Hi Renee. What an interesting discussion. I'm eager to see what everyone thinks.

As a finalist, I must say that some of the judge's comments are hard to swallow, even after years of building that thick skin. As you know, judging is so subjective, and this contest is modeling itself after American Idol, down to comparing the three judges to the Idol judges on TV. That said, I think some comments may have been given for entertainment value (the Simon effect).

This round, I felt the judges were pretty nice to me. There was one comment that alluded to whether my characters were well-matched. Unfortunately, we were given only 150 words to describe our two main characters. With only roughly 75 words per character, I didn't have enough space to mention that my heroine's parents were part of society and wealthy when she was a young child.

One of the things I played with in this story was class distinctions in society. The heroine was rich as a child and became poor and in need of money, and the hero started out poor and became a self-made man with wealth and social standing.

OK, got that out of my system. See, the comments affected me more than I thought. Oh well.

Looking forward to what others have to say.

--Tami

Tamara Hughes
ATV Finalist (Once Upon a Masquerade)
www.tamarahughes.com

Tamara, thank you for stopping by.

I've played with high concept. I can't imagine trying to get each character down to so little word count.

You did a good job with it, although I do see ways to tighten the two paragraphs. Rebecca sounds as if she's doing what she has to do to survive and keep those she loves well. I've always found weak fathers a bit sour in the gut. Then again, we aren't judging the father and he does give her total motivation to do what she's doing.

Now, Christopher had me at, "Self-made shipping magnate". Give me a man who loves the sea and I'm sold.

My question to you, Tamara, how many tries did it take you to get the h/h blurbs down enough to where you were satisfied? Since viewing the panel comments have you rewritten them in your personal files?

I know as finalist you all have the potential for becoming close. I guess it's like being on tour together. But, you and Barb are critique partners, what's it like for the two of you to compete against each other?

Renee

Hi, Renee! Thanks for sharing your space with us. I hope lots of your readers join in the discussion.

My judge comments have been good so far, which only makes me paranoid about what's coming, of course. :) The anticipation can be worse than the blow. And we all have to remember that it's the readers, not the judges, who make or break us in this contest.

And on that note, thanks to all you voters, too! Please spread the word!

--Jessica
justjayj.livejournal.com

Renee, thanks for promoting the contest!

Like Tami said, this is all subjective and some of the comments are for effect. Except, of coure, the good ones.

Hi Renee,

I can only imagine what these ladies must be going through! What a heart-stopping, adrenaline packed voting session this must be. Kudos to all of them!

To put your MS out there for a normal contest only to wait on pins and needles can be excrutiating - but to have the vote left to the world? Holy cow - that takes some brass.

Each of them should get that 'golden ticket' - but there is something to be said, just for making it this far, regardless of what the judges may say.

Good luck to all of you - those I know ;) and those I don't.

Oh, Jessica, I hope lots of readers show up too. :) I want to know how they felt about this round. I really want to know what readers like/dislike in a hero/heroine.

The panelists seemed to love your hero and heroine. You gave just enough of them in such a short span to leave the reader wanting more. By the end of your paragraphs, I definitely was cheering them on as a couple.

Thanks for stopping by.

Renee

Edie, your welcome. I hope it works. I want you all to have the best shot at the American Title. *grins*

So, Edie, you really did get both sides of the coin, huh? What one judge hated, another loved. Now I want to know, what does your gut say? Do you think you could have written a more compelling character blurb, one that would make Ross say, "Yes, I love them."

I know would have taken her comment as a challenge. "Oh yeah, well..." *grin* Of course only after I would have stewed for a bit.

But you are right, contests are so very subjective. And placing a character description in 70 words or less isn't easy. I challenge all writers reading this blog to do so. It's not impossible, but it has to be just right. These blurbs aren't just for the game. Nope these blurbs can help sell the book. And to an author that means a lot, but even more to an editor. Sure they have marketing to help you along, but think how the editor will feel when he/she has confidence in their author's ability to offer a complete package.

Hi Candi! It's great to see you here. You know I considered entering the American Title. My cps mentioned it, but once they knew I was dead set against it they left it alone.

I'm glad they did. I just wasn't ready for that kind of pressure this year.

