On Contests and Writing, or WTF?
One of the great things about belonging to the romance writing community is the wonderful support systems we build up in our various little groups within the larger community. A few months ago, I realized I was eligible for PRO status with RWA (this basically happens if you have had a full manuscript rejected by an agent or editor and I’m lucky enough to have had BOTH!) And one of the perks of PRO status (besides not having to compete as an amateur anymore–shudder!) is belonging to the PRO List-serve. The list is a place where PROs can go and ask questions about the submission process, like does Harlequin use computer word count or page word count (both, it turns out), questions about agents and editors, and questions about craft.
Last week, one of the PRO members gave the rest of us a heads up that the non-finaling Golden Heart scores were winging their way through the postal system coming to a mailbox near you (me? us?–*scratches head, shrugs*) I had actually forgotten that RWA would be sending the GH scores out so I was a little excited by the news.
I’m one of those odd birds who don’t really get upset by contest scores. Everybody has different taste and I know that there will be people who don’t like my writing, just as I don’t like every published authors’ writing. Though some judges comments on my various contest entries have made me laugh or roll my eyes I am pretty much able to read the comments, process them and than move on. And sometimes I even take their advice. I’m not sure why I am like this, though I suspect it has something to do with a confidence in my own writing abilities. I know I’m not the greatest writer who ever lived, but I also know I don’t totally suck. So, if some contest judge doesn’t like my entry, I’m less likely to feel down about it than to be pragmatic and think “well, she just doesn’t like my voice.” I’m just a pragmatic person. Love me or hate me. I’m gonna keep on truckin’. 
So, when I opened my GH scores, I was surprised to find myself…surprised. The good news was that I got a 9 from one judge. (The scores can range lowest to highest from 1 to 9.) The bad news was that I got a 4.5 from one judge and a 5 from another. The other two were 7.somethings (I can’t remember and am too lazy to look ‘em up.) What surprised me wasn’t so much the scores themselves, it was the utter lack of feedback. Apparently someone tried to sue (or did sue) RWA over her RITA or GH comments several years back so RWA took away the judges ability to comment on the entries. So, I have no idea WHY any of the five judges gave the scores they gave. Maybe 4.5 hated my hero. Maybe 5 thought it was great but by her personal score-o-meter 5 was highest (yeah, that’s a stretch, I know). The only score I didn’t really need comments for was the 9, though even there it would have been nice to know what exactly she liked about my story.
Someone on the PRO loop said that having a wide range between highest and lowest indicates a strong voice. I’ve never really thought about it, but I guess I do have a strong voice. At least, I think I do. But one thing that was stressed over and over again on the loop was that these scores should not define you as a writer. If you final, then it’s wonderful and exciting and we will cheer you on at Nationals, but if you don’t, then you don’t need to hang up your quill and call it a day. The Golden Heart is a contest with judges who are human just like the rest of us. And the luck of the draw is what determines which five judges you have read your work. On one day you might get five people who love your writing. On another day, five who hate your writing. (Or that East German judge who will do all in her power to thwart you!) The important thing, is that you enter it at all. It’s tough to put your work out there. But it’s even tougher to get your scores and keep on skating. 
And I treasure that 9. Even some finalists didn’t get a 9. Not too shabby for a first time novelist.
Oh, and last week was eventful for me last week for another reason. After spending the latter part of the week staring at my scoresheet and muttering “WTF?” I got an email Friday night notifying me that I’d finaled in the Smoky Mountain RWA’s Lauries Contest! Maybe there’s something to that strong voice argument after all…
So what about you guys? How do you respond to criticism of your work? Do you get upset by contest judges comments or do you take them with a grain of salt? Have you ever gotten great advice from a contest judge that helped you push your writing to the next level? Non-writers, do you have any experience with putting yourself out there to be judged? Tell us about it. Inquiring minds want to know!
I love Michelle Kwan. She was robbed! LOL! Well, she choked a couple of times but I still love her.
I’ve only entered one contest, very early on, to see if they *got* what I was trying to do. They did, the feedback helped and all was good. But there was a comment that bugged me. That’s when I realized my characters are like my kids and if anyone insults them, I’ll kick their butts. LOL! Which is probably something I’ll need to get a handle on if I want to submit to more contests.
Congrats again, Manda. Just entering the GH is a big deal. And you’re a PRO! Literally.
Manda-Congrats on finaling in a contest and for entering GH!!
I still haven’t mailed my local chapter application. I keep saying I’ll do it this week, then I don’t. Honestly, if I don’t have the nerve to mail that in, I certainly haven’t entered any contests.
Di
Congrats, Manda. A Laurie is a big deal! A really big deal.
And I feel like the only person in the world that hasn’t gotten the scores back from GH…sigh… the waiting continues.
