Contested!
Here's something I just don't get: RWA Contests. I've heard they're a good way to get your novel noticed--especially when the prize is prime placement on an editor's reading list. But, specifically, the judging seems counterintuitive.
I've heard several stories of writers who entered contests--agented writers, writers who have been published, and writers who IMHO turn out high-quality writing no matter what--and were given good marks overall, but received exceptionally low marks and persnickety, nitpicky comments from one or two judges. And, usually, the judges getting their hate on are unpublished, or have only a couple of publishing credits to their name.
Maybe it's because I'm new to all this organized writing business, but right here is where I start not getting it. The judges mark all these categories and are supposed to judge the readability and saleability of the submission--but how can they do that if they haven't sold much, themselves?
And if the writers doing the critiquing don't have a solid string of sales under their belt, what is their opinion but the opinion of a reader who may or may not like the type or style of story the contest entrant writes? What special insight do they have into the industry that can benefit the contest entrant? Now, if Nora Roberts or some other luminary of the genre were judging the contest, the whole setup would make sense: Experienced, successful expert offers learned opinion and judgment. But otherwise?
If I were judging a contest, my opinion would and should be worth exactly as much as the average reader's. Sure, I'm a writer, but I don't have any great string of credits under my belt. I don't have any experience, except my love of the genre as a reader, that makes me qualified to judge the saleability of a story. And as a reader, I've never quit reading a book over minor details, plot points I think should have been included, or the occasional punctuation error.
If anyone reading this has entered a contest, I ask, honestly, earnestly, humbly, "Why?"
- Are contests helpful?
- Do you feel like the critiques of the judges are useful?
- What usually prompts you to enter a contest?
12 comments:
I have entered three contest and am shooting for one this month. The first one never heard anything back on so I'm guessing I didn't win. And the only reason I entered it was to see what the hype was about.
The second one I entered was a fun one for a superheroine contest. (you develop your own superheroine and if they pick it they turn it into a comic book with your writing) So I will find out later on this month.
The third one is for a science fiction novel to help unpublished authors. I thought I would give it a whirl. Same with the Shomi one going on.
I mainly do them to get my name out there and my work. That and I don't have an agent yet.
So Bettie, not being an author myself, I can't help you. BUT this reminds me of American Idol last night. Did you see it? There was a dude auditioning who in his spare time gives advice, on line, to would be contestants on how to have a great audition. Then, of course, he completely humiliated himself by showing up and, oh yeah, it's a singing contest. THe upshot being: You have to do more than know how to play the game: You have to have experience and talent.
You're right. How can unpublished authors judge the saleability if they haven't been down the pike a few times? Readibility? That's different.
Hi Sarai,
Publisher contests are one thing--entering a publisher-run contest seems like a good way to get your writing seen by a publishing house you'd like to write for. They also don't charge you any money.
Contests sponsored by RWA chapters are fundraisers and usually have fees. The prize is access to an editor, or critique by an editor, and bragging rights for having won. Those are the contests I'm wondering about.
I've heard stories of publishing contracts resulting from contests, but I wonder how many, and how often, and if feedback from the contest judges is helpful to those who don't win.
Hi Lisabea,
This is my favorite stage of American Idol, but I keep forgetting to watch!
I've entered roughly ten RWA contests. I would say that the judging feedback is only helpful about 1 in 3 times, and then just for an honest, sensible outside opinion. One in 3 times is pure ego boosting. And one in 3 times makes me twinge in a hideous way akin to my uncles dancing. The unpubbed PRO types are the worst. They think there are rules. They think that if they follow the rules closely enough, one day they will be published. Following the rules means it's not your fault you're not pubbed yet. Hence...apply the rules to everyone.
I have a critique circle, so I wasn't in it for the feedback. I was in it for a final so I can get in front of eds/agents who are otherwise veyr picky (eds who accept only agented material, for example). I finaled in two contests, which basically told me I was on a general right track. Came in second (of 3) and came in fifth (of 5), both of which were for Scoundrel. But I've entered Scoundrel into other contests (after those finals, before selling) and was basically told it'd never sell. Meg was too mean, apparently, and my violence was too icky. Make of it what you will.
