Posted by admin Mar 29 2011, 12:01 am in facing rejection, golden heart, perseverance, rwa, writer's journey
It hurts, it sucks, it’ s toooooooootally unfair.
You wrote a fabulous manuscript, a taut and heart-wrenchingly beautiful manuscript, a THRILLING manuscript, the best story opening OF ALL FREAKIN’ TIME—your CPs loved it, your mom loved it, your DH actually read it beginning to end because it was so blamed awesome, and you’d buffed every word to a golden shine.
And then the phone didn’t ring on March 25.
Or, okay, it rang—but it was your dentist reminding you about that cleaning you missed last week. Or it was your CP wanting to know if you’d gotten the call yet (get off the phone, damn it!!!)
Or (worse, though really truly deep-down you are happy for her) it was your CP calling to say SHE’D just gotten the call and she was way too far over the moon to remember you were still waiting and therefore stuck in your own little circle of Romance-Writer Hell.
!@%#*&!!!!!!
Well, it does suck. We’ll grant you that.
We’re here for you today with shoulders to cry on and free rein to rant and rave and cry and scream and curse and do whatever else you have to do to let it allllll out, baby!
We’ve also got chocolate and other awesome prizes because we know how bummed out you are, and we love you.
Plus, we’ve got Gloria Gaynor for you to sing along with:
Gloria Gaynor I Will Survive
We’re also here to remind you of what a crapshoot the Golden Heart is.
Lots and lots and lots of great manuscripts get entered, but only 10% can final. If you’ve been paying attention to our posts over the last week or so (like this one), you know there are lots of manuscripts which didn’t get out of the bottom quarter in the GH scoring one year, then went on the next year to final and even win. And also plenty of manuscripts that finaled one year, and didn’t get out of the bottom quarter the next.
You never know why the particular judges you drew this year didn’t all give you perfect scores of 9. Maybe one of them had a migraine coming on. Maybe one of them got stuck judging Paranormal and she has no clue about Paranormals.
Maybe another never ever gives anything above a 6 because she doesn’t believe in perfection (or because no one’s ever given her anything above a 6).
Maybe your hero is named Bill, and one of your judges just had her heart stomped on and mashed to pulp by a real-life guy with the same name who left her for that trashy bimbo from Accounting with the cleavage tattoo, and so she eased her anguish by giving your wonderful manuscript a 4.
Anyhow, MOST romance writers who publish (and become powerhouse, household-name NYT Bestsellers) NEVER, EVER finaled in the Golden Heart at all. (Some, like Allison Brennan, even admit they tried—and failed. Yeah, that really hurt our Allison. I’m sure she still weeps over it every day.)
The Golden Heart is one stepping stone—and a great one!—but not the only stepping stone.
And the publishing biz is always crazy.
Remember Rocky Balboa? Did he give up after a few knock-downs. Not a chance in South Philly hell. And neither should you.
Hey, just look at the list of 2011 Rita noms. Lots of great books on there. But did you see Julia Quinn? Did you see Courtney Milan? Kristan Higgins? Lisa Kleypas? Meredith Duran? Nalini Singh? Did you see THE IRON DUKE? Does that mean their books this year sucked, and they should give up trying to be authors and toss their laptops out the window and take up woodcarving instead? Um, no. Of course not. Those writers and their 2010 books are truly awesome. (Have you read THE IRON DUKE?? Sooooo good. Soooooooooo good.) It’s just the way the voting goes sometimes.
So be of good cheer.
But more than anything today, we’re here to kick your butt and say SUCK IT UP NOW, SWEETHEART, because there’s one way and one way only to get yourself published. And it’s NOT the Golden Heart, or any other prize or commendation you may win. It’s BICHOK: butt in chair, hands on keyboard.
Get writing. Keep submitting to publishers. No excuses.
Do that, and your day will come. We’re the Rubies, and we know what we’re talking about!
Leave a comment below (as mopey or furious or self-pitying as you like, as long as you swear to commit to a concrete writing goal for afterwards) and be in the running for one of these spirit-lifting prizes:
-an ALL-CHOCOLATE gift basket
-a copy of THE IRON DUKE by Meljean Brook (soooooooooooo good!)
-an e-copy of OBSESSED BY WILDFIRE by Autumn Jordon
-an e-copy of KISMET’S KISS by Cate Rowan
-an e-copy of LILY IN WONDERLAND by Kelly Fitzgerald
-FOUR e-copies of sexy novellas by McKenna Chase: choice of LEATHER AND LUST, SWEET PLEASURE, A TOUCH IN TIME, or HER SHADOW WARRIOR (to four different winners)
-FOUR $10 Amazon gift certificates (to four different winners)
-$25 Barnes and Noble gift certificate
Pretty sweet, eh? Remember, we love you! Keep working, and you’re going to make it!!! We’re always here to help!
Okay, here’s a rundown for anyone thinking the Rubies are blowing smoke at you. These numbers are mine, right off the score sheets. (I’m reserving the right to whine and moan a bit until the end.)
I entered the GH for the first time in 2007 and was a finalist. My first round scores? 9, 9, 9, 8.5, 9 for a total of 44.5 of 45 possible. (No, I didn’t win the GH.)
I entered the EXACT SAME manuscript in 2009 and was, again, a finalist. 7.9, 8.7, 9, 7, 9 = 41.6. Nope, didn’t win this time, either.
In 2010 I entered In My Lady’s Sight. 7.5, 7,4, 8.1, 8.7, 7.2=38.9. Didn’t even final.
