Contests Continued...
- Feedback/critique: You can get a fresh perspective, a critique from someone who doesn't know you. Some judges are fantastic, even down to writing a separate page to help you understand your scores. The Golden Heart is an exception. You won't get any feedback there. Still, it's the premier contest for unpublished writers in the romance genre—enter when your manuscript is completed and polished enough to publish.
- Goal setting: Contests can help you set goals to finish that synopsis, a scene, first chapter, or complete manuscript.
- Learn to meet contest deadlines: You'll need this skill when you're published.
- Name recognition: Since the RWR publishes the names of contest winners you'll get your name out there, letting editors and agents know who you are.
- Query letter credits: You say you have no writing credits? Put down your contest win, place, or show. Editors and agents look favorably on it.
- Speed up the submission process: You'll save valuable time if an editor requests your manuscript after reading a partial in a contest.
- Prizes/certificates: Some contests give prize money, others certificates, a year's membership in their chapter, a year's subscription to the chapter newsletter, paid conference attendance, plaques, and more.
- Editor/agent read: Some contests use editors and agents as their final judges. Some of these editors give a written critique (this is better than prize money in my book).
- Monitor your growth: Learn from your mistakes. Decide where improvement is needed.
- Motivation/validation: Whether it's great scores, inspiring critiques/comments, win, place or show, all can provide that needed boost when the rejections come in.
- Develop writer's skin (thick like an elephant): Also needed when the rejections come in, or when you're published and the reviews are bad.
- Develop self-confidence in your writing skills: You'll know when you're getting better. You'll learn to discriminate, to know when a comment is valid or not.
- Learn to prepare a professional looking manuscript: Contests can be more rule-bound on this than editors, but learn it anyway. Editors do look more favorably on a professionally prepared manuscript.
- Networking: You can make wonderful friends through the contest network.
- Contest obsession: Some writers get caught up in the thrill of winning contests and never finish a book. Wasting several months, days, or even hours trying to win a contest is time poorly spent if you never complete the book.
- The cost: Contest dollars can add up. With entry fees ranging from $10 to $50, plus copying fees, postage, SASE, and the value of your time, the costs can amount to more than the benefit. Postage for non-U.S. residents can add up to more than the entry fee in some cases.
- Confusing score sheets: Some list elements that might not even come up in a first chapter and yet require the judges to score that element.
- Judge bias: Your contest entry may do well in one contest and not in another based on the personal preferences of the judges. A judge may simply dislike your style and score accordingly. There's no way to avoid it.
- Low scoring judges: Some judges never give a score higher than average. They don't believe any manuscript is perfect and therefore, never give a top score.
- Low scores, no comments: Some judges never make comments and never bother to explain a low score. There are some contests that require judges to justify a score under a particular number.
- High-scoring judges: Some judges score everything high and, thus, fail to let you know where improvement is needed.
- Negative/caustic critiques: Most judges try exceptionally hard to give valid, helpful critiques. But I have heard from more than a few contesters who've received scathing remarks. If that happens to you, be sure to let the contest coordinator know.
- Widely divergent scores: One judge loves it, another hates it—just like editors. It's unavoidable, get used to it.
- Judges who live by "The Rules": No one knows where "The Rules" are written, or who wrote them, but these particular judges know without question that; the hero and heroine "must" meet by page three, that every sentence "must" have only one space after a period, that every grammatical rule must be followed without fail, that a writer must never, ever switch to another point of view within a scene, and that an editor will "never" buy stories about athletes, musicians, or artists. There are more of these rules, but I don't remember them, and I don't know where to obtain a copy of the scriptures. If you're an out-of-the-box writer, you'll probably not fare well with these judges.
When deciding on which contest to enter, consider what you want to accomplish. If you're writing a sweet romance, you don't want to enter a sizzling scene contest. If you have no mystery, don't enter a contest in which the judges will be looking for plenty of mystery and suspense in those first three pages. Even if your story is a romantic mystery/suspense but the first three pages don't convey that in spades, this might not be the contest for you.
If you wish to have your work judged by published authors, choose contests which promise published author judges. Some contests offer "at least one published judge." I find it interesting to compare published judge's comments with the unpublished. I'm not advocating one or the other as better, just that I find it interesting. I think contests need both. I also find most judges to be fair, forthright, and helpful. And remember, they all give generously of their time and expertise.
Next, you want to make sure your entry package is the best that it can be. To do this, there are some written rules to follow. The contest rules. If you don't follow them to the letter, you risk disqualification. Contest rules usually specify standard manuscript format, which means double-spaced, one-inch margins all the way around, Courier 12 point, non-proportional font or equivalent, standard headers with book title on the left side, and the page number on the right. Be sure to check the rules section on each contest as some things can vary. I remember one contest that specified the title should be in the header on the right side with the page number. I don't know if missing little things like this will get your entry disqualified, but why take the chance. And if you don't understand a particular rule, contact the contest coordinator. Never guess.
Anyone who has read this far will receive a book contract!
Actually, that's an untruth. I lied to get your attention, because getting your reader's attention is the next thing you must do to interest contest judges. And once you've grabbed your judge's attention, you must sustain it and keep her wondering what's going to happen next. Try to end on a hook as well. Don't leave your reader dangling in the middle of a sentence or paragraph simply because the contest requires no more than 15 or 25 or 55 pages. Usually they mean "up to" the number listed. Study your entry and end it with a bang. Leave your judge dying to know what happens next.
Continued...
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Article originally printed in the Phoenix Desert Rose Newsletter, 1998.
Copyright © 1998-2000, Linda Style.
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