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Well, if my sole goal was to improve my chances of winning, I'd darn sure not encourage others to enter.

As much as I'd be thrilled to win or place, that little voice in the back of my head tells me that it's far more important to encourage others to do their best and to jump in.

I remember reading in a kite magazine some years ago, about a guy who entered a kite making contest in San Francisco. After putting a lot of work into his kite, he showed up on the day of the contest to find that his kite was unstable, and wouldn't stay upright. In frustration, he tried tying a crescent wrench to the tail.

A voice behind him chuckled, "You know that's not going to work."

He turned to see Leland Toy, one of the Bay area's most gifted kite makers and artists, and a fellow entrant in the contest.

Leland stepped up and offered to help the guy with his kite.

"But, you're in the contest," the guy objected.

"It doesn't matter," Leland said. "I just want to see your kite fly."

That's what I think about in this contest.

I just want to see your novels fly, even if they fly better than mine.

Hoomi wrote:As much as I'd be thrilled to win or place, that little voice in the back of my head tells me that it's far more important to encourage others to do their best and to jump in.

Rick, you've got a huge heart. Blessed are the encouragers.

Love, Deb

I'd like to get my act together enough this year to get my first chapter wrote, but its going to be a struggle...

BreathFreshAir wrote:

Hoomi wrote:As much as I'd be thrilled to win or place, that little voice in the back of my head tells me that it's far more important to encourage others to do their best and to jump in.

Rick, you've got a huge heart. Blessed are the encouragers.

Love, Deb

Amen - and I'm with ya, Rick. This is a place of encouragement.

You can do it Ruth!!

I just got to be able to figure out what to write on...my original idea doesn't seem very appealing to me right now, I have it started, now I think I'm going to take on another idea.

*sighs* Too many ideas...

I find that I usually have the best luck working on the story for the characters that are being the most demanding right now.

Which ones are being the biggest pests? Sit down with them, and start charting out their story. Daydreams are a great place to meet your characters for planning sessions!

Ok, here is another silly question...

it says we need the first chapter and the synopsis... does it need a title right now? or could I change that again later if I decide on a better one?

JesusPuppy wrote:Ok, here is another silly question...

it says we need the first chapter and the synopsis... does it need a title right now? or could I change that again later if I decide on a better one?

Not POSITIVE, Pup, but I'd think a title is probably needed (pretty sure the form asks for a title - it's been months since I submitted for the NF one). But nobody says you have to stick with that title.

Pup, it needs some type of title because if it wins, that's what the award will be given for. So although it can be a working title, try to make it as good as you can. There's no rush.

Love, Deb

I've actually got a start of something, so right now, I'm some what proud of myself.

BreathFreshAir wrote:Pup, it needs some type of title because if it wins, that's what the award will be given for.

You mean the award is for the title... and hear I thought it was for the book.

Anywho... I am done. Now just to think up an award winning title.

Don't forget the synopsis, Pup.

Man, getting that synopsis both brief and conclusive is just kicking my tail. I think the story was easier to write than the synopsis (for me, at least).

I am still working on that one. How "concise" does it need to be? I have it now at a chapter by chapter type deal but it ran to 3500 words.

JesusPuppy wrote:I am still working on that one. How "concise" does it need to be? I have it now at a chapter by chapter type deal but it ran to 3500 words.

Yes, that would be a bit long, Pup. Trim it down a bit. Chapter by chapter is fine, as long as it's very concise.

Love, Deb

Trim it down a bit? The entry form says 500 words max!

I suppose cutting it by about 86% is a "bit".

(Not being critical; so far, both iterations I've worked on went over 1000 words before I was half-way through the summary)