More Contest Chatter

The primary focus of Novel Rocket is traditional publication. However, with the publishing world in a wild state of flux, self-publishing is an increasingly practical option. Independent authors are as much in need of experience and encouragement as those who follow the traditional track.

Last month, we shared a few testimonials of writers who participated in our contest in the past. Today, we’ll hear from three more.

In 2010, when the event carried the ungainly name of OUT OF THE SLUSH PILE: Novel Journey’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame Contest, Lee Darling was our second category winner with her Suspense/Crime/Mystery entry, Just Out of Reach. At that time we didn’t require that the manuscript be complete; in Lee’s case, it wasn't.

However, she says winning the category inspired her to not only complete the novel, but to self-publish it (through Lulu) in June of last year, using her own photos as cover art. It’s available in print and Kindle on Amazon.

In the contest’s first year, we took entries in each genre twice. Running the six-category cycle in January through June, and again in July through December, we chose the Grand Prize winner from the twelve genre winners. That year, Diane Moody won the Contemporary Romance category both times, with Strike the Match in May and Tea With Emma in November. Diane says:

I didn’t win the Big Enchilada that year, but goodness – TWO wins over the course of the year? That was so gratifying! I’d had soooooo many rejections over the years, and that was such a boost to help me stay the course and not give up.

Since then, I’ve incorporated both Tea With Emma and Strike the Match into a series called “The Teacup Novellas,” with two more stories to add to complete the anthology. They’ve done very well, so I’m extremely pleased.

In 2011, I took a step of faith by self-publishing my first novel, and I’ve never looked back. I’ve now released five books, and my sales have literally astounded me. I’ve discovered this phenomenal bliss, no longer having to wait years and years for some detached editor to decide if she will or won’t even look at my manuscript. Since then I’ve been a writing machine, and I’m loving every moment of it.

Heard enough? I hope not, because we have one more story to tell.

Our first Contemporary/Women’s Fiction category in March of 2010 had eleven entries. One of those stories, though it had enough mechanical problems to keep it out of the running, grabbed me by the throat. By the time I finished reading the synopsis, I had goose bumps.

As contest administrator, I often exchange emails with contestants, answering general contest questions, discussing matters specific to a submission, or addressing specific writing issues. In one of these email discussions, I suggested that this particular writer, Sarah Wells, get involved in a good critique group. She had solid skills but needed to learn more about the peculiarities of fiction writing.

She did; and she learned quickly. Despite being a medical doctor, wife, mother of two little ones, and undergoing two major moves, she managed to keep working on her story. Sarah revised it dramatically and recently self-published it.

I contacted her and asked for her input for this column. Because of time constraints, she wasn't able to provide the complete answer she'd intended. Apologizing for her (what she considered) inadequate response, she said:

I was really looking forward to raving about how helpful that novel contest was for me. Joining the Sharpened Pencils [the critique group] was the best sort of result I could have had from the contest; much better, in fact, than even winning would have been, since the group has been such a sharpening tool for my writing! There is nothing better for the solitary writer than honest friends who also love and know the craft.

Participation in the contest enabled Sarah to make contacts who helped point her in the right direction; and she knows how to take instruction. Her critique group provided input, but they didn't write the book. That was all Sarah's doing.

I haven't read the other books mentioned here, but in my opinion, A Fountain Filled is a beautiful example of what Christian fiction ought to be. We at Novel Rocket feel honored to have played a small role in bringing it into the world.

Obviously, we can’t promise success to everyone who enters. We do, however, promise to give each entrant a fair shake as well as a thoughtful critique.

If you’ve written a novel and are ready to take the next step, check out our contest rules. Who knows? This might be just what you're looking for.

Yvonne Anderson writes fiction that takes you out of this world. She's also been our contest administrator since the event’s inception. The first novel in her Gateway to Gannah series, The Story in the Stars, debuted in June 2011, and the next in the series, Words in the Wind, is planned for release this summer. She blogs at www.YsWords.com.

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Novel Rocket's Launch Pad Contest : Is it Worth It?

If you’ve been keeping up with Novel Rocket events, you know about our Launch Pad Contest: Boosting You Out of the Slush Pile.

So what does it have to do with you?

Let’s say you’ve been working on a novel for the past couple of years—or more. You’ve been studying the craft, honing your skills, polishing and revising, and sweating bullets over this child of yours. Family, friends, and critique partners love it; they tell you it’s better than a lot of published books they’ve read; but you can’t seem to interest an agent or an editor.

You see this contest advertised and twist your face into a frown of consternation. “They charge an entry fee,” you tell yourself. “It’s probably a rip-off. I work too hard for that thirty-five dollars. I'm not about to hand it over to a bunch of clowns for nothing.”