Terri, I know I said I’m pretty laid back about contest feedback, but I too have had comments that just made me say “WTF?” Sometimes you have to wonder if the judge didn’t confuse your entry with someone else’s. Or I LOVE the grammatical nitpickers who call you on commas that could go either way. The rules for commas have changed dramatically over the years so when I get comments about them, I just have to roll my eyes. Grammar is important, don’t get me wrong, but a judge who spends all her time on it is, to me, a judge who can’t relax and enjoy the story.
Di, you get that application mailed, stat!!! Your local chapter is your local writing network. It took me a while to get up the courage and join mine (I already have this great group of online writing pals so I thought “why bother?”) and it’s been wonderful. We don’t all write the same kind of romance but the support is amazing. AND if your local chapter has a conference or something like that it’s a great opportunity to get some face time with agents and editors. Somebody has to drive them to and from the airport!
Thanks, Tiff
Bummer you haven’t gotten your scores back yet. Hopefully they’ll come this week. Fingers crossed for you.
Manda, I will repeat what I already told you. If one out of five readers rates your book a 9, you will be one of the debut authors of the year. I applaud you and everyone else who entered the GH competition. Opening your work to being judged is an act of courage.
I think Michelle Kwan is a great icon for your blog too. Olympic Gold may have proved elusive for her, but she is a symbol of heart and grace. And she holds more records and awards that those who defeated her in Olympic competition.
Congrats on finaling. I’m not a writer, so I haven’t entered these contests, but I have been critiqued in college on my papers. Of course it’s hard to take criticism and it takes a while before I learn to not take it as a personal attack and to accept it as constructive criticism. Professors are probably more nuturing than contest judges, so I guess judges won’t be providing a little tlc while they’re taking apart your work. I’m a big Michelle fan, too.
As I posted on my blog, here are my GH scores: 9, 8.8, 8.5, 6…..and 2!!!! Somebody hated Third-Rate Romance. I think they throw away the outlier score and average the other 4 when there’s such a huge gap, cause I wound up with 39.16 (lest you think I remember this stuff, I have the paper in front of me). I also like my #9 judge.
You just can’t really figure out scores w/o feedback. I only entered 3 contests: the GH, and two others. I placed first in one, and did not place in the other, but got good suggestions. It’s all a crap shoot. Congrats on the Laurie!
Isn’t Michelle Kwan awesome? She is the poster-child for perseverence in my book.
Thanks, Janga–from your post to God’s ear!
Jane, I do hope that professors who comment on papers are more nurturing than some contest judges I’ve had. But I think contest judges can be nurturing too. It all depends on how they approach it. But I’ve definitely had negative comments from both profs AND contest judges. My favorite paper comments came from an undergrad English prof I had (and adore) who, whenever he thought you were bullshitting in a paper would write in the margin “What CAN this mean?” Or in class he would say “Wow! You really think that?” Of course as freshmen we thought we were really smart and had amazed him. As seniors we realized that he genuinely was shocked that we thought that!
Wow, Maggie, those are great scores. Except for the darn 2!!! You’re so right. Scores without feedback just need to be filed under *shrug*. Thanks about the Laurie
I have only entered contests for feedback and found myself as a finalist in the Yellow Rose contest (yeah me!). I didn’t enter the GH because of the low word count (as an aside-Do you enter your book in the GH and then go back and add to it? Or, is your finished work not full length anyway and so you dont’ have to cut it back to make it fit the contest?)
I know what you mean about the scores, its really frustrating when there is such a wide margin in the #’s. I have also been following the PRO loop about the GH and the first person POV debate. I can’t believe a judge would score down an entry because she just didn’t like the POV it was written in. You read all these comments and then you think- maybe I should change my POV (I write in first person) or- maybe I was scored low because of the POV. Who knows? You’re right to take it with a grain of salt, learn what you can and then move on.
And congrats on finaling in the Lauries-way to go!
Beth, I’ve found the discussion on the PRO list fascinating too. I really am surprised that people would mark an entry down solely because they don’t like first person. But if you think your book belongs in first person then that’s where it should stay. I was heartened by the number of people who piped up in support of first person. I’m a big fan of Deanna Raybourne’s Lady Jane Grey series and I don’t think they’d be nearly as good in third person. Though I wouldn’t mind getting into Brisbane’s head for a few pages at least
As far as word count in the GH, the rules state that for the purposes of the contest a novel is anything 40,000 words or greater. So depending on what subgenre you write in, then full length is whatever you need it to be. And nobody reads your entire MS. You just send them a copy so they know you’ve “finished” it. If you final, and your MS is requested by a judge, I “think” you get to make changes to the full length MS before you send it to them.
Congrats on the Yellow Rose!!! That’s great!