Contests
I'm not a big one for contests, having only entered one previously and that was years ago. So saying, I did enter my second contest the other day.
For some writers, contests are a wonderful way to get feedback, critiques, and to gain credibility (if they win or place well). It can also be incredibly expensive.
When I first started writing with the clear intension of becoming published, I was very lucky in that I had a fabulous critique group so I had lots of feedback and felt no need to do the contest route. Since then, my critique partners have either given up/shelved writing or felt they had moved beyond the need for such feedback. And now that I'm writing again, and a new genre, I find myself without a regular group of CPs to help me to brainstorm or keep on the correct path.
I have joined a critiquing loop, an offshoot of a group I am a member of, which has been fabulous but it's still new and I don't have the personal connections I had previously (most of us all lived within an hours drive of each other).
In January, when I went through my search of agents to "target" with my new project, I found one that would be my "dream agent". And then I discovered she is the final judge of this contest and for the category I write! The contest is very prestigious and entries are limited. I had to think about it. More than likely I would not make it to the final round to have her judge my entry. There was a slim chance I could, however. I just had to beat out ninety-six or so other entries. Okay, really not going to happen - but, it could and would get me a much more memorable read from her. A general query could get blurred in with the hundreds of others she receives a week. A contest placement might stand out a bit more, plus there was also an editor reviewing the finalists. And who knew if the judges might discuss their entries with each other? There were other agents judging other categories I wouldn't mind contracting with! Also, this might be a faster way to get my first chunk of material in front of her. The query process usually takes months and it's not unheard of to take a year or more.
So I went ahead and sent in my entry at the beginning of this week. And now this waiting game begins.
Keep your fingers crossed for me, won't you please? In a few months from no, if you hear a scream of joy, that means I made it to the finals. My sniffling if I don't, you probably won't hear.
For some writers, contests are a wonderful way to get feedback, critiques, and to gain credibility (if they win or place well). It can also be incredibly expensive.
When I first started writing with the clear intension of becoming published, I was very lucky in that I had a fabulous critique group so I had lots of feedback and felt no need to do the contest route. Since then, my critique partners have either given up/shelved writing or felt they had moved beyond the need for such feedback. And now that I'm writing again, and a new genre, I find myself without a regular group of CPs to help me to brainstorm or keep on the correct path.
I have joined a critiquing loop, an offshoot of a group I am a member of, which has been fabulous but it's still new and I don't have the personal connections I had previously (most of us all lived within an hours drive of each other).
In January, when I went through my search of agents to "target" with my new project, I found one that would be my "dream agent". And then I discovered she is the final judge of this contest and for the category I write! The contest is very prestigious and entries are limited. I had to think about it. More than likely I would not make it to the final round to have her judge my entry. There was a slim chance I could, however. I just had to beat out ninety-six or so other entries. Okay, really not going to happen - but, it could and would get me a much more memorable read from her. A general query could get blurred in with the hundreds of others she receives a week. A contest placement might stand out a bit more, plus there was also an editor reviewing the finalists. And who knew if the judges might discuss their entries with each other? There were other agents judging other categories I wouldn't mind contracting with! Also, this might be a faster way to get my first chunk of material in front of her. The query process usually takes months and it's not unheard of to take a year or more.
So I went ahead and sent in my entry at the beginning of this week. And now this waiting game begins.
Keep your fingers crossed for me, won't you please? In a few months from no, if you hear a scream of joy, that means I made it to the finals. My sniffling if I don't, you probably won't hear.
Good luck, Lori! *contest-ho high-five*
Reply to this
Thanks, Gwen!
Reply to this