which worked out great.
We love short around here! (Except for Tiff, who says short men have short...Nevermind.)
See, and Tiff commented TWICE. It means your blog wasn't too long like the rest of the pirates, who she doesn't bother commenting at all! :)
I've had good and bad contest results. With my finished manuscript, Redemption, my first attempt at Lucy's story, I got feedback of SCRIPTURE quotations, and low marks...and I got some high marks and good remarks too. Like, "Wow, I never would have thought I'd find the devil sexy and vulnerable!" And really to have such high and such low marks in the same manuscript sort of indicates a mark of a good voice, because you inspire love or hate--but not ambivalence. *LOL*
I entered a contest with the beginning of a manuscript--that I wasn't too wild about but started writing because it was a "conventional story", writing to market--I won the whole pony show on that one. They LOVED it. They didn't just love it--they wanted to see the whole manuscript, which I didn't have and which I wasn't interested in finishing because, well, it wasn't Lucy. (I am nothing if not perverse. Clearly I'm frightened of success.)
But to be fair, I had a good inciting incident and a cute meet--but nothing else. I couldn't sustain the story for 300 pages. Or even 250. I tried to plot it out, but it wasn't working. *LOL*
I have mixed feelings about contests too, though I think they can be useful for feedback. At the same time, i feel like sometimes the judge will simply not like what you're writing, and be nasty rather than objective. It's like once they decide they don't like it, they have to harp on *everything*, you know?
Though I will say, I judged one contest, and I hated it. I felt HORRIBLE giving people low scores, even when I could back it up objectively. But at the same time, it doesn't do the author any good at all for things to be sugar-coated.
Which brings up the question of thank-you notes to judges in contests. Do you do it? Hate it? I never got a thank-you note when I judged, and it did make me wonder if my comments were helpful, or how they'd been taken. At the same time, if a judge doesn't really give any feedback, but just circles numbers on the form, I don't bother to send them a note because what am I going to say? Thanks for nothing? LOL!
Hellie, so you're saying I'll never have a comment from Tiffany -- LOL -- I keep TRYING to shorten my posts! And you're absolutely right about the high and low marks indicating a good voice. Which means you're on the right track. I also think we'll arm wrestle you into going back to the story that won the contest. :)
Bo'sun -- hearing "has potential" is good, and since you were trying to get a feel for where your book was, it sounds like it was good feedback to have.
And really to have such high and such low marks in the same manuscript sort of indicates a mark of a good voice, because you inspire love or hate–but not ambivalence. *LOL*
God, I hope you're right. That usually happens to me too. Two will give me high marks, gush about loving it, and one will detest it and give me low marks. I actually had a woman at school last semester say to my face, "Maybe you just need to take a class on the basics of writing or something, cause I can't even read this. It's just horrible."
Oh, I don't think I'd ever want to judge again. I judged a contest once--when I was young and of course knew everything--and it was definitely a demonstration of how absolute power corrupts absolutely. I totally deserved that vindictive judge who hated my Lucy because I was judging a historical--and this writer did EVERYTHING I *hate* in historicals and I unleashed the wrath of Hellion on her.
I went off about her grammar, her passive voice, the setting, the characters, the plot...I think the only nice thing I said was that her formatting was correct for the contest.
It was only years after that I was like, "You're so luck that woman didn't hunt you down and shoot you." She's actually probably published. *LOL* It's usually those kind of criticisms that make authors buckle down and finish the damned thing and send it off.
I actually had a woman at school last semester say to my face, “Maybe you just need to take a class on the basics of writing or something, cause I can’t even read this. It’s just horrible.”
Yeah, Hal, I can say that it's the mark of a good voice. Take Nora for instance. Terri loves Nora--and I have a lot of co-workers who gush about it; I think her writer's voice is as exciting as watching paint dry. But you can't deny she's got an audience...
Hal, maybe that woman at school needs to take a class on the basics of MANNERS or something, because that was just horrible. Yeesh!