First off, let me assure you, we’re not clowns; we’re writers. Some would argue there’s not much difference. But since you’re a writer too, you'd better look in the mirror when you call us names.

Secondly, no one's getting ripped off, and no one's getting rich. The judges are busy people, and it takes time to do a thoughtful critique. It's only fair they should have some small compensation for their efforts.

Most importantly, though, it’s not all for nothing. Let's hear what some past participants have told us:

Janet Sketchley, an entrant in our first Contemporary Fiction category in 2010, says:
Contests are good practice in meeting deadlines and following specific submission guidelines. I appreciate being able to read samples of the winning entries and see the content and quality that my own manuscript has to match to catch a publisher’s interest.
In 2011, Janet put this experience to good use. She went on to place third in a contest for unpublished novelists sponsored by the small press, Risen Books.

Heidi Chiavaroli, who participated both of the past two years, concurs:
The contest very much helped me move forward. I think it’s good to have that submission experience, and it helped me acquire some more of that “tough skin” that we writers need!

Johnnie Alexander Donley, one of our entrants the first year, told us her strongest memory from the experience was the encouragement she received, even though she didn’t win the category:
Since then I’ve written a second novel and had the honor (and joy!) of winning the 2011 Genesis contest in Historical Fiction with it.

Our very first category winner was Cynthia Rogers Parks, with her unique

and delightful entry, The Nesting Dolls. (Though she had previously self-published a novel, Houses, we consider self-published to be unpublished for the purposes of this event.)

About being our inaugural category winner, she says:

I recall enjoying the feedback, getting to link to my own web page, and the brief “I can’t wait to read it” flurry.

Unfortunately, however, the real world invaded, and the need to pay bills sent her writing energy in other directions. She hasn’t quit, though. She’s working on a book right now, in fact, which she hopes to finish this summer. We’re cheering you on, Cynthia!

Heidi Chiavaroli has the distinction of having been a Historical Category winner in both 2010 and 2011, with her entries Room for Freedom and Tears of the Outcast. She told us:
I loved the Novel Rocket contest (both times). Last year, the added bonus of the critique was particularly helpful. I took the advice and I’m confident it bettered my manuscript. I am in the process of subbing (to agents) Tears of the Outcast. I think it was a big help to have been able to list Novel Rocket’s contest win in my query/cover letters.

Cheryl Linn Martin shares Heidi’s enthusiasm. She won a Middle Grade/Young Adult category in 2010 with her entry Pineapples in Peril, which later placed third (mainstream category) in RWA’s Kiss of Death, Daphne duMaurier Contest for Excellence in Mystery. She says:

Both of these contests spurred me on in my writing. Within a few months after my Novel Journey win, I was signed by Terry Burns of Hartline Literary, and a year later I had a three-book contract in hand for the series, The Hawaiian Island Detective Club. Pineapples in Peril, Book One, does not have a firm release date yet, but should be sometime this fall, 2012.

Winning Novel Journey’s “Out of the Slush Pile” gave me the confidence to move forward. I was so excited to receive the recognition and the wonderful comments. Sometimes, confidence and determination to continue the battle is what a writer really needs. It was what I needed, and I thank you for that boost!

Of course, the RWA 3rd place award was huge, but Novel Journey was the first affirmation I received—and it meant everything to me!

We had such an amazing response to our request for feedback, we’re out of room today. Come back April 9 for more testimonials from past participants -- category winners and otherwise.

Meanwhile, give some serious thought to entering your own unpublished novel. The official rules can be found on our Contest tab. If you have questions that aren’t answered there, send them to NovelRocketContest@gmail.com, and you'll be personally answered by a real, live, Earth-born human being.

We look forward to sharing your success story with our readers in the future!

Yvonne Anderson writes fiction that takes you out of this world.

The Story in the Stars, first in her space fantasy series, Gateway to Gannah, debuted last year. The second, Words in the Wind, will be released in 2012. Watch her blog at www.YsWords.com for updates on that, as well as the occasional other good stuff she sometimes posts there.

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Suspense/Crime/Mystery, Round II

We here at Novel Journey find ourselves in an interesting situation. None of the entries in the August category of the OUT OF THE SLUSH PILE, Novel Journey's Fifteen Minutes of Fame Contest are quite ready to present to the world as publishable. This isn’t to say they didn’t have potential, because they do. But they still need work before their potential is realized.

So now what? Should we present the best as the winner even though it’s not quite there yet? The NJ staff voted unanimously against doing that. The theme of the contest is, after all, “Out of the Slush Pile,” and we don’t want to recommend pulling something out of the slush pile if that’s where it honestly belongs.

