Today's Guest ~ Jessica Ferguson

Knowledge is Power

By Jessica Ferguson

When it comes to entering contests, we need to educate ourselves and take advantage of every opportunity.

During the 90’s I wrote a romantic comedy about an Elvis look-alike. No one wanted an Elvis book so I received some interesting rejections. When I entered contests, almost all the feedback discouraged a novel about the Kind of Rock and Roll. A friend attended a writer’s conference and witnessed an Associate Editor for Silhouette Romance go ballistic over an Elvis commercial. A true Elvis fan. Now, isn’t that all I really needed to know? I searched every contest until I found one where she was judging the finalists. I entered my first chapter, made the finals and won second place. Mary Osorio bought my book right before she left Silhouette to get married. And The Groom Wore Blue Suede Shoes by Jessica Travis was born.
In December I felt drawn to the North Texas RWA Great Expectations contest, but I missed the deadline. When I learned the deadline had been extended, I heard opportunity knocking because Melissa Endlich was the finalist judge. I’d talked to Melissa about my book at an ACFW conference. She’d requested the complete but it had taken me forever and a day to finish Miranda’s Mistake. Would she still be interested? Had I waited too long to send it? I felt very strongly that I should enter the North Texas RWA Great Expectations contest for a number of reasons:
1) I could submit my 30 pages via email. That was my first two and half chapters.
2) That the deadline was extended meant they must have had too few entries—I might actually have a chance. 3) My query could explain why I wanted to write a book about terrorism in the schools (a subject that—like my Elvis----isn’t getting any interest from editors).4) If I placed, I would have a chance to revamp my submission and my query before it went to the final judge. And the big, big, big reason:5) Melissa Endlich, of course.

I made the finals. I rewrote my query letter (no names allowed) and explained to Melissa that she had requested the complete manuscript almost two years ago. I won 2nd place and yes, she was still interested.

If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time wondering and second-guessing yourself about how to proceed in your writing career. If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time wondering if you really have a writing career. We do. We honestly do have writing careers if we take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way. Opportunity knocking might mean that your favorite author is teaching an online class and you have a chance to learn from her. Or it might mean your favorite editor is judging a contest. Only you can recognize your opportunity.
I honestly believe if we can’t get in the front door, we need to rattle the doorknob to the back to see if it’s unlocked. Sometimes a window is open—whatever it takes to get into that publishing house.

Do I sound like a conniving, weird wannabe writer? Probably, but I’m also an observer. I see a lot of sales made because of networking, friendships, being in the right place at the right time, placing in a contest. Good writing is a given but I judge a lot of contests and I see a lot of wonderful writing that never makes it to the bookshelves.

In a nutshell, my point is we need to search out that contest judge (or editor or agent) who might be an Elvis fan, or have an interest in quilting or cross country motorcycle trips, or collecting antique thimbles. We need a connection who can partner with our good writing, and yes, we need to cover that connection and our writing with prayer. I’m telling you to do whatever it takes to further your writing career. Don’t give up. Target the right editor, the right publisher and the right contest. Learn what they need and be what they want. Be what they can’t pass up.

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Jess Ferguson and I met in the far distant past. What I remember is, she almost tricked me into teaching a COLLEGE CLASS.

Even with my cardiologist on speed dial I'm not up for that. But she talked me into it and after about...what was it Jess...six months of panicky emails. NO ONE SIGNED UP.

Proving the average college student is very, very bright.

But Jess and I stayed friends and now it's payback time at SEEKERVILLE.

Mary