tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post6574173831572590884..comments2024-02-23T05:16:12.783-05:00Comments on VOICES FROM THE HEART: Writing Contests-The Pleasure and The PainMona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-4954637980217571552010-07-08T15:23:28.786-04:002010-07-08T15:23:28.786-04:00Entering contests is a scary thing. It's your ...Entering contests is a scary thing. It's your baby that you are asking someone what their opinion is of your book. You're elated if they agree with you and your heart sinks when they tell you to join a critique group because you need lots of work. <br /><br />But, and it's a but but, if you read over their remarks, you'll find most are very good and helpful. <br /><br />It depends on how much you want learn. As a famous author once said to me, "Jaclyn, if you can't stand the heat get the hell out of the kitchen." Like everything else in life, you take the good with the bad and find a happy medium. <br /><br />JaclynJACLYN DI BONAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00909162135547747986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-69350982750113222692010-07-07T15:35:21.147-04:002010-07-07T15:35:21.147-04:00Paisley, I can never understand the hateful commen...Paisley, I can never understand the hateful comments, either. Why someone would judge just to be nasty is beyond me. <br /><br />Mona, it is definitely a lovely high to win a big contest--always mixed with an element of disbelief for me.<br /><br />Joanne, I'm glad I alerted you to the Kensington contest. I think your work would be ideal for the Brava line. Good luck if you enter.<br /><br />Dawn Marie, I know exactly how you feel about the hope that by entering contests you will catch the agent or editors eye. I would love to see some kind of statistic on how often this happens.Helen Scott Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12254001495060374379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-75873422124705473072010-07-07T09:04:24.081-04:002010-07-07T09:04:24.081-04:00I've received both pleasure and pain from read...I've received both pleasure and pain from reading contests. But I keep at it, hoping some editor or agent will see my work and like it. :)Dawn Marie Hamilronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01366244357545585183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-65182202852149716762010-07-07T08:25:12.536-04:002010-07-07T08:25:12.536-04:00Helen,
Thanks for your thoughtful post about conte...Helen,<br />Thanks for your thoughtful post about contests. I've become more selective as I polish my writing, but the thrill of winning always inspires me to keep writing. I wasn't aware of Kensingtojavascript:void(0)n's new contest. Thanks for sharing.Josiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05930730661273079224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-91150070262839887352010-07-06T20:39:01.014-04:002010-07-06T20:39:01.014-04:00I have entered a lot of contests before being publ...I have entered a lot of contests before being published. At the beginning the scores were low simply because my writing was not the best. But soon I finaled and won several contests. Helen, you are so right about the thrill of winning, although I never finaled in the golden heart. When my Babies in the Bargain won 2009 Best Romance Novel at Preditors & Editors readers poll and 2009 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite I was over the moon and my sales shot up.<br /><br />Like you I highly recommend entering contests.Mona Riskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-36457178381552048012010-07-06T16:46:42.671-04:002010-07-06T16:46:42.671-04:00I've had both excellent comments from judges a...I've had both excellent comments from judges and some hateful. I don't understand why anyone would want to rip the skin off someone instead of backing away and saying they weren't impressed and be done with it. For the most part, lately I've been receiving great comments that are helpful - I am especially partial to the TARA Contest as another great judge feedback contest.Paisley Kirkpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06401039126457210324noreply@blogger.com