Awhile back, I sat next to a writer at a conference giving craft advice. I couldn’t help but zone in on the conversation because this advice was contrary to what I believed to be true and what every other writer/editor I’d ever talked to said was true.
I’m not one to hold my peace when something is important, so I stepped in and told the tender advice-seeker that I had to disagree with her counselor, giving my rationale.
This young lady expelled an exasperated snort. “Everyone’s telling me something different. I don’t know who to believe.”
The advice-giver gave me a smug, little smile and said, “I think I might know a thing or two. I did win the ____ contest.”
I blinked at her a few times and said, “Never the less.” I then asked to see a few of her chapters to gauge what her craft-level truly was. She hadn’t brought any because, according to her, bringing sample chapters to a conference was ‘unprofessional’. (More advice I strongly disagree with).
Later this writer apologized to me with impressive grace and we exchanged business cards. Hers listed her as an“Award-winning” writer, which unfortunately for all of you, got me thinking.
A good friend of mine took first prize in the novel category of a recent conference. She is talented and dedicated, and also the first to admit she’s still learning. The overall winner of that same contest won with a piece of writing which was, by her own mouth, the first thing she’d ever written.
Will she next year be giving questionable writing advice to an unsuspecting soul touting that she ought to know what she’s talking about having won the entire contest? Will her business card say, “Award winning” writer?
I was a double-finalist with two of my suspense novels in this year’s Genesis contest. I’m proud of that, but all it really means is I wrote and polished up three chapters really well. I may write at a freshman level in actuality but have a fabulous critique group full of seniors. The rest of those novels may suck with a capital S.
These days when I see a business card that says “award-winning”, I immediately ask, “What award have you won?” I tend to cringe at most answers in the same way I cringed when I heard a nursing assistant tell my patient that she was her “nurse”.
Is someone who places third in the suspense category of a small writer’s conference just as “award-winning” as say an author who has won a: Christy? Booker? Rita? Pulitzer?
Do you think a line should be drawn on who should market themselves as award-winning, and if so where?
Whatever your thoughts, I do recommend that all of us learn the craft level of the person teaching us by actually reading their work, published or not.
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Monday, June 18, 2007
An Article You Don't Want to Miss from Award-Winning Writer, Gina Holmes
I'll be brave enough to be the first one to comment, Gina.
ReplyDeleteWhew! You had me sweating there, humble, compliant, not-wanting-to-step-on-anyone's-toes, as-honest-as-Abe person that I am. :) I was thinking, oh dear, I have "award-winning" on my stuff. Am I worthy, with Gina's light being shed on it? Should I quit putting it on there?
I whisked out my folder labeled "Contests Won and Awards." I DO have a nice handful. No, not a one is the Christy or the Rita--or the Pulitzer, not by a long shot. But they ARE awards. Book of the Year (ACFW). Inspirational Readers Choice Contest (FHL). The Barclay Gold. The Golden Quill. Writer of the Year twice (ACW). Some of these are placements, such as Third Place.
Man, Gina, I hope I qualify.
As to the gist of your post, I say, here, here. So many writers do some learning and then start dispensing advice. I think Randy Ingermanson has helped us all in his teaching on freshman, sophomore, junior, senior.
However, I understand the Advice Dispenser, and I also understand the Advice Seeker. The Advice Seeker starts writing and learning, but, because EVERYTHING in the field of writing is SO SUBJECTIVE, s/he wonders, Am I doing this right? Is this any good? Am I good enough for publication, or should I just label this as my hobby?, and so we go to Those Who Are More In the Know and ask. The Advice Dispenser, usually (let's give her/him the benefit of the doubt) TRULY wants to help the newbie. (My parenthesis-encased remark might NOT be true; you might run across an egotistical Advice Dispenser.)
Goodness, I didn't mean to write a tome. Omega.
Great post, Gina.
Kristy, thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI was worried about how my post would sound. I'm guilty of being an advice-giver before I ought to have been. And I'm guilty of the award-winning thing. I didn't do it myself, but advised a friend who placed in a fiction writing contest to market herself as "award-winning". Thankfully, she said it felt too ookie and didn't.
But my interaction with this wonderful lady (advice-giver), got me thinking about myself and the issue of the title "award-winning", particularly after someone won the overall award for the first piece of writing she'd ever done.
It may be completely appropriate for writers to call themselves award-winning who place in writing contests. I thought I'd just think out loud. I really do wonder what the consensus is. I don't have a definite opinion. My mind is open and wanted to talk it out with other writers.
(ps. I think by anyone's standards winning ACFW's BOTY award qualifies to call yourself award-winning).
Thanks again for your comment. If you stepped on anyone's toes, they've got really big feet. :)
Gina,
ReplyDeleteI think you do have a point here. I think we can be free to give advice based on our experience to those who ask. But we should be clear about just what our experience encompasses.