Instead of presenting a winner this month, therefore, we’ll discuss some things struggling writers can do to get their work ready to present to the publishing world.

As we discussed a few months ago, the first requirement for a good story is, well, a good story. You might write with perfect technique and an engaging voice, but if your plot goes nowhere, neither will your manuscript.

Resources abound to help a writer learn to create a solid plot. One of our favorites is Plot and Structure (Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers From Start to Finish) by James Scott Bell. We also like Goal, Motivation and Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction by Debra Dixon.

However, one of this month’s entries had a super storyline. We loved the synopsis and were disappointed to see the author’s craft wasn’t as well developed as his plot. For him, and others seeking to improve the technical aspects of their manuscripts, we recommend Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Rennie Brown/Dave King; Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing: A Novelist Looks at His Craft by David Morrell; and Stein on Writing by Sol Stein. These books are neither the last word, nor are they the only good resources out there. We suggest them because we found each helpful, and because they address the issues we saw in the entries.

Also, it would be difficult to over-emphasize the value of sharing your writing journey with knowledgeable critique partners. They’ll see things you miss, give valuable insights from another’s point of view, be a wall to bounce ideas off of, and encourage you to keep going. Whether you find these precious jewels virtually, face-to-face, or both, please do find them! We guarantee, you will not be sorry.

The above suggestions represent our non-expert opinions. You might also want to know what people in the publishing industry have to say. In a Writer’s Digest article first published February 11, 2008, professionals weighed in on this very topic. (Excerpts reprinted with permission.)

Dan Conaway, then executive editor at HarperCollins, now a literary agent at Writers House, said:

The hard job of being a writer involves learning the craft. How do you learn the craft? You only learn the craft from writing. ... I don't care whether you're going to call it literary or call it a serial killer novel, the craftsmanship matters more than anything else.

Ruth Cavin, senior editor/associate publisher, Thomas Dunne Books for St. Martin's Press, agrees that craft is all important:
If you want to be a professional musician, you have to know how to play an instrument or sing and read music. If you want to be a professional artist, you must know how to use the materials, and you must know how to draw even if you are going to be an abstractionist. But when it comes to real writing, too many people often think that if they know how to read and write, they're writers. They don't understand that they have to master the craft just as other artists have to master their crafts.

Conaway cautions:
Writers should not be in any hurry to get their manuscripts out there. I mean rewrite it. Stop, and rewrite it and rewrite it again. Print out whatever your final draft is, and then rekey the whole manuscript. Start over on a blank file. That's the only way you are going to get far enough back into the work to make a difference.

He also recommends:
New writers should take the first novel they write and—at the point at which they think they are ready to send it to an agent or editor—they should put it in the closet and go write another one. It's the hardest thing to say, but so many first novels that have been submitted to me were really a learning experience. You can recognize the talent, but they are not ready for the tough job of breaking into an established list.

Yes, it’s a tough job, we don’t deny that. But as a wise man one said, the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. (And even there, it comes only after persistence.)

Another wise man (my husband – don’t know if he was quoting someone else or not) said, If you want to eat potatoes, you’ve got to grab a hoe. So instead of being discouraged, take heart in knowing that we’re all out in the field together in the same hot sun. Keep studying, keep writing, keep revising, and work side-by-side with your fellow-laborers; and those plump, meaty spuds will be ready for harvest at just the right time.

Meanwhile, does anyone know how to combat the Colorado potato beetle? This year they’re the worst I’ve ever seen, Sevin dust just makes them hungrier, and I’m seeing them in my sleep. Email me at NovelJourneyContest@gmail.com with your solutions to the potato beetle scourge – and also, of course, your entry forms, chapters, and synopses for the remaining categories in our contest. Middle Grade/Young Adult entries must be received by September 10; Contemporary Romance by October 10; and SciFi/Fantasy/Horror by November 10.

Remember, if you don't try, you’re guaranteed to fail.

Happy writing! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some bugs to squish…

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It's Historical

Got a joke for you. It’s historical.

Okay, let’s hear it.

Here goes:
An 18th-century vagabond in England, exhausted and famished, comes to a roadside inn bearing the sign George and Dragon. He knocks.
The Innkeeper's wife sticks her head out a window. "What want ye?"
"Could ye spare some victuals?" he pleads.
The woman glances at his shabby, dirty clothes and shouts, "No!"
Undeterred, the man asks,"Could I have a pint of ale?"
"No!"
"Could I at least use your privvy?"
"No!"
"Might I please...?" "
What now?" the woman screeches.
"D'ye suppose," he asks, "that I might have a word with George?"

That’s supposed to be funny?

I didn’t say it was hysterical, I said it was historical. But you know what else isn’t funny?

I’m almost afraid to ask. What else isn’t funny?

