Why oh why is there always ONE???

I got my results back from the Rita Contest for Petticoat Ranch.
In case no one noticed…I’m not a finalist.
I noticed.
The Rita results aren’t too bad. Not good enough to finish in the top 25%, but still, on a scale of one to ten, mostly sevens through nines and … of course it never fails does it in any contest?

One five.
Since the Rita is a nice contest, the five was dropped and the final score was an average of the other scores so I’ve got no room to whine.


So this post is NOT about whining. And don't you dare say it is or I'm gonna tell my MOMMY on you!!!



But I guess what I wonder about it why does that always happen? I can see, if I don’t think a manuscript I’m judging is finalist material, give it low enough scores to keep it out of the race, but what’s with those occasional scores that really lower the boom on you?

My beloved ONE in the Golden Heart for Petticoat Ranch, a year or so before I sold it.

The creepy TWOs some of us get.

What is the judge thinking? What honestly, are they trying to say?

Hey, not only to you stink, but you REEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now what’s the point of that, huh?

I can remember one entry I read once (Ruthy knows which one I mean) which was, based on the partial I read and the synopsis, from beginning to end, a string of really icky, pseudo-rape, semipublic, sexual encounters. That's the closest I could come to discerning a plot. Ummm I don't believe a Seeker wrote it but if they did, no one is admitting it.

It wasn’t even well done, none of the basics were there. Head hopping, long, unbroken string of telling, sub-characters apparently brought in simply to…ummmm… “BE together” if you know what I mean.

Now, possible, this author might have needed a really bad score, the kind of score that says, “Seriously, have you looked into flipping burgers? Because they’re always hiring.”

But for the most part I try to be kind. I try to remember it could be a beginner. I'm dealing with a human being, with dreams and perhaps a leading from God, and more over, maybe a stay-at-home mom who is trying to make some money so she can KEEP being a stay-at-home mom.

They don’t really need a low score, just low enough not to final.

And sure, maybe five isn’t that low. But why is there always one? One that drags you down?
Reading is personal taste. I know. I read widely but I probably shouldn’t be judging sci-fi, it’s not my genre and I may not be a good judge of what is well done.
Still, I think I know good writing in any form.
I’m personally a Romantic suspense fan, which makes me a great match for Debby Guisti’s books. I write and love historical romance so Julie Lessman's books are pure fun for me and I cant' wait for Janet Dean's Courting Miss Adelaide. I’ve loved some Chick Lit, Camy’s are terrific. I read a lot of sweet romances. Missy Tippen’s and Cheryl Wyatt’s books are wonderful and I have a subscription to Heartsong Presents and read most of them. I love the cozy mysteries I now get in the mail from Heartsong Presents Mysteries.

I have loved some well-done YA books, like the Cedar River Daydreams Books by Judy Baer, even fantasy holds my attention when it’s excellent like Donita K. Paul's DragonSpell.

So I believe I know good writing, which means it’s no excuse to read my historical western, romantic comedy with suspense elements and drop a bomb on it just because it’s not your genre.

So what makes a judge do that?

I suspect gremlins.

Which would make a good topic for a sci-fi YA, sweet romantic suspense told in a chick lit style. Which is possible what I’ll write next.

So what do you think? I mean, I’ve had days I was very tired of judging. I’ve said a few things in judging comments I later regret and which I now see were more laziness on my part that of any use to an aspiring author. Still, I try to keep my scores in a 'you're not a finalist but I'm not a sadist' zone.
When I used to review books…well, let’s just say, not everyone writes a book that sings exactly. My first experience with a self-published Christian novel containing pre-marital sex and an occasional F-Bomb come to mind. I may had come down pretty hard on that book.

How about you? Have you ever judged harshly. We’ve all BEEN judged harshly, but have you ever doled it out. Maybe regretted it later?

What ARE those low scores about?

Hard truth? Not my genre? Exhaustion?

PMS?

Okay Students, Let's REVIEW

Just in case you think the critiquing stops after you get a book published! I thought this would be a good lesson to all of you who talk about judges comments pinching. I've cut some reviews off of Amazon just so you know it doesn't end when you get The Call.

My comments are in italics.
First the good ones.
I know none of these reviewers (well, almost none of them…oh, all right, I know them all) and no money has changed hands (I used electronic transfers).


1) Mary has constructed a fantastic story that seems to breach all genres - who would have thought a suspenseful historical with a strong romance thread and a hilarious chick-lit voice would have been this great? This is one book that everyone can - and will! - read and enjoy. She contacted me to interview me on her blog. www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com I love her! She also helped me get the stripper off my MySpace page, but that's another post.

2) It's nice to find a story that you can lose yourself in, and that's what I did with this one. Two thumbs up! Yes, that’s right, Siskel and Ebert abandoned movies for a week reviewed my book. And Siskel is dead so that’s saying something.

3) From sassy cover to sassy heroine, Mary Connealy's Petticoat Ranch will delight and intrigue any reader. Sassy, that’s what I was going for.

4) Help! I'm suffering from separation anxiety! I just finished reading Petticoat Ranch and I miss the McClellan gang something fierce! Good thing I’ve sold a sequel. Calico Canyon, due out in August.

5) Petticoat Ranch is heartwarming, fast-paced and laugh out loud funny with a cast of larger-than-life characters you won't want to miss. I absolutely loved Petticoat Ranch and look forward to more books by Connealy. This was written before I started offering cash for good reviews, so…it’s sincere.

6) Men, never underestimate a woman, I don't care how macho you are. And woman, don't go judging a man by his appearances. These two make both of those mistakes, much to the enjoyment of the reader. A man wrote this one. See, my book is for everyone.

7) I absolutely loved it! From the very beginning it has you laughing, and you can't seem to stop until the last page. This is from my niece, Lauren posted on Amazon, bless her sweet heart.

In the interest of full disclosure there were a few people who were less than thrilled.

Go figure.

8) Clay...was shallow and a waste of time if you ask me...all he ever did was think of himself...i found him dumb and finicky and childish...his rules were ridiculous and Sophie didn't even put up a good defense for her own children... there were some good points however. Well, except for the hero being a waste of time and the heroine betraying her children, there were some good points, okay! Notice she forgot to capitalize the word ‘I’. Who’s going to take this review seriously?



And, my very favorite review of all time;

9) It has been a long time since I have been so angry and disgusted with a book…with each passing comment I became more and more disgusted. She went on for…oh, one thousand words or so in this vein. I tried to be a good sport about this but finally I’d had enough and I called this reviewer up and said, “Mom, if you can’t say something nice about someone, just don’t say anything at all!”

http://www.maryconnealy.com/