I always send thank you notes to the judges -- and there have been a few times I've really had to call on my writing AND diplomatic skills. LOL ("You've given me a lot to think about" usually works in place of "WTF?" LOL)
I think some judges like to be the Simon Cowell of their particular contest. LOL But it really is awesome when a judge says, "I can't wait to read this when it's published". :)
Bo'sun - "Has potential" is great feedback. :) And yay entering the GH this year. Though, I have to admit, I didn't like that one. Just getting numbers didn't really help me, especially because they were sort of all over the place. But it's definitely worth it if you final, I think.
And all are welcome to come hold the little guy. Though, I suspect "little" might be a misnomer. :)
Hellie - I still love the whole scripture quotations story. LOL!! I wonder if you'd still get that now, with all the "fallen angel" stories out there. People seem a little more open to stories with biblical implications.
And I'm with Hal; I hope that it's a good thing to get high and low marks. The GH was like that for me when I entered my first MS.
Donna - I think we'll see how it goes with this one. This story's a little different than the mistress/courtesan stories out there now. My heroine is a mistress to the villain. She's been doing it a long time and her opinions about it are different than what I've found in a lot of historicals. In fact, she comes to almost appreciate some of the things she's learned from that period of her life.
But there's an element of the scene that is a little different. She's trying to get information from her benefactor (the villain) that will help implicate him in a crime. But while she knows he's got a mean streak, she doesn't expect him to go as far with it as he does. And then there's her own perspective of herself, that she thinks of her body as something bought and sold, that sort of weighs in.
I don't know. We'll see. :)
Hal - I'd have decked that bitch. Puhlease. I once had a chaptermate who got feedback along the lines of "Clearly English is not your first language." Those are the judges I want to smite.
Since I know I'm way more critical of a book now than before I studied so much about craft and writing, I think contest judges don't really have an objective eye. At this point, the only reason I'd enter a contest is if a)I'd polished my baby to a spotless sheen and b) the final round judges included an editor/agent to whom I'm dying to get my pages.
As for the GH, that one I'm only entering with the goal of finalling. (Two "l"s or one?) Lucky for me, the timing will work out that I'll be (hopefully) months into revising and subbing so it'll be my best effort.
I entered two books in the GH this past year -- the historical had won two contests this year, and the contemp had finaled in about 3 contests.
I laughed at the scores -- on each entry I had really low AND perfect, which goes back to Hellie's comment about voice. I only entered because it's a nice item to have on the writing resume, but it was wicked expensive, so I don't think I'll do it again. (I'll wait for the RITAs. LOL)
Marn, I think your book sounds very intriguing, and with twists to the tried-and-true scenarios. I can't wait to read it!
P.S. I've decided the "code" thingie is Capt. Cha -- LOL -- it SO wants to be a pirate ship captain.
I’ll wait for the RITAs. LOL
I love this plan! Watch, in a few years, it'll be all pirates up there duking it out for the RITA :)
Hellie - yeah, i know exactly what you mean. I enjoy La Nora, but my neighbor tried to to hand me a Lisa Kleypas book and I went off on my standard LK rant. When her eyes got big, I realized how obnoxious I was being, turned beet red, and graciously accepted it. I even tried to read it! (not that I got very far, but hey, i gave it a shot--lol)
An all Pirate RITA list. That would be awesome!
Hal, I admire LaNora but can't enjoy her books, but I usually keep that to myself since I'm in the minority! LOL
I try to find out what it is that everyone raves about, when they're trying to get me to read something -- because I want to figure out WHAT generates that kind of enthusiasm, so I can use it in MY books.
I can't wait for the Pirate RITAs -- it's gonna be EPIC. LOL
A Pirate in each category and a RITA for every mantel!
Hal, *LOL* I love the Lisa Kleypas rant. I got a Nora book once. I didn't have the heart to tell the guy I couldn't stand the woman's work.
