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Awards |
| Hmmm, I haven’t won any
awards for my published books yet, but I have had some literary success.
When I was in grade school, for instance, I entered a poetry contest.
My poem won, and the school gave me a little medal. I still have it.
This year I've been honored by the 2004 Texas Book Festival, which
has asked me to appear as a featured author. |
| Manuscript contests sponsored
by writing groups offer a good forum to find out if someone besides
relatives, friends and guinea pigs trapped in a cage likes your work.
Even better, they give you a deadline—something every writer
needs. It’s also very rewarding to win recognition from other
writers. Sometimes the people who judge the contests write nice things
on your story, like, “I’d REALLY like to read the rest
of this book” and “I love your main character.” |
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| Other times, though, they write
cruel, uncaring things, such as, “Your back story is dripping
in like Chinese water torture.” Or they might give you low points
on your story synopsis because they think it’s “incomprehensible
and difficult to follow.” Those comments, both good and bad,
prepare you for the reality of being a writer. There will always be
people (and pet dogs, mice and guinea pigs) who love your work. And
some people won’t like your writing for any number of reasons.
The trick is sifting through the comments and focusing on the suggestions
that help you improve your stories. |
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| I’ve had good luck so far
with manuscript contests. In 2004, the San Gabriel Writers’
League gave the second place award for children’s writing/long
fiction to the opening pages of my new young adult novel. I’m
still working on that book, but the award has given me a lot of motivation
to finish it. |
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| In addition, my
murder mystery was a finalist in the Writers’ League of Texas
2003 manuscript contest. It was very exciting, except for the excruciating
wait for them to announce the winners’ names. Seriously, I thought
I was going to die. They announced each category separately—historical/western,
romance, mainstream, science fiction/fantasy—and wouldn’t
you know it, they announced my category last. Finally, they said the
names of the finalists for the mystery category. I stood and smiled
to the audience as I practiced my acceptance speech in my head. |
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Next, they read the first paragraph
of the winner’s book. I listened for several seconds, confused.
It didn’t sound like my book. How could they have chosen someone
else after I slaved fifty-five years on that dang mystery? Don’t
these judges know good writing when they see it?
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| Then I listened closer.
This other person’s paragraph was really good. I even found
myself laughing at the final sentence. Okay, so she deserved to win.
But there’s always next time… |
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