Perfect Pitch: Getting Me to Request Your Manuscript With Guest Susan Brower

Literary Agent Susan Brower

Rejection is a frustrating reality for the unpublished writer and it often feels like a personal attack from some unknown critic who holds your career in his/her hands. It’s like applying for a job and being told you are not the right fit, or the position has already been filled. I can tell you from experience, though, that editors and agents open your proposals with all the anticipation of a child on Christmas morning.  We love story, and we are dedicated to providing quality writing to readers.

Let’s assume you’ve followed my guidelines for queries and proposals. You’ve sent me your proposal as an attachment to an email and now you wait for the reply.

Why do I not ask to see the full manuscript after reading a proposal?

Ø  It’s not what I’m looking for right now. We have to follow trends of what is selling and where the market is saturated. Editors tell us what they are looking for and it makes sense to go out and find the genre, tone or style that they want.   

Ø  It’s not a good fit.  This really isn’t a cop out. There are books that I just don’t feel I can represent well. It’s in a genre that I am not comfortable with.  Usually this will be identified in the query stage, but I do try to focus on certain genres in both the mainstream and Christian markets. Regardless of the marketplace, I am not likely to ask for a complete manuscript that might have graphic violence and language. I also don’t care for horror or dark images that give me nightmares. I look for hopeful (not sappy) endings and justice for the bad guy.

Ø  I don’t like the characters. The hero is weak or arrogant; the heroine has no spine. I may feel sorry for them, hope they are able to change, but I have got to care about them from the very beginning.

Ø  The synopsis indicates that there are just too many plots; I just can’t see how the writer can wrap everything up without having a hurried ending or a confused reader.

Ø  The story is too “issue” driven. I am not interested in politics or issue-driven agendas. If they show me something about the characters, fine. But don’t tell me an opinion. 

Ø  The writing in the sample chapters is not compelling. Dialog is stiff, characters are not likeable, and there is no sense of time or place.  You’ve got to show me your very best writing in every part of the proposal.

To get me to request a full manuscript, you have to draw my interest from the very beginning. I should be pulled through the document from the first Jacket Blurb to the last page of the Sample Chapters. I should be tearing my hair out that I don’t have more chapters to read right away.  That’s a compelling proposal. My favorite quotes capture the feeling I anticipate with every novel I read. 

“…fiction does its work by creating a dream in the readers mind.” “…one of the chief mistakes a writer can make is to allow or force the reader’s mind to be distracted, even momentarily by the fictional dream.”— The Art of Fiction by John Gardner

I love this!  So what am I looking for in the proposals I come across now?

Ø  The Jacket Blurb is intriguing and fits the genre in which the novel will fit. I am reading it just like I would be reading a blurb in the bookstore or on the internet. You have five seconds to get my attention.

Ø  The hook has to be something that I can use to 1) identify the publisher that will be the best fit for this author and 2) focus the marketing on one key them that readers will respond to.

Ø  The synopsis gives me a beginning, middle and ending and a general idea of how the main characters are going to make that journey. Identify their biggest hurdles and tell me how they are resolved. Include major plots and subplots.

Ø  Much of the marketing is something I can work on with an author.  But I need to know that you are willing to partner with your publisher to promote and publicize.

Ø  I would also like to know your ideas for future novels. Is this the first book in a series? Briefly tell me about plans for your next 2-3 books. 

Ø  Show me something unique. This is very subjective, but what I want to see is something that fits within a popular genre like suspense, but has a new twist.

Ø  I love emotion in the novels I read and I want to care enough about the characters to cry.  Show me in your synopsis or overview how you are going to engage the reader on a deeper level.

Ø  I want to read about strong women, flawed heroes, and tragic characters. I like to read about community and friendship and dogs…yes, dogs.

The #1 way to attract my attention is to learn your craft! If I have a well-written story that shows the writers talent and ability, I am more than willing to work on the market and find the right audience.

Questions?  Do you get enough feedback from agents on your proposals? How do you respond to criticism? What recommendations would you make to your fellow authors?  Have you learned anything new about how writing proposals? What is your biggest takeaway?

