My experiences with comps were a while ago, Kylie, but the very first thing I wrote was a romantic short story which I entered in the Woman's Day Mills & Boon short story competition. It won a place and that convinced me I was destined to write category romances which I tried to do for four years. I never succeeded but it was a fabulous apprenticeship for a writer, sticking to guidelines and focusing on the requirements of the genre - short novels (50,000 words) which were much quicker to finish than a mainstream book - a good way of working up to the 150,000 words novels I write now.
I think that early competition success was the universe's way to pushing me towards Romance Writers of Australia where I've made friendships and learned so much about the craft of writing. So although I didn't end up being a romance writer, it was the best thing for me at the time.
Competition entries can be a good way to get feedback (depending on the comp) and also a good way to get used to rejection! Which is part of the writer's life. I think you have to be sensitive to write in the first place, so it's unfortunate that we keep coping rejections because the creative person's emotions are probably the easiest to wound. Still, it's a part of the business.
The other thing you have to understand is that a competition win or loss isn't always indicative of the quality of your work. Alyson's book didn't make it through the first round of the Emma Darcy Award (RWA comp for full length manuscripts) yet an editor loved it and eventually bought it. That's not to say that the ED award isn't worth entering, only that competition readers aren't editors, and at the end of the day, it's the editor you have to please if you want to be published. The best sort of competitions are the ones that have editors as final judges. Quite a few romance writers have been asked for full manuscripts by publishing house editors on the strength of a competition entry. So that's a great way to catch their eye or at least make your name familiar to them.
To compete or not to compete
February 15 2003, 5:33 PM
I have only entered a couple of comps and say 'ditto' to Lou's advice. How can it not be great to place in a comp? (Well done Lou!!! That is so cool!)
The first one I entered I put in the first three chapters of the book that I just sold. The judges of that comp gave marks and advice and the like which was invaluable. I apparently made a mistake in the way I formatted my MS (never saw it myself but...) so was not in competition but they still graded my work and gave me some advice. After a couple of days of moping at the negatives I really thought about the ideas they had and took on the ones one that I agreed with. And I know that it made a huge difference to the sellability (sp?) of my book.
But then again, as Lou said within a week I received a letter to say I had not gone past the first round of one comp and yet sold that very same manuscript! So it's a subjective thing.
I say do it so you become used to the long wait for an answer, the agony of rejection, and the taking or rejecting of advice.
And on the flipside you've got to be in it to win it so why the heck not go for it!!!
Timna
me too
February 17 2003, 10:15 AM
Ive entered comps before and won two of the four i've entered and thats a buzz in itself. While these comps were a few years ago, i have tried to get back into it.. and am still waiting to see if my recent work is accessable to the modern publishers/editors.
my advice is just go for it, but remember that if its a comp that does not give feedback, doesnt mean it isnt worth applying and submitting your best work to.
good luck and have fun
