What Do You Do When You Lose a Writing Contest?

by Ane Mulligan @AneMulligan

You kick the cabinets.

You whack the tops off your roses.

You burn the bacon.

You kick the cat … well maybe not this one. But you'd like to when they raise their smug eyes to yours. You know they're calling you a loser. But cats will do that even if you win. 

The thing is, we all get a little defensive about our babies, even if you have seasoned rhino skin. You need to release some of the angst, let off some of the steam before you blow. Then you can go back and analyze why you lost the contest or agent or contract.

Let's face it, nobody wins all the time. Besides, we're in a business that is highly subjective. So what do you do?

I've found if it's a contest entry from which you receive the judges' comments, look at the scores, them put them away for a day or two before reading their comments. A couple of days distance helps remove any sting. 

When it's a completed book, you either final or not (then you win or not). You could win one year and not even final the next year with an equally well-written book. 

So, what happened?

Again, fiction is subjective. Perhaps the theme or some minor mention of something in the story is a hot button for a judge. I remember once an editor said I had an agenda in one manuscript. I didn't. Not at all. It just happened that something in the story hit a sore spot.

There are any number of reasons, but the most important thing to factor in is God. “For everything there is a season a time to every purpose under Heaven.” Ecc 3:1

Father has a reason for giving favor to one book over another. Two years ago, I won the Selah Award for Historical Fiction. This year, I didn't even final. As soon as all the finalists were announced, before I even had time to feel sorry for myself, Father wrapped his presence around me and whispered to my heart, "I need So-and-So's book there." 

And as I leaned into his heart, peace surrounded me, and it was all right.

I was called to write for God. So, who am I to quibble about who he makes a best seller or a contest winner? I learned that early in my writing journey. If I am his servant and write the stories he whispers to my heart, then I must leave the rest up to him. 

He who places the stars in the sky and sets the world to spin in its orbit is the best one to decide who needs a win and who doesn't. Yes, it's nice to win. I was thrilled over my win in 2023. That book had been a difficult story to write. I will never underappreciate a win.

But because we write for God means it's for his glory and not ours. My books may never have the audience another author's will, but when I sit down to write a story—when YOU sit down to write—Father already knows who our words will reach, who will have their life changed by our words. And those "wins" have eternal value, my friends.

So celebrate when you win a contest, get a contract, or sign with an agent. Celebrate and praise the Lord for it. But never forget the biggest win of all: People let down their guard when they think they're being entertained. Fiction uses the emotions, the senses, and draws them in. Then, when they least expect it, the story touches, teaches, and transforms them.

TWEETABLE

What Do You Do When You Lose a Writing Contest? from @AneMulligan on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Ane Mulligan lives life from a director’s chair, both in theatre and at her desk creating novels. Entranced with story by age three, at five she saw PETER PAN onstage and was struck with a fever from which she never recovered—stage fever. One day, her passions collided, and an award-winning, bestselling novelist emerged. She believes chocolate and coffee are two of the four major food groups and lives in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband and a rascally Rottweiler. Find Ane on her website, Amazon Author page, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, The Write Conversation, and Blue Ridge Conference Blog.