How To Interpret Contest Results

So a few months ago, you worked your hiney off polishing off that twenty-five to fifty page entry and you sent it along with your brilliant one-page synopsis to a bonifide writing contest. You've sweated out the details of what you included, what you SHOULD have included. Did you pick the right 'hook' sentence? Did you end with a good cliffhanger? Did you...did you...


I've been there myself. 


I've also been a contest judge several times before and I'm here to tell you, even if you didn't place, contests are a great investment for any writer.


As a contest judge, I spent at least two hours minimum, per entrant. I read, re-read, thought about what worked and why, and put all my notes in the comments.  I also included what the writer did well and how they might tighten up certain areas. I have high hopes for a lot of them because many were not only great ideas, but they were executed in unique ways.


But you do need to understand one thing...I had to give it a score that reflected the work in the state that it was in...not its potential.  And that is all the difference.


The Good


Just entering the contest has vaulted you light years ahead of a lot of writers. The discipline to conform to formatting, word count, and synopsis rules alone has taught you a lot about the submission process. Tack onto that the time you spent editing and you've spent some quality time on your work. Great job!


You also are one step closer to perfecting your proposal because all the work you did for the contest, can be cannibalized for submitting to agents.  You had to figure out what category you needed to submit your work under...and now you have a genre to put on your query. You have a one page synopsis and polished three chapters or so...voila!


The "Not So" Bad


Comments criticizing your writing will sting. No doubt, but...BUT...


Take a look at what your scores are and pay close attention to the comments or sentiments that are noted by all the judges.  So what if one judge thinks your story is slow?  
However...if all the judges say things like 'pacing' and 'backstory' then maybe consider reworking that area.  


A consensus will usually point to a true trouble spot.  Contests are opinion, I'll give you that, but they are professional opinions and if they all find fault with a particular aspect of your writing then take note.


Here's the thing. Not placing in the finals is actually a blessing in disguise. Your book wasn't quite ready to be in front of acquisition people and the good thing is...they won't see it until it is ready.  You don't want to burn those bridges before you've had a chance to put your best foot forward.


The Potential


Not placing doesn't mean your story sucks or your writing career is over. It also doesn't mean that they hated your idea or the story was stupid.  It means it needs some work...that's it. Think of it as a practice run for submitting to agents.


Like I said before, the score they give the entry is for the way it looks now, not the way it will be when its ready. Remember that.


Give It Time


Everyone's knee-jerk reaction to criticism is to argue. Its human. Especially when talking about something you've poured your heart into. When you get your scores and comments, read them over, resist the urge to throw your hands up and quit, and walk away.   Give yourself at least two full days to recover from the blow to your ego. I'm serious. Forty-eight hours minimum.


Call your bestie or your crit partner and vent. Eat ice cream. Cry. Then, when you've stopped arguing with the imaginary judge in your head, go back and read the comments as if they were from a mechanic. 


That's right...a mechanic.  Not some judge on high sentencing you to pre-published purgatory forever...but as someone whose job it is to help you get the kinks out before hitting the road again.


Keep On Trucking!

Your baby may need a few things tightened. You may need to polish a few things here and there. You may even have to replace a panel or chapter, as it were, but that does not mean you should just declare the whole thing totaled.  


And certainly don't believe you will never get where you're going cause you needed to make some tweaks!


You took a step many writers never take. You showed your work to someone. That is huge! Bask in the awesomeness that is you!  And keep in mind that this is a journey...enjoy the ride.


Until next time...Go Write!
Photo by Seattle Municipal Archives

Shades of Truth ~ Sandra Orchard

Today I have author,Sandra Orchard, to talk about her thrilling novel, Shades of Truth!  Welcome, Sandra!

When did you first realize you were destined to be a writer?
In Grade One when one of my stories was printed in the school yearbook. Eventually school killed the creative side of my writing. I thought I’d write non-fiction. Then after my mom died, I discovered Christian fiction. Seeing characters face and triumph over trials similar to my own helped me tremendously. After several years of reading novels, a yearning grew to write them.

Tell us about your book.
Shades of Truth is the second book in my Love Inspired Suspense series, Undercover Cops: Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on the line. However, you won’t be lost if you haven’t read the first novel. Each story stands alone. They simply share the same setting and some of the same characters. For example, the heroine in this book was the friend of Deep Cover’s heroine.

Can you give us a little blurb?
Sure...Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan’s mission: ferret out who’s recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won’t tell Ethan anything— even when she’s threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career.

What do you enjoy most about writing? What part do you loathe?
I enjoy brainstorming new stories. I love the energy and creativity and the feeling that I can take this story anywhere. I loathe getting bogged down in the middle of writing the story, feeling like it’s not interesting enough, or that the pace is wrong and then grappling to know how to fix it.

What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself from writing?
That I really can dream up stories. For many years, I didn’t think I had the imagination needed, but I cultivated (or perhaps revived it) and now story ideas continually crop up everywhere I look!

Tell us about the defining moment when you felt as if you’d finally made it as an author. 
July 16, 2009. The night of the Daphne DuMaurier Award presentation at RWA’s national conference. The coordinator called me at home during the ceremony to tell me I won. I was thrilled. Over-the-moon excited. She tried to tell me more, but the event was too loud so she said she’d try later. After I hung up, I squealed and jumped up and down and hugged my family and squealed some more. Then I emailed a few writing friends who’d been rooting for me. Author Sandra Robbins emailed me back with “you didn’t just win your category, you won the whole show and an agent has requested it!” Needless to say, I went into another round of squealing and jumping.

