I don’t know about you, but my hotmail is full of unread e-mails, ditto on my Yahoo, my gather box is also full of requests to read others stories, and my eyes are blurring because I have read the equivalent of at least three large novels in a week.
My life is such that I may be able to read a couple of books a week for pleasure, but this sort of reading is not that way. I have a pile of books I want to read and glance at with longing as I fasten on my blinders and determinedly go to my computer to read and cast votes or try to promote mine, lol! I do this in between working full time, being a mom with a sports oriented son, raising Great Danes for sale—thank God I have no puppies on the ground or due any time soon, finishing a MS, (my characters are laying guilt trips on me, sigh) jotting down notes on the third I want to start, and the everyday things, like laundry, cooking, and cleaning house. I haven’t played a hand of Spades or a game of Double Cross all week—withdrawals here. Did I mention not getting enough sleep? And when I do sleep I have bits and pieces of everyone’s stories floating around in my dreams? Yah, multi-tasking at its finest—or not, depending on who in my life you ask.
There are so many great story beginnings out there and like life itself, there is the good, the bad and just plain ugly. For many new writers, this is their first exposure of their work to the general public. Many are here just for the feedback. For them I say KUDOS TO YOU!
Kudos for One, for seeing that little spark of an idea and having the discipline to develop it into a 100,000 word story and two, having the courage to post those stories, your babies, and invite others to judge them. If you take nothing else away from this contest, take pride in your accomplishment and courage!
I think this is a contest, not only about writing and the quality of our work, but our ability to promote ourselves, the networking, and makes us ask ourselves—how much time are we willing to invest in promoting our work? Writing, and this is just my opinion, is the easy part, promoting yourself to agents and editors is the real work. Even if you have an interested agent or editor, there is even more work to do on your manuscript to actually translate that interest into a writing contract. That is the goal, getting your work published and into the readers’ hands and it is not for the faint of heart or the thin skinned. Can I hear an Amen on that?
I have several acquaintances that are published writers who tell me if you think that critiques are picky or hard to take from other writers you ain’t seen nothing until you face editors or agents. The truth is we need constructive criticism to grow as a writer. Do you think that Norah Roberts, Christine Feehan, Lisa Jackson, Christina Dodd, and Tom Clancy (and a host of others on the Best Selling lists) just submitted their work and it was published as is, without critiques and major editing? Don’t be absurd. If you have read some of their earlier work and compare it to the latest, even a fan of theirs can see their growth as a result of experience and following through on constructive criticism.
This brings me to judging, critiques, and promoting your work, especially on this contest. I have made it a point to read the comments on various chapters I have read. I don’t believe in Jack hammer critiques. I don’t give them and thankfully haven’t received any.
There is a big difference between being honest and straight forward and nasty. People, I have seen some nit-picky and downright nasty comments on other's stories. I have also seen some Beauty Queen smashes of each others work. I have read some stories that are down right bad, as have you, but either find something good to comment on and I know there are a few where that is difficult to do, or just don’t comment or vote on them. I am not saying sugar coat, but first find something good because you can always find the bad, then offer your critiques on what doesn’t work for you, and offer constructive, not destructive criticisms. Trust me, you will not look better and neither will your entry stand as superior if you trash someone else’s work. It smacks of jealousy—Beauty Queen smashes—and takes away any kind feelings when it comes time to judge yours.
Critiques are merely one person’s opinion. Not all of us are familiar with or have read or even want to read different sub-genres of romance and ‘romance’ is subjective, as are our opinions of it. If you ask someone to critique your work, guaranteed there will be some negatives along with the positives, either ignore it and move on or take a few deep breaths and think about what was said before you comment. Retaliate in your journal if you need an outlet, not on public forum. If we can’t take negatives about our work how are we going to grow? If we can’t take criticisms and negatives then this is not the place to be. Bundle up your stories and bind them up and leave them for your family to read when you are dead and gone.
Promote yourself. There have been a few comments I have read that say “I don’t think I will get many votes because I don’t have a lot of connections here.” Neither do I, but don’t be afraid to ask others to read your story or ask others to recommend yours if they liked it. I might also add, be willing to read other’s entries if you are asked to do so. It is a TWO way street. All they can say is no and no doesn’t kill you. And even those with connections won’t necessarily win because they have those connections. There are a lot of people that will lose interest in reading and voting—it takes a lot of time and effort to do so. That is true even among your personal friends and family.
Do I want to win? Of course I do and yes I have a competitive spirit but I also know there are other contests I will win because I am willing learn and work hard to improve my writing, make connections and good friends. I will give it my best as I do with anything that matters. Reality check: The world won’t end if I don’t win this one.
Hey, have fun with this contest, learn from it; knowledge is power and knowledge with discernment can effect changes for the good, especially in our writing.
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Comments: 43
Yes, everyone, have fun. Read a lot. Learn a lot. And take as much from the experience as you can. Hope each contestant meets new friends and writing contacts, improves his or her writing, and is inspired to write even more.
