Tuesday, April 7, 2015

One Writer's Thoughts on Writing Contests

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

It’s that time in the publishing year. Conference season is definitely upon us. Everywhere we turn on social media is an announcement of yet another conference and the attending contests that surround it. Sometimes the contests even appear without a conference, put on by groups and organizations.

But you can feel the excitement in the air. Writers everywhere are honing manuscripts, blurbs, synopsis, and even one sheets in the hope that this is their chance to shine. There’s stress underlying the excitement. Each contest has an entry fee to consider, along with what happens to the winner’s manuscript.

We’re all researching those that judge the contests and asking for feedback on the amount and type of feed back received from past entrants. And although we’re all assuring each other—and ourselves—that our goal is good feedback and visibility. Secretly we want to do well.

After years in the publishing industry, on both sides of the contest door, I have a couple of theories about contests. I’m interested to see if you agree or disagree, or have other thoughts as well, so I’m hoping we’ll get a rousing discussion going.
  • First, no matter how hard the creators try, a writing contest will always be subjective. It’s just not like a footrace, there’s no camera at the finish line to capture who comes in first. Our industry—the craft of writing—is subjective. No matter how well something is written technically, if that innate spark of magical something isn’t there, it falls flat. AND every single person’s definition of that certain something is different.
  • Second, the fact that a writing contest is subjective is a perfect representation of the publishing industry as a whole. Every time we send off a submission, it’s judged through several filters. It’s judged through the filter of what the publisher/editor/agent thinks will sell. It’s judged through their personal likes and dislikes, and it’s judged against other manuscripts available. These judgments rarely rely on things like misplaced commas or dangling participles, although bad grammar can wreck a manuscripts chance at times, it’s that gut reaction by the reader to what’s being read.
  • Three, contests that are subjective are actually fair, because they expose us to real life as a working writer. It would be grossly unfair for a contest to be so set up to be nothing at all like the publishing industry. It would lead to false hopes and expectations, and ultimately shatter dreams. Working as a writer means learning to accept the good with the bad. It’s tough, but it’s the truth.

At this point I will confess that I’ve spent more than a few hours verbally abusing that certain judge who was wholly unreasonable in the feedback on one of my manuscripts. And it’s happened more than once—actually it’s happened the majority of times I’ve entered a manuscript. I’ve come to realize I really am a poor loser.

But the issue lies in these contests trying to be more fair by using a panel of judges instead of just one. Frequently there are three. And invariably, I’d get two high marks and one incredibly low one.

Finally one day my husband stopped me in my tracks. “You just got dumped on by the Russian judge,” he said. When I asked him to explain he reminded me of the years we spent watching the Olympics. Especially in the more creative sports like gymnastics, diving, and ice skating, the judging was done in the fairest possible way—with a panel of judges from the participating countries. Invariably, the one low score for my favorite US competitor would come from the cranky Russian judge.

It wasn’t fair, but it was just the way life worked.

So what is my point to all this? Contests are great. I love to enter them, and I especially love to win. But beyond that, my contest experience has prepared me for a publishing career in ways I never imagined.
  • I learned how to move on when my work was unfairly judged.
  • I learned that winning was based on subjective criteria.
  • And most of all…
  • I learned that ultimately winning, like publishing, is up to God. He chooses whom He will, when He will. My job is to keep writing and keep submitting—yet to contests and to publications and publishers both. I’m sowing the seeds, but God brings about the harvest. 

Now it’s your turn. What are your thoughts on writing contests? Be sure to share them in the comments section below.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

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15 comments:

  1. I am a new writer. I write mostly non-fiction. I entered one contest to find that the manuscript I entered was the unedited version. I was horrified. What would people think of me? I never heard anything from the contest board. PHEW! I now enter a flash fiction weekly contest to challenge me. I have yet to win that. I love to win also. My motive is to keep writing no matter what. If someone gets joy, conviction or truth from what I write than in Gods eyes I am a winner. Secretly I do hope to win so that I can put the winner badge on my blog page. Thank you for sharing your heart and being truthful. It is good to know that we have each other when difficult times arise.

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    1. Cherrilynn, all good thoughts! Thanks for the encouragement, Blessings, E

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  2. I totally agree with you, Edie. These contests are definitely subjective just like the publishing world. Like you, I've found I get two good marks and then a low one! However, with each contest my writing grows because there's always something I learn from the feedback that helps me make my manuscript stronger. Thanks for your post! Tells me we're not alone! :-)

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    1. Darlene, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! Blessings, E

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  3. For a newer writer, contests can give some valuable feedback, once the sting is past. I learned the most from my harshest judges. As a judge, I wasn't there to pat anyone on the head. But I spend a lot of time teaching when I judge. I give an honest critique, yet I find places to encourage. I don't judge as much anymore, because of time constraints. Also, as a judge, it's hard to be dumped on by disgruntled entrants. ;o)

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    1. Ane, you are so right. When I get frustrated with the judges, it's my issue, not theirs. I would never say anything directly to them because I know they are doing that (almost impossible) job out of generosity. I've also been a judge who's been dumped on and it isn't fun! Thanks so much, E

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  4. I haven't entered many contests, but I always seem to find that one low-scoring judge. :) But that's okay. Don't gripe. Take it as a personal challenge to do better--to satisfy that one person. Frankly, if I were judging (as I have done), it probably would be me. :)

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    1. Sandra, that's a great way to look at it! Blessings, E

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  5. Thanks, Edie. I thought you were going to tell us not to bother entering contests! Another benefit: having a contest deadline forces us to finish a manuscript. I appreciate and agree with your thinking--that God is in control of every decision. I can live with that.

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    1. Dianne, great additional benefit! And yes, I think contests are valuable, just personally painful! Blessings, E

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  6. Yes, God is in control. Yes, contests are very subjective. I entered a Western Books contest when the memoir I wrote about my grandmother came out 3 years ago. My book was a finalist in Arizona Memoirs. The book that won in my category is now listed on Amazon as out of print and has 2 reviews. I am in awe that my book now has 309 reviews. I am still selling both print and ebooks. It was an interesting experience to be there at the awards dinner. God has blessed.

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    1. Barbara, thank you for sharing your experience and insight! Blessings, E

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  7. Hi Edie. Thanks for your honesty about entering contests. I must say, it's comforting to read that you and others, I see, that had the two high marks and the one low one from the Russian judge like I have as well. I find that I have to put the judged entries aside for a few days while I get over the sting of criticism. Then when I pick them up again, I try to see what the judge said was lacking and fix it. However, sometimes these subjective judges contradict each other and I have to laugh. This experience makes me realize that readers are the same way - some love your writing, others don't, and it's that "not being able to please everybody all the time" scenario. But another thing I've learned is to celebrate the high scores and positive remarks, which give me hope that there is someone out there that "got it."

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  8. One thing I do wish about contests is that they would be clear up front as to whether or not the judges plan to provide any feedback. I've entered a couple of contests that I know were very competitive, which I'm sure makes giving feedback a challenge, but on principle, I think they should only allow as many entries as the judges agree to give feedback on, It's discouraging to keep losing contests with 10 or $15 entry fees (not cheap, to me) without any information on why I lost. Don't suppose anybody has a list of contests that give feedback...?

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  9. Thank you so much for this insight. I needed this! I loved the reminder that the outcome in all our writing is up to God. Thanks for always providing such helpful posts, Edie.

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