Well, shoot! I forgot what day of the week it is! Blog day Wednesday.
What to write about? What to write about? What to -- ah, ha!
I've been dicking around trying to write my query and synopsis for MOGG, but have managed to find a good way to procrastinate . . .
Judge a contest!
Not just one contest, but two! For a grand total of ten submissions in the last two weeks! YAY! And though I request Paranormal or Historical, both judging panels sent to me were paranormal and there were no duplicates! Another YAY! And I actually got some really, really good ones. Triple YAY! And none of them made me want to jab a hot poker in my eye! Quadruple YAY!
I love romance--nothing is better in this world. I tried to write romance--can't. But I read romance--voraciously. And these were all paranormal romances. Four of them were excellent and of publishable quality IMHO. The rest fell into the okay category and needed some work. None of them were hideous. Trust me, over the 8 years that I've judged contests--I have run into some hideous entries, mainly due to the entrant being a newbie and not running the story through a crit group--and true, the entrant may not have access to writer friends or a crit group, but I usually try to guide them in the right direction.
BUT if you're trying to break into romance don't just read the books just out on the shelves of your local B & N (those were bought two years ago!), judge contests in your genre. You will learn more about your writing than you will ever want to admit outloud. Plus you'll have the added bonus of seeing the same stuff that editors and agents are seeing. You'll learn why agents are sick and tired of the same old, same old, because you aren't the only one to have thought about a daywalking vampire zombie shapeshifter.
Thus it all comes down to execution. How you tell the story is paramount--even more than it ever was.
Here are a few things I learned this week:
1) if you write paranormal make the paranormal element integral to the story, not superficial. If you can make the elf/vamp/zombie/shifter a human and it doesn't change anything, think up a new story plot.
2) a routine time-travel doesn't cut it any longer--it's been done--A LOT. There has to be a new and unique twist to the story. Just putting on a ring/walking into a closet/maze is so been there, done that. The butterfly effect can be a real challenge, but it also makes the story interesting.
3) polish, polish, polish--if you change your character's name make certain you change ALL instances of the name
4) Make certain your MC (main character) has sufficient motivation. Motivation CAN change throughout the story. Just make certain it's strong enough to start the plot ball rolling.
5) think outside the box--really, really outside the box--the best submissions that I read had multiple plotlines that tied together
6) If you are writing a synopsis for a romance, make certain you hit all the romance plot points and conclusion
Editors and agents aren't looking for another Nora Roberts or Jayne Ann Krentz, they already have those wonderful writers. They are looking for something new and different. They are looking for you and your unique twist to the same old story.
Write on!
"They are looking for you and your unique twist to the same old story."
ReplyDeleteMargie, you hit the nail on the head. I want you to remember your own words next time you're feeling doubtful about your own work because you feel it's 'been done'. It's been done.....but not YOUR way!
I ended up judging 4 contests early this year. It got to be a little bit much. Next year I won't do it. For one contest, I got lucky, with three entries that were published ready (at least the pages I read). I love it when that happens.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jody! I'm so glad you got my back. :-) This writing biz has always been tough, but now the economy has made it even tougher. Let's hope the cream rises to the top!
ReplyDeleteThis is my fifth contest to judge this year, Edie. I try to space them apart a little better than this, but it worked out well. This is the first time that I had so many really good submissions, which proves my point--you have to be thinking outside the box, PLUS it has to be really, really polished with your voice stamped deeply in the prose.
ReplyDeleteHave you started entering Galaxy Girls in any contests or are you just hitting the agents/editors?
You're definitely right! I've only judged one this year, but it was a pubbed contest. But there were still some that were, eh.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good way to learn though. I agree with that. :)
And IMO, you always think outside the box, Margaret!!
Thanks, Kira! The problem I have is that I don't think that I think enough outside the box! But with Jody to beat me about the head, I might change my tune!
ReplyDeleteI've judged quite a bit this year. I find it helps my own writing...I see problems in others' work that I then find in mine.
ReplyDeleteRight now, I'm sitting on three books I need to read for a contest.
You're a great judge, Margaret.
Everybody should be remembered for something.
ReplyDeleteIf I am remembered for knocking Margaret out of her box, so be it :)
Thanks, Cyndi. When I pick up a entry to judge, I just want to be blown away (I so get what the agents are looking for)--the judging scoresheet is just the picky stuff broken down.
ReplyDeleteThis was the first time in the many years that I've judged contests where I was blown away multiple times.
Jody, when I sell MOGG, your name will definitely be on the acknowledgments page!
ReplyDeleteWe'd better start planning that book cover :)
ReplyDelete