Chapter Contests and their Foibles

CHAPTER CONTESTS AND THEIR FOIBLES
By
Lee Guttierez

For several years I’ve watched my friends and colleagues enter writing contests. On several occasions, I’ve entered them myself. It takes courage to enter a contest. It also takes pretty thick skin to read the score sheets afterwards. I’d like to share a few things I’ve learned along the way. And as with contest feedback, you may keep what you want and discard the rest.

NOBODY GETS OUT OF HERE WITHOUT SINGING THE BLUES

You’ve written the best selling romance. But before you send it to an editor, you send it off to a contest. You just want to see how it measures up against other unpublished work. You’re certain the judges are going to be astounded beyond words by your talent as a storyteller. Two months later you receive a large SASE envelope in the mail. You had hoped it wouldn’t arrive until after the Awards Ceremony. You may open it right away, or you might sit on it for a few days. Either way, you’re
wondering why you became a writer in the first place.

ALL ABOARD THE SCORING ROLLER COASTER RIDE

I’ve taken this ride. It’s no fun at all. My advice — grab your favorite antacid. You’re going to need it. One score is high, the other is low. One saw your conflict clearly, the other is blind as a bat. There are several things to consider when looking at your scores. Do the judges know your market? Do they read your category for pleasure? They may be judging your manuscript because they too have entered the same contest and can’t judge their own category.

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

“Your story is too cliché.” How many of you have read that comment and wanted to throw something breakable at the nearest wall? I know I have. Recently, my critique partner received that comment on her entry, and was devastated. What editors want to abolish is the cliché sentence. “She’d never felt like this before.” Instead, find an alternate way of expressing the same sentiment. “She thought she’d encountered every type of man God had created. He was different. Unique in a very delectable
way...” In short, be creative with your words.

IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER

Point of view is a hassle no matter how you look at it. Pun intended! Rule of thumb states that you should always place point of view with whoever has the most to lose. But what happens if they both have something to lose in the same scene? I am not a point of view purist. I admit it freely. I say head hop all you want, just do it gracefully and smoothly with transitional sentences.

HOOK. HOOK. WHERE’S THE HOOK?

Hooks can be found in characterization, setting and/or plot. There are no rules. Only imagination. The boundaries are endless. Have fun with it. Let your imagination run wild. Remember judges are readers too.

I’M TOO CONFLICTED RIGHT NOW

More often than not, a judge’s comment will read, “Where’s the conflict?” If you’re anything like me, it’s probably there, but it’s not beating them over the head. Go ahead, beat them bloody with it! Show, don’t tell. Dialogue should become your best friend. Internals are useful to show the reader what one character can’t see in her other yet. Don’t be afraid to open chapter one with dialogue. Forget backstory. You can weave it in later.

NAKED AS THE DAY YOU WERE BORN

Has your hero or heroine been accused of falling flat? Try stripping them down naked. No one is more vulnerable than when they’re in their birthday suit. So, kick off their shoes of love. Rip away his shirt of self-confidence and toss it aside. Slide off her dress of trust. Take down his pants of compassion and sling ‘em across the room. Eventually, as you write your story, they’ll help each other find their articles of clothing and put them back on. And who knows? Along the way they may find a dress that’s brighter, a pair of pants that fit tighter and two pair of shoes that match perfectly.

AND IN THE END....

Contests can make or break you, if you let them. The decision is ultimately yours. If you’re lucky, you’ll receive the best and most helpful feedback money can buy. And that elusive, multi-book contract is only a re-write away. If you’re not that lucky, and you get scores from hell, toss them into “File 13” where they belong. Don’t allow contests to decide your future as a writer. I for one, would hate to miss your best-selling romance just because one or two people didn’t like your “baby”. Everyone else may love it! And finally, you will sell your book to an editor, not a contest judge. Never lose sight of that. In the end, that’s all that really matters. Just ask any published author.