2011, I entered three manuscripts. The one with two finals under its belt, the biggest change being a more defined romance arc in the synopsis, In My Lady’s Sight, again a reworked synopsis but no major changes to the contest pages, and a SFR that I knew had little chance (it’s front-loaded with world building,) but I wanted to get an idea of its worth.
I then spent the next three months, including the entire WWF, reworking my previous finalist, incorporating the prologue everyone considered “too graphic” into the body of the story.
You see the scores. Which horse would you put your money on? Me, too.
Didn’t work out that way. The two time finalist didn’t make it. In My Lady’s Sight made it–and I have squat if I get a request. The last 2/3 of the manuscript is a trainwreck.
So when they say it’s a crapshoot, that it may come down to your judges, that good books get passed over for reasons beyond the comprehension of mere mortals, it’s true.
Am I thrilled to be a finalist again? Heck, yeah. I’m not stupid! I like validation as much as the next writer, and finaling means five judges were entertained and enthralled by my story. But why THAT ONE? That book isn’t ready and, therefore, neither am I.
If you haven’t sold before the next GH, enter the book that didn’t make the cut last year. It worked for me.
Gwyn, bless you for sharing this!!! It really is amazing how arbitrary this can be, and that should be a real comfort to those who are wondering why it didn’t happen for their books this year.
Though I also truly believe that a manuscript has to be VERY, VERY, *VERY* good to get 5 judges at one time to all agree it’s in the 8 or 9 range.
A different slate of judges may decide a bit differently the next time, but any book that finals even once has got something special going on.
Good luck with those revisions!!!!!
Thanks, Elisa. I figured showing the actual scores would be of more value than a self-effacing “it scored well.”
Too often, people think we’re giving them platitudes. Now they can see for themselves we aren’t. But we can’t win the pot if we don’t roll the dice!
“But we can’t win the pot if we don’t roll the dice!”
Amen, sister!!
Love it!
Got to enter the race in order to win. Thank you so much for being so open about your scores. Love ya.
You are completely awesome for sharing this, Gwynlyn. Completely awesome.
But I expect no less from a Ruby Sister. You’re truly class acts, ladies.
Oh, I need to add, In My Lady’s Sight is a book I started about six weeks before the 2010 entry deadline (the Rubies will remember this. They kept cheering me on to the finish!) While the story is the prequel to my GH finalist so has been stewing in my head for a while, we aren’t talking a book given major planning. I sat down and wrote it. My CP helped me pull the necessary pages into order, and off it went.
The point? That book you slaved over, polished to a bright shine, won’t necessarily garner the results you want. Too often, writer’s polish until their voice, the thing that makes their writing stand out, is erased, making it just a generic item with little singular value.
Don’t take “you” out of your writing. That’s the one ingredient it can’t live without.
I’m hoping everyone who stops by today uses the opportunity to commit to a concrete, positive, moving-forward goal for their writing between now and Nationals!
I’m commiting to finishing revisions on my 2009/2010 GH book so it can finally, finally go out on submission!! (Not having my newer, and much messier, book final is actually liberating, because now I’m free to keep my focus on that.)
Heck, yeah! I’ve a twisted wreckage to unmangle!
Great goal, Elisa! Any word on whether we can sprint again and make sure you hit that goal?
We’re waiting on upgrades to the chat room on the regular Ruby site. I hope it will be soon! We’ll keep you posted!
Cool! Loved those chats. I mean, sprints.
Ooh, Nalini Singh! What a doll, as our Gwynlyn would say. Can I brag and say I spent a lovely couple of hours with Nalini on Friday afternoon?
Excellent post! It’s no fun missing out on the GH (or RITA), but there’s no point in letting it eat you up inside. Eat chocolate or whatever else makes you feel good, then get back to what you do best–writing books.
I attended a Jennifer Crusie workshop a few years ago. She had us all chanting, no matter what, “I am a great writer!” And I’d like to add, “Golden Heart or no Golden Heart.”
I’m also committing to finishing my revisions by mid-April. Incidentally, I’m rejigging my 2009 GH finalist ms, the book that failed to reach the finals in 2008.
Vanessa, I’m so jealous! Nalini is my favorite writer in the world; anyone who’s followed a few stops on TASTE ME’s blog tour has had to wade through drool as I fangirl slobber all over her. She mentioned on Twitter last week that she had a commitment that would pull her away from DABWAHA when the contest had her “Archangel’s Kiss” up against Meljean’s “The Iron Duke.” What a BRUTAL bracket. But she deputized me to Twitter-pimp for her. *wipes away a tear* I was so proud.
That’s so cool, Tammy! We’ll have more fan girl moments in New York ’cause she’ll be there for sure.
” it was your CP calling to say SHE’D just gotten the call ” This made me snort coffee out of my nose. Last year, I called my BFF to congratulate her, only she didn’t know she’d finaled. The year before, same situation but it was my CP (Hi Hope!!). This year neither was entered so it was just me, and to quote the Brooks & Dunn song, “My phone ain’t ringing; is it you, ain’t calling?” Oh well. In my travels over the weekend, I saw a book with a title along the lines of, “A success isn’t someone who didn’t fail, it’s someone who DIDN’T QUIT.” That’s me. I’m not quitting. It’s tempting like ice cream in July but I’m not giving up, even thought my MS is titled “All or Nothing” and my plan was that I’d be staking my career, all or nothing, on this year’s GH. So much for that idea. I’m not known for my consistency.
Thanks for letting me vent! Hope won’t let me. If I threaten to quit, she kicks my butt damn hard. Thanks, Hope! And on that happy note, back to revisions…
Kudos to Hope for being the wind between your wings. And kudos to you for not even thinking about giving on your dream.