Wow...that must have bee so exciting! What are you working on now?
I just finished line edits for the third book in my Undercover Cops series, Critical Condition, which releases in October. It's about a nurse, an undercover cop, and a murderer who’ll stop at nothing to avoid being caught.

Now…I’m brainstorming the second book in a trade-length romantic suspense series for which I recently received an offer! I hope to be able to discuss details very soon!!

Any words of advice for struggling, unpublished writers?
One word. Persevere.

Outside of writing, what accomplishment are you most proud?
Raising and educating three wonderful, hard-working children who love the Lord (and their mom ). It was also pretty cool earning full scholarships to university and graduating summa cum laude, but that seems like a lifetime ago.

Thank you so much for visiting with us! If you'd like to take a look at Shades of Truth, visit Sandra at her blog or author website.

Here is a sneak peek at Sandra's novel...


“You were going to talk to a guy who ran you down in broad daylight? What were you thinking?”
Kim’s expression hardened. “I was thinking about the damage that rumors of a hit and run by a former resident would do to the manor. I don’t expect you to understand, Ethan. You’ve only been here a day. You couldn’t possibly care about the manor’s survival the way I do.”


The woman was as loyal and compassionate as they came. How could he have suspected her of trying to protect a drug dealer? 


“I’m sorry, Kim. I was out of line. Believe me, I want to help you.” More importantly, he wanted to get her out of here before the police connected her—or him—to the shooting. The last thing he needed was a cop unraveling his cover. “Come, on, I’ll drive you home.”

In the meantime, he needed descriptions of the kids vandalizing Kim’s car, because chances were good one of them shot Blake, or had seen who did. And Ethan needed to talk to them before the wrong cop got to them. Or Kim. 


Witnesses in this case had a bad habit of showing up dead. 

---

Shades of Truth is in bookstores and stores like Walmart and Target until early April, or click here: http://bit.ly/SofTonHqn  to order at a 20% discount directly from Harlequin, and use coupon code FREESHIPAFFO to receive free shipping until Mar 31st

Sandra Orchard lives in rural Ontario, Canada where inspiration abounds for her romantic suspense novels set in the fictional Niagara town she's created as their backdrop. Married with three grown children, when not writing, she enjoys hanging out with family, brainstorming new stories with fellow writers, and walking her dog in God's beautiful creation. An active member of ACFW, RWA, several of its chapters, and The Word Guild, Sandra likes to encourage aspiring writers. She also enjoys offering her readers “extras” to enhance their experience of her books. 


Check out these and other resources for both readers and writers at her website: http://www.SandraOrchard.com. 


For updates on new releases, special subscriber-only reads and giveaway opportunities, sign up for her newsletter at http://bit.ly/OrchardNews


You can also connect at: http://www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard 
Or join in the conversations about characters on her blog at http://www.SandraOrchard.blogspot.com 

Do You Need A Sell Sheet?

Photo by Magnetbox

Its conference season! Time to get yourself organized and ready to make those one-on-one meetings with agents and acquisition editors. 


One-sheets should be high on your list of things to take with you.


I have found these extremely helpful in that I get nervous and the one sheet helps me to remember all of my talking points. Plus they are great leave behinds for your meetings. They are a snapshot of you as an author and the idea you are pitching to use as reference.


So what goes into a sell sheet?


It will have many of the same elements of a query but in a more eye catching way. Make sure to include...

• The title of your book along with a one or two paragraph blurb. This is what you might find on the back cover of your book. Make this no more than 1/2 of the page.

• You will need a one paragraph author bio. Again, think bottom of back cover of your book. Name, other books you've written, awards, relevant stuff - don't include your love of cats.

• You will also need a good quality headshot. Not you cropped out of a Christmas photo, but a professional picture.

• Your contact information - email, address, blog or website, etc.

• Your agent's information if you have one.

It has all the essential information you want to get across and will make it easier for the agent/editor to remember you and your book after the conference...so don't forget the picture!!!

Photo by aurostar739

What you want is a convenient sheet of paper with what you pitched at the meeting, any other books you've written, and contact information.

A lot of time agents and editors do not take proposals and samples from authors at conferences, but I have almost always had them not only take, but jot notes down on the one sheet.  Its a great quick reference guide for them and a heck of a lot more noticeable than a business card for you.


If you have written multiple novels or the book you're pitching is part of a proposed series, the be sure to include that information on the sell sheet.


If you write multiple genre's then have a sell sheet geared toward that genre for each meeting. If you write paranormal romance/romantic suspense, a quick Google of the agent you are meeting with will help you tailor your pitch to them.


I have an example of the one sheet I used a couple of years ago for my Shades of Hope series during pitch sessions with acquisition editors.


The cover is of the now published book, but you get the idea. Also note...a large amount of the stuff I put in the sell sheet ended up being used by the marketing department so really get an idea of what you're pitching.


For an agent's point of view on the matter, check out Tamela Hancock Murray's blog post on One-Sheets versus Queries. 


I hope this helps as you prepare to hit the road and make those meetings this conference season!  I'd love to hear how it worked out.


Until next time...Go Write!