Contest Ups and Downs

Last week I talked about finalling in the Selling Synopsis contest. This week I'm very, very excited to say that my synopsis won!! Writing a synopsis isn't easy, so to realise I've finally managed to nail the process is a relief.

Luckily my synopsis win took away the sting of not making it past round 1 of the Emerald - category. I seemed to have polarised the judges again with quite varied scores. But that is the nature of contests, it all depends on who reads the entry - much like when you submit it's all in the eyes of the beholder.

Contests are more than a way to get anonymous feedback on your writing, it really does prepare you for the big scary world of submissions. Just gotta nail 'right desk, right time'.

Is that how everyone else sees contests? Or do you get torn everytime an entry comes back with a low score or harsh comment?

The VPA Happy Dance

I've finalled in the Valerie Parv Award. Happy dance time!!

First place wins Valerie as a mentor for a year. Wonderful for me if I win, possibly scary for Valerie if I do, lol.

Regardless of what happens (the placings are announced at RWA's awards dinner at the August conference) I'm thrilled to have made the top 6 of 80 entries, and wish my fellow finalists (Madeline Ash, Bridget Gray, Cornelia Kamp, Bronwyn McEvoy and Cassandra Samuels) all the best.

Selling Synopsis Finalists

Congratulations to Marilyn Forsyth, Clare Jude, Eloise Shannon (twice!), Christine Taylor and Allison Withers who made the final round of the Selling Synopsis contest. Their synopsis entries are now with Laura Bradford of the Bradford Literary Agency for their final judging. Best of luck!!

Competition was a lot stiffer this year - I entered the same synopsis I entered last year and scored an almost identical score but dropped 6 places in the rankings. Like my High 5 I seem to have split the judges with very high scores from two judges being counter-balanced by a low score from a third. Considering I would rather go to the dentist than write a synopsis (in fact, I remember setting aside 2 weeks where I set the goal of writing my synopsis, and it took me the full two weeks to do so), I'm pretty happy with that.

High 5 Results and Finalists

Firstly, congratulations to the six finalists: Anne-Louise Dubrawski, Bernice Greenham, Cornelia Kamp, Dorothy Martin, Melissa Smith and Jennifer St George. At the moment their High 5 entries are in the hands of Harlequin's Charles Griemsman who is judging the final placings. Best of luck to all of you!

Now for my results. Another mixed bag (seems to be the norm for me). For my current wip I received two very high scores, but the third was quite low so dragged down my overall score - I seem to have that happen a lot! I think (reading between the lines of the judges' comments) that I have a good story and voice, but perhaps there were some elements of craft that let me down. So two judges went with the story and voice (hence the high score) and the other pulled me up on the craft (hence the low score). But I am not disappointed. The craft issues were pointed out to me before the results came back so I was expecting it, and I am thrilled that my story was loved.

What more could you ask for?

SYTYCW #2

Harlequin are again running their "So You Think You Can Write" week. It started Monday - but it isn't too late to join in and catch up.

This year they have a dedicated website (here) for the event, so it is much easier to follow and participate. Best of all, this year the big contest can lead to a publishing contract (you just need a full manuscript by Dec 15th).

This is the place to learn all you wanted to know about writing series romance!