So I was on my way home from Iraq and I figured I’d go ahead and throw the manuscript into a contest. I mean, the book had gotten me an agent and it was in waaay worse shape then than it is now. What the hell, it couldn’t hurt, right?
Wrong.
Well, I just got those contest entries back today and, well, I got hammered. Badly. Like beaten soundly around the head neck and shoulders with a blunt object beaten. Which, of course, has me wondering what the hell is going on.
So, between the contest comments and the agent comments, I’ve got a problem, right?
You betcha.
Now what?
Well, I could sit in a corner and lick my wounds, whining about how everyone is being mean to me and it’s really a gem if only the right person would pick it up but I won’t. I’m also not inclined to dig into this manuscript right now, either. But I’m going to. I’m letting all these comments swirl around my brain and fester. I’ve got ideas of things I can change. Plot points, characters.
Basically, I’ve got my work cut out for me if I ever want to see this book in print.
I’ll be honest. I’m tired of the damn thing. I’ve been working on it for two years and I can’t tell you how many times I rewrote the thing in Iraq. So, the fatigue is an issue for me. I’m letting it sit for a while so that when I do finally dig back into it, I’ll be able to do so with a fresh perspective.
How do you take comments from contests? Do you send in to contests at all? Why or why not?
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I’ve entered two contests and did both because I was looking for feedback on how to improve my manuscript. I took the feedback from the first contest and stewed in it for a couple months before doing any edits. The revised manuscript I sent to the second contest won a publishing contract.
Take a break from the manuscript, Jess. When you go back to it you’ll have fresh eyes and be able to make it the best it can be.
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Hi Jess!
Thanks for being at Mama Writers today. It was nice to meet you!
I’ve only been writing for about a year and have entered 5 contests. Only one led to a final and a third place win. The rest? Oh, man! I got the smack down! Seriously! What’s worse was the comments between judges were conflicting! Talk about a slam dunk to the ole ego.
I think taking a breather from the MS might help air things out. You’ll come back to it with fresh eyes. It’s easy to say and so very hard to do though!lol
I wish you the best!
Smile!,
Sarah Simas
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I don’t understand the point of contests, to be honest. Now that I’m published, I probably wouldn’t qualify to enter one anyway, but it seems to me that if you’re finished with a book, and your crit buddies or beta readers think it looks great, why send it anywhere other than to a publisher? Confidence? Fear? Is it easier to be rejected by peers than by publishers? Unless it’s a national contest, carries prestige, or offers an opportunity to be judged by an agent, my recommendation is to forget contests and just go with it.
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Critique buddies? Beta readers?
If I had them I probably wouldn’t feel the need to enter a contest for feedback.