tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post4224186180949303751..comments2023-10-23T12:40:22.672-07:00Comments on The Writers Alley: Writing Contest Contradictions - Prepare Yourself Ahead of TimeSherrinda Ketchersidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07581676437345249386noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-24244012193084654412012-02-24T18:12:00.185-08:002012-02-24T18:12:00.185-08:00Mary, I really believe that's a good rule to f...Mary, I really believe that's a good rule to follow. We can really let critiques and feedback get us down if we're not careful, so it helps to give ourselves guidelines on how to receive advice and how best to use it.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-56171853449943102282012-02-24T12:50:13.303-08:002012-02-24T12:50:13.303-08:00Ditto to all the above.
The advice I especially a...Ditto to all the above. <br />The advice I especially appreciate, Cindy, is if two or more judges recommend the same thing, I should listen.Mary Vee Storytellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15235494928887348835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-70643204689950808082012-02-24T12:28:31.445-08:002012-02-24T12:28:31.445-08:00Beth, I definitely get what you're saying abou...Beth, I definitely get what you're saying about crit partners knowing you best, as well as mentors. You can trust these people and it's easier to take their advice. I think that's why it's great to get feedback from contests after you've already applied crit partner advice. At that point, you have someone new and subjective coming in to help tweak any areas you might not have noticed before. But again, you have to go with what you feel is right.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-2908296550641187822012-02-24T12:06:08.553-08:002012-02-24T12:06:08.553-08:00I have entered contests. I do read & consider ...I have entered contests. I do read & consider the feedback -- but it doesn't weigh as heavily with me as the feedback from my mentors and my crit partners. That's the bottom line for me. My mentors and crit partners know me, know my writing. Contest judges are evaluating me in a vacuum ... as readers will, I get that. But I also can't change my writing based on every bit of feedback I will get from readers.Beth K. Vogthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04032849469366266791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-25675246216070711922012-02-24T11:22:01.415-08:002012-02-24T11:22:01.415-08:00Sue, I love your comment! Contests are a great way...Sue, I love your comment! Contests are a great way to prepare us for feedback from agents and editors. Not everyone is going to like what we write, but one day we'll find that perfect fit. <br /><br />Hi, Jodi! Congratulations on taking the leap and entering contests with feedback. It's a big deal and I hope you get some awesome advice. Have a super weekend!Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-4463384079816059642012-02-24T10:49:51.845-08:002012-02-24T10:49:51.845-08:00This is great advice. I am entering contests for ...This is great advice. I am entering contests for the first time that have feedback. I am nervous.<br />Thanks for the heads-up.<br />JodiEmbracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12057449503326153449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-90862303123950460802012-02-24T10:35:08.207-08:002012-02-24T10:35:08.207-08:00You are so right, Cindy and this is such good advi...You are so right, Cindy and this is such good advice - especially for new writers who are just starting to enter the contest world!<br /><br />I find that out of 3 judges, usually 2 agree and give me a similar score and the third is way different! I've learned to use my own judgement on what I change and what I don't. Takes experience though.<br /><br />Contest judges help us realize how subjective the writing world is and hopefully we won't take it too personally if an editor or agent doesn't like our work. Someone else will like it one day - we just have to find the right fit!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />SueSusan Anne Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17258093329143787876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-6134980773421907682012-02-24T08:38:40.548-08:002012-02-24T08:38:40.548-08:00Heidi, it's hard being in that boat, right? We...Heidi, it's hard being in that boat, right? We appreciate the feedback but we have to keep an open mind. Sometimes what's offered isn't best for our story or our writing style. Have a great weekend!Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-1720161433506922982012-02-24T08:37:26.085-08:002012-02-24T08:37:26.085-08:00Keli, that's a great example with the descript...Keli, that's a great example with the descriptive verbs. You're right about judges, too. Their experience is going to come in varying levels, and it really does help to know your own strengths and take the comments and advice collectively.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-21610693804804210342012-02-24T08:35:46.032-08:002012-02-24T08:35:46.032-08:00Oooh, Casey! I like what you brought up in your co...Oooh, Casey! I like what you brought up in your comment. Entering contests is good, but in my opinion, it's good to limit yourself as well (at least per manuscript). If you enter too many contests with one story (or at least one version of that story), you're going to be inundated with feedback. Sometimes that going to do the opposite of what you wanted. Better to take it slow and steady.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-72344773673164429962012-02-24T08:33:25.511-08:002012-02-24T08:33:25.511-08:00Hi Melissa, you make some great points here, and I...Hi Melissa, you make some great points here, and I'm glad you had contest feedback that helped and ran along the same lines. You're right, the more we learn about writing, the better we'll be able to sift through what feedback we do get.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-20053087221885506002012-02-24T08:04:19.262-08:002012-02-24T08:04:19.262-08:00Oh boy, have I gotten contradictions! :)
