Put Yourself Out There!

Good morning! Don't you just love Thursday? Today the final top three winners were announced in the line-by-line contest! Congrats, ladies(+ me, yay!)! I've participated in a few contests in the past and whether I've placed in them or not, it's always been a great learning experience. It's fun to read the work of so many people we know from the blogging/writing community. The feedback on not only your work, but their's as well, is priceless.

But with contests, like anything in the writing world, you need to wear thick skin. Sometimes comments can sting, even from complete strangers. As writers we need to keep an open mind and accept criticism. It's the only way to get better. Well, that, a lot of practice and gallons of ice cream.

So long as you can take the negative comments along with the positive, contests are a GREAT morale booster. Even if one person flat out tells you your writing sucks, ten other people will tell you what they like and what you could improve.

I know a lot of people don't enter contests because they're hesitant to have strangers reading their work. After all, anyone could steal it! But I think most writers are good people and 250 words or less isn't enough of a glimpse into your awesome plot--you won't even get to the space monkeys. So go ahead and put yourself out there!
And if not that's okay too.

I may or may not have a follow up post to this in a few weeks. We shall see!
Happy Thursday!

9 comments:

Dorothy Dreyer said...

LACEY, you totally rock! Woohoo, number 1, that's awesome! I just know I'll be reading GREYSKIN in hardback someday in the near future. *applauds*

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Woo-hoo! I just went over and read the entries and comments. So awesome! Love the voice in yours and am so intrigued.

Unknown said...

Awesome Lacey--you definitely rock!

Lacey J Edwards said...

Thanks, Tricia!
Dorothy, I so hope you're right! I know we'll be seeing a few hardbacks from you.

Tom M Franklin said...

And now for the WINNERS!
#11 L.J. Boldyrev (Lacey) - first place!
#57 Sheila - second place!
#47 Margaret Nichols - third place!

============================

let me reiterate: that top name, the name between "#11" and " - first place!" is YOURS!

we get that you're a gracious winner and yes, we respect that. really, we do.

The point is, though, YOU WON!!!

Now go do something celebratory, and let us know what it was, okay? We're all counting on you to help us live the glamourous life of an award winning author vicariously through you.

(and I'll say it again. that last sentence was one heckuva sentence. what a punch it packs!)

well done you!

...

A. J. Spindle said...

Congrats Lacey! I'm so happy for you! :D

Anonymous said...

I just saw the contest results! Congrats and well done :)

Sheila JG said...

Congratulations, Lacey. Your opening is amazing. Good luck with Natalie!

-Sheila (#57)

Liz @ Cleverly Inked said...

I have to say, It's amazing to watch People who dream everything to be an Author put it to work. Amazing

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