Other writers have blogged about what they've learnt so far from the competition. All I know is that in order to NTANV I'm going to have to grow a thicker skin and force myself to learn a few...
- Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If I possessed it I wouldn't have entered my New Voices submission early on but waited until nearer the end to save the prolonged angsting any time someone gives the entry a really low score ( I try to be impervious but I'm only human).
- Perspective is a wonderful thing. And possessed in bucket loads by people who aren't actually entering... ;-) I was determined not to be consumed by this competition but being ill, cranky and physically feverish (and without the energy to throw myself into anything else) while trying to NTAI is not a good combination.
- Patience is a... Okay, had enough of that. Patience is for saps, grumpiness rules :-) The fact I'm on week three without a cup of tea or the ability to eat chocolate is depriving me of my usual self-cheering strategies. I'm going to have to wheel out my favourite feel good dvds to do the job for me. ("The Accidental Husband", "Music and Lyrics" and "Ballet Shoes")
- There is always an up side, much as it pains my grumpy alter ego to admit it. Being ill means I can feel my ribs again and my too-tight jeans are now loose. And the public nature of the competition means whatever happens I'll have some lovely comments to take away from the contest with me, feedback I wouldn't otherwise have got.
Is anyone else out there wishing the whole thing were over already? How are you managing to distract yourself?
13 comments:
Aww Lorraine! Don't worry your chapter is great! I know what you mean, I don't have a chapter in the contest but keep looking to see where you, Jackie, and Rachael are on the most popular list. And lets face it girl - you're always on the first page! Well done!
Thank you Susan! Actually the past 24 hours has seen a steep decline (hence the angst) but all the comments are good so I'm trying to focus on those...
Don't let the ratings thing get to you. It's hard not to though eh? Just take those wonderful comments and know that the eds are going to see them and realise you have an audience! All good.
But yeah, I wish it were over too! :-)
I didn't enter this competition, but I have had a partial out since May and it still makes me sick to think about it. Luckily, I don't get to think about it a lot, but regardless... yeeesh. I read the file I sent once after it went out, and that was enough to do me in. Word of warning: don't read something after it's gone out. You'll find a million things you want to change, but can't. And then you'll start having the dreams...
Ah Lorraine, I'm feeling your pain!! I'm actually quite peeved about the whole ratings thing today. I don't mind bad ratings - everyone's entitled to their opinion - IF they leave a comment to explain why. But I've really plummeted the last day or so and nobody's left anymore comments!!!
Your entry is awesome though and in the end, it's the eds' opinions that count!
Hear, hear! I'm with you, Lorraine. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it? You have no need to worry - your chapter is wonderful:) And I'm in the same boat as you and the others who entered early - no more comments to be had for awhile now. I'm with Rach - disappointed in people leaving ratings and no comments :( Ah well, that's life I suppose...
You all need a hug! Hugs all around!!!
I think you're doing fabulously Lorraine! You can be as grumpy as you like too, being ill is not fun at all!
I just stumbled across your blog from someone else's because the title of your post caught me and I feel almost everything you said in your post! (Except my too-tight jeans are still tight).
I told myself I would stop looking at the ratings, but I can't resist. I have managed to limit myself to looking only a once or twice a day by throwing myself whole-heartedly into another project.
I'm glad it's almost over!
You know Elizabeth I'd almost completely forgotten about the sub I emailed to Richmond a while back so clearly the competition is distraction in itself ;-) keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Thanks Lacey, shall have to give you and official Contestant Encourager badge :-)
Jackie, Rach, Angie and Nicole - my fellow sufferers (!) Good luck with making it the end of the comp in good psychological health. I don't need to offer you good luck with your entries because I'm sure they won't need it :-)
I'm with you on the ratings thing - I plummeted suddenly too Rach but none of the people who marked me down left any clue at all about what they didn't like about the chapter. Oh well, the best we can do is try not to let it get to us.
Imagine if you were able to check your sub at Richmond every hour to check it's popularity! Over six months or so that would drive you certifiable...
Hi Lorraine! Just read your entry, and enjoyed it very much! I would try to ignore the ratings, it's really only the comments that have any meaning.
I will be entering, but still have another 1500 words or so to go... Nothing like me leaving things to the last possible moment (again!).
Thank you Leah and good luck with getting your entry finished, I know of at least four other people who aren't finished yet so you're not the only one :-)
Aww Lorraine, waiting and angsting are orrible. Worse though if you're ill.
Hope Music and Lyrics helps. jx
Leah I've read your entry and loved it!
Judy, thanks :-)
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