Hey Carla,
I let you whine … for about 10 seconds. Sorry, I know I’ve been really tough on you these last few days. But I hope other Rubies and commenters will join me in reminding you and everyone else that putting all your eggs in the Golden Heart basket is not wise.
As Elisa has pointed out in her excellent post this morning, there are NYT best-selling authors out there who never finaled in the Golden Heart.
And keep in mind one thing — the Golden Heart is largely judged by unpublished authors who do not make the decisions about which books get bought. Editors don’t judge the first round of the Golden Heart — and the vast majority of books that final in the Golden Heart are never requested by the final round judges.
So this is not a straight line to a publishing contract. It’s fun, I admit, but it’s not a ticket to a writing career. Elisa has it right — BICHOK is the only thing that will get you where you really want to go.
So, as I told you the other day, quit whining and finish that book so you can pitch it at Nationals.
Amen to you too, Hope!!!
“the Golden Heart is largely judged by unpublished authors who do not make the decisions about which books get bought”: that’s an important thing to keep in mind.
Golden Heart is ONE step a writer can take towards publication, but it’s not the ONLY step. Nobody should regard it as make or break.
I’m printing this out and Gorilla-gluing it over my computer, Hope! Awesome, awesome, awesome advice. The bottom line is that writing isn’t everything; it’s the ONLY thing
As in, without it, I’ve got nothin’.
I’m in a weird boat because I both finaled and didn’t– one of my MS made the cut while the other did not. So I’ll devote my time to working on both, making sure both are as good as they can be, and looking toward that next project. Thanks for reminding me that either way, the BICHOK is the most important thing
Kim
I’m the same way — one finaled, one didn’t. Can’t decide which of the two is my favorite … guess I’ll have to go with BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER, since it’s the finalist.
As I said above, Kim, one final, two no-shows. It’s the nature of the beast.
Well said, Hope. The GH can function as an escalator past the slush pile, it can function as validation, and it can function as a stepping stone, but it comes with no guarantees. That part is talent, luck (markets are what they are,) and persistance.
I’ll settle for the validation.
(Hope’s going to kick my butt to San Francisco for saying that. 
) But seriously, I’m tweaking the first few chapters, layering in some deeper stuff, so that I’m ready to hit the ground running when I get to where I left off. So far I’m freaking thrilled with how it’s working out! GH? We don’t need no stinkin’ GH. 
Hey, what’s the rule on whether we can mention any specifics on what we judged in a contest? One I judged for the Golden Pen in August went on to be a finalist in the Golden Heart, and I’d love to tell the author that I really believed in her book….
As for me, I’m totally bummed. After a major contest win and several prominent finals, I think I let myself hope too much… making the non-final a real tear-jerker for me.
But, as Winston days, neither failure or success is a sure thing, — it’s courage that counts!! So, I have a plan all laid out on my calendar, and have been BICHOK and plugging away.
Winston was a wise man and you’re a wise woman. I have no doubt we’ll see your call story soon. I hope you’ll share it here, so we can squeal with you.
I’ve said this to you before, but all those amazing scores in contests MEAN something….you’ve been getting lots of validation that you’re on the right path.
Keep your eye on the real prize: getting published! And let nothing stand in your way.
And thanks for sending me the Winston Churchill thing! Very timely!
Eileen, I’m totally with you on that. I had some great contest wins last year so I was really hopeful. But I realized on Thursday night that I’d also had strong negative reactions. I’d never had a lukewarm score from a contest. So now I’m interested in seeing my GH scores. Wonder if there are some 3s in there from people who hated my story.
I’ve heard it said again and again that the POLARIZING manuscripts (some love it, some hate it) are actually the ones most likely to make it out there in the real world.
It probably means the book’s got *intensity* and takes risks….sure, some readers will be turned off by it, but you’ll also find readers who LOVE LOVE LOVE it (in a way they won’t love some of the “safer” books.)
Stick by your guns, Katrina! If you’re finding readers who love it, you’re doing something right!
Thanks, Elisa! I need to keep hearing things like that! Otherwise it gets drowned out by doubts.
Hi Katrina, I’m a day late here, so I hope you get this! My contest scores are the same way. I always get one (or 2) who hate it. There seems to be no middle ground for me. Last year’s GH scores: 9,9, 8.7, 5, 3. Um, yeah. So despite the 9s I ended up in the bottom quarter!
I guess it’s a good thing we inspire such feeling in our judges–right??
Wow, Ami, it’s amazing someone could give you a 3 when someone else gave you a 9. Incredible. I guess it means when we’re published, we’ll probably deal with glowing reviews and reviews that seethe with hatred. Well, at least we should be used to it by then!
Eileen, I’m not sure if I broke any rules, but I did tell one of the 2011 finalists that I judged and LOVED her GH book. I’m so thrilled she finaled.
I finaled in 2008 with “Party Like It’s 1899.” My first round scores were 9, 9, 8.9, 8.8, and 8.9. (No, I didn’t win.)
Then in 2009, I entered both “Party Like It’s 1899″ and “Codename: Dancer.”
When Trish Milburn called to say I’d finaled with “Codename” I actually said “No, that’s not possible.” We debated back and forth for a few seconds there as to whether I might have been a double finalist (she kept telling me I wasn’t, and I insisted I had to be!).
See, if one of those mss was going to final, I was convinced it would be “Party.” I’d gotten a nearly perfect score the year before, right?
Well, yes, I did, but I didn’t that year.
When I got my scores back, this is what they were:
6, 6.5, 6.2, 7, 7.5
I don’t think I even got out of the bottom half that year.
