tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post8350204106649501757..comments2023-05-12T06:37:48.238-04:00Comments on Manuscript Mavens: To Contest or Not to ContestErica Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-29075596031995229852008-05-12T17:17:00.000-04:002008-05-12T17:17:00.000-04:00jackie, it's funny, your bad reasons are the only ...jackie, it's funny, your bad reasons are the only reasons I ever entered contests, and I only entered also for one of your "good" reasons -- editor agent. Which is the same as "to get pubbed" in my mind.Diana Peterfreundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681841474717604660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-11395549258030823902008-05-09T11:37:00.000-04:002008-05-09T11:37:00.000-04:00I used to be a contest junkie, but now I've cut wa...I used to be a contest junkie, but now I've cut way back. I kept hoping to win and be discovered. Didn't happen. <BR/><BR/>I did learn a valuable, but expensive lesson. Some judges loved my work, and some hated it, but about 75% of them said my second chapter needed to be my first. Sadly I needed to enter five contests, before I believed them. I finally took their advice, and reworked my manuscript. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this time I will have gotten it right.MMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07554444360035561381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-42174903844094318302008-05-09T11:34:00.000-04:002008-05-09T11:34:00.000-04:00Here's another reason to enter, if you really suck...Here's another reason to enter, if you really suck at writing queries. Sometimes people think if they could only get them (final judges) to read it without having to query first, they would love it. <BR/><BR/>But if you suck at writing queries, you better get good real fast.Beverley Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09175915580179121447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-84451945294398497822008-05-09T08:43:00.000-04:002008-05-09T08:43:00.000-04:00This was a great post, Jackie. I have definitely ...This was a great post, Jackie. I have definitely tossed the idea of entering around in my head and so far I've decided not to. I think this pretty much sums it up.<BR/><BR/>I will, of course, enter the Golden Heart. :)Marnee Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01533816213473440342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-42576278898321181812008-05-09T08:25:00.000-04:002008-05-09T08:25:00.000-04:00LOL. What, no top 5 ways of knowing that you are a...LOL. What, no top 5 ways of knowing that you are a contest junkie?<BR/><BR/>With my first book, I didn't get an agent and couldn't get past the query level with Avon. That's when I decided to target May Chen in contests. It's a long shot, but a this point, I have nothing to lose. <BR/><BR/>BevBeverley Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09175915580179121447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-64839364058576648662008-05-09T06:57:00.000-04:002008-05-09T06:57:00.000-04:00This is a great post! When I frist started enteri...This is a great post! When I frist started entering contest, my objective was to get in front of the editor and maybe sell the book. Yeah, right, more often than not that doesn't happen.<BR/><BR/>Then I realized that it truly was to receive the comments, both good and bad and make my book better.<BR/><BR/>Not to say that it wouldn't be great to sell that way. :)<BR/><BR/>I think if a contest entry finals all over the place, gets requested by tons of editors, but then nothing happens, for me anyway, it's time to rethink the work. Change it or go to the next.Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04521384704019863926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-67473367861134377312008-05-09T01:10:00.000-04:002008-05-09T01:10:00.000-04:00Great post. And very true. For me, contests were a...Great post. And very true. For me, contests were a way of testing the waters. My book has kind of an unusual opening, one that an English professor friend of mine said it would never work - too quirky. I was sad when he told me that and at the same time, strangely inspired. So I entered four or five RWA contests in order to see what romance readers/writers thought. <BR/><BR/>The feedback was great, and it gave me the boost I needed to keep at that story. Well, I did get a 35 from a judge who absolutely hated it (and my voice, and who also informed me that dogs don't actually talk). I think she forgot that she was judging the paranormal category. But the rest of the the readers seemed to get the story.<BR/><BR/>And it really worked out in that an editor did notice my partial, request the full and bought the book out of the contest. So it does happen. But the real reason to enter has to be for feedback, or if you really want a certain editor or agent to read your work. Anything else is gravy.Angie Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05843918280581285622noreply@blogger.com