Epic! LOL. To make it an all pirate RITA I will have to actually write something and in the romance genre. LOL
Wait. JE makes the RITA. Okay. Well, then I'm in. LMFAO
How could you NOT like Kleypas?!
(kidding, someone had to say it.)
Sin - You could always use the "novel with romantic elements" clause. And if we have a pirate in every category, who is going to write the inspirational? LOL!
I'm not doing it!
A Pirate in each category and a RITA for every mantel!
You forgot the Hotties! OMG, they're inconsolable. Sigh. Let me go see what I can do to lift their spirits. :)
I'll do it. *grin*
The outcome will truly not be my fault.
Dear Evil Twin,
Thank you for your entry in the Inspirational Category.
We have had to redefine the word "Inspirational" now.
Good luck in the contest!
Dear DRD,
My entry was to prove that you still have faith in mankind after I destroyed it. A true inspirational at the heart of the matter. Just because I scorched the ground with the blood of demons and stuck an ice pic in the eye of a bunny while I kicked it, doesn't mean it's not inspirational.
You can come out of the doomsday bunker now. I promise to stop the next coming to roaming demons and bloodsuckers to the planet. I'll keep them busy.
Sincerely,
Evil Twin
ust because I scorched the ground with the blood of demons and stuck an ice pic in the eye of a bunny while I kicked it, doesn’t mean it’s not inspirational.
I think this may be my favorite comment this week. I want to ice pick some bunnies through the eye now.
I feel so special in my inspirationalness.
I bring them aboard for the Undead Monkey. Not only does he eat them, he humps them first.
*hahahaha*
Save the bunnies!
(Where would we find bunnies on a ship? And I don't mean in the soup pot!)
This may be the first time I've ever gotten sea sick on this ship.
Off to the Tortuga Target for some dramamine.
Pick me up another shirt while you're at it. I seem to have an issue with spilling stuff today. I'm having a wet t-shirt contest with myself. It ain't pretty.
A wet t-shirt contest with myself... OK, maybe I need to go back to bed...
Contests? Hate 'em. They seem ta bring out the righteous bitch in judges and I ALWAYS get some smart ass twit who bitches about older people having sex not being believable or cell phones always work EVERYWHERE! She knows, she's been EVERYWHERE!
That said, I promised myself to never enter a contest again. I swear, I can handle rejection from agents and editors and all...but judges? Some little third grader in me always cries. I like my third grader and will not put her through judging again.
Period.
Tortuga Target. LOL
Dear Evil Twin,
We are forwarding your award at this time. Apparently the other entrants have withdrawn, and the judges are in the midst of intensive therapy.
We have also decided to award you the Hall of Fame award (which is a T-shirt with a bunny and a strategically placed ice pick). Of course, with this award, you are unable to enter any future contests, regrettably (for you).
Best of luck in your future endeavors.
Well, Tortuga has a very well stocked Liquor Barn, why not a Target?
Cell phones do not work everywhere. Not even California with my coast-to-coast Spring network. Buggerheads. And when I go to the farm, I don't have ANY bars and can't get phone calls. So that's crap.
I'd rather not think too much about old people having sex, but I do believe it's believable. I know plenty of horn-dog old men, pinching unsuspecting young women they have no chance of keeping up with in a bedroom...now if they're pinching their own wives' bottoms...that's sorta cute. I still don't want to picture it though. Nor described in vivid detail about the wrinkles and stuff. I hate looking at my wrinkles now...and don't want them described
They seem ta bring out the righteous bitch in judges and I ALWAYS get some smart ass twit who bitches about older people having sex not being believable or cell phones always work EVERYWHERE! She knows, she’s been EVERYWHERE!
I hate this kind of narrowmindedness, and it's worse when it's from contest judges. Just because somebody hasn't seen something before doesn't mean it doesn't exist, or will exist!
