What’s your take on contests?
I entered a few contests lately. The Maggies, sponsored by Georgia Romance Writers and another contest sponsored by Romance Junkies. I think they can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you can see how perfect strangers view your work. Sometimes they can catch problems you missed, or pinpoint what’s wrong with a manuscript. On the other hand, you sometimes get Nazi contest judges who take off points if your margins are wrong by 0.15 inches. You never know who you’re going to get. I always pray for those judges who love your work no matter what. The ones who award 9’s at the drop of a hat for the Golden Heart. I love those people. :headspin:
In some ways, I think contests are good preparation for the day when we have readers. You never know who will love your book and who will hate it. Everyone gets a bad review at some point, and they’re painful no matter what. Your book is your baby, and who wants their baby being called ugly? And yet, sometimes we look back at those old manuscripts and we think–My God? Why did I ever send that in? The phone book is more interesting to read! :blahblah:
I’ve found that six weeks is a good length of time for me to be more objective about my work. I can’t wait until one day, I’ll have an editor to point these things out to me. I get so immersed in my work, so close to it, that I really can’t see the flaws. If I could, I’d probably quit on page three. 
What’s your take? Are contests valuable or are you better off submitting your book to an editor?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 6:14 pm | Viewed 708 times
Olga Says:
You’re right. Contests are double-edged swords. For me, it worked both ways. I got some useful feedback and editor’s request for fulls. But at the same time I got the comments (for almost the same work!) that almost made me cry. I hope you’ll get great judges!
Crystal* Says:
I entered two contests about two years ago. They loved the story and said my form needed MUCH improvement. I didn’t do anything until I received both crits back. And then I worked with it. I haven’t sent anymore in. Coming up with the cash is one thing. And not being guaranteed a published book is another. If there were a guaranteed yellow brick road, I’d probably enter more.
Grins*
kacey Says:
well some contests get you a shot at being in front of an editor who doesn’t take unagented manuscripts. That’s one reason to enter. The GH is good, but it’s a crap shoot
I’m not too into contests these days, unless it gives me a chance at an editor that I can’t get to any other way…
Caro Says:
Definitely a double-eddged sword. I kinda overdid it a few days back and ended up losing sight of what I was actually trying to do and twisting myself into knots revising to answer sometimes conflicting comments.
Then I received an average score from a judge and the comment, “nothing special.” As much as it hurt, I looked at my manuscript and realized the judge was right — I’d managed to write my voice completely out of the work trying to please everyone. I ended up pulling back from contests and a number of other things, taking some time off from writing for publication and writing fan fic just to please myself and find that voice again.
One or two of the big ones are fine, but for the most part, I’ve given up on them in order to keep my sanity.
Rene Says:
Oh boy, what a loaded topic. My first experience with contests was in 2001 when I did the Golden Opportunity and my ms was just awful, but the judges were experienced, published authors that managed to point out my faults and praise my strengths. I learned so much. In 2002 I entered Winning Beginnings and won 2nd place in my category. Again the comments were great and all three judges were multi-published. Jump to 2004. My contest experience was truly schizophrenic. I entered 3 judges and the comments and scores were all over the place. One judge gave me her email address so I could let her know when the ms was published. Another judge (same ms) said with time I might become a good writer. The most experienced judge I had was a GH finalist. While I don’t think one needs to be a published author to be a judge, I don’t want my ms judged by a newbie who is working on her first ms.
I swore I wouldn’t enter a contest again. So I entered the GH and got decent scores on a new ms. I also entered the Molly this year. I’m not sure why. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Maybe I’d been sucking down martinis at the time….
On the whole, I think contests are great for new writers. A decent judge can really give a writer some wonderful feedback. However, I think if a writer is entering only so they can get in front of a certain editor, they are wasting their time and money. It is too much of a crapshoot.
MaryF Says:
Well, there’s nothing like finalling in a contest for an unpub. I like having something to look forward to in this business. After I didn’t final in the GH, and I hadn’t heard back on my manuscript that has now been in NY 54 weeks, I entered 6 contests. I finalled in one, am waiting on 3 others. I’m also looking at the NJ contest, Hot Prospects and Where the Magic Begins. Yes, the contests can get me down, especially when I don’t final, but sometimes the lowest scoring judge has the best comments.
My kitten loves your emoticons, BTW. He’s fascinated.
Amy K. Says:
I think contests have their place, but right now, I’d rather spend the bucks on sending my mss directly to the editor. I entered several about 2 years ago and never finaled. Came about 1 point from finaling several times. But the bad judges get my blood pressure up so high it isn’t worth it to me. (Not to say I’ll never enter a contest again…never say never.)
Katie Says:
I agree with Amy - what few bucks I have are spent on sending the stuff straight to editors, not contests. I like the odds better - to a decision maker or to an unknown entity?
Steph T. Says:
I’m not big on contests - I entered a few and found my scores had such a huge variation between them that it wasn’t a valuable experience for me.
I’m with you on putting your work away for a while and then coming back to it with fresh eyes. I actually just looked at a ms I’d put aside for 6 months and I just keep thinking - “I’m SO glad I didn’t send this out anywhere.” It’s just not ready but I couldn’t see the problems well enough back then. Now, I can see exactly what I need to fix.:coffee:
Gina Black Says:
I like contests. I like to final. It’s always disappointing when I don’t. I’ve learned to take the feedback only if it suits me. Sometimes it’s excellent. Sometimes it’s obvious that the judge is on another planet, missed their meds, or knows less about writing than I do. Sometimes you can’t please everyone.
I like getting my work in front of an editor this way because the horrible wait is much shorter and (without submitting) you find out if they like your work.
Contests definitely have their place. My CP sold her first book to Cindy Hwang who was the editor judge of (was it?) Ignite the Flame last year.