And no, I hadn’t made any revisions to those first 50 pages. It was nearly identical to what had gotten a nearly perfect score the year before.
Just goes to show that you have no idea who is going to get your entry and whether it will click with them!
Wow–amazing scores that first time! And thanks for being brave and sharing the scores for the second time around.
Who really knows why things shake out so differently in different years….
I wonder what the total number of judges is for the first round of Golden Heart? If most read 5 manuscripts, and about a thousand manuscripts get entered and have five judges each….does that mean a thousand judges? Wow, LOTS of room for random differences there!!
As a teacher who does lots of department-wide grading, I know how important “norming” is before you start in on accessing a stack of work. You work for HOURS to establish standards and rubrics….and you still end up with some widely differing scores, just because reactions to writing are subjective. And that’s in a group of about seven people, not a thousand.
I’m okay with not finalling. Well, mostly. But I really do wish we didn’t have to wait a month to get our scores.
My hubby took me out for lunch AND dinner Friday, trying to cheer me up. We went shopping. Aw…
I would love to see GH go electronic next year. Between the cost of the paper and ink, there’s all that postage!
Kudo’s to all the finalists! Enjoy your victory. It was well earned.
AWWW! what a sweetie DH
I know every year going electronic is discussed but honestly I don’t see it happening soon.
How great to have a supportive husband backing you up!!! Hang on to him!
And above all, keep writing!
Yea for all of the GH & RITA finalists. It was a lot of fun watching their names being revealed and partying here with the Rubies.
Hugs for everyone who didn’t get the call.
And thank you to everyone who shared your GH scores and showed how the scores can vary widely from year to year on the same stories with different judges. Very enlightening.
The best cure I know of for not getting the GH Call is to submit, submit, submit. *G* Having one or more projects on an editor’s desk definitely numbs the disappointment. So take all of those promising GH entries and send them out to their target editor. Good luck!!!
One of our Rubies who didn’t repeat in GH this year responded by sending out seven queries on Saturday….and signed with a FABULOUS agent on Monday.
Onward and upward, everybody!!
Well, technically, Elisa, it was late Friday night. I wasn’t letting that day get by me without doing whatever I could to make something happen!
Woo, hoo, lady…you go! I want to read your book!
Thanks, Kelley! I’m hopeful you’ll get to see it on the shelves some day!
Kim, huge congrats on the agent! I made sure that the GH announcement didn’t have too much power over me since it’s basically a crapshoot based on the judges you get so I shipped out a requested partial to a sr editor the day before. That way I was guaranteed to have something to look forward too. *G*
Gotta keep movin’ forward!
Excellent idea, Jennifer! We all want to be finalists, but you know it is so much a crapshoot. Just having a great story won’t always get you there. Great job not letting it get to you, and how wonderful to go ahead and ship that out to that senior editor!
Even better! Nerves of steel! So totally thrilled by your news!
Thanks, Elisa!!! I’m still floating!
I’ve told this story too many times to count. So if you’ve heard it before, feel free to skim down to my last two paragraphs.
In 2004, my book Something Worth Remembering received a nearly perfect GH cumulative score, FOUR 9s and a low eight, I can’t remember exactly what the score actually was. It was a finalist up against my other finalist manuscript, A Little Bit of Deja Vu, that WON the GH and received 1/2 a point less in the preliminary round. ALBDV had never taken better than third place in an RWA chapter contest (however it did win PNWA’s Zola Award for $500).
Something Worth Remembering then went on to become an American Title finalist. Naturally I couldn’t help wondering how SWR would’ve done in the GH if it hadn’t been pitted against ALBDV. in 2005, I entered SWR again in the GH and STUPIDLY didn’t change the title.
I won’t say there were some sour grape judges on my panel, but I do believe a few of the judges approached the entry with a “let-me-see-what-is-so-great-about-this-one” attitude and judged it more harshly than usual. I received two average scores with three nines for a manuscript that had been a finalist in practically every contest I’d ever entered it in. How could anyone give a score of 6 to a manuscript that received nearly a perfect score the previous year?
So in 2006, I entered it again under a new title, The Memory of You, just for kicks. I wasn’t surprised when it became a finalist again. My rejections on it were glowing, with apologies about it being too much of a fence-sitter to market easily (a single-title tone with a category plot device). After being rejected by every editor and agent in the business, The Memory of You won my second Golden Heart.
In 2008 I re-entered my 2007 finalist and it wasn’t nominated. And this year, I re-entered my finalist from 2010 and it also isn’t a finalist. I was shocked when Cindy Kirk called and told me the Inspirational I’d submitted (a manuscript I never expected to make the cut) HAD been nominated.
Writing contests are totally subjective and, therefore, a huge crapshoot. If a manuscript is a finalist, it means a lot. Five judges had to agree it was great. If it isn’t a finalist and your scores are all over the place, it means squat. On the other hand, if your GH scores are extremely consistent such as ALL 5s and 6s, your manuscript probably needs some work.
So for all of you hopefuls who didn’t get a call this year, put on your big-girl panties and get back to work. You’ll need to finish a new manuscript to enter in the GH in November along with possibly revising the one that wasn’t a finalist this year. Entering more than one story definitely increases your odds of getting at least one panel of judges who will nominate your work.
Great point about the advantages of having more than one manuscript to enter!!!
I know offhand of quite a few 2011 finalists who entered multiple manuscripts, and we only have a small number of double finalists; I’m betting a great many finalists also had a non-finaling manuscript or two in the race.
Folks who only had one manuscript to enter, get to work on having more than one to submit by December!