You're a trendsetter, Chance -- a visionary. It takes the rest of the world a while to catch up. :)
And if we have a pirate in every category, who is going to write the inspirational?
Eewwww I'll Do IT! Do i get to make people cry?
Honestly. That was the hardest thing that I had to learn about blogging. Do not post something that makes the Blog Hostess Cry.
Sigh.
Next we'll be giving Sin the Lifetime Achievement Award for Best Inspirationals.
You make me cry with laughter, Jules, does that count?
Ice pick?
Oh.
Gosh ... I prefer knives.
I wanted to deck a bunny once. Does that count, SIN?
I never thought I'd see the day when I earn the Lifetime Achievement Award for Inspirationals. I think I might shed one blood tear for the fallen bunnies that died in the making of this Inspirational journey.
That's the kind of crying I prefer, Hellion.
But there was a time In The Beginning (voice over by Charlton Heston) that I kept posting stuff over at SR that made someone cry. It was Horrible.
I prefer howling with laughter.
And it can only be a switchblade so it's like shanking them.
LOL
SIN. You know that I have several switchblade lying around... open ... strategically placed around the house...
Me thinks Jules household is more like Mr. & Mrs. Smith than my own. LOL
On Chance's behalf, I need to qualify older. In her stuff, these are people somewhere around the early 50s. That is not as old as it once was. And I once read somewhere that heroines couldn't be over 35 because then they were too old to be believable as sexy or sexual.
I say bullshit to that.
I don't want to read about 70 or 80 year olds doing it either, but I certain see sex carrying into my 40s and 50s and I believe there's an audience out there in that age range who would be more than happy to read those stories.
*steps off rum barrel*
LOL -- you guys are gonna make it so Wordpress installs metal detectors instead of Captcha codes!
I certain see sex carrying into my 40s and 50s
God I hope so -- since I'm in my 50s (even though I think I'm still 35 -- LOL)
you guys are gonna make it so Wordpress installs metal detectors instead of Captcha codes!
Not to worry, Donna. I have one that is Undetectable. Gotta love titanium!
Julie, whew! Now you guys can put on that demonstration of your fierce weapon-wielding skills! :)
I'm gonna jump overboard for a bit -- I've got some HOA things to do while I'm avoiding edits/revisions. I'll be back to see what mayhem has ensued. :)
Oh, and the Tortuga Target had everything I wanted today. That never happens.
*tosses shiney new ice pick to Sin*
My sister just got a piece of titanium put into her.....body. Says it won't set off the detectors in the airport. Very nifty.
Ter, I also have Titanium. I also think that metal keeps you from surface piercing infections.
I am quite the fan of titanium.
Robyn Carr is doing a great job in the Virgin River series of weaving in secondary love stories that feature older characters, and she keeps the senior sex believablewithout going into details losses to gravity and so on.
Chance, one of the judges in my lone contest experience, who gave me a 97, also gently suggested that my 34-year-old heroine was "too old for a romance novel." I just thought she was a young 20something who labored under the impression that sex organs begin to shrivel at 30 and are atrophied by 40. Time will shoe her the fallacy.
The only contests I've judged have been for pubbed authors, and the instructions have come with cautions to suspend one's biases against certain tropes, themes, heat levels, etc. when judging. I have to say that I found those instructions almost impossible to follow. I imagine this difficulty is one all judges face, and some are better at moving beyond personal tastes than others.
If they're only in their 50s, well I definitely believe they're having sex. If the 70-year-olds are managing it, I know the 50-somethings are.
I'm slow today. I'm slow everyday these days. I'm off to read and comment....
You're thinking for two, Marn. Don't worry about it.
There is actually a panel discussion at RWA on Boomers in Love... Yes, sex continues past the twenties, thirties, forties and ON!
The key, I think, to writing it is not to talk about the wrinkles or the creaky joints or age spots... I mean, come on! Sex is more than the bodies and as long as the key pieces are working...does it matter?