It has been very interesting so far, learning to network a little, finding the courage to invite someone to read my work, but it's been great, too. If all I come away with are a handful of constructive comments, I will consider the contest a raging success for me. There's also the perk of reading other, fabulous stuff without going to the book store, lol.
I still have a list of comments yet to make. I'll work on them later tonight
Deborah, everytime I read and entry I learn something-- what works and doesn't and why. Ask them to read, don't be shy. Hey there are a few entries I so wish were already books because I would add them to my 'want to read' pile....
Read, comment, read comment... wait is there something else to life at this point... oh yea refresh, read, comment.
I have a little over 100 left to read. And another 50 to comment that I just havent figured out what to say, good or bad.
I figure when I'm done I will do my own little what I learned. Starting with I feel sorry for every person who ever decided to be an editor for a living. By God I would be even more insane than I am.
It's all good tho. Thanks for your comment!
Since the sponsors didn't limit the number of entries, there are, IMHO, too many. Which forces those who lead normal lives to pick and choose...which basically comes down to a contest among first lines.
Secondly, networking--you vote for me, I'll vote for you--does not determine quality, just popularity.
Socring on basis of total number of 10's skews the results. It may well be that non-contest-entrants are the ones that are lowering the overall scores. In other words, they are judging quality, but their results don't count.
I think it was/is a great idea. Unfortunately, there seem to be too many loop holes.
Networking/promoting is important and hopefully we will meet like minds to help and encourage us after the contest. As for voting, I won't vote less than a 10, given the rules, I don't want to bring down averages, but I have commented on far more than I have voted 10 on and I know there are several others that have done the same.
As you read through the entries it is easy to spot those that are showing their work for the first time and some are little more than second or third drafts some are the original no real self editing. I think those are looking for feedback. I remember well that time after I had finished my first MS and had no one to look at it at all. Is it good, is it drivel--the need for somebody besides "Oh, it is so wonderful, honey" family, to read it and give me feedback. You want other writers to look at it. So this is good for that. No matter how little or how much writing experience we have, I think we all can learn from reading other's work.
There are a few exceptional first chapters out there in various sub-genres, and a number of good stories worth publishing if the rest of the book follows through with the opening chapter. I do not have a novel published yet, and don't pretend to have more experience than everyone else here, but that is my opinion. It would have been cool if some published authors were reading through some of the entries, besides the five judges. Who knows, maybe there is as many don't write under their legal names anyway. What I hope to see from these judges, is that they will see several MS that are worth looking at, not just the main grand-prize winner.
Meanwhile, make new connections, celebrate the fact you took an idea, wrote and FINISHED a 80-100,000 word story had enough belief in yourself to put it up for judging.
I didn't count the entries, just took a rough guess and I figured about 300ish. I wasn't here for that bloodbath, although I heard about it from several members. Thankfully they are just counting 10 and at least Gather powers that be are looking a ways to improve it. We will see what the next one is like.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977099229
I believe the 5 final round judges will only be reading the FULL manuscripts of the 5 finalists.
Only the Gather "editorial team" is reading our first chapters.
15 come from votes, 10 from the Gather editorial team.
Then another round of voting to determine the 5 finalists.
THEN, that panel of 5 judges will read only 5 full mss.
At least, that's my understanding... :)
Good luck Sarah!
Yeah, I'm almost scared to open Rand's list now, I keep dropping... but such is life! :) Good luck to you, too! Thanks!
I have been pushing a deadline at work so I am a bit behind in my reading...
And hey? how could anything be bad living in a town called licking?
I can identify with the whole time thing... stories in my dreams and when not guilt cause life took me away other's stories.
I also have a hard time with my humor. Sometimes i just want to reach through with some real NY sarcasm and then hug some people till there eyeballs pop out! Hold me back, Jesus!
I have noticed the whole 'conflict' thing on several storries.
Seriously, putting one chapter up is difficult because it is not written to stand alone, like it's a short story. What seems not to fit, in other's opinion, may very well fit in when read in conjuction with the next chapter. Some things, if taken out of the first chapter, as per advice, may not work when you look at the whole. Especially with suspense or mystery. Hard road, no matter how you look at it.
My conclusion? Stay true to your vision while looking at ways to improve writing skills and methods of delivery. I have received some great advice and made some great connections.
You know what? The old adage is very true. You can't please everyone. Don't try to. Hey chalk up to a great learning experiece and just keep moving forward. I am a firm believer in being yourself. It usually is delightful.
AMEN to everything you said. You are so wise.
Have you attended writers workshops? I'm planning on attending the New York Pitch & Shop Conference this December. I can't wait!
Melinda ~Partners in Passion~
Chris
I just carve out bits and pieces of time and do it. I don't have 4 children tho. Do your best, and our best changes from day to day. There have been a few days when deadlines are pending I can't read or comment a lot, but no one is gonna shoot me for that--maybe for a few of my comments, but not for that. lololol!
