tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post8342191834850154353..comments2024-02-17T17:59:25.010+10:00Comments on Christian Writers Downunder: Aussie Writer on the Journey: What I’ve learned from entering Writing ContestsJeanette O'Haganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-50923946576658974062012-01-30T15:45:28.925+10:002012-01-30T15:45:28.925+10:00Competitions are good. I entered the Caleb Prize f...Competitions are good. I entered the Caleb Prize for Unpublished Fiction last year, and got some great feedback on how to improve my manuscript to get it ready for publication.Adam David Collingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18072000680990534407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-6740841880086348182012-01-27T21:36:37.500+10:002012-01-27T21:36:37.500+10:00Hi Dotti, I've also learned a lot from the Gen...Hi Dotti, I've also learned a lot from the Genesis contest feedback :) I highly recommend the Genesis contest, especially if you're writing Christian fiction and targeting the US market.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-5427283051998347912012-01-27T21:33:24.646+10:002012-01-27T21:33:24.646+10:00Hi Rita, yes, I know what you mean about the seemi...Hi Rita, yes, I know what you mean about the seemingly elusive x-factor that editors are looking for in our mss :) And foreign settings are a much harder sell in the US market.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-34730607946142485352012-01-27T21:27:56.441+10:002012-01-27T21:27:56.441+10:00Thanks Anusha :) I hope the contests you enter wil...Thanks Anusha :) I hope the contests you enter will provide great feedback.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-24631736960450099632012-01-27T16:46:59.674+10:002012-01-27T16:46:59.674+10:00I've entered some. The Genesis competition thr...I've entered some. The Genesis competition through ACFW provided excellent feedback. Very worth the $35 I paid to enter. Three judges scored and commented on my chapters, and their feedback was instrumental in helping me stick with and move on with that story. <br /><br />The FaithWriters weekly competitions are fun. While there is not as much feedback on the nuts and bolts of the piece, the discipline to craft something to a word limit, topic and deadline is great motivation. Actually, FaithWriters weekly comps were highly addictive when I entered!Dorothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13622521834128746217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-5779100193927129162012-01-27T14:25:04.186+10:002012-01-27T14:25:04.186+10:00Good advice Narelle. If you got a request from the...Good advice Narelle. If you got a request from the publisher to see a full manuscript, that was exceptional. It must have encouraged you. I like what you said about developing thicker skin, because at times you begin scratching your head over what they're actually looking for! You know how it goes...they want the same as other authors in their genre...but different. Huh?<br />I entered quite a few several years ago, and the ACFW contest was very helpful their comments. I rewrote my first book because of that. So yes, it's very worthwhile.Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-59178972584207399672012-01-27T12:10:02.603+10:002012-01-27T12:10:02.603+10:00Hi Narelle,
Many thanks for your interesting post....Hi Narelle,<br />Many thanks for your interesting post. I have entered a few competitions in the past few years but have not got any feedback to date. I was impressed as to how much you have learnt from these competitions. All the best in your entries this year. It sounds like you are doing well with your writing. Blessings and well done!<br />AnushaAnusha Atukoralahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859837228901127984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-17129542500236609832012-01-27T10:11:28.814+10:002012-01-27T10:11:28.814+10:00Hi Rose, good luck with your contest entries :) Pu...Hi Rose, good luck with your contest entries :) Published author contests are a great way for authors to get their books into the hands of new readers, especially the contests that are judged by readers. And they're good promo for authors who final in these contests :)Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-83185798003841517352012-01-27T10:06:22.849+10:002012-01-27T10:06:22.849+10:00Thanks Laura :) I agree it's really important ...Thanks Laura :) I agree it's really important to enter US contests if you're looking to publish in the US market.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-23331514248538642232012-01-27T10:04:00.205+10:002012-01-27T10:04:00.205+10:00Hi Penny, the US contests are great for feedback :...Hi Penny, the US contests are great for feedback :) Romance Writers of Australia contests provide scoresheets with feedback, and I believe The CALEB unpublished contest entrants also receive feedback from the judges.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-68292306387336170252012-01-27T09:56:40.719+10:002012-01-27T09:56:40.719+10:00Thanks Amanda :) It sounds like there's a need...Thanks Amanda :) It sounds like there's a need for contests that provide quality feedback.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-25601805824658407882012-01-27T09:18:01.713+10:002012-01-27T09:18:01.713+10:00This is my first year entering competitions. At fi...This is my first year entering competitions. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to. But I can see that it is a great way to get your work 'out there'. Thank you for your post, Narelle.Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-62942357731368441312012-01-27T08:34:04.889+10:002012-01-27T08:34:04.889+10:00Great post, Narelle. I've entered many contest...Great post, Narelle. I've entered many contests and found the feedback invaluable, especially in the romance genre and in particular the American contests. If you want to write for the American market I believe entering these contests are a necessary part of the journey. I hope this year will be a year that puts you in front of your chosen publisher. Blessings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-45509168853474176342012-01-27T08:23:21.198+10:002012-01-27T08:23:21.198+10:00I entered a competition once, but like Peter didn&...I entered a competition once, but like Peter didn't get any feedback. Perhaps feedback is more a US competition feature? I find limited time a constraint for me, but maybe that's just an excuse. I have applied for various grants and mentorships though. I find that these days I'm more careful about what I apply for because (and maybe this is just me) I tend to take ages writing up the applications, and that time could be used doing more actual writing.Penny Reevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17673959533876970193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-35269811305327696402012-01-27T08:23:18.964+10:002012-01-27T08:23:18.964+10:00Hi Peter, the romance genre has an extensive range...Hi Peter, the romance genre has an extensive range of unpublished contests and I'm not sure what is offered in other genres. ACFW Genesis contest covers all genres of Christian fiction.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-43977179991431256622012-01-27T07:57:09.451+10:002012-01-27T07:57:09.451+10:00I've entered a few contests, but like Peter, n...I've entered a few contests, but like Peter, never any with the kind of feedback that is very useful. All the best with your contests this year, Narelle. :)Amanda Deedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02430837640142332983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-66042870047638647522012-01-27T06:53:38.478+10:002012-01-27T06:53:38.478+10:00I've entered quite a few competitions, but I&#...I've entered quite a few competitions, but I've never met one that offered to provide any feedback. The fine print in all of the comps I've seen says that they won't do that (unless that's what the prize is). Perhaps this is more prevalent in some genres than others.Peter McLennanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446729346706052416noreply@blogger.com