Okay, so there’s most likely—just spitballing—over one-hundred and sixty of us that didn’t final in the Colorado Gold contest. (Isn’t that just a bother!)
Shocked? Pride wounded? In the depths of disagreement? Lost yourself in darkness, even though, well, it’s not dark? Confounded? Downright mad? Everything is blurry—including your future?
You’ve got it—Blurry Vision Syndrome. Yep, it’s a real thing.
For Heaven’s sake, we are writers working to be authors—storytellers extraordinaire—so of course we were set back if we didn’t final. A tiny, tiny bit. Or a ton. Totally up to you.
This is how yours truly suggests handling this syndrome:
Eat something really good—fried chicken and potato salad (don’t forget the dill pickles), the most extravagant fresh salad ever created, or chocolate. Or all the above. You choose.
Get on the stair stepper or rowing machine, or put on your walking/running shoes. Feel free to add a few crunches and cool yoga moves. You decide.
Reread the judges’ comments, digest, repeat for as many times as applicable to your imagination’s health.
Read at least one short story or book, analyze/compare/contrast said story with yours—not in a negative way.
Eat, read, exercise, repeat.
Now, in between eating, reading, and stair-stepping, dig into your first 4000 words like there’s no tomorrow. Make them better, make them sellable, make them perfect for your (future) readers. You pick.
In David Farland’s latest blog, he says:
“Everyone deserves great stories. Children, adults, women, men, gays, straights, black, white, yellow, and of whatever race or political persuasion they might be of. Every single person deserves great stories!
“As an author, it is incumbent on you to provide your reader with your very best, to write stories that will delight them, educate them, and maybe even change their lives.”
Maybe contestants envisioned accepting an award, meeting your agent and publisher, and by all means running out of hard- and softcover books at your first twenty-three signings. Now, however, your entire future is hazy, unclear—blurred.
What do you do?
A) Put on a pair of glasses.
B) Feel sorry for yourself.
C) Stay in a funk—give up.
D) Grab a new attitude.
E) Begin again.
F) A, D, and E.
G) Develop a strong dislike for all finalists and judges.
Choose well. And by all means, learn all you can from presenters, guest speakers, and fellow writers at the Colorado Gold conference in September!
Here’s a little information from something that popped into my email yesterday. I believe it’s legitimate.
3 Things Agents and Publishers Must See in Your First 30 Pages by Barbara Kyle (She’s sold something like 500,000 books.)
P.S. – Congratulations to all the finalists in the 2018 Colorado Gold contest! Good for you and much continued success in your creative endeavors. Thank you to the judges for all your time, insight, and input.
Thanks for posting this, Rainy. This is a brutal business and, sadly, the contest reflects the reality. Ups and downs. The finalists are feeling hopeful and excited, as they should. Those who didn’t final might be feeling just as you described. And, I’ll ‘fess up, right now, even with seven traditionally pubbed books and two indies, I’m in the latter group. Rejection, loser, failure, the end. There’s nothing to do but lick your wounds and do everything you described in your post. But here’s the dealio, we’re not alone. This whole big family of RMFW stands with us in support and commiseration. We’ve got each other’s back.
Shannon, I’m so bummed for you!
Thank you for #sharing with all of us. Your last three sentences actually make me quite #happy and somewhat relieved.
I’ve read a couple of your books–they’re wonderful! Learn whatever you need to learn by this situation and go forward. I believe in you.
A timely and compassionate post, Rainey. For the action plan list, I would add:
* When reviewing the judge’s comments, please devote at least equal time to the positive comments.
Savor them.
The positive comments highlight the promise of your story, the strengths and sparkle of your words.
The constructive criticism comments are offered for your consideration, and are meant to help strengthen your writing. I enjoyed reading the entries I received, and to each writer who entered the Colorado Gold, I wish you much pleasure and success with your stories.
Hey Janet,
Thank you for this important reminder–equal and opposite in all things, so to speak.