tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post7874542346230206023..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Go for the GoldDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-44152821375739972842014-02-14T08:05:45.461-07:002014-02-14T08:05:45.461-07:00I used to do a lot of contests, mostly from RWA. W...I used to do a lot of contests, mostly from RWA. Won some, finaled in some. I did place second overall in the Daphnes. I probably could have capitalized on that longer than I did, but after that year, 2010, I didn't. I just entered a screenplay contest, which I have little or no chance of even placing, but it was a challenging experiment and I learned a lot. I also might enter a book in another contest. Just for the hell of it. The worst that can happen is nothing. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-37259808143480947322014-02-13T14:28:44.912-07:002014-02-13T14:28:44.912-07:00Hi all. I've put up the correct cover for Ange...Hi all. I've put up the correct cover for Angel Sometimes.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-32216949605239521932014-02-13T14:16:56.017-07:002014-02-13T14:16:56.017-07:00Hi Kelly. I thought it was worth the cost. I found...Hi Kelly. I thought it was worth the cost. I found out I'd won only a few days ago so I haven't started trying to use the award image to market. One glitch was that with the win you can get stickers to put on the book showing that your book won. Unfortunately, the site is out of stickers and won't have any until summer. I have put an e-sticker on my website and in my sig line on emails. I tried to put it on Amazon, but can only put a line saying that Angel Sometimes won the award. I would rather have put the sticker image.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-70724252295818115472014-02-13T13:07:48.903-07:002014-02-13T13:07:48.903-07:00Helen do you think it was worth the $69 entry fee ...Helen do you think it was worth the $69 entry fee for this particular contest? How have you used your win in marketing your book?Kelly Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05864393063155941257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63005610197917685212014-02-13T12:04:17.884-07:002014-02-13T12:04:17.884-07:00Thank you Heidi.
Incidentally, I put up the correc...Thank you Heidi.<br />Incidentally, I put up the correct cover for Angel Sometimes. Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-57183504190953860242014-02-13T11:32:11.500-07:002014-02-13T11:32:11.500-07:00Congratulations, Helen! It certainly doesn't h...Congratulations, Helen! It certainly doesn't hurt anything to enter contests...for sure you won't win anything if you don't! Go for the Gold!!Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-48423394939770883892014-02-13T10:52:29.347-07:002014-02-13T10:52:29.347-07:00Now, Christopher, I do believe you have the gumpti...Now, Christopher, I do believe you have the gumption to enter and the books to win.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-65743601763974149832014-02-13T10:51:31.771-07:002014-02-13T10:51:31.771-07:00Haven't heard of the Writer's Digest SP co...Haven't heard of the Writer's Digest SP contest, but five out of five stars sounds pretty dang good! I agree about doing your research.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-68210156869019865902014-02-13T10:50:04.010-07:002014-02-13T10:50:04.010-07:00Terry, I don't write Romance, but even I'v...Terry, I don't write Romance, but even I've heard of the HOLT award. Congrats!<br /><br />Incidentally (on another note) I have no idea how that cover got put into my post. It definitely is not the cover of Angel Sometimes.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-76664495781211851032014-02-13T10:47:41.991-07:002014-02-13T10:47:41.991-07:00Janet, I believe they're already taking entrie...Janet, I believe they're already taking entries for the next year. Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62293166488140124462014-02-13T10:47:00.017-07:002014-02-13T10:47:00.017-07:00Linda, I like those "prizes" for not win...Linda, I like those "prizes" for not winning. That's great!Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-2455390099386643802014-02-13T09:09:37.265-07:002014-02-13T09:09:37.265-07:00Helen, I'd be happy with bronze ... that is, i...Helen, I'd be happy with bronze ... that is, if I had the gumption ... and $$$ ... to enter a contest in the first place.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-82223727070374102032014-02-13T08:11:10.463-07:002014-02-13T08:11:10.463-07:00I entered the Writer's Digest SP contest. I di...I entered the Writer's Digest SP contest. I didn't win but I did get five out of five stars for plot and character for Mythikas Island. It's a good way to get feedback. Just be wary of high entry fees and what they promise they can do for you. There are a lot of legitimate contests, but always do your research.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11652452263912033572014-02-13T07:06:21.389-07:002014-02-13T07:06:21.389-07:00In the romance world, it used to be all about the ...In the romance world, it used to be all about the contests, for both published and unpublished authors. For the unpublished, the prize (regardless of whether there was an actual "award") was always getting your pages in front of an agent or editor. I entered, won a few, finaled in a lot more. As a published author, I still gravitate toward the romance-oriented contests with my romantic suspense books. Smaller playing field, better odds. And I did win the HOLT Medallion for Best Romantic Suspense, and finaled in several others. But whether any readers have heard of these, or if it makes my books more visible--I doubt it. However, "Award Winning Author" stickers on my books look cool. Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11287981562582623752014-02-13T05:03:40.587-07:002014-02-13T05:03:40.587-07:00Congratulations! And thanks for all the info about...Congratulations! And thanks for all the info about this. Janet,https://www.blogger.com/profile/17796999156668844943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88848969015732442572014-02-13T01:40:23.932-07:002014-02-13T01:40:23.932-07:00First, congratulations on winning the USA Best Boo...First, congratulations on winning the USA Best Book Award. That's a great accomplishment, as well as an excellent marketing tool. <br /><br />I personally know two winners of Writer's Digest Awards, one of whom took first place in the young adult category a few years ago. I also am acquainted with another winner of several book awards. Why mention these winners? Because they exemplify that winning is a goal for all of us to realistically work toward. So let's get out there and shake the contest bushes to find what's out what's coming up. Then let's get our books in the best shape they can be, dress them in the finest covers, and let them strut their stuff. <br /><br />I love this post, Helen. It's a great reminder of the potential we may be ignoring. And as for not winning, some contests offer critiques — information that may help us receive that coveted prize for our next book (or the revision of the one that didn't quite make the grade this time).Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.com