I do have fun when she notices his old man butt and finds herself accepting that she isn't insane and caught in some drug induced fantasy...she wouldn't invent a lover with an old man's butt...
OK, if Marn is thinking for two, what is juniors' take on all this malarchy? ;)
And Sin...winning for inspirational... Sure, why not?
I always told my older sister I learned how to be a good girl by watching her be such a bad girl and constantly get into trouble. Sin can write the anti-example...
Uhm...Ya think she went into labor?
Well, that would be a good thing, right?
I think so, yes.
Now I'm starting to think that she might be in labor toooo ... especially with the full moon and all.
Any news on Marnee?
Ok, I'm serious now. I'm back. My mom's in town keeping my mind busy and has been running me around to try to dislodge this person from my body. So far, no go. Will keep all posted.... :)
Hal - I only judged one contest too and I felt bad too. People don't know me. I would do my best to be objective but I worried about them taking what I said the wrong way. And if people don't want to hear what you have to say, sometimes they'll take things less than objectively.
It's hard, as a critiquer and a critiquee, to accept a perspective as valid, even as you disagree. And as a judge, you never know if they're going to agree or not, or be offended or not. As a people pleaser, this bothers me. :)
Off subject. Sorry.
But
Janga this one is for you ...and the young 20something who labored under the impression that sex organs begin to shrivel at 30 and are atrophied by 40
The following question was asked by Ms J Perry Stone:
So what are your thoughts? Does the term cougar offend you? What do you think of May/December romances in books, TV and movies (particularly if the woman is December)?
My Answer
Honestly? Do you want me to be honest about this?
Cougars might "look" like predators. But the truth is they are in fact … the Prey.
At least that's been my experience. The first time I got hit on by a younger man was when I was 39. He was 22. I said "no". Not that I'd ever accept the invitation to be A Cougar. And Not because I have something against younger men. I'm happily married, thank you very much. So I say 'no thank you" and tease them with a "Does your Mother know that your out after your curfew?"
That Usually cools their jets.
Honestly? I thought that this pursuit by young things would stop as I aged. But it hasn't. It actually seems to be getting worse the older I get. Which seemed … well …weird to me.
Until I thought about it.
The Older I get … the less I care … not just about my looks. But about partaking in all of the trivial blah-blah-blah BS that Drives men CRAZY. Men , especially young men, get tired of all "the drama" associated with women their own age.
That's The Truth.
I know because I have a 20 something year old son. I've heard many a horror story from him & his friends about dating women in their age group. This IMO is why younger men seek out the company of older, wiser (which … hey … means that I know a lot more "fun" things to do than my younger compatriots) women. We are usually less emotionally demanding. We’ve learned over time to be comfortable with who we are. And because we‘ve been-there-and-done-that, life’s ups and downs doesn‘t faze us as much. So it makes sense that a younger less experienced chit cannot compete with me… a middle aged woman. They can not. They are Bud Lite. And I? I am like a bottle of thirty year old scotch. Aged. Smooth. Mellow. And oooh so very, Very … Intoxicating!
I'm not in labor.... I wish I was in labor. It's just been a crazy day. :) Sorry guys....
Bo'sun and DRD - I think the GH is a good final. But Donna, as you mentioned, the scores can be less than helpful. When I entered, I had a few good and a few bad. I scratched my head. But man it is expensive. I'm with Donna; wait for the RITA. LOL!!
To everyone - I like Nora and I like Lisa Kleypas. They aren't autobuys for me though.
I would love to see an All Pirate RITA someday. We need to get going on that folks....
Back on subject:
I remember … many years ago when I was in college … watching a professor throw another student’s art project into the garbage. He told her quote “It was Boring.“ Shocked the Hell out of us.
But It also grabbed our attention and made us think. We were creating “Art” for our selves. But if we wanted an audience then we had to keep in mind that we were also creating “Art for the Masses”. Artistic taste is very personal. But there are certain elements that make a painting … a sculpture … a story … personable to others. Call it marketability .
