Contests - Part II
Remember me telling you about entering that contest? The second one I ever entered and about ten years after the first one? I didn't final.
Waaahh.
After a moment or two of pouting (and a large glass of chardonnay), I bravely opened up the first of four attached judge score sheets. I took a deep breath and (once I had another glass of wine at hand) scrolled down to the final score number . . . and a 91 out of 123! That wasn't so bad. I sipped at the wine. A few comments are quite valid. This person obviously has a fairly good grasp of writing and judging.
Ouch. Judge #2 only gave me half the possible points. Actually, not even half - I got 61 out of a possible 123. What is that? Like a D? Maybe a C-, if I'm lucky? She thinks I suck! She's mean! I know what it is - she's just jealous. Yeah, that's gotta be it. I'm gonna hold my breath 'til she takes it back. I don't suck - I don't, I don't.
Moving on (and moving on to 'nother glass), I opened score sheet #3, tissues at the ready should I get another half-grade. Scroll, scroll . . . and a 114! Seriously?!?!? Wow! Now I'm feeling much better (and much warmer, can we open a window?) I should celebrate this great score with another glass of wine!
After managing to not step on dog on my way to a pee and refilling the glass (did I mention it holds 18 oz? woo-hoo!), I open the final score sheet. This will be it, this will really tell me if I'm mediocre (another sucky score means I'm not connecting with the majority) or on the verge of supremeness (which is preferred, hello).
Sip. Sigh. Sip. Scroll. Sip.
Spew.
Judge #4 gave me . . .
A PERFECT SCORE!!!!
I got 123 out of only 123 possible points! Holy Crap!
The judge even gave me her e-mail addy and asked that I put her into my database to notify her when the book comes out for sale!
SHE'S MY FIRST ANONYMOUS FAN!!
Go me!
I have to go lie down now. Will celebrate more after the room stops spinning.
Waaahh.
After a moment or two of pouting (and a large glass of chardonnay), I bravely opened up the first of four attached judge score sheets. I took a deep breath and (once I had another glass of wine at hand) scrolled down to the final score number . . . and a 91 out of 123! That wasn't so bad. I sipped at the wine. A few comments are quite valid. This person obviously has a fairly good grasp of writing and judging.
Ouch. Judge #2 only gave me half the possible points. Actually, not even half - I got 61 out of a possible 123. What is that? Like a D? Maybe a C-, if I'm lucky? She thinks I suck! She's mean! I know what it is - she's just jealous. Yeah, that's gotta be it. I'm gonna hold my breath 'til she takes it back. I don't suck - I don't, I don't.
Moving on (and moving on to 'nother glass), I opened score sheet #3, tissues at the ready should I get another half-grade. Scroll, scroll . . . and a 114! Seriously?!?!? Wow! Now I'm feeling much better (and much warmer, can we open a window?) I should celebrate this great score with another glass of wine!
After managing to not step on dog on my way to a pee and refilling the glass (did I mention it holds 18 oz? woo-hoo!), I open the final score sheet. This will be it, this will really tell me if I'm mediocre (another sucky score means I'm not connecting with the majority) or on the verge of supremeness (which is preferred, hello).
Sip. Sigh. Sip. Scroll. Sip.
Spew.
Judge #4 gave me . . .
A PERFECT SCORE!!!!
I got 123 out of only 123 possible points! Holy Crap!
The judge even gave me her e-mail addy and asked that I put her into my database to notify her when the book comes out for sale!
SHE'S MY FIRST ANONYMOUS FAN!!
Go me!
I have to go lie down now. Will celebrate more after the room stops spinning.
Long, long ago- I used to be a contest slut and my scores were either FAN-freaking-tatic. One 100% after another.
Or
Completely toilet paper worthy. Either perfect scores or horrible scores. With very little middle ground. Almost always the perfect scores came from pubbed writers and the horrible ones came from unpubbed.
I'm thinking of hitting the contest circuit with the new WIP and I'm curious if it will get the same kind of reaction.
At least now I know how to handle those horrible, stabbing, crits.
Wine..lots and lots of wine. *G*
Thanks for the tip.
Reply to this
You hit the nail on the head. The two uber fab if-you-were-a-man-I-just-might-be-willing-to-have-your-baby scores were from pubbed authors. The okay score and the score from stop-saying-that-I-suck judge were both unpubbed. Maybe unpubbed are tougher since we feel so judged and are so critical of our own work?
What isn't better with casks of wine?
Reply to this
I’ve recently started a blog, the information you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
Reply to this