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Last month we talked about how to
make contests work for you as you improve your writing skills.
This month we're going to discuss how to cohose the right
contest, how to prepare your contest entry, and what can happen
if you final in a contest.
So, now that you know how to make contests
work for you as you improve your writing skills, let’s discuss
how to choose the right contest, how to prepare your contest
entry, and what can happen if you final.
There are several things you need
to consider when choosing a contest:
Cost? Most contests run in
the $25 per entry range, but don't forget the cost of copies,
envelopes and, of course, postage. It adds up surprisingly
quickly. It's easy to get caught up in a contest frenzy, and
suddenly you're out a couple hundred dollars.
How much manuscript must be sent?
That depends on the contest, but it also depends on what you’re
looking for. If you've entered the first chapter and a three
page synopsis in a few contests and now you want to know if
the partial and ten page synopsis flies, you'll need to choose
your contest accordingly. Many contests don't require the
entire manuscript to be finished, though some do. Some don't
require a synopsis, others require synopses of specific lengths.
There are contests for first kisses, best hero, last chapter.
You name it, it's likely out there. If you need to run that
love scene by someone other than your significant other or
your mother (shudder), you can probably find a contest for
it.
What feedback will you receive?
A better question is: What feedback do you want? Are you looking
for a reaction to your oddball hero with suggestions on how
to tone him down? Or do you simply need a numerical score
to confirm that your use of dialect works? Or is your goal
to get your work in front of an editor or agent's nose?
Feedback runs the gamut from a simple
number score (the Golden Heart), to no score, but detailed
comments on the manuscript and perhaps a note with overall
impressions from the judge (the Maggie). Feedback may not
even be all that important if what you are really after is
a shot with the editor/agent. You have to decide what form
of feedback you need, then determine if a given contest provides
it.
Who will judge? This relates
back to your reasons for entering the contest. Are you looking
for a detailed critique? Maybe a contest with authors as judges
is what you need. Are you looking for a way to get your manuscript
in front of Suzy Editor? A contest where Suzy Editor ranks
the finalist entries may be all you care about.
How many entries are there likely
to be? If your goal is to get in front of an editor or
agent, or you covet the title of "Contest Winner", a small
contest may be a better choice for you than one of the "name
brand" large contests, regardless of all these other points.
If you enter the Golden Heart and your category has 75 entries,
your shot at hitting the top ten percent is dicey. If you
enter a smaller contest and there are 25 entries in your category
with five entries making it to the final round, you've got
a much better chance of having that editor or agent read your
work.
So, how do you choose a contest? First,
decide why you are entering. Once you know what your goal
is, weigh the relative importance of the issues discussed
above, open your Romance Writers Report to the contest section,
and choose based on your specific criteria.
Once you've decided which contest to
enter, the next step is to prepare your entry according to
the instructions given in the contest application. DO NOT
make the mistake of just printing out your chapter as you
would for an editor. Generally, standard page layout works:
12 pitch/10 point Courier font, double spaced, 1" to 1 _"
margins all around, 25 lines per page, good quality white
paper and nice dark toner or ink.
Headers are tricky. Every contest has
its own specifications, not only for what should or shouldn't
be included at the top of each page, but also how it should
be arranged. Ditto for cover/title pages. Use a binder clip
or paper clip to hold the copies together -- never staple.
Putting two rubber bands around the whole packet to keep it
neat in the mail is a good idea.
Now, all that said, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
CAREFULLY. Go back and read that last bit again. Your manuscript
can be disqualified for -- dare we say it? --stupid reasons.
Take every instruction at face value. Assume nothing, and
call the coordinator if you can't make sense out of it. When
it comes time to mail your entry, the U.S. Postal Service
has wonderful FREE Tyvek envelopes. They are waterproof and
virtually indestructible. Get two and use one for return postage.
Now, send it Priority Mail, or Overnight
if you are cutting the deadline close. You can use other delivery
companies, though the good old Post Office has proven to be
reliable and cheap. Contest entries can usually be mailed
for $4.00 or less (plus return postage). Also, do not send
your entry any way that requires a signature for delivery.
Instead, include a self-addressed, stamped postcard to verify
delivery. Do the contest coordinator a favor and write your
title and the contest name on the back. Write "Date Received"
and draw a line after it for her to fill in. Voila. Confirmation
made easy.
Now for the fun stuff. When we enter
a contest, most of us can’t help but daydream about winning.
After all, who has a better imagination than a writer? So
what really happens if you final? First, you get a phone call
from the contest coordinator. You yell and scream, call your
friends, and generally feel on top of the world. It’s a wonderful,
heady feeling.
Now for the bad news. Okay, there’s
not really any bad news about finaling, just a few reality
checks. Don’t expect to get a host of calls from agents wanting
to represent you now that you’re a contest finalist and don’t
expect to get calls from editors suddenly wanting to publish
your book. Although…if the final round is judged by an editor
or agent, he or she may request to see the rest of your manuscript.
If this happens, you’ve won, no matter what place you take
in the contest!
First place may earn you a medallion,
brooch, trophy, cash, etc. All finalists generally receive
a certificate.
Finaling or winning will also earn
you some recognition (let Member News know and you’ll find
your name in the WRW Update). Last but not least, finaling
earns you some credibility with agents, editors and fellow
writers. This comes in particularly handy when you’re writing
query letters or introducing yourself during an editor/agent
appointment.
Finaling in the national contest, the
Golden Heart, gets you appointments with editors and agents
at the national conference, gets you a tremendous amount of
publicity (within RWA – particularly at Nationals), gets your
work in front of three acquiring editors, and earns you one
of the top credentials an unpublished writer can get in this
industry.
A word of caution: Whether you win
or ‘bomb’, don’t lose sight of the purpose of contests. The
purpose is to learn and, just possibly, to get your work in
front of an editor or agent. Don’t spend so much time revising
and polishing the first chapter that you never get beyond
it. Used wisely, contests can be a valuable tool toward your
ultimate goal…learning your craft and getting published.
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