I figured up the cost and time involved and eventually decided--just before I sold--that it was a waste of both, especially if you read RWR interviews with eds/agents who say they rarely/never sign folks based on contest entries. It's a rough way to go, and much more expensive and bruising than basic, repeated submissions.
Any other questions, drop me a line.
You read my recentish rants? because it turns out there is no reason to ever enter any contests.
Glad I could settle that one.
Kate, (pre-published I was a Jasmine Winner, Finally A Bride finalist, New American Voices finalist...not quite a ho, but nearly)
OHhh and I'm helping coordinate my local contest, judging some other chapter's contest, judging the golden heart and the rita.
They are a fine fund-raising tool for sure.
This is it, though. Seriously. Not going to catch me entering, judging, or ranting about them again.
"Meg was too mean, apparently, and my violence was too icky. Make of it what you will."
I make of that the following: Now I'm even more eager to read WaSW.
"You read my recentish rants?"
Yeah, and I was shocked. You always deliver a smooth style and utterly likable characters. Always. Which made me think the contest judge had to be flat out unfair. I've heard similar stories from others, and then there's Carrie's post above.
Now I'm just thinking, what the hell? Has every writer with a distinct voice and style been bitch-slapped by a contest?
I wonder if contests encourage the sort of tepid heroines and recycled plots that annoy so many readers -- especially, IMHO, the younger readers the genre is trying to attract.
Do young women who grew up watching "Buffy," reading manga, and, who, on average, lost their virginity at 16 or 17, want to read about TSTL virgin heroines? Most late teen and early twenties aged women I know can't stand such characters.
But maybe that topic is a whole other blog post. Suffice it to say, I am suspicious of these contests.
I totally agree. This has always bugged me about contests in general and RWA contests especially. Not long ago I saw a contest (not an RWA contest) where the prize was a crit of your ms by a several-times Golden Heart finalist. An unpublished GH finalist. I was really, just...why? Why would I go through all that to win a critique of someone who has still not written a publishable manuscript?
I've judged a few contests. I try to be really objective--the only time I marked down because of taste and not mechanics was when the hero really was so loathesome I didn't think anyone else would see it differently (he'd done some really cruel things to the heroine to trick her into participating in a sexual survey for him, because he wanted to have sex with her before he decided if he wanted to date her or not). But other than that? Most of the judges have vanilla tastes, and that's what they look for. There's a reason there's no erotic category yet, and it's because the judges want sweet and innocent, not violent and sexual. Not all of them, but enough.
So then for unpublished authors would you suggest contest? or should we focus in on getting agents and submitting to publishing companies IYHO?
I am really happy to hear people think contests aren't that critical. I have been way too lazy to enter them. Sarai, it sounds like submitting to publishers and agents is smart, though IMHO nothing replaces an excellent critique group. Absolutely nothing.
I have had friends who judged contests, and on your voice thing, Bettie, I think you're right. The reports I've heard are that if one person absolutely hates a MS, that MS goes down. So it becomes a race of the lowest common denominator. WHat MS is hated or disliked by the least amount of judges? At least that was her description.
For what it's worth, I've never entered one. So you can do this without it. I happen to think it's of dubious benefit and a waste of money, but there are folks who really dig the contest circuit. They like reporting on what they've finaled or what, putting banners and buttons on their websites.
Maybe that impresses agents / editors. Since I'm not one, I really can't say. I do know there are books that have won upwards of 40 contests and never sold, though. Me, I'd rather have a sale.
I do believe that you don't need to have a long string of published work in order to know something about writing and deliver a potentially helpful critique.
That said, if one of the specific stated goals of a contest is to judge saleability, then yes, I do believe the judges should have decent industry experience. While reading widely and studying the field can give you a decent ability to review writing (and not all experienced writers make good critics), you really do need industry experience to judge saleability. In fact, I'd go so far as to say you'd be far better off getting industry editors to do the judging than actual authors with sales under their belts, because they'll have a wider view of the market.
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