A chance to pitch to Susan Brower. We can all learn how she wants you to pitch to her the next two days--but you are eligible to enter the contest--ONLY if you were involved in SPEEDBO--The rules are under the rules tab at the top of the page for our PERFECT PITCH CONTEST!

~~~~~~~

Sue Brower is an agent with Natasha Kern Literary Agent www.natashakern.com. She is looking for novels in the Suspense, Romance (contemporary and historical), and Women’s Fiction categories.  She is also a consultant and freelance developmental editor at Susan Brower Editorial www.susanbrower.com. 

Perfect Pitch Contest

Perfect Pitch—Grabbing My Attention by Literary Agent Susan Brower

I can tell you right now, I am not a big fan of April Fool’s Day! Mostly because I am usually the one at the receiving end of the punchline.  But I do love that it also means Opening Day for baseball. So, what do the end of Speedbo and the beginning of baseball season have in common?  It’s time for the BIG PITCH!

Today, I’m going to tell you what works for me after over twenty years publishing fiction and in my new role as an agent for Natasha Kern Literary Agency. It may not be what you are told by other agents and editors at conferences or workshops, it’s what I have experienced to be successful.  

Like it or not, the only way you are going to sell your novel is to learn to be a Sales Rep! And your proposal is your sales kit!  You can think of the pitch is the jingle that gets our attention. So, other than writing a stellar novel, your proposal is the first and most important piece of marketing material you will ever create for you book.

What should be included?

Ø  Jacket Blurb: This should be 250 words of compelling copy that grabs the reader. Take a few minutes and look at the backs of your favorite books in the genre in which you are writing. What was it about the jacket copy that intrigued you? What is the tone?

Ø  Short Summary: One to one and a half pages of description that tells the beginning, middle, and end of your story. Include major characters, story arcs and conflicts.

Ø  Hook/Pitch: A two to three line reason this book will appeal to readers. Focus on what you think will be important to them.

Ø  Overview: First, note if the manuscript is complete and how many words it has. Then write the overview. This is not a retelling of the story, but rather a commercial for it. What reader need does this fulfill? What trends does it support? Are there popular movies or films or television series that attract the same audience? Is there any historical significance to the time or setting of your novel?

Literary Agent Susan Brower

Ø  Comparable Titles: Which authors and titles are your fans buying now? This is a very important element if you are a newer author. What I want to know and what the publisher wants to know is “Who is the audience for your novel? And you have to be specific. “All romance readers” is not enough.  “Fans of Mary Connealy and contemporary romance with cowboy heroes will want to read my books.” You can find other novels that fit this audience by looking at “Customers Also Bought” on Amazon. Try to stick with novels published in the last two-three years that have similar tone, structure, and themes. 

Ø  Author Bio: Keep this tight. Include things like “best-selling,” award-winning.” Is there anything that makes you more qualified to write this novel? Do you have a speaking schedule?

Ø  Author Track Record: List all of your previously published books and sales if you know them.

Ø  Reviews and Endorsements: These can be from previously published novels or reviews. My rule of thumb for all authors is to seek endorsements from people in the same genre who are well known.

Ø  Marketing: Hopefully you have been paying attention and online and have some ideas for how you can market your book. How are you going to partner with the publisher? How are you going to increase your presence on social media?

¨      Facebook

¨      Twitter

¨      Blog

¨      Website

It’s always good to include numbers if you think they are significant. How many followers, friends, and subscribers do you have in your various forms of social media?

These are all the elements that an agent or acquisitions editor needs to determine whether they will accept or reject a novel. Yes, we can always come back to you for more information once we our interest is captured. But it is so much easier for me to respond to an author if I have all the pieces right there in front of me.

Overall, this is just a guide. Make it work for you. If you are missing information for any one section, emphasize another. You don’t have a track record? Ok, this is where you have to make your overview and comparable titles really work for you. In most cases, though, it is the first three sections, Jacket Blurb, Short Summary, and Hook/Pitch that are going to catch the eye of your potential editor or agent.

These are just some of the elements that make a great proposal. There are also some elements that have little to do with what you present, but how you present it.

¨      Proofread all your materials!

¨      Include the title, approximate word count and status of the manuscript in your queries.

¨      Research your agent and publisher targets.

¨      Read and follow the submission guidelines!