I so agree, Laurie. Writing contests are sooo subjective. This is not to say those that finaled didn’t deserve to final, but many stories that are worthy didn’t and for random reasons. Weird reasons. Illogical reasons. Persistence is the only thing that will get us to our goal. And good writing.
As a judge, I can tell you that I agonized over what scores to assign. Each manuscript had good elements, a couple had great elements. Some needed plot work, others needed craft work and editing. Ultimately I considered if I was captivated by the story. Did the characters engage me and pull me in? Did I want to keep reading? Because that, to me, is what makes a good story. I congratulate all the finialists, and also all those who had the courage to submit an entry. Putting your work out there is the only way to keep growing. Never give up, never give up, never give up.
Sounds like a great judging philosophy for Golden Heart!
It’s not supposed to be nitpicky, it’s supposed to be holistic–a gut-level reaction.
Of course, that ups the subjectivity factor….
But it does mean finalists are likely to find a lot of readers if published.
Thank you, Rubies, for having this day to celebrate the writers who submitted their best work but didn’t get the call. I personally am so excited about retreat and conference and the ideas all ganging up on me that I need to put to paper to feel too down. I think at the end of the day, just remembering how cool it is to be a writer is what keeps me happy. I wish all my fellow non-finalists of 2011 the best, because that’s what you are!
Absolutely! No matter what stage you’re at, writing MUST be it’s own reward. The business is too bruising if you don’t truly love what you do.
Let me speak on behalf of contests. I know a lot of judges don’t know pens from…well, never mind. But I finaled this year with a story that totalled a 29 last year in the Golden Heart. Quite rightly. I spent another year, 15 contests, and the time of a critique partner who probably wanted to throttle me on occasion to find the feedback that helped me final this year. I have a much stronger story now, but oh, it hurt last year not to get a call. That’s what peanut butter cups are for.
And it doesn’t matter if I or anyone else got a call, the only thing that matters is getting our butts in the chair and continue writing. No career was ever built on one contest final.
Good for you, Kate, for taking last year’s results in the best possible way…and triumphing this way!!
Thank you for posting this today! It was quite helpful, and I may even read it again this afternoon or tomorrow. The whole Friday thing rained on my parade, and entering the GH had started to feel like a massive waste of money.
Sorry about the Friday rain….but if your scores are promising, do what Kate Parker says she did: enter some contests that *do* give feedback, revise and improve, and enter again next year.
$50 seems like a lot, but if you *do* get that call, being a finalist can be a true rocket-boost forward with your career. (Even though NOT finaling doesn’t mean your work’s not good, or that you’re not going to find OTHER avenues to publication.)
Thanks, Elisa, for your kind, encouraging words.
Kate Parker’s suggestion is a good one. I’ll follow it!
I had high hopes for this manuscript because I was a finalist in a chapter contest a few months ago and received great feedback. Plus, for the Marlene last year, even though I didn’t final, I had high scores and received such positive feedback (including several people who wanted to read more) that it didn’t matter that I wasn’t a finalist. I felt like I had already won. I saw each contest as testing my manuscript in front of a target audience and their feedback encouraged me to continue.
So when I didn’t get the call, I was bummed (didn’t help that I was a bit PMS-ing that day as well). I was excited for several friends, who are finalists and have worked incredibly hard to get there. But I couldn’t help feeling like a loser. This is my third manuscript and I felt like I’ve really improved and learned a lot, so why didn’t I final? And I became terrified to get the scores back. What if I get really low scores? Does that mean my story is a major fail?
After some wine and hiking up my big girl pants, I continued forward with my final revisions with the goal of beginning agent/editor submissions next month. I also started reading Amazon reviews of my favorite authors and books. I was surprised at how some of the books I loved were panned by people who didn’t get the story, writing, or characters. I think these contests toughen us up for when our manuscript is out there for the world to see. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has different tastes. But if we just wallow in the negative then we’ll never accomplish our dreams.
Thank you to all for all your stories about the GH and sharing your across-the-board scores. It is definitely encouraging to hear about the same manuscripts getting perfect scores one year and getting mid-range scores the next. That proves how subjective this business is.
“I also started reading Amazon reviews of my favorite authors and books. I was surprised at how some of the books I loved were panned by people who didn’t get the story, writing, or characters”…..
YES!!! Subjectivity is part of the story no matter what level you’re at!
Yes, I try and to remember that with every contest. I had enter the GH a few years ago with a different manuscript. One of the judges had given me a “9″ and I consoled myself that 1 out of 5 people loved my writing. It helped …
Reading reviews of your favorite authors is a great exercise, JT. It just highlights the fact that we, as writers will never be able to please everyone.
And reading your own reviews on goodreads will make you call people really bad names. Lol.
Yeah, some people don’t get it and that’s the nature of the beast. Treasure the ones that do. And pull another layer of skin on for the ones who compare you to their three year old.
You’re so right about not pleasing everyone (even the bestselling authors don’t). Each person has different tastes and that is why there are such a variety of genres and voices and stories. Writing what we love and loving what we write will show through in our stories and is the most important foundation to reaching our readers.
I’ve judged GH more than a decade and for the first time EVER, I got five entries I loved. I gave all five of them 9′s, and you know what? Not one of them finalled! I was SO disappointed. You just never know. Hugs to all.
I think I’ve had a finalist maybe ONCE in all of the contests I’ve judged over the past 5 or 6 years. That was in the Golden Pen.
I’ve given out plenty of 9s in the Golden Heart when I loved the story and wanted it to final. And each year I’m disappointed that none of the stories I judged made the cut.
There is some seriously stiff competition out there!