Renee

Thanks, Renee. Like my CP, Tami, I found describing my hero/heroine in 150 words to be extremely challenging. I must admit, I figure most readers of romance are . . . gender specific, so I put a bit more words toward the hero. Don't get me wrong, both characters took a long time to develop, and I think they are well rounded, complex individuals.
The judges have been kind to me thus far, so I have no complaints about his round's comments. I agree with Flavia that you don't get a sense of who Alethia is from the blurb I wrote. I just hope I get through this round so that readers have a chance to see the story summary. Barbara Longley
www.barbaralongley.com
ATV Finalist/TRUE TO THE HIGHLANDER

Hi Barbara! So I guess, since you started out writing more gender specific, Flavia's comment about Alethia came as no surprise, or maybe it did.

I noticed a few of you placed supporting characters into your character blurb, do you think that took away from your blurb or added to it?

Renee

What one judge hated, another loved. Now I want to know, what does your gut say?

Two judges loved my characters, including Flavia, the Simon judge. My gut tells me I can't please everyone -- though I want to. LOL

You've mentioned that you've been in contests. I've had contests entries return with perfect marks and rave comments from one judge ... and a fifty from another. I understand (for the most part). There are bestsellers I think are terrible writers. But other people love their books.

What I'm taking from this round is Leslie Kazanjian's comments. She compared my songwriter hero to a troubled Bruce Springsteen. I love that!

Thank you, Candi, for your well wishes!

Renee, I'm not sure how many iterations of the h/h blub I went through. I do know I passed it before my critique partners three times. But at some point, you have to stop tweaking and see what happens.

As for competing with my critique partner Barb, it's been great. We're both rooting for each other and still doing our own thing. It's been wonderful to have someone close to commiserate with.

Tami

What a heart-stopping, adrenaline packed voting session this must be.

Candi, you nailed it! I try to be Zen, knowing I've done the best I can. It really is awesome to be in the contest, to know the Dorchester editorial staff picked DEAD PEOPLE as one of the 8 finaling books.

Each of them should get that 'golden ticket'

We agree! Non-winning finalists from prior AT contests have sold to Dorchester. Why not all 8 of us?

Thanks for the good luck!

Edie, I thought the Bruce Springsteen comment was priceless. It's one of those that make you pump your fist into the air with a big YES and an even bigger grin.

Renee

Tamara, I can't think of anything better than to travel this road with my critique partners. This has to be awesome for both of you.

Renee

I don't pay one cent to the judge's comments. I vote for the ones I like. And that Flavia can get downright harsh, by the way. When they compared her to Simon, they weren't joking :)

Sindee

LOL, Sindee! Thanks for stopping by. You know, I don't think I mind Flavia much, at least she tells it like it is, or like she sees it.

It's Paula (the real Paula, not the Leslie Paula) I have issues with, she's too...nice. Not that nice isn't good, it is. Really. Sometimes it can be a bit... annoying.

But I totally understand, I'm one of those Paula judges. I try to find the good and tip toe around the bad.

Barbara, it looks to me like you handled them fairly evenly. Maybe your heroine is too complicated to get across with so few words.

Renee. Thanks for hosting this discussion. Sounds like you are a real AT fan. I've done this thing before - I was a finalist last year. Most people keep asking 'What were you thinking?' to enter again. I can tell you waiting for the comments, then reading them, does not get easier. 75 words is not much to sum up the complex, many layered hero and heroine you've spent months creating. The skill is just giving a flavour and I think all the contestants did that, but it's inevitable that there is imbalance along the way. It's a bit like speed dating - tell me your life in three minutes!

Coming a little late to the party :)
Thanks Renee for the discussion!!!

How did I feel when I read my judges comment? Totally fine, no kidding. I tend to focus on the positive. Flavia's comments about my heroine made me laugh! I thought she was genuinely funny. I'm happy they all like my hero, so I'll stick with that.

Like Barbara, I have a heroine that is "sweeter" and I like her that way.
I wouldn't change my blurb just from the judges comments.
(I'd change anything in a flash for an editor though LOL).