¨      Don’t send queries until your manuscript is finished.

¨      Send proposals with documents attached NOT inserted into the text of the email.

¨      Always send sample chapters with your proposals (usually three chapters or about fifty pages if chapters are shorter).

¨      Send the full manuscript only when asked.

¨      Proofread all your materials (It’s important enough to say twice).

Pitch Perfect

Questions?  What is the most difficult part of a proposal for you to write? What recommendations would you make to your fellow authors?  Are you overwhelmed with the “selling” part of the writing process? Please share you questions and experiences with the group.

A chance to pitch to Susan Brower. We can all learn how she wants you to pitch to her the next two days--but you are eligible to enter the contest--ONLY if you were involved in SPEEDBO--The rules are under the rules tab at the top of the page for our PERFECT PITCH CONTEST!

 

Sue Brower is an agent with Natasha Kern Literary Agent www.natashakern.com. She is looking for novels in the Suspense, Romance (contemporary and historical), and Women’s Fiction categories.  She is also a consultant and freelance developmental editor at Susan Brower Editorial www.susanbrower.com.

Encouragement from The Voice

Hi All! Audra here.

Hasn’t this been a beautiful autumn? It has been here along the Front Range of Colorado. Well, except for the flood that hit Boulder County (where I live) back in September. Thankfully, our property was spared, but I know so many who have lost much, if not everything, in what folks are calling the 1000 year flood. Please keep these folks in your prayers.

What does this have to do with my topic? Well, if it wasn’t for the flood, my vacation would not have been postponed – a couple of times. I finally got to take a week off in the middle of October, and enjoyed the most beautiful weather I could have ever asked for. Which then allowed me to spend a few days down in southern Colorado where there’s no Internet, no cable, no coffee shops. 

It was glorious. Try it sometime. Go no technology and you may never want to go back, LOL! 

At the house, we did have network stations on the television. Now, for those of you who have fully scheduled days and fill in the down moments with writing, you know watching television is really low on the priority list. We flicked on the TV and started watching The Voice for lack of anything else to do.

I don’t watch American Idol or The X Factor, or other talent shows framed within the concept of a panel of judges determining the fate of hopeful talent as they lay their souls on the line for the approval of a few. If I had been a contestant, Simon Cowell’s rude harshness would have scarred me for life.

This was the first time I’d watched The Voice and by the end of the program, I realized the show, in perception, reflected the hopes and dreams of authors everywhere. It is a desperately needed role model for the encouragement of authors, published and unpublished.

The Voice is different. This is a popular show so I’m positive many of you have followed it over the past few of seasons. If you have, GOOD FOR YOU! I hope to see your comments throughout the day : ) Let’s highlight a couple of my observations that reflect closely what we go through in the publishing industry in order to produce a saleable book:

Practice and compete in contests

The Voice: The contestants who make it through the auditions have honed their talents and competed in various venues until their style and presence shines. They move to an audition where they sing and the coaches listen to the performance with their backs turned to the singer. There are so many contestants, you know only those voices with something special can tempt the coaches to turn their chairs around to indicate their interest.

Publishing:  We’ve entered contests and received feedback from judges we either agree or disagree with. I entered countless contests before getting published and learned over the years to recognize whether the feedback I received was viable or not. Did the judge see my vision for the story? Recognize my voice? Did they give me a critique I could work with or just tell me (in thinly veiled comments of harshness dressed as encouragement) maybe I should find another dream to pursue? During this phase, the writer must learn to distinguish what kind of feedback is helpful to them, what will encourage their talent to shine and thus help them begin to final and win contests, and attract the attention of those editors and agents they’d like to work with.

Critique and encourage

The Voice: Once contestants have been chosen, they compete in pairs in elimination rounds. The coach pairs up styles and voices they think will complement the contestants’ talents. Both singers work as a duet showcasing their strengths. At the end of the performance, the other coaches give their input while the contestants stand on stage – all of it framed as positive feedback – and the original coach of the duo must choose which singer won the duet competition based on their performance to remain on his/her team. But wait, it gets better. If the singer who is not chosen by the coach sparks the interest of another coach, that coach then has the opportunity to steal that contestant for their team.

