So there happens to be a writing contest for first time novelists, short story writers, and memoirists through Wilkes University. It all sounds like a perfect match for me: I'm a first time novelist, I could easily provide the first fifty pages of my book that they request, the fee of twenty-five dollars is doable, my novel has not been published on or off-line in any way, and finally--the one that usually gets me--the deadline hasn't passed yet. All systems go!
Well, that is after I perform a background check on the three judges acting as gatekeepers to my literary gamble. So I scope them out; hit all the stops: Wikipedia, author homepages, Amazon.com, anything I can get my hands on... And, barring the judges' somewhat heavy biases for certain genres, it seems like the gamble still might be worth it. So far, so good... so what's the deal?
Why did I not enter the contest?
Maybe it's because I just spent my last twenty-five dollars on a Chipotle burrito and six pack of micro brew? Nope. Because I blanched in the face of the little gremlin (who runs around in all writer's heads) snickering, "you're not good enough" and "who do you think you are?" Definitely not! Well, maybe just a little... But why than did I not enter?
To be honest, seeking publication and getting my novel printed in book form is my primary goal for 2012 (yes, this means e-books too), and this contest would require me to wait until September of 2012 to even hear about the competition's results-- and within that time, the novel would have to sit idle. So, in short, after all that effort of scoping out if the contest was right for me, I could have skipped to the last paragraph of the submission policy and saved myself a solid hour or two for last minute revisions to my book, or written a short story--or blog post--or just any old writing.
Moral of the story: skip to the last page of the book (or submission), that way, in case you die, you'll know how the story (or submission policy) ends. Courtesy of Billy Crystal in "When Harry Met Sally" and that little gremlin inside my head. :=)
Well, that is after I perform a background check on the three judges acting as gatekeepers to my literary gamble. So I scope them out; hit all the stops: Wikipedia, author homepages, Amazon.com, anything I can get my hands on... And, barring the judges' somewhat heavy biases for certain genres, it seems like the gamble still might be worth it. So far, so good... so what's the deal?
Why did I not enter the contest?
Maybe it's because I just spent my last twenty-five dollars on a Chipotle burrito and six pack of micro brew? Nope. Because I blanched in the face of the little gremlin (who runs around in all writer's heads) snickering, "you're not good enough" and "who do you think you are?" Definitely not! Well, maybe just a little... But why than did I not enter?
To be honest, seeking publication and getting my novel printed in book form is my primary goal for 2012 (yes, this means e-books too), and this contest would require me to wait until September of 2012 to even hear about the competition's results-- and within that time, the novel would have to sit idle. So, in short, after all that effort of scoping out if the contest was right for me, I could have skipped to the last paragraph of the submission policy and saved myself a solid hour or two for last minute revisions to my book, or written a short story--or blog post--or just any old writing.
Moral of the story: skip to the last page of the book (or submission), that way, in case you die, you'll know how the story (or submission policy) ends. Courtesy of Billy Crystal in "When Harry Met Sally" and that little gremlin inside my head. :=)
