Comments on: No Contest http://www.ninc.com/blog/index.php/archives/no-contest The international organization of multi-published novelists Wed, 22 May 2013 01:08:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Barb Meyers http://www.ninc.com/blog/index.php/archives/no-contest/comment-page-1#comment-23909 Barb Meyers Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:51:01 +0000 http://www.ninc.com/blog/?p=8154#comment-23909 I have mixed feelings about contests. I’ve judged a few and tried to be kind but honest (although I probably came across to the authors as just plain brutal) and give helpful suggestions. Patting an author on the head and saying “everything you did was great” is NOT helpful, unless, of course, it’s true. I think contest feedback helps an author develop the thick skin they’ll need to continue in this business. Contests may also weed out some of the lesser talent whose sensitivities can’t take the criticism. Unless you’re prepared for some good and some not so good reactions, don’t enter a writing contest!

]]> By: Elysa Hendricks http://www.ninc.com/blog/index.php/archives/no-contest/comment-page-1#comment-23900 Elysa Hendricks Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:03:30 +0000 http://www.ninc.com/blog/?p=8154#comment-23900 Contests are a crap shoot. Losing one doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer and winning one doesn’t mean you’re a good writer, it just means the judges responded either negatively or positively to your writing.

Before I was published I entered a few contests, even finalled in a couple, but now I’m with you, the only comments I listen to are from agents, editors and most importantly of all – READERS! :-)

Elysa

]]> By: Robin Bayne http://www.ninc.com/blog/index.php/archives/no-contest/comment-page-1#comment-23899 Robin Bayne Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:54:21 +0000 http://www.ninc.com/blog/?p=8154#comment-23899 Great article! Contest results can be brutal. And expensive!

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