Art for arts sake? Or art for profit? Are you doing what it takes to sell you work? Or are you selling out?
IMO , or at least in my experience, that is what made most creative people uncomfortable with “adjusting” their work to suit the mass.
When it comes to contest judges what matters , again IMO, is this… do you respect their work? Are they knowledgeable? Is their goal to be helpful to you?
In the case of that professor? He consistently sold his art. For prices that had 5 zeros in them. He was the real deal. But he was also … just One person. With one opinion. And one point of view.
Listen.
Learn.
Work at your craftsmanship.
But Don’t ever let one person’s opinion … make you feel like you should throw your creative endeavors into the garbage.
Because chances are, someone somewhere is going to love it. IMO
Yeah, but the Karma of being that judge...and did she ever create anything artistic again?
What an interesting afternoon you gals have had! Marn, you can't disappear like that anymore -- LOL -- everyone was boiling water and gathering blankets!
Julie, I've dated younger men the past few years, and prefer their lighthearted view of the world (not to mention their appreciation of older women!) Men my age tend to focus more on their retirement portfolio, and forget how to have fun! I saw a funny quote from Sharon Stone the other day about younger men hitting on her -- she said they know she'll have food in her fridge and will ask how their day was. LOL
Man, I don't know how I'd ever do it. If something happened to Steph...date? And I have no faith a guy would even hit on me. Terr and I have a deal to see if we can spot if the guys that hit on the other while in Orlando... See if someone else can see it...
I don't know, younger guys are fun to laugh with, but date? And would they find me interesting? I just don't know. I guess I lack the confidence to be a cougar!
I'd rather be picky and find the guy my age who thinks young!
Like my hero!
Wait, let me get this straight... While I was gone, we talked about ice picking bunnies in the eye?!! What the hell?
I can't leave you pirates alone for even a second can I? All manner of degradation commences....
Well, yeah...
*trying to look sheepish
It was Sin! She brought up using an ice pick on bunnies!
I save my ice pick for the drinks. And make sure it wasn't borrowed by Sin. Ever.
Yeah, the ice pick in the bunnies was a chapter in Sin's new book, "Sin: An Inspirational Guide". She's still drafting it, so the title may change. :)
Yes she did, Chance.
She was an Art Major.
She was tuff. You have to be very tuff and very competitive and very confident in your abilities to be an art Major. IMO. Because everything you paint , sculpt , whatever is On Display as you are creating it. Its not a solitary creative process. Your work in progress is out there for anyone and everyone to see. The young woman I referred to in my post had a huge ego. One that got in the way of developing her talent. The thing is Chance, I agreed with that proff’s assessment of her work. What I Did not agree with his methodology in teaching “his lesson” . He might have thought that her work was boring. I might have thought that her work was boring. But someone-somewhere probably thought that it was brilliant. Which is the whole point of my post. Someone doesn’t like your work? Listen to what they have to say. Learn from the experience. Work on your craftsmanship. But don’t let it destroy your desire to create. Because the truth is someone is always going to dislike your work. That is life.
Chance - I'm sorry about your contest experiences.
I'm not sure about the 50 something romance. I haven't read Chance's stuff yet so this isn't any comment on that. I just don't know what it's like to be 50 something, with the sort of experiences that 50 years gives a person.
That said, I think there's a market for sure. My mom just said she'd be interested in it.
I suppose if you choose a public display art, yeah...you need to be able to handle all of it. I can honestly say if someone did that to me I'd break down and sob uncontrollably.
Knowing not everyone will like what you do is life. Being publically flogged is another.
HeY1 I've never stuch an ice pick in a bunnies' eye!
Run away from them yes ... pick em' no.
Do I get a Gold Star for good behavior?!
And while we're on the subject...Do I get a Gold Star for Badd behavior too?!
Marn - Yer mum is me market!