If more ...Oh boy, have I gotten contradictions! :)<br /><br />If more than two people hand out the same advice, I give it careful consideration. If I keep an open mind, I can usually see what needs to be done and why.<br /><br />Thanks for the post, Cindy, and good luck on the Genesis!Heidi Chiavarolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02372293274825733131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-88374875419029439032012-02-24T07:57:09.066-08:002012-02-24T07:57:09.066-08:00Great post, Cindy. I think your counsel is spot on...Great post, Cindy. I think your counsel is spot on. Feedback is going to vary because contest judges have preferences (although they try hard to set them aside), are coming from different backgrounds, and "get" us and our voices--or don't, just like readers.<br /><br />Another thing to bear in mind is that judges' skills, grasp of craft, and levels of experience vary. If you've been writing and studying craft for several years, you may have a better grasp of some aspects of storytelling than some judges do. For example, I had a judge tell me to stop using such descriptive verbs and go with simple words like "walk" instead of ambled, strode, etc. I didn't heed that advice, even though I'm sure it was well intended.Keli Gwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236868298400593688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-59981317360191895602012-02-24T07:54:12.883-08:002012-02-24T07:54:12.883-08:00My contest feedback has been. all. over. the. map,...My contest feedback has been. all. over. the. map, which is why I only choose a few select contests to enter, because I know I'll drive myself crazy if I do. <br /><br />The same can be said for critique partners I think. I had a line that I loved, but after three separate people told me to cut it, or reword, I did and turned out liked the second version better anyway. ;-) But if only one person has said something about my story, that the other half dozen haven't picked up on, then I go with what my gut is telling me.<br /><br />I hope I'm getting a bit better about that, but only time will tell.<br /><br />Really great post, Cindy!Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00920406327885410557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-59263354349635647592012-02-24T07:20:24.113-08:002012-02-24T07:20:24.113-08:00I've been blessed to have great contest feedba...I've been blessed to have great contest feedback that actually jived from two contests. It was good that judges basically pointed out the same things...but I have friends who got completely contradictory responses. In a way, I don't think that's bad...because that's life. There's always going to be a degree of subjectivity. But we grow as writers when we're able to sift through varying responses with a keen eye. And you gave great tips for how to do that!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17620457068731162013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-50057537804429538852012-02-24T07:19:25.688-08:002012-02-24T07:19:25.688-08:00Hi Lindsay! Yay for wanting to enter contests! Tha...Hi Lindsay! Yay for wanting to enter contests! That's a big step. Yes, of course you always have to take advice with a grain of salt, even critique partner advice, like Sarah pointed out, but it definitely does give you a better picture of where you're at in your writing. Especially if you enter contests with experienced judges. All the best with entering!Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-2642313500642237822012-02-24T07:12:32.123-08:002012-02-24T07:12:32.123-08:00I have been looking forward to entering a few cont...I have been looking forward to entering a few contests specifically for the feedback. I guess it is good to know I may need to take some of it with a grain of salt. I would love a realistic picture of where I am at as a writer and what my strengths and weaknesses are.Lindsay Harrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09379628592162011068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-20094230242874180552012-02-24T07:02:38.690-08:002012-02-24T07:02:38.690-08:00Hi C0. Great example you gave there. It's so s...Hi C0. Great example you gave there. It's so subjective! You can get such great feedback from contests, but it's good to know what you're getting into.<br /><br />Sarah, itchy, huh? :) That's a good way to put it. I'm kinda itchy myself now that I've sent my Genesis entry out! Great reminder that it can be the same with CP's, too.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-4888469638769183372012-02-24T06:52:15.165-08:002012-02-24T06:52:15.165-08:00Oh man, Cindy, you nailed it. I got a little itchy...Oh man, Cindy, you nailed it. I got a little itchy just reading all the contradictions you mentioned. It's so true! :) And it applies to critique partners too. I know if both my CPs mention the same thing, I'd better do something about it.Sarah Forgravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09101753891967001104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392393277880937685.post-29495273917895171792012-02-24T05:27:30.283-08:002012-02-24T05:27:30.283-08:00Ah, I understand this. I judged a writing contest ...Ah, I understand this. I judged a writing contest twice. The scores often mixed.<br /><br />For example, I gave one and a half stars for one story in the "Overall" entry because I found the POV shallow and sensory details distant, while one of the other judges loved the story. Likewise, I gave four stars to a book that developed tension that released at the end, other judges thought there were too many characters and an unclear conflict.<br /><br />We were able to agree on the best and worst entries though.chihuahuazerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677672177353350936noreply@blogger.com