Publishing:  The author has finalled or won contests, and the final round editor indicates they would like to see a partial. First three chapters and a synopsis. We’ve been preparing for this moment and know we’re ready. We spit shine our work until it glows. We print off our pages, check…double check…triple check it’s the best we can do, and slip it in the priority mail envelope and send it off to the agent or editor who has sparked our hopes with the simple words, “Send me a partial.” And then we return to our computers and continue working on projects because to sit on our hands while we wait is just plain silly. We’ve got to keep writing, keep learning, keep submitting.

Mentoring and coaching

The Voice: Now the singer has been chosen by their coach or stolen by another coach on the panel. In the next elimination round, the contestants are once again paired by their coach to compete against each other, only this time the contestant chooses the song they feel showcases their style and talent. They sing for their coach. Their coach gives them feedback – they discuss why the song works, how it can work better, how the contestant needs to tweak it. Or change it. They leave the ultimate decision to the contestant, but the same process of elimination applies to this round as it did the last – the other coaches get to leave comments, but the final decision whether you stay in the game or not, belongs to your coach. Do you get chosen or not? Guess it depends on the final product you’ve presented and whether you’ve taken into consideration the suggestions made to improve your work. If your coach likes your final product, he/she selects you. If not, you may get stolen by another coach to join their team, or you walk away the wiser for the experience and hopefully, no regrets. 

Publishing:  Having sent in our partial, we’ve sparked the interest of an editor who contacts us and requests a full manuscript. Oh Happy Day!! So, this part can work a number of ways:  
• The editor/agent (E/A) sends a form letter informing you the submission isn’t right for them, good luck in the future. 
• OR, the E/A calls and tells you they’d like to buy your manuscript and welcome you to the family. 
• OR, you receive a letter or email telling you the story isn’t quite right. If you’d like to make the following revisions, the E/A would like to review the ms again. 
After you are finished rereading that note a hundred times, you wonder what it means to you. Just so there’s no misunderstanding, the choice is up to you. Do you make the changes suggested or think your book is great the way it is and you’ll make changes when someone is willing to pay for them?

Let me tell you, much like The Voice where the coaches are only trying to make your talent better with their suggestions and comments, if the E/A takes the time to send you a rejection with revision suggestions, THEY ARE NOT JUST BEING NICE. E/As have a lot on their plates. If they take the time to specifically tell you what they’d like changed in your manuscript, please realize they see potential in you! 

These are only a few gems I’ve picked up and ruminated over since discovering this wonderful show. Have I mentioned the coaches on The Voice are all nice and respectful, keeping the dignity of the competition on higher ground? Public humiliation is not something I crave, nor do I believe it makes the hopeful contestants into better people. Much like Adam, Christina, Cee Lo and Blake (oh be still my heart, Blake Shelton!!) demonstrate, encouragement brings out the potential in everyone.

Yes, I’ve now carved out time to watch The Voice. I’m interested in seeing how the season ends. I’m not certain what determines the outcome, so maybe you can enlighten me : )

Writing With Emotion, Tension and Conflict

Also, remember November is NANOWRIMO month! The prize for the day is a copy of Cheryl St. John's new how-to book, Writing With Emotion, Tension and Conflict. If you've ever taken one of Cheryl's classes, you'll know Cheryl is the epitomy of encouragment...even as she teaches conflict, LOL! Winner will be announced this weekend in the WE.

Seekerville Welcomes Harlequin Love Inspired Editorial Assistant Rachel Burkot

Seekerville is delighted to have Harlequin Love Inspired, Editorial Assistant, Rachel Burkot with us today. I sent Rachel some of my burning questions (there were a few myths I admit to being anxious to debunk) which she was kind enough to answer. Rachel will be popping in today to answer your questions as well. ~~ Tina Radcliffe



Rachel, tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a Pittsburgh gal who followed the beckoning of the books to New York City almost two years ago to forge my way in publishing. No one who knows me is the least bit surprised I ended up working with books—I remember taking a book out to recess every day in grade school, walking the perimeter of the playground, totally absorbed in the world of whatever I was reading and completely oblivious to my classmates running around. The hopeless romantic in me has found the perfect home at Harlequin. (Nicholas Sparks has yet to write a book that doesn’t have tears running down my face by the last page.)