I didn't finish my thought above. (A problem I've been having these days...)
I wanted to add about the judges that it's a crap shoot. Sometimes I get the most easy-going judges. Then I had the one who marked up everything. She had a complaint about everything, but then she gave me good scores. I finaled in that one too. It was confusing. LOL!!
A final judge in my first contest (an editor) just gave me all bad scores. No comments at all. I was like, thanks. LOL! I guess she didn't like it, huh? :) Then the agent that judged that same entry requested the full. Maybe they weren't reading the same entry? LOL!
I try to take what I can from it and then not torture myself over what I don't get or what doesn't "make sense."
Chance ask me sometime about the time I had to present a mock-up of a sculpture. There I was in front of the teacher, the class, the world when … very very slowly the thing started to tip. Talk about thinking on your feet…
My mom is your audience, girlie. She's early 60s, widowed 5 years ago. She's just starting to stretch out and think about dating again.
Sometimes, it is surreal, isn't it? You wonder if they got the MS mixed up, some other genre judge got your MS, the score sheets were mixed up. Because so little of it makes sense!
Julie - Like watching one of those Food Network Challenges...and the sugar sculpture shatters when being moved to the judge's table.
Shattered.
Granted, I do cry easily.
And while we’re on the subject…Do I get a Gold Star for Badd behavior too?!
Julie, you're the one that teaches all the rest of us how to be bad! You're the gold standard of bad! LOL
Marn, I've had final judges rave about my story -- and then not ask to see any more of it (which was the point of trying to final in the contest!) LOL It's definitely a crapshoot, but this past year or so when I entered contests, I felt like it was my best (last) shot of getting in front of certain agents and editors that you can't get to directly. So it accomplished that.
With what I write, I have no faith in moving forward enough in contests to reach the agents or editors. I think my best bet is still the in person pitch, where I can sell with my enthusiasm and conviction.
We'll see!
Jules - I totally loved your cougar rant. I think that is sooooo true. I can't deal with too much drama these days and I think men as a general are opposed to drama. It makes them itchy.
I definitely agree that there's a difference between art for art and art for profit. And the idea that we should take an opinion for what it is, just one person in the world, no matter who they are. Great stuff.
Donna - I just got a request for the contest I just finaled in. But she requested all four of the finalists. No feedback. So I have no idea what that means....
Don't get me wrong, I'm not unhappy about it. Just don't understand.
Marn, that's great! It sounds kinda different, but hey, it's still getting you closer to where you want to be!
Did they request a partial, or a full?
P.S. The Capt Cha code is getting psychedelic now!
Chance, I think your in-person pitches did a great job of showcasing your enthusiasm, so it's definitely the way to go. (Note to self: hire Chance to do any pitches I need to do in the future!)
They requested the full. I don't have a full yet, so I need to get going on that.
Now if I could only focus.... Perhaps when I purge this human....
I do believe it matters what you're writing as to whether contest will do you any good. Seems to me anything not mainstream has a tougher time.
I've seen agents and editors say putting contest finals on your query doesn't mean much to them. Often when contests become the focus, a writer polishes the first one to three chapters and then the rest of the book is a mess. So though I see the benefit of getting my work in front of an agent who doesn't accept unsolicited materials, I don't see playing the contest circuit as a must do either.
*Note to self...figure out how much to charge for in person pitching for other authors...
*note to Chance...charge a lot*
I must admit, I like to put a contest final on my query. I think it's because I have a strange fascination with having balanced paragraphs in my query letter and that's another sentence in the last paragraph. LOL!! Anal retentive much, huh?
I agree that it's probably like putting memberships to RWA or chapters or whatever. They probably see it all the time and just don't see it as an immediate line to "this is going to be good writing."
Am I the only pirate who didn't get 100+ comments this week?
I'm talking about belly button lint next week. You wait.
I like balanced paragraphs too, Marn. Stick to your guns!
Post a Comment