Subjectivity. Writing will always be at its whim.
Obviously, I did not make the cut. At first, I was rather sad and disappointed, but with time and discussing the whole contest with other ABNA authors who didn’t make the cut, I’m feeling much better. There were authors who made it to the quarterfinals last year, who submitted the very same pitch this year only to be booted in the first round. Strange? That’s subjectivity for you. Many great writers moved on. Many great writers did not. I’m okay. Really I am. No one even read my manuscript. They have no idea what I am capable of. So being cut in the first round is not a reflection on what I can write. All they read was my 300 word pitch. Pitches are difficult—take a 250 page book and describe it 300 words or less. Now make it enticing. It’s tough. I tried. I learned. I am better for it. Next year though, if I enter next year, I will make sure my manuscript and pitch contains vampires, werewolves, and fire and brimstone, because that seems to be the key to getting past the pitch phase. I had none of those things. I was so foolish. I will keep plugging away. I may never catch a break. But that is not why I write.
2 Comments
Diana
2/25/2010 01:21:52 pm
Ahhhh, the pain of it all. We should feel proud of ourselves for trying. We stepped out of our comfort zones and put ourselves out there, subjected ourselves to critiques by other writers. I don't know about you, but that was hard. We will have our day. I hope you enter again next year, I plan on it. Why not? We may be 70 years old before we get published, unless we do like you say and write about a bedazzled vampire. Deep breaths and now time to move on. Okay, I need a couple more deep breaths. See ya soon.
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Robyn
2/25/2010 11:18:57 pm
I'm sorry Ang! You're a great writer and we all know it. They have no idea what they are missing out on.
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