Besides my obvious book obsession, I’m also a diehard football fan (and will always be loyal to my Pittsburgh Steelers, no matter how long I live in New York!), shopaholic with a shoe problem (particularly proud of my ability to walk around New York in crazy-high heels), eternal optimist (because life’s just way more fun that way), country music lover (definitely went through withdrawal upon moving to New York and realizing that country music is the one thing you cannot get in this city) and family girl (so blessed to have the extremely close relationship that I do with my parents and two younger sisters, despite the 400 miles between us). That’s me in a nutshell.


How do you like living in New York City? Was there a bit of culture shock at first?

Culture shock you could certainly call it! The biggest transition was adjusting from suburban city to city life. Things like relying on public transportation daily and expecting to wait a minimum of thirty minutes in line at the grocery store make for a very different lifestyle from what I knew growing up in north-of-Pittsburgh suburbia—not to mention the tiny Amish town where I went to college, which featured two stoplights, a coffee shop that closed at 8 p.m. and a Pizza Joe’s, the hot spot of Main Street.

Day-to-day adjustments were hard, but the most difficult part was leaving all my family and friends behind at barely age 22 to make my way alone in such a huge, terrifying place. Early on, I definitely had a few panic attacks, along with crippling bouts of loneliness and homesickness, but coming to work at Harlequin every day is what held my sanity in place. My job quickly became a life preserver as I struggled to find my identity as a newbie New Yorker, as well as a constant reinforcement that I had made the right decision—that the initial struggles were so worth it. And the longer I’m here, the more I’m realizing that the opportunities this city provides are truly endless, incredible and absolutely worth taking advantage of!


What is a typical day/week for an editorial assistant like?

The awesome thing about my job is that every day is different. The variety of fun tasks I get to tackle is perfect for my high-energy personality. In one day, I might get to help an author with their art fact sheet, fiddle with back cover copy for a book, leaf through a manuscript for that perfect, attention-grabbing front sales passage, and work on a line edit. Plus there are copyedited manuscripts to go through, author changes to input, dedications to collect, covers and front matter to look over, revised proposals/manuscripts to check out, art briefings to attend, emails to answer or field appropriately, revision letters to write, contracts to input...and then reading to get to, when all of that is taken care of! I usually get a lot of reading done on Wednesdays because it’s quiet in the office. I also find that I can often devote a big chunk of Fridays, as long as I’ve accomplished the big tasks for the week, to the slush pile.


Is there a busy season for the editorial department?

Because LI/LIH/LIS combined produce 14 books per month, without fail, the monthly workload stays more or less the same. There are times that are busier than others, right before due dates that hit us every month fairly consistently, but this “normalcy” in the schedule helps with prioritizing tasks and making sure nothing falls through the cracks!


Is it true editors clear their desks every December 31st?

No.


How big is your slush pile over at the Harlequin, NYC offices?

Nothing short of scary. I currently have about 10 complete manuscripts to evaluate, another 10 partials and 20 or so queries and synopses. Yikes!


What lines do you work with/acquire for?

I’m technically the EA (editorial assistant) for just the Love Inspired line, but I do some work with LIH and LIS too. Actually, 3 of my authors write for LIH. I also work a bit on the single title side, with MIRA author Sherryl Woods and HQN author Linda Lael Miller. Additionally, one of the many, many awesome things about working at Harlequin is that I can acquire not just for the Love Inspired lines, but for any of Harlequin’s imprints!


What would your advice be to aspiring Love Inspired authors?

Concentrate on telling a strong story well. Start with a bang. Grab readers’ (but first, editors) attention right away, from the first line. Be sure the plot has a unique, interesting hook. Create relatable, sympathetic characters, especially heroines whom romance readers can identify with. Give them sufficient goals, motivations and conflicts, both internal and external. A particular pet peeve of mine is contrived or convenient plot devices—for example, having an accident scene that has no greater impact on the plot than making the characters finally realize their love for each other. If it takes a life-threatening incident for them to admit their feelings (when they’re not thinking straight anyway), how are they going to maintain their relationship through the less dramatic, day-to-day ups and downs of life? These contrived scenes feel cheap and like cop-outs. Be creative. Be original. Stay true to the characters you have created.


Is true that you can really tell by the first paragraph, first page that you have a story you want to see more of?