It *is* stiff competition. I had a non-finaling book last year that got two 9s, and then (I think) a very high 8, a high 7, and a middling score (can’t quite remember if it was a high 5 or low 6). That middling score was enough to knock it right out.
Almost all the entries I judged this year were worthy of perfect or near-perfect scores, Diana. One of them finaled (YAY!), but I was staggered that the others didn’t. It would be lovely if they went on to get agents and/or publishing deals instead.
So last year, I watched the party. This year, I entered and was part of the excitement. I wasn’t entirely sure my ms was good enough, but there was hope. Even after it had received a revision letter from my target editor.
I can deal with hope.
But when a telemarketer calls me at 9:30-my heart stopped. Then I wanted to reach through the phone and strangle the gal.
Maybe next year.
Hope. It’s the other white meat.
“Hope, it’s the other white meat.”
Love it, Lyn!!
I’ve been on both sides of the fence with the GH. It’s the most incredible feeling to final, but not finaling can really knock the wind out of your sales. It can make you question your writing. But like others have said here on this blog, the judging is subjective. And there are so many really good entries in the Golden Heart that you can have a manuscript that is almsot perfect and still not final. Don’t give up. Keep writing.
Congrats to all my fellow 2011 finalists and hugs to all those who didn’t get the call.
Lindsey Brookes
2011 Series Contemporary Finalist
Thanks to everyone sharing their stories of the ups and downs of the Golden Heart. Being able to see that great stories don’t always do well gives me hope for mine. Now I’m just waiting for those final scores! I’ve committed to entering in five contests this year, maybe I’ll do the GH again in the fall, but this time its all about the feedback. I wanna know why!!! So I’m on the hunt for great contests (not too expensive!) with feedback. And I know that not everyone receives consistent feedback. Angie Morgan shared hers with us in her PRO bootcamp earlier in the year and it was surprising the roller coaster of scores she received. But I agree with everyone here, the only way to do it, is to do it!
Go, go, go, Jessica!! You’ve got the right attitude!
Jessica, The Virginia chapter has a contest that is coming up soon and I think it looks at 50 or 55 pages-pretty close to the GH. Good luck with it all!
Wonderful post. I loved the little girl crying. She looks like my niece. LOL.
I didn’t final in the Rita. Big deal. Was I disappointed? Eh, slightly. But when I thought about all the other people who didn’t final in the Rita, well, it made me feel better. Because those were some goddesses in that list of those who didn’t final, right? So, I’m good. Now, I’ve got to do as told. Get to work. That ms is not going to write itself.
I was HUGELY disappointed you didn’t get nominated Liz. Just sayin’.
Next year. Definitely.
Your day will come, Liz! I’m sure of that!!
Amen. One day, Rubies will OWN that list! Yep, I believe we’re that good.
You’re in wonderful company, Liz.
I didn’t enter this year because I knew the manuscript wasn’t ready. I did enter it in another contest with a shorter return period for feedback and yep. I was right. Not ready. This year – totally my year (unless I sell or my CP gives me the thumbs down
) Thanks for the reminders that GH isn’t the be all, end all. It’s just a possible stepping stone in a vast array of paths.
That’s right Kat. Just look at all the authors who have never finaled. That said, it sure sounds like an experience! But would you give up a contract just so you could qualify to enter next time? Not!
You’re awesome, so with or without a GH final, I know you’ll be going places! Maybe we can both enter for 2012 and both final and have an awesome time in Anaheim together!
That is my evil plan. Now we just both need a winning manuscript!
I paid the entry fee, got my MS ready to go, polishing up until a week before it was due. And…
Family tragedy struck.
The last thing on my mind was a MS sitting at home.
I forfeited the fee (and I’m fine with that) and didn’t enter.
After reading the above, especially about how widely distributed the scores were for the same MS, I think it was not meant to be for me to get the MS in.
I may be happier never knowing.
Even without the Golden Heart, I’m on my way to where I want to be– published.
Thanks for the great article– I feel better even though I didn’t enter!
Kelly
Sorry to hear about the family tragedy. Hope things are better now.
Very sorry about the family tragedy.
Life doesn’t stop throwing curve balls at us, does it? I hope things are better for you and yours now.
This was my second year for GH with the same manuscript. Last year’s scores totaled 42.5 and I’d finaled in three contests since then and really tightened things up based on the feedback I’d received. I’d done everything right, but the gods of fortune refused to smile Friday. Intellectually, I knew it was a crapshoot, as you say. Emotionally? (See photo of squalling child.) The worst of it is I have no idea of where I fall in the competition until I receive my scores and I still won’t know WHY they scored my manuscript the way they did. So, I’ve decided to delude myself by thinking the judges AGONIZED over their decision. I missed it by THAT MUCH. My new mantra is I AM NUMBER NINE. I may have tee-shirts made. Anyone else want one?
Donna, I LOVE this idea. Great attitude. Sounds to me like your day is coming!
Can I be Number 10?
LOL…I totally want one of those shirts!!
You are SO good – I loved reading your uplifting post. I’ve tried for ‘the call’ for four years now, but nada, no phone call. I was amazed at myself for not falling apart or even a twinge of disappointment but think it might be because of the new mantra I’ve adopted – “You can’t fight fate.”
I totally agree with you on contests being subjective and rolling with the punches. To do otherwise is a waste of time and emotions you can be putting into your story. Nope, I haven’t given up and will probably try again next year because it is exciting and my friends would probably get in my face – a very scary thing, I assure you.
OH, and I will confess that the disappointment was dimmmed somewhat because I did have a double final in the Hearts Through History contest with the same manuscript the week before.
WOOT on the double final!!! May you get an editor request and be have a contract in hand so you’re not even eligible for GH 2012!
