Are you making use of your CP’s (critique partners) now, or at least dusting that entry off yourself and working further on it? You know, if you’re a first round finalist, you will have ONLY two days to polish that baby before a few prominent literary specialists (aka editors and agents) lay their eyes on it. Now, if you’re the type to know that what you submitted is your absolute best, good for you. I think that way too. I mean, who pays to enter what they consider to be a mediocre piece at best? It’s always the best you can do, at the time of doing it, right?
And that’s the key. Time has moved on. Learning has continued. Further reading’s been done. Each day brings new experiences and thus new perspectives. YOU’VE GROWN! So it stands to reason that you have something more to offer that prized piece you submitted over a month ago. Right?
Don’t delay, dust off that entry (or those entries for those who sent in multiples) and see what new light you and/or your CP’s can bring to it/them. If you are blessed to be a finalist, you’ll be well on your way to re-submitting a new polished piece. You’ll still have those two days to review the first-round judges suggestions and opinions and apply what you feel needs to be done; but in all likely hood, you’ll probably discover that you’ve done a few, if not all, of them in the interim. Which would be most beneficial should those two allotted days of spoofing-up-time coincide with an exceptionally busy schedule of yours.
I’m just saying…there’s no time like the present to do some revisiting!
Until next time may your editing hat surprise you, and write on…
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
17 comments:
Eeek! I'm so nervous about getting my entries back...
What a great thought...get more eyes on the thing. Never hurts.
~ Wendy
This is great advice. I know some folks who wait until they get the judges' comments back before working on their story. They say they don't want to throw good effort after bad if the judges hated it. Consequently, they waste a lot of good writing time that could be spent learning, trying, and writing.
Jessica, I've seen your writing, you have nothing to be nervous about!
Wendy, whether or not you're a finalist, time spent on your ms can only help you as a writer. And other eyes on it can help you see weaknesses that you never would have noticed alone.
Erica, so true, and so sad. But yet, I suspect they aren't fully invested in their writing journey then. Anyone vested will at least be working on another piece of writing or trying to finish the one they submitted. And I suspect anyone who is a finalist is also spending this time with a writing task at hand, just maybe not on their entry.
Funny you write this, because the other day I got out the 2nd novel I wrote and started revising it. It's amazing how much we grow from book to book.
Great advice, Eileen!
I didn't enter this year, but am crafting my entries for next year already and plan to get as many eyes on the entries as I can! :) :)
Great advice! Every time I read one of my manuscripts, I find something to fix!
I didn't enter, but I DO realize how important the art of the revision is!!
I've missed you! It's SOOOO nice to see you back in action! Did you finish the remodel? (I think that's what it was *blushes*)
I've been scrubbing this story for weeks. There are already some many changes since I submitted.
It would be nice to make it past the first round...
Great to "see" you again, Eileen! So glad to hear you're back writing. Hope you get great feedback from the Genesis contest. And thanks for giving me hope that a person who hasn't blogged for months can get back on the horse! (Yes, it's a cliche, but I had to add something horsey for you!)
Even though I'm not entering any contests, but am still working on the first draft of my latest novel, my critique partners have been absolutely INVALUABLE to me. God has truly brought the three of us together as we relate to each other so well. :-)
BTW, I answered your question about my kitty over at my blog...
:-)
Hi, all, glad to see some of us have been working hard on those entries and other projects all along. Sometimes I think Revisioners should be our titles rather than writers.
Becky, yes, you can always return to blogging, that's the beauty of it. I clicked over to see yours, but no new updates. I hope to see one soon. Good to hear from you again!!!
Hi Eileen,
Yup. Fixing, fixing, fixing. And cringing at the little typos I let slip by. Hopefully the judges will be kind!
Sue
Welcome back, Eileen! You've been missed:)
Good luck to everyone!
eileen! it was GREAT to see your comment on my blog yesterday! yay! i've missed you too! :) i hope you're doing well. will you be at conference this year? i'd love to reconnect with you!
jeannie
the character therapist
I am ALWAYS learning! Right now my work is in the hands of my able critique partners:)) And waiting to hear the results...
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