No. There’s just no hard-and-fast rule for how long it takes to tell if a story has potential. But it always takes more than a paragraph to sell me.


Is it true editors do most of their manuscript reading at home or on the subway?

Yes. As an assistant, I have more time at the office for reading than senior editors who have all the various day-to-day tasks involved in running a line, but I often read at home or on the subway too. Nothing passes a long train ride faster than getting absorbed in a great manuscript! And quite frankly, even if my reading load were manageable enough to get it all done in the office, I’d still be bringing manuscripts home. Because I’m still counting my blessings that I’ve found a job where the line between work and fun is often blurred—in fact, usually invisible.


What sort of settings and plots are overused?

Recently we’ve seen a lot of “renovating a house together” stories, as well as horse therapy ranches. We’d love to see some creative hero/heroine occupations (except for show business). And we’re always looking for more Amish stories!


Is there anything particular? Any buzz word or theme that Love Inspired is looking for in submissions?

We’re always looking for compelling, can’t-put-it-down stories, no matter what the theme is. Unpredictability and fresh elements. Unique hooks and twists. (Great example: The Aristocrat’s Lady by new LIH author Mary Moore, debuting in September! I don’t want to give anything away, but the heroine has a secret that will keep readers turning pages—and keep the hero intrigued by her!) Relatable characters. Strong heroines. (Check out Hearts in Flight, a July LIH by another new author, Patty Smith Hall, featuring a heroine who flies planes for the Women’s Army Special Pilots—no one can deter this headstrong lady from her mission!) High-stakes conflict for those suspense stories. (Stephanie Newton has a perfect example of this with her LIS out this month, The Baby’s Bodyguard, which starts out with the hero saving an abandoned baby on a boat—and the stakes only get higher from there!)

Also, there are books on the craft that make great resources for honing in on strong conflict, character development and plot building. Two that I feel are especially valuable for writers, brand new and seasoned alike, are Thanks, But This Isn’t For Us by Jessica Page Morrell (a detailed analysis of why your writing may have received rejections from publishers, with tips for strengthening everything from dialogue to well-rounded scenes and characters) and Goal, Motivation and Conflict by Debra Dixon (a thin volume that’s jam-packed with clear guidance for how to give your characters believable goals, motivation and conflict for everything they do).


Can you tell us a little about the Love Inspired (15 years!) anniversary that is coming up in 2012?

Yes! We’re very excited to be celebrating fifteen years of Love Inspired books and the tremendous growth that the line has seen—from 3 books a month back in 1997 to 14 today, from only contemporary to quite the range of historical settings from all eras and exciting, action-packed suspense plots. In 2012 we’ll be celebrating with books by bestselling authors who have been writing for us since the beginning, as well as brand-new authors who we’re very excited to have on board! There will also be top author reissues and special miniseries in all three lines. In particular, September 2012 will be a big month for LI. We’ll have lots of top authors, and a few surprises ;-) Stay tuned. And get excited—we certainly are!


Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions, Rachel!


We're celebrating Rachel's visit today with Love Inspired giveaways by Seeker authors to random blog visitors. Do let us know if there is a book you especially want.

Winners announced in the Weekend Edition.




Glynna Kaye-Love Inspired-At Home In His Heart, Print

Ruth Logan Herne-Love Inspired- 2 three-book sets of Reunited Hearts, Small-Town Hearts and Mended Hearts,Kindle, Nook or Print.

Cheryl Wyatt-Love Inspired-Steadfast Soldier, Print

Tina Radcliffe-Love Inspired- 2 sets The Rancher's Reunion, and/or IOU for Oklahoma Reunion, Kindle or Print

Audra Harders-Love Inspired-Rocky Mountain Hero- Kindle or Print

Debby Giusti-Love Inspired Suspense- (2 prizes-one each)The Officer's Secret & Killer Headline, Kindle or Print

Janet Dean-Love Inspired Historical-Wanted: A Family, Kindle or Print

Missy Tippens-Love Inspired-A Family For Faith, Kindle or Print

Camy Tang-Love Inspired Suspense-Winner's choice of Deadly Intent or Formula for Danger, Kindle


TWELVE BIG WINNERS!!

That's not quite all. Today Seekerville is holding a 24 hour Love Inspired Read Me! Contest for Unpublished Authors.

Contest opens at 12 Midnight on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 (RIGHT NOW!) and ends at 12 Midnight on Thursday, August 4, 2011, Eastern Standard Time.

Submit your first and last page of an unpublished, completed manuscript targeted at Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense or Love Inspired Historical.

Five finalists will be announced on Sunday, August 28th, 2011 in the Weekend Edition. Those finalists will then be judged by today's guest, Editorial Assistant Rachel Burkot.

