By Joanna Campbell Slan, @joannaslan
Over the years I’ve entered and judged a variety of contests. Since we’ve recently opened our call for entries to the 2016 FREDDIE AWARD for WRITING EXCELLENCE (FAWE) competition sponsored by the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, I thought I’d share a little of what I’ve learned.
- First impressions matter. Fortunately, the FAWE is electronic files only. But back in the day when I judged the St. Martin’s Minotaur contest, a woman sent me a stack of papers tied together with an old, dirty shoelace. Sure, I overlooked the grunge when I read her work, but I’ll admit it was hard to separate the visual introduction from the words on the page. Think a minute about the impressions you’re leaving as you work your way through the contest process.
- Follow the rules. When you’re staring at a stack of entries, the fastest and fairest way to winnow them down is by checking to see if folks followed the rules. Personally, I like to print out the rules and check them off as I submit.
- Transparency for communication helps. Do you have multiple addresses? Write under a pen name? Use a variety of email addresses? Are you planning a long vacation in Africa where you’ll be unavailable for months? Don’t make it difficult for the administrators to contact you.
- Readability is essential. Of course, this won’t matter if your file is electronic, but I’ll never forget the contest manuscript that arrived in bright green ink. Ever. And there’s a lesson there. If you hand-write an entry form, is it legible? Did you use that favorite purple pen of yours? Don’t.
- Pandering is slimy. I’m as insecure and susceptible to compliments as the next author, but to go on and on in the correspondence about how wonderful I am…well…I’m also not stupid. If the judges are not anonymous, curb your enthusiasm. Be respectful but not cray-cray fan person.
- Be gracious. Whether you win or lose, respect the fact that people took time and effort from their careers to create, run, and administer a contest. Remember, most of these are put on by volunteers. Life happens. If the experience didn’t meet your expectations, be a good trooper. Sure, you can share your disappointment, but then move on. After all, you are still creating an impression. In this highly subjective business, that matters a lot.
- Accept criticism with appreciation. Writers with more experience are giving you the benefit of their years of experience in their critique. Writing is subjective, but if three judges say the same element needs work, then work on that element. If critiques mention different elements, it’s writer’s choice as to what you do with the judges’ opinions.
- Be respectful on social media. Don’t rail against the stupid judges who didn’t recognize that you are the Next Great American Writer. You may be, but is it possible that your skill doesn’t quite yet match your expectations at this time? Don’t get a reputation for being difficult to work with before you’ve started your career.
- Use a writing contest as an opportunity for feedback from writers who are reading a blind submission. If their critique matches that from those who love you, Congratulations! If it doesn’t, continue honing your craft. Writing a story, no matter its length, is a skill comprised of many parts. You may have mastered some parts more than others.
The FAWE competition is accepting entries until October 15, 2016. Entries consist of the first 20 pages of an unpublished, unagented, and uncontracted mystery or thriller manuscript. For full rules or to enter, go to the contest website: http://mwaflorida.org/contest/
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Joanna Campbell Slan is the national bestselling and award-winning author of more than 30 books. Most recently, she has partnered with her friend Linda Gordon Hengerer and a dozen other authors to create the Happy Homicides series of mystery anthologies. Happy Homicides 4: Fall Into Crime is the most recent offering. Check out Joanna’s work at http://www.JoannaSlan.com or email her at JCSlan@JoannaSlan.com
Great advice, Joanna. It seems like it would be a ‘given’ that you’d appreciate feedback and any remarks the judges gave on an entry so that the next time you’d be even better prepared. But, unfortunately, there are those who only want to know positive things and do think they are the best no matter what. To me, a contest should be the opportunity to learn and grow as much as about winning.
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Mason, I often tell authors that we should run toward criticism instead of away from it. Sure, it hurts. But criticism will help you improve and grow. I totally agree with you that a contest should help entrants learn and grow. It’s an educational opportunity–but only if you go into it with an open mind.
Green ink and dirty shoelaces? Yeah, not a good impression.
Most writers I know who don’t win a contest are gracious about it. But all it takes is for one person to go off the deep end to make it ugly.
And I’m going to keep praying we don’t get any of those people submitting to the IWSG Anthology Contest. Ever.
Alex, would you tell all of us more about the IWSG Anthology Contest, please? Yeah, the green ink and dirty shoelaces were, um, outstanding. But the worst was the doctor who sent his resume, called me when he wasn’t notified that his manuscript was accepted (I was out of town, so I hadn’t been able to email him yet), and then wrote a bullying cover letter explaining that he’d worked with a book doctor so he KNEW he had submitted a winner. Now that guy was a real proctologist.
Thanks for the tips, Joanna! Hoping you get some top-notch mystery submissions.
I think we will, Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing this.
This is really useful advice! And you’re so right about things like following the rules and being easy to contact. People think so much about the quality of what they write – and they should! – but those things matter, too. Thanks for sharing.
Margot, the instructions can get scant attention while you’re working on your submission. That’s why I like to print them, check them off, and know I’ve got all my bases covered.
First impressions do matter, and not just for contests. Same with rules. Unfortunately, many writers make it easy for me to say no to their submission due to those two items.
Yes, and when you are staring at a pile of submissions, it makes sense to winnow down that job by checking to see that the rules were followed. Also, there’s typically a GOOD reason for the rules. Maybe it’s not apparent to the entrant, but they aren’t developed on a whim. Therefore, the rules usually have a benefit beyond providing assurance that your work will be read.
Nicely said, Joanna. I agree with every word. Nothing irritates me more or faster as a Judge than getting an entry that doesn’t follow the rules. You can bet that person starts off in a hole.
And that’s only fair. The rules are the rules.
All good points, Joanna. Though (full disclosure here) as the FAWE contest chair, I can say that most entrants try very hard to submit a good, qualifying entry. And as a past judge for many other competition, I’ve seen some doozies — but I’ve also been pleased to see some very fine work, as well. Contests are great prep for new writers and for experienced writers submitting in new genres.
Words for every contest entrant to abide by. Thank you for sharing what should be, but sometimes isn’t, obvious. Nicely done :)
Wise advice especially the one about following rules. Even though we might want to ignore that dirty shoelace when we evaluate a manuscript (and you went beyond fair to do so), that impression intrudes unconsciously when we make our decision.
Great advice for writers wishing to enter contests. Judging is a time consuming selfless contribution to the writing community. Hats off to you and judges everywhere!
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Great advice from a stellar writer and excellent judge of other writers’ work. (I can say that, because I am one of Joanna’s cray-cray super-fans. ;-) Seriously, all good points, and as a fellow frequent judge of writing contests, I can say the points about first — and lasting — impressions are well-taken. You only have one image, so make sure it’s the best you can present, whether it’s a neat and professional submission, or yourself as a classy and courteous person.
Great advice, Joanna. Contests are great training grounds for writers. While we’d all like to win, the feedback alone can be worth the price of admission.
Excellent common sense advice thank you