September 2007

Getting Cozy with Karen.
                          September Musings

"Excellence is the difference between what I do and what I am capable of."
~ Fortune Cookie ~
Are writing contests the pathway to Heaven or the back road to Hell? It's a question that's come up more than once in my conversations with other writers over the years. The answer is.complicated.

When I responded this way recently to a fairly new writer who was struggling to rationalize why she'd spent nearly $50 in entry fees, printing & postage to enter a contest that didn't give her the scores she thought she deserved, her quip back was, "Well, it's not complicated for you. You get into the finals all the time, so it's worth whatever you pay!"

I had to bite my tongue to gently remind my pinched psyche the writer probably hadn't meant to insult me by insinuating it was my entry fee, rather than my talent, that carried me to the finals. It was simply her disappointment and frustration talking. I took a few seconds more to remember that she was inexperienced and had instigated the conversation because she honestly didn't understand the game and knew I had straddled all of the fences-as entrant, judge, and contest coordinator-numerous times in my career. Then, I took a deep breath and explained that the answer was complicated because what a writer gets from the experience is directly influenced by their reasons for entering [or not entering] writing contests.

. You want to final or win. That plaque or certificate or trophy will tell you, your family, and other writers that you've mastered a synopsis, a love scene, first chapter, proposal, or whatever. You're the cream of the current crop of writers. Editors and agents take note!

There are a few problems with this concept. First, out of 15-50+ possible entrants in your category in any one contest, only three to six can final and only one can win. Chances are good there are half a dozen [or more] equally good writers who didn't make the finals because contest rules demanded coordinators cull the choice down to a manageable number so editors and agents will spare the time to judge the contest. Second, judging can be subjective. All you need is one preliminary judge to take exception to your voice, style, theme, hero/heroine, etc. and allow that prejudice to lower all of her scores and you're sunk. It's just as likely that a high scorer really loved your voice or something and it influenced her scores into the high range. Third, not all judges are created equal. Some are trained. Some are not. And there are a few who will always judge high [or low or, even worse, give all middle range scores] no matter what comes across their desk.

. You want to get your work in front of a specific agent or editor because you know, the minute they read your entry, they'll be picking up the phone to buy your manuscript.

This is fine to a point. That final editor or agent is one of the things you should consider when choosing a contest. There are a number available [just take a look at the monthly RWR Contests & Conferences section!] and it's wise to focus your energy and money where it will do you the most good. But remember, only the finalists get in front of that editor or agent. If you want to get your manuscript on a specific desk, it's simpler-not to mention cheaper-to send a query or proposal directly to that editor/agent. Making the finals doesn't guarantee a request for a full manuscript or a sale by that judge either. The unvarnished truth is, if sent three entries and told to choose in order of their preference [most often the way finals are judged], all they're saying is, "Out of the three entries I received, this is my preference, first, second, and third."

. You need a "proving ground" for your story, to test the precepts to see if it works for outside readers before you send it on to the editors and agents.

It's all too easy to fall in love with our own words and ideas. Even our critique partners can get too close to our stories. Contests can be a great way to get a fresh read, a new perspective, especially if the contest provides a comprehensive score sheet or critique. You can cull pearls of wisdom from writers with more expertise on how to make it better. The flip side of that coin? You can get ripped apart just as quickly by writers with less experience or who have prejudices that have nothing to do with your writing ability. Every reader won't love your story.

So, the question remains. Are writing contests the pathway to Heaven or the back road to Hell?

Sometimes it does feel like we're submitting our innocent babies to rapacious wolves. There is nothing more dispiriting than to have a judge give us all middle range scores and not tell us what particularly bothered them. Or having one say your hero is "an immature jerk" or "not only are you not funny, but you can't write." That's the dark underbelly of entering contests, the back road to Hell.

Yet contests can be the pathway to Heaven, too. You might actually get your story on the right desk at the right time. A judge might spot the one problem you and your critique partners missed and give you feedback on how to turn your story into a spectacular gem the editors at three publishing houses end up fighting to buy. You could simply develop a growing confidence in your skills.

I believe the good far outweighs the bad and the ugly. I may not enter as many contests as I used to as a new writer. My reasons for submitting entries have changed over the years. My goal now is to test new material, to gain a fresh perspective on my story, before I call it good and send it off to the editors and agents. I look at the pros and cons and then choose my contests carefully.

Will the particular writer I mentioned earlier ever enter another contest? I haven't a clue. I do know that she's now armored with a better understanding of the question so she can make the right decision for herself. As for me, I'm a firm believer in this month's quote: "Excellence is the difference between what I do and what I am capable of." I'm taking all the help I can get!

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What else is happening in my writing world?

August was a busy month! I conducted an online "W" plotting workshop for members at From the Heart Romance Writers. It's always fun to work with such talented writers and I do enjoy sharing my favorite plotting technique. I wish them all the best of luck in their writing careers.

Thanks to the energy these writers generated in class I, too, spent some time reworking a few issues with my current project, KILLING SECRETS. I'm feeling much more secure about the progression of the story.which I hope will now translate to faster writing. Time will tell.

I'm looking forward to a writer's retreat weekend held every September by Colorado Romance Writers, my local chapter. I intend to spend the entire weekend writing. No phones. No job. No family. No schedule. Just me, my laptop and the inspirational energy of other writers doing the same.

I've committed myself [hmmm, interesting word choice (g)] to run for the CRW president's seat. I've served as president several times before but, as I'm also the published authors Award of Excellence Contest chair, 2008 might get very interesting. Wish me luck!

As always, if you'd like to comment on this newsletter or anything else, please feel free to sign into my guest book at the bottom of this page. If you'd like to have the newsletter delivered directly to your email Inbox each month, it's easy to join my mailing list. Looking forward to hearing from you!

See you in October if you'd like to Get Cozy with Karen again. In the meantime, feel free to check out the rest of my website at your leisure.

Have a great month!