[stylist] Entering a Writing Contest is a risk

Mon Feb 20 18:34:59 UTC 2012

Lynda,
I think of the ratio of work sent out to positive results -- in writing and
in music -- as akin to sales. In sales, if you get 5% from a cold call
campaign or bulk mailing, you are considered to be doing extremely well. For
me personally, I don't invest myself emotionally in any one attempt -- be it
a contest, agents or publications. What I try to do is to work on getting
stuff out there. If I set a goal of contacting 100 literary agents, for
instance, who have a proven track record and an interest in my genre
(fantasy), then I first view success as working toward that goal. If someone
rejects me, that too is a success, since a significant number of rejections
are typical for any writer. 
Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Lynda Lambert
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 7:08 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Entering a Writing Contest is a risk

This is all very true, Donna.
In fine art, if you get in a show 50 percent of the time, you are doing so 
well it is almost unbelievable. And, that is after years of doing your art, 
and with your degrees, etc. It is always a risk every time you enter your 
art in a show. ALWAYS. It never goes away. And, it is not a matter of 
saying, "well, it is just that judges opinion." It is much more than that. 
All judges have a broad experience at looking at art, or reading written 
entries. There is an overall sense of whether or not something "works."  It 
does not matter what that particular judge's personal likes or dislikes are.

When it comes to judging, they weigh each thing for what it is not what they

personally do in their own work. Two or three judges can work on selecting 
the same body of entries. And, in the end there will be a lot of agreement 
in the things they choose because they are looking at the big picture of the

craft itself.

If you don't put it out for this kind of critique, you really won't grow as 
an artist. It is very important to begin to put your work before your peers 
in this way.  Just like here on this list.  It is good to get feedback for 
all of us.

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Entering a Writing Contest is a risk

> Robert,
> Contests are part of putting your work out there for better or worse.
> Writers and all artists need thick skin, and I have met very few who come 
> by
> that naturally. Some people are crushed to the point of not sharing their
> work or not even pursuing it. Others think they are thick-skinned, but 
> they
> respond to rejection by essentially saying "who cares what they think" and
> fail to use the experience to re evaluate their skills. Anything, whether
> it's sharing your writing here, entering a contest or submitting your work
> to a publisher, constitutes an exercise that contributes to the
> "normalization" of criticism. Writers will get far more rejection than
> acceptance, so we all need to embrace that reality and, as Atty says, 
> "write
> on."
> Donna
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Robert Leslie Newman
> Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 11:41 AM
> To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
> Subject: [stylist] Entering a Writing Contest is a risk
>
> Eve and others on STYLIST
>
> RE: What do the rest of you writers think on this?
>
>
>
> The question is: "Curious Robert, why do you say entering a contest is a
> risk?" eve
>
>
>
> Robert's shortish answer: A writing contest is a competition, an activity
> where we agree to put ourselves out there to be judged. Granted, the
> exposure isn't the same if you compare a writing contest where not many
> others know we are actually competing, to taking part in a massive public
> sports event. But we know. And so in my mind the question more is --- how 
> do
> we help ourselves or one another to take on this risk of submitting our 
> work
> to a contest, or to a publisher?
>
>
>
> (Yeah --- what are the gains from the process working up to the taking of 
> a
> risk, to the benefits that come with a successful outcome?)
>
>
>
>
>
> robert Leslie Newman
>
> Personall Website-
>
> Adjustmen To Blindness And Visual impairment
>
> http//www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
> NFB Writers' Division, president
>
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.net
>
>
>
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