The winner will be announced on Sunday, October 2 at the launch of our Seekerville Fourth Birthday Party Celebration Weekend Edition. The winner will have an opportunity to avoid the slush pile and submit their first three chapters and synopsis of the completed winning manuscript to Rachel Burkot. The four remaining finalists will have an opportunity to submit their first three chapters and synopsis to Seekerville for an anonymous critique.

We request you do not pitch Rachel today in Seekerville nor ask contest questions on the blog. We do however ask that if you enter the contest you do leave a hi for our esteemed guest. No drive-by contesting.

Detailed rules for this contest are available on a special Read Me Contest tab at the top of this post.

Happy Wednesday, and again, thank you to Rachel Burkot for visiting, answering our questions and generously volunteering to judge our contest.

Don't Take It Personally

Hi folks, Audra here.

Contest season is in full swing, especially with the long awaited announcement of the Genesis semi-finalists tomorrow!! For those who entered, hold your breath just a wee bit longer. The end (or the beginning) is in sight!

I do believe I'm about to share a very timely post.

I’d entered unpubbed contests for the better part of the last twelve years. Yes, my friends, that’s right. Twelve years. Many of those years spent in dismal depression when the finalist call didn’t come.

Really? I didn’t final?

But I followed the rules taught by my critique group and had been writing a full two or three years…
Really? I didn’t final?

Forgive me, I’m reliving moments that flash through all novel writers’ lives at one time or another. Especially since finalists for the Golden Heart and Rita have recently been announced.

WooHoo, Seeker Pam Hillman being a Golden Heart finalist.

WooHoo, Seeker Mary Connealy being a Rita finalist!

And huge congratulations to all our friends of Seekerville who have finaled in contests so far in 2011!

Yes sir, congratulations to all our finalists. But wait, to everyone who didn’t final in the last contest(s) you’ve entered? I’m here to assure you – It’s Not Personal. Judging is so subjective. It's not about you. It's how your book or entry hits the judge on any specific day.

This is the first year I’ve been eligible to judge the Ritas. It’s been an eye opening experience to say the least. I’ve read books for as long as I can remember, so judging a published contest is not big deal, right?

Wrong.

I loved judging unpubbed contests, mainly YA, and put much thought into giving unbiased feedback. Hey if someone was going to shell out $25-$40 for a contest, I was determined to do my best for their manuscript. Just as I prayed the faithful judges would do for mine.

Now, I’m honored to judge books written by debut authors like myself as well as time-honored veterans of the romantic fiction world.

Wow.

So. Excitedly, I opened my box books from RWA to judge my first Rita contest. I received a nice assortment. I’d requested contemporary romance to avoid conflict of interest in the Inspirational category : ) Quickly glancing through the titles and authors, I discovered I wasn’t familiar with any of them. Hmmm, I was in for a learning experience.

Just because these books were published did not mean I could take their content for granted. Or judge based on my reading preferences. I must admit, a couple of the books I read raised a brow, but I was reading for all the same elements I’d expect in an unpublished manuscript.

How did the author handle Point Of View? Passive writing? Conflict? Opening hook that pulled me in? It’s amazing how a couple of the books didn’t have the elements I would have expected an unpubbed manuscript to display.

In the eight books I judged, most of them were entertaining. One had me rolling on the floor laughing until the last page; one I cracked open to read at 6pm and couldn’t put it down until 9:30pm when I finished it; one I felt the tragedy of the events that unfolded within the first 3 chapters and rooted for the hero until the words The End.

To the same extent, I read a 350 page book that skipped through life like a butterfly in a spring field, and one book offered such heavy local dialect, I had a hard time understanding what the characters where talking about.

Obviously, I can’t reveal the title, author or score I awarded any of these books, but what I can say, I gave each published book the same attention to detail I’ve always given my unpubbed entries. The good news, out of the eight books written by authors previously unknown, I discovered 3 authors I’m eager to follow as their careers continue.

Unfortunately through this process, I also learned something about reviews. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks after I'd returned my


scores to the RWA office that I thought of looking up the Romantic Times reviews. Hey! Let’s see how I compared to the professionals...

Weeelllll, let’s just say I didn’t see eye to eye with the experts. Objective? Subjective?

Let's just say thoughtful and honest.

And on that note, I think I'll open the floor to discussion on judging romantic fiction - published and unpublished. Leave a comment for an opportunity to win a copy of Doctor in Petticoats in honor of our very own Mary Connealy finaling in the Rita. AND an additional opportunity for a four pack of April Love Inspired books.