It's may look harsh to be criticized in public, but published writers get it a lot harder in their reviews.
You just have to agree to disagree and write what you truely believe in!
Enjoy the contest everyone and thanks for participating!!!
:)

Renee, you asked Tami what it's like to compete with a critique partner. I don't know what it's like for her. I can only speak for myself. We've worked together for a long time now, plus we've been roomies at two RWA conferences. I trust Tami, and I want to see her get published. When she and I promote, we often include the other. If she wins, I'd be thrilled for her. Are there some things I do to garner votes that don't include Tami? Sure. And I know she does the same. We're both hoping to win, while neither of us would begrudge the other for doing so. Does that make sense?

Evonne, I'm curious, I'm assuming you couldn't use the same ms as you did last year, with being a finalist twice, are you hoping to have a better chance at catching Dorchester's eye? I know I would.

Renee

Marie,

You always seem so perky, yet you seem to be a dark writer. Have I pegged you?

Anyway, it was Flavia's comment that bothered me. It wasn't even the full comment, just this one, C'mon! Yes, at first I wanted to laugh, but then I thought, hey what's wrong with Lily's ambitions?

I mean, c'mon, what's wrong with wanting to live a normal life?

You've left us some wonderful advice. You should always write what you believe in.

Renee

Alice, I have one of those complicated heroines.

R

Barbara, isn't it funny how when we find the perfect critique partner(s) we trust them with everything?

Got to love those wonderful cps!

Renee

Speed dating is a good way to put it.

Yes Renee,
You pegged me right. I write dark and the more I write, the darker I get. I was very scared of writing action scenes in the beginning and when I showed the ones in Whispers to my WPs (one male) they were the best scenes for them. So I've been having fun with that.

My second manuscript Gothic Knight is very dark. I like to dwell in dark corners when I write...but I am a very happy and positive person, so go figure!


So I was okay with Flavia's comment because I really like my heroine the way she is. Yes, she doesn't want to be bothered with nonsense. She works, put money aside and wants to buy a house....To me she is a hero...hey I wish I was that practical LOL!

Renee
I don't really know what I had in mind when I entered. It seemed a good idea at the time. It is, of course, a completley new manuscript.

Alice, you crack me up!

R

Marie,

I'm a very dark writer. I just write historical though. I don't think I could pull of the paranormal. And I totally understand about wanting to be in a dark corner. I have my favorite music to put me in that dark place if for some reason life won't allow me to be there.

Renee

Evonne, I'm wishing the best as I am wishing everyone. Perhaps being a double AT finalist will give you a foot up.

Renee

Alice, thanks for understanding! It took me a year to do the research and develop my characters. I'll tell you though, the bio was an excellent exercise for writers. Boil you life down to 100 words. Try it some time. I enjoyed the challenge. And, yes, I agree with your "speed dating" comment. Aptly put.
Barb Longley

I tend to write snarky heroines, so instantly the judges in the contests I enter say, "I don't like your heroine." Aieee!

One judge even told me my heroine and her friend were acting stupid in a scene. I clearly stated they were reliving their junior high years.

*shrug*

Can't win em all over :)

I want to thank everyone for a wonderful conversation today. I wish all of you the best.

Renee

I've come late to the discussion and I have to admit that I haven't been over to the contest yet. But I love to hear all the finalists discussing the experience. I'll definitely make time to get over to RT and check it out.

My question, if anyone is still around to answer it, is - how do you all feel about the promoting aspect of the contest? Is that easy for you? or hard?

Describing the characters in that limited wordcount must of been frustrating. It sounds as if you all did a great job with it though. I'll be sure to get over there and read them.

Good luck to all of you!

Sindee, my heroine is snarky, too!

Lara, the worst part about promoting is that it eats up my writing time. But all my published friends have to promote. It's part of the job and I'm trying to embrace it. I'm sure it would be easier to embrace if I had a book to sell. lol

You asked about the summaries. too. That's something I'm good at. I used to write greeting card copy, and maybe that has something to do with it. I help friends write query letters. So for me that wasn't frustrating.

Thanks for the good luck!

I'd love to claim the speed dating line, but I picked it up from Evonne's comment.

Barbara, try the 7 word challenge sometime. Write a line of exactly 7 words that could be the motto for your life. It's a meme that was floating around a few months ago.

Renee, I've had a few of those complicated heroine's too. Not too many, but a few.