Sylvia
However I disagree with you on one point.
After being besieged with "Please read me" notes in my email, sometimes repeatedly,
I feel I have the right to respond as I wish to the writer.
One was written in such a tiny font I had to cut and paste larger somewhere else.
One was an ok story I guess, but the poor way it was typed kept me from fininshing it.
Others have just sucked. A monkey could have done a better job with a story line.
I didn't rate any of the stories I couldnt give a 10 to.
But I did speak up about a few of the basic faults (it's just my opinion)
We are spending a lot of time reading these romance stories.
Normally I don't even read romance so.....
At least give me a nice presentation to read.
Don't insult us by giving us your first raw draft to read.
I am going to go read you now Sylvia....
Good luck in the contest!
Alas my FC entry had some formatting problems and I forgot to make it regular font as opposed to Italics, so I apologize in advance, Terry.
Thank you.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977109941
At last count, 126 authors hadnt commented on ANY entry. There are a lot of authors who have read and commented on less than 50 entries, and a few who are well over 100. There are 300 entries total. Most comments are coming from people who only come on and vote for one entry.
Fate and Destiny
Thanks for the heads up, I'll go look at it.
Sylvia
Click on this book cover
Considering how much time most of us have invested in reading and commenting, I think I am with Tracy on this, who are those 126? Let's toss them, LMAO! Oh well, I guess they think they will magically progress upward and onward. Rand makes some good comments on his own article tho, about improvements.
loved your chapter
You know, out of 300 entries getting anywhere above a hundred is doing well.
Thanks ever so much for coming over and commenting on 'Scotland'. I, too, am part Celt...Scot by way of Ireland originally (plus German, plus English, the usual Heinz 57). I used my paternal grandmother's maiden name for the castle. I understand there really is an old, unused castle by that name on some island in Loch Lomond...may have to go there some day. I'll be adding some brogue to the conversations on a re-write...and maybe a wee dram, too. Again, thanks so much.
I must add my hearty amen to the article here and comments, too. I have learned a great deal from reading the comments of others on all the stories I've read. I've learned how to improve my writing, that my writing isn't as bad as I thought it might be and that some people are just plain hateful and arrogant. However, if they're still here on earth, God must still have a purpose for them, so I'll try to second guess Him!
Good luck with reading. I still have about 105 to read...if my bleary eyes last that long. Best of luck to everyone.
Thanks so very much for coming to 'Scotland' and giving your thoughts. I really appreciat them. I too, am Scot by way of Ireland (and the usual other Heinz 57 of German, English, etc.) The castle in my story is named after my paternal grandmother's maiden name. I understand there actully is a McCasland castle on an island in Loch Lomond, though it is uninhabited now. May have to visit some day.
A hearty amen to your article and the comments. I have learned a great deal from reading the comments of the stories. I found my writing isn't as poor as I once feared and some people are just plain arrogant and conceited. I reckon if they're here on Earth, God must still have a purpose for them, so I'll do my best to try and not second guess Him, but it won't be easy!
When I re-write my story, I'll try to add some brogue without making it too heavy-handed and hard to read, and perhaps a wee dram just for you...can't hurt!
Must go...still have 105 stories to read...bleary eyes and all.
Donna, a wee bit of brogue never hurts, but the Irish and Scot have a way with phrasing English, even without the brogue, that is just interesting. Of course the Texans do too, lmao! If it fits in cool, yours is contemporary, stay true to your vision.
Thanks for the hospitality.
Very good article...now Im off to read your chapter. I feel like an idiot cause I didnt know ya had one unless I had already read it lol. Im having a hard time remembering where Ive been and where i still need to go. But Im getting there!
Despite all the juggling I have to do, I wouldn't trade my son for anything. They grow up so fast and then there are gone, so I want to savor every moment. But still it, there are moments when I just want a quiet moment, LOL! Imagine.
Reminds me of the lyrics to a song I like, "I'm living in a world that won't stop pulling on me. I'm not complaining but it's true. It's like I owe my time to everyone else. 'Cause that's all I seem to do. There is so much in my mind I want to get out... sometimes I can't help thinking, what about me. Some days go by that I don't even see. Yah, I'm doing everything right and I can't break free...what about me?"
And yes, i could slightly be nuts but Im pretty sure Im not the mixed varity kind. A good macadamian nut maybe...or an almond joy lol
If ever you order a new cape, get one for me. Sounds like I could use it.
I do wish people had been able to comment without getting nasty. That's the one thing that really bugs me about the way some people have been acting. I've been relatively unscathed, but I've read some that about made my hair curl.
I don't like seeing a person make a nasty comment in retaliation to real or imagined insults, nor do I approve of going to a competitor that is doing better than we are and being nasty because they have more votes. It's childish and the ones doing it LOOK childish. Like I said, trashing someone elses' entry doesn't make yours stand as superior.
To some, winning is everything and as far as they are concerned, it is a no holds barred battle.