I think it helps to know that just because you final in the Golden Heart doesn’t mean you will sell. I’ve finaled three different times with three different stories in three different categories, and I haven’t sold any of those stories, yet. I sold a completely different story that I never entered into the Golden Heart. So the Golden Heart isn’t a sure sell. In fact, the majority of published authors never final in the contest. I have a feeling no one would give up a contract to final in the Golden Heart.
I was doubly disappointed Friday. Not only did I not get the call, but when I scanned the RWA listings for the entry I’d given a perfect 9, it wasn’t there! I’d told myself that even if I didn’t final (my setting is currently unfashionable, for one thing), surely this other entry would. Now for all you know, fellow non-finalist, you may have been the one to set my heart racing from page 1, keep me tense guessing what would happen next, and make me regret, even after I’d read your synopsis and knew how things would come out, that I couldn’t read the full manuscript. Only the confidentiality clause in the judging packet kept me from seeking your web site and writing to tell you how amazing you are. And if you did that to me, maybe… just maybe… I might have done that for one of the judges. Maybe. I’ve decided this year I’ll focus on querying agents about my non-finaling manuscript, try to finish my wip, and think up new ideas for stories. maybe I’ll take that class I put off taking last year, for pointers re a writing weakness. I’d put off querying more than the two agents who requested material at a conference last year, although I’d started a list, in hopes I could include “Golden Heart finalist”. I guess it will have to stand on its pitch sentence and any material the listed agents say to include. Meanwhile, if you’re the writer who drew all those great visceral reactions and a perfect 9 from me last month—and you may be—don’t give up. If I’m doomed to disappointment re your book, let it be because of others’ inexplicable rejections, not because you gave up. Darn, I want to read it all the way through!
So frustrating not to see a ms you loved final! Especially since you won’t know that writer’s name or see how her career progresses.
One ms I loved finaled. I’m going to re-read it when the sting wears off.
P.S. I’m secretly hoping the ms you loved was mine.
I did the same thing a couple of years ago–scanned the finalists only to find the ms I 9′ed missing. So disappointing and it wasn’t even mine! Happy to report I found that author’s name on the front of a cover the following year. She’s published three books so far and I’ve got ‘em!
A true happy ending!!!
I loved this post. Entering contests has taught me a lot about myself as a writer, and since the Golden Heart is the Grandmommy of romance contests it’s taught me the most.
I’m still going to Nationals. I’m still totally looking forward to it. And because it’s a hell of a lot of money for me, I’m going to work even harder to make it worthwhile.
Elisa asked about our concrete goals. I’m going to finish and polish my WIP, and I’m going to edit the ms I wrote last year. I’ll have both pitch-ready.
(Does it make me a masochist that I kinda wish it were November now so I could experience the excitement of sending off my lovelies again? Yes? Okay, forget I said that.)
No, an optimist, actually, but please don’t wish my life away. Trust me when I tell you ist’s speeding by quite fast enough. Looking forward to seeing you on the list next year!
This was my first tussle with the GH. I entered my first MS, a WIP with a 3-fer record-three chapter contests, and three finals. (I still can’t believe it.) I certainly didn’t anticipate a GH final but I had hope. So, when the call didn’t come on Friday, I was disappointed. But as I sat in my chair, madly refreshing, my two year old crawled into my lap and said, “Mumma, hold me all days.” All of a sudden, I was one of the lucky ones.
Here’s my story-in brief-seven years of infertility, two rounds of IVF, difficult recoveries and failures that broke my heart. But I learned that perseverance, persistence, and risk-taking pay serious dividends. And sometimes the dream doesn’t come true the first time, and the path is so much harder and more painful than expected but the most important dreams, the ones held most dear, often do come true. So while I’m committing to BICHOK, I’m going to keep the dream in my heart because next year really could be THE year- for any one of us.
So, happy writing, everybody, and Rubies thanks for being here.
Sounds like you’re already a winner, Kelley. Thanks for the inspiring story! Like you, I battled infertility. It was a long road. And writing has been a long road as well. But eventually I DID final in the GH, and two years later, that manuscript is going to be published. (And I have 3 fantastic kids now. Miracles do happen.) Thanks for sharing your story of perseverance.
Thank you, Anne Marie-You give me faith. I hope to have the same kind of successes as I continue with my writing. One thing is certain-we are lucky to have wonderful children in our lives. Miraculous is the word.
Wow, what an analogy!!!
I think whatever else life throws at us, those wonderful moments of having sweet little ones climb into our laps make all other concerns and worries pale into insignificance! Enjoy every moment!!!
Elisa,
They are everything. Thanks for being here.
This was my first year to enter the GH. The main reason I entered was YOU. That’s right. YOU. The Ruby Sisters. You guys are such an amazing support group to each other (you have so much love and support to share you include us in it as well). I didn’t care so much about reaching the finals to sell my stories (I have editor pitches and half-way decent query letters to do that) as to possibly have the great fortune to find myself in a group of supportive people like the one here. Thanks for cheering us on and being there to offer support! Oh, and I had the extraordinary honor of judging one of the finalists in the Single Title category. What a great consolation prize.
Thanks so much, Barb! And thanks for being with us! Yes, being part of a finalist group is definitely the very, very best thing about finaling in the GH!!…well worth all the ups and downs of entering, if you do get that call one year!
And how cool that you judged one of the finalists!!!
I didn’t enter this year, but I’m definitely echoing what all my other fabulous Ruby Sisters have said. The GH is an avenue to publication, but not the only one. It’s exciting and great fun to final, but there are other ways to achieve your dream. Just don’t ever give up on what you want!