On a side note, I read a newspaper announcement about myself that was giving the details of an appearance I was to make. It decribed me as being an "internationally acclaimed" author. It took me awhile to figure out where it came from. I received a very good review from the Irish Emigrant, which is published in Ireland and picked up by some Irish American papers here. It's a jump to go from that to being "internationally acclaimed." At least I wasn't the one who said it!
Gina, I understand your concern but I think as we learn, many of us wish to help others. Maybe the Advice Dispenser didn't seek out the Advice Seeker but when asked, felt it was her desire and duty to be a help to someone whose shoes she'd been in not long before.
ReplyDeleteI have so much to learn yet I've learned a lot. If asked, I might offer an opinion but I'll make sure the Asker knows it's one opinion. And if I don't know, I'll say that, sending or helping Advice Seeker to find someone more experienced, so maybe I could learn too!
Advice Seeker must always know that it's best to get many opinions before choosing a path, at least in the world of writing. She would likely find that the advice would start to coalesce in one direction, perhaps even away from what Advice Dispenser had told her. Or, she'd be brave enough to pick and choose the parts that worked for her while leaving the rest behind and remembering to thank those who offered help.
I think the key is for Advice Dispensers not to present themselves as knowing more than they do.
I absolutely think that advice giver was trying to be helpful. So was I when I was giving not such great advice early on. Pride often gets in the way for all of us. I think it's important for us to keep one another in check with discussions like this.
ReplyDeleteI think we're obligated to pass on what we know (whether a freshman,senior or graduate),but to remain humble enough to be taught as well as teach, and to admit we might be wrong.
Didn't WIN the Book of the Year, Gina. :) Got Third Place. But that thrilled me to pieces!
ReplyDeleteOh, another comment on Advice Giver and Advice Seeker. I think I'll be an Advice Seeker till my toes turn up! I want to learn and grow. I remember when I started being an Advice Giver. It was after I was published. Though that isn't the criterion everybody should use (because there are some GREAT pre-pubbed writers, in fact, BETTER than pubbed ones! WINK), that's how it was for me--giving it after I had somewhat of a track record. 'Course I've got a long way to go and a lot to learn.
ReplyDeleteAre you suggesting that my Honorable Mention in Brother Bob's First Annual Crawdad Cookout and Tales from the Bayou is irrelevant? Why the nerve!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Mike. I was unaware of your achievement. Sounds a little fishy though. Ar-ar ;)
ReplyDeleteI thought I read they revoked that, Mike. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think there's a fine line between writing your resumé and believing your press. If I want an editor or agent to have a good impression of my work standard, the award-winning point might be worth noting, among other things. But if I think I can offer sage advice just because I placed (or won) my first contest, I need to be sure to only focus on what I've experienced and learned and couch it that way--when asked (which is what I believe both you and Kristy were saying). I just think we need to have a "sober judgement" about our knowledge and abilities.
ReplyDeleteOur former pastor was a big John Maxwell fan and did many leadership seminars at our church. One thing that always stuck (and I think it is very applicable here)was that no matter where you are on this journey, there are those ahead, those along side and those behind. One needs to have a mentor from those up ahead, accountability and comraderie from those along side, and help for those behind. But all needs to be tempered with sober judgement and grace and gratitude to the One Who is the Source.
Just my $.02 :-)
Good topic, Gina. I too have probably been guilty of giving advice too early in my career, but it was usually because others were hungry for anything they could get. I was once asked to teach a class after reading a piece I'd written in a class - I had never taught before and had no idea what to do, but agreed to facilitate a session after being begged to do so. I researched like crazy and learned so much and it was an honour - and fun! - to be able to pass on what I'd learned.
ReplyDeleteI think the key is to be honest with those seeking the help - tell them you're not an expert, but this is what has worked for you, or what you've picked up. I just did a fiction workshop but made sure everyone knew I have only one novel (coming out in Sept) and I often pointed them to my sources and encouraged them to check out the websites, books etc. for themselves. Also, if I found there were differing views on something I always made sure they knew that, so they weren't taking my words as "gospel."
I've taught writing workshops of one kind or another for about 15 years now, and have had tremendous response from students. It's a joy to see them go on to publish and move forward in their careers. So I guess the key is to stay humble and teachable ourselves, and do what God asks us to do.
:)Marci
Gina,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet compliment. I WILL ALWAYS BE LEARNING, and hopefully I'm bright enough to keep my mouth closed while those who are truly award winners, teach. I have learned so much from you and I thank you for the honor of being taught and mentored by you.
It sounds like the marketing bug hits these people along with pride. Well, we won't go there as we know all about pride, now don't we.
ReplyDeleteDo you have the goods or don't you! A business card or shingle hung out for the world to see does not a doctor/writer/attorney make.
As far as I'm concerned, it ranks right up there with those 'marketing' themselves as an apostle/prophet, etc. You are or you're not; let the fruit speak for itself.
(climbing down from soapbox)