tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post6713102557276423669..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: How to Win a Writing CompetitionDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51154493150353394972012-06-07T17:28:11.191-06:002012-06-07T17:28:11.191-06:00I agree, Jacqueline. Novels are a whole lot more t...I agree, Jacqueline. Novels are a whole lot more than short stories plus extra padding. Complex structure becomes a major issue.<br /><br />That said, the <i>craft techniques </i>used in a great short story are identical to those visible in a novel. Characterisation? Pace? Closure? If you can make those work in a 5000-word story you can make them triumph in a novel!John Yeomanhttp://www.writers-village.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30350501047888298062012-05-30T08:50:29.780-06:002012-05-30T08:50:29.780-06:00Thanks - these are great pointers, and it's a ...Thanks - these are great pointers, and it's a good and informative article.<br /><br />But I find it strange that you consider writing short stories to be a stepping stone to writing novels. Really?<br /><br />Short stories are different from novels in more ways than just length. They must pack more in, they cannot afford to digress into sub-plots or backstory in any substantial way, they must have much more of a punch or a moment or a revelation... <br /><br />Many fiction writers work in only one form or the other. By choice. Short stories have been hard to publish, but now, with ebooks and digital publishing, I think we will be seeing a resurgence of the form.Jacqueline Windhhttp://www.jacquelinewindh.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-14068431464284393662012-05-24T16:57:17.599-06:002012-05-24T16:57:17.599-06:00Thanks, Brianna. That's music to my ears! Occa...Thanks, Brianna. That's music to my ears! Occasionally, contestants will fume at my marks but, when I explain why they got them, most are very happy. Why? It's the first time a contest judge has ever communicated with them - and explained <i>why</i> those marks were awarded!John Yeomanhttp://www.writers-village.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-77816543666105398962012-05-23T09:08:09.473-06:002012-05-23T09:08:09.473-06:00These are wonderful guidelines. It's nice to g...These are wonderful guidelines. It's nice to get an inside look at how a contest is run. I know it's not possible, but I wish every contest rejection came with a critique. It's hard to hear, but so necessary for honing your craft.Brianna Soloskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08663188011029476486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-36253816496796133372012-05-22T20:42:16.639-06:002012-05-22T20:42:16.639-06:00In listing your tips, you highlighted the importan...In listing your tips, you highlighted the importance of tighter, more powerful writing that connects with the reader. As a retired editor and writing mentor, I applaud your efforts to make writers accountable for the quality of their work.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing, John.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13811547892351062772012-05-22T20:42:03.890-06:002012-05-22T20:42:03.890-06:00In listing your tips, you highlighted the importan...In listing your tips, you highlighted the importance of tighter, more powerful writing that connects with the reader. As a retired editor and writing mentor, I applaud your efforts to make writers accountable for the quality of their work.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing, John.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-6448497867081681542012-05-22T16:10:35.958-06:002012-05-22T16:10:35.958-06:00Excellent guidelines, John. Thank you for guesting...Excellent guidelines, John. Thank you for guesting on our BRP blog!Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-49622581664910845872012-05-22T13:34:51.864-06:002012-05-22T13:34:51.864-06:00Nay, Maryann, I am not asleep! (The merry whistlin...Nay, Maryann, I am not asleep! (The merry whistling of the village bobby woke me five minutes ago...) <br /><br />I agree with Christopher that story contests need to be addressed with due suspicion. How long has the contest been running? What's the quality of the winning stories? Are the stories even published? (If not, how can we tell the quality of the judging - or that the prizes were paid out at all?)<br /><br />But I wouldn't be too scathing, Maryann, about contests that are run to make money. After all, the prizes must be funded somehow. That said, I shudder with horror, as I'm sure you do, at those contests that are badly run, ineptly judged, and/or provide no feedback to the contestants. And which appear to be no more than money mills.<br /><br />As I mentioned to you separately, I was inspired to start the Writers' Village contest after, many years ago, entering a competition where my story - and money - went into a black hole. No feedback at all.<br /><br />That said, there <i>are</i> some great contests out there. Entering them gives you splendid 'five finger exercises' in writing stories. Plus the motivation of a deadline. (And even the occasional prize... :))John Yeomanhttp://www.writers-village.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13689028129050739442012-05-22T12:58:04.585-06:002012-05-22T12:58:04.585-06:00Thanks for adding those other contests, Kathryn. I...Thanks for adding those other contests, Kathryn. It is always good to have a variety to enter and get feedback from.<br /><br />John will probably be joining us later to comment. He is in the UK, after all. Probably sleeping. (smile)Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33765940473130191682012-05-22T09:12:42.536-06:002012-05-22T09:12:42.536-06:00Thanks for stopping in, John, and for sharing your...Thanks for stopping in, John, and for sharing your rubric. Contests can be great checkpoints for gauging your progress, if you are allowed to learn from the scoring system. I loved the Pennwriters contest for sharing its exhaustive rubric, which was enough to power a rewrite. I hear that the Sandy competition is another whose feedback you can learn much from: http://thesandy.org/sandy.phpKathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-28914981381581727962012-05-22T08:54:38.803-06:002012-05-22T08:54:38.803-06:00Thanks for a great post with excellent tips. I'...Thanks for a great post with excellent tips. I've entered a bunch of contests over time, using them to drive deadlines. Sometimes I have no idea why they reward me, other times I have no idea why they refuse me. I wish they'd have a grading template - then I could learn from the experience. Even those that offer "feedback" vary extremely in what that entails.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91471868929076425272012-05-22T08:13:17.174-06:002012-05-22T08:13:17.174-06:00Glad you stopped by and found the post helpful, Mo...Glad you stopped by and found the post helpful, Moody Writing.<br /><br />LOL, Christopher, I'll join you on the trip. Seriously, though, writers do need to be aware that there are people out there running contests just to make money and winning those contests don't carry much weight. <br /><br />Here is a link to Poets and Writers where listings of legitimate contests can be found.<br /> http://www.pw.org/content/writing_contests_0?cmnt_all=1Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-31094592154261686542012-05-22T07:25:44.551-06:002012-05-22T07:25:44.551-06:00I've never seen any marketing boosts from cont...I've never seen any marketing boosts from contests I've entered, but I've come to the conclusion that a new cottage industry has arisen on the Internet ... the writing contest business. Too bad they don't give frequent user credits ... I'd be able to take a vacation on the Riviera by now.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33468890405956005112012-05-22T03:30:35.207-06:002012-05-22T03:30:35.207-06:00That's very interesting. Thanks for the tips.
...That's very interesting. Thanks for the tips.<br /><br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/mooderino" rel="nofollow">@mooderino</a><br /><a href="http://www.scoop.it/t/the-funnily-enough" rel="nofollow">The Funnily Enough</a>mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.com