It’s comforting to hear everyone’s stories. Someone told me a while ago that you can avoid disappointment by not putting all your eggs in one basket. And the GH is just one basket. Congrats to everyone who won, and chins up to all of us who didn’t! Back to work we go!
Let’s add this to the “crapshoot” pile. I once entered a contest where I scored 104 of a 105 from one judge, a 98 from the second judge, and a 42. Yes, 42.
Heads up, and walk tall, folks. The EG judge lives, but she can only hit you so often. {{{Hugs}}}
THere is one plus to getting widely different scores. It means you have a strong voice. Not everyone can be brilliant enough to love it.
I write YA and I think I’m harder on them. THe years I’ve judged the YA category, nobody got a 9. Maybe the talent just wasn’t there–but I’ve read in that genre a lot with a critical eye and the GH entries just didn’t measure up.
However, I’ve also judged historicals and gave out plenty of 9s. This is a subgenre I read for pleasure, so maybe I allowed a good story to trump structural mistakes more.
Some years ago, I judged the Golden Heart and didn’t have any manuscripts that finaled, not even the one I gave my highest score to that year. About 2 years later, I was reading a book review on AAR — and realized I recognized the plot and characters from the Golden Heart. It was a nonfinaling manuscript I’d given high marks to.
It takes 5 GH judges who love your work to get a GH final. Just one meh score will knock a manuscript out of the finals. But to sell, you only need to find one editor who loves your work. The GH is one tool for finding that editor, but you have many others at your disposal: submissions, other contests, recommendations from other writers, etc. The GH may shortcut your search for that editor. (Maybe. I sold to one of my GH judges–on my 6th final. Some shortcut, huh?) You don’t need the GH to find that editor–you just need perseverance.
Great reminder, C.J.!!!
I think it would be interesting to check the names of our commenters in a year and see who has an agent and has sold.
pleasebemepleasebeme
I think you make a good point, Rita. This is a happening place!
I shall add Kat’s name to the good mojo list.
Kat I chant good vibes to the universe in the jacuzzi while sipping champagne on the nights of the full moon. Seems to be working lately.
Oh, I soooooooooooooooo want in on that action.
Thanks – every little bit helps!
I was so sure I was going to final last year. SO sure. I didn’t. LOL. I didn’t enter this year, but will again.
Great stories, all.
The nicest thing about the GH: a new chance every year!!
One last question-and forgive me if it’s been asked. When do we get our scores? And how specific are the rankings?
Thanks. Kelley
Last year, my scores were postmarked 7 April so they should be home within the next two weeks. The rankings are in quarters. Last year’s score sheet reads:
Top quarter; final scores equal to or greater 37.
Second quarter; final scores between 36.80 and 33.70
Lower half; final scores equal to or less than 33.50
The numbers will, of course, vary according to category and the scores obtained therein. Hope this helps.
Thanks, Gwynlyn & congratulations on your final! So great.
Thanks for being here, everybody!!
I’ll pick the winners of the chocolate and other prizes, and post them tomorrow!!
Here’s our list of winners!! Look for an email soon from the prize donor:
ALL-CHOCOLATE gift basket: JT Bock
a copy of THE IRON DUKE by Meljean Brook (soooooooooooo good!): Lynn Cahoon
an e-copy of OBSESSED BY WILDFIRE by Autumn Jordon: Miranda Liasson
an e-copy of KISMET’S KISS by Cate Rowan: Selena Fulton
an e-copy of LILY IN WONDERLAND by Kelly Fitzgerald: Carla
FOUR e-copies of sexy novellas by McKenna Chase: choice of LEATHER AND LUST, SWEET PLEASURE, A TOUCH IN TIME, or HER SHADOW WARRIOR (to four different winners):
1. Kelly
2. Jennifer Faye
3 Kelley Bowen
4 Arlene Hittle
FOUR $10 Amazon gift certificates (to four different winners)
1. Varina Martindale
2. Eileen Lloyd Ramsay
3. Donna Frelick
4. Katrina
$25 Barnes and Noble gift certificate: Paisley Kirkpatrick
Congrats and enjoy!!
I won Kismet’s Kiss? Fantastic
Can’t wait to get it.
Congratulations, Selena! Kismet’s Kiss will be heading your way soon.
a copy of THE IRON DUKE by Meljean Brook (soooooooooooo good!): Lynn Cahoon
YAY!!!! I’m excited to get reading… Thanks.
Kelly–the email address I have for you seems not to work. Will you contact me at elise @ aol (dot) com so I can arrange for your prize to get to you? Thanks!
Woo hoo! Thanks so much!
Whoo hoo!
Thank you so much. This has made my week. An all-chocolate gift basket … that will definitely come in handy. I’m already getting a sugar high just thinking about it.
You ladies totally rock!
Hey: more serendipitous good news!!
Turns out TWO Rubies donated Barnes and Noble gift certificates, and I missed one.
So D’Ann Linscott-Dunham, you’re our final winner, of a $20 Barnes and Noble e-gift card!!!!! Expect an email.
And, wow, was I ever not paying attention: there’s yet a THIRD Barnes and Noble gift certificate that I managed not to list, for $10!!!
It goes to Kat Cantrell!
Kat, you’ll be getting an email from the donor soon!
Thanks so much for my prize, Sisters! You know the real prize is all the support and advice you all offer here to those of us still struggling up the hill. This was great!!
Thanks, Donna! It truly is our pleasure!
I won a copy of Autumn’s book! Thank you so much. And for running such a top-notch community here, Ruby Sisters!
THANK YOU for the B$N gift card!
I’m sooooo excited!