We’re almost halfway through the OUT OF THE SLUSH PILE, Novel Journey’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame Contest, and you haven’t entered yet!

Well, I suppose that true. What category is coming up next?

June 10 is the deadline for Historical Fiction. That covers the WWII era and before.

Does that include all historical fiction, even romance?

Yessireee Bob. Even the mushy stuff.

Well, I just might have to put a spit shine on my first chapter, whip up Ye Olde Synopsis, and email them both to NovelJourneyContest@gmail.com.

Make sure to download an entry form and send it in with it.

Oh, yeah. Can’t forget that. Do you think I might win?

You certainly won’t, if you don’t enter.

True enough.

Hey, do you know who designed that big round table King Arthur was famous for?

No, who?

Sir Cumference.

That wasn’t funny, either.

Sorry. How about this one:
A barber, a minstrel, and a bald man are on the road together. When night falls, they’re nowhere near a town, so they have to sleep out in the open. Because of the danger of highwaymen, someone has to stay awake to keep watch. The barber volunteers for the first shift, but he soon gets bored. To pass the time, he shaves the minstrel’s head. When his watch is over, he wakes the minstrel, who pats his head and exclaims, 'That barber is a real idiot. He woke up Baldy instead of me.'

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Let's Hear Your Story

Not to be redundant, but we’d like to remind y’all of our awards program, OUT OF THE SLUSH PILE, Novel Journey’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame Contest.

The judges are reviewing the entries for Contemporary Romance, the winner of which will be announced May 10.

That date is also the submission deadline for Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror, for which we’ve already received a number of promising-looking tales. You still have over a week to send yours in, so shine up your first chapter and synopsis, and download an entry form. Email your submissions, or any questions you may have about the contest, to NovelJourneyContest@gmail.com.

But what if you’ve written an historical, a crime story, or something for young adults? Never fear, you can get in the action as well. Here’s a list of the remaining categories in which we’ll be accepting entries throughout the rest of the year:


We've been reading lots of good entries, but we know you have a story too. So let's hear it!

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A Photo Finish

We are pleased to announce the winner of the Contemporary/Women’s Fiction category of our OUT OF THE SLUSH PILE, Novel Journey’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame Contest.

A tight call between two stories of comparable merit, it boiled down to a question of which should receive greater weight: plot line, or technical skill? After much discussion among the judges, plot took the day, making the winner of this category Amy Sue Nathan of Flossmoor, Illinois, with her novel The Glass House.

The story is told in a distinctive voice, featuring a likeable protagonist who, despite a certain sassy flavor, acts with maturity and does the right thing. The judges liked the cultural contrasts, the descriptions, and the “elephant in the room.” There are a few technical flaws, but everyone agreed that, with the solid plot sketched out in the synopsis, this story shows the most promise of all the entries.

We’re happy to share the chapter with you. Enjoy!

The Glass House
by Amy Sue Nathan

Evie never expected to get divorced, let alone sit Shiva for her ex-husband in a house with a Christmas tree. Yet there she was.

The imitation pine tree was dressed in tinsel and shiny red balls. Hallmark ornaments masquerading as heirlooms dangled from its branches. Stockings hung from the mantle above a card table topped with a green velveteen runner, holly-stamped paper plates and a Lucite platter heaped with lox, cream cheese balls and a mountain of seeded bagels. Evie shook her head, unsure which was more shocking – Richard’s death or the attempt for cultural balance. Richard had mocked Christmas folderol until he married Nicole a year before. Now he was being mourned in the company of a motorized Santa.

Stocking-footed and sitting on a wooden bench with her feet turned inward, Nicole, at twenty-six, looked like a little girl digging her toes into cool sand. She slumped, arms at her sides, hair in disarray. It made sense -- all the mirrors in the house were covered as dictated by tradition. Nicole’s skin was sallow without the benefit of foundation. The circles under her eyes stretched to mid-cheek. Her daze extended beyond her personal space and touched everyone in the room.

Evie stared because she could.

Within three years Nicole had been Richard’s mistress, wife and was now his widow. The blood must have left Nicole’s extremities. Her stomach would be in her throat. Her heart would ache for touch as her head searched for answers. She would be nursing a cocktail of anger, sadness and shock. Evie was sure because she had mourned the loss of Richard too. But she had done it when he was alive.

The Shiva food sat untouched and started to curl and crust at the edges. Everyone hovered, waiting for some official signal it was Time To Eat. Only then would they soothe their psyches with time-honored Jewish death fare.

Nicole lifted her sleeping six-month-old baby, drew him to her chest and stood.

“Everyone, please have something to eat,” Nicole said. She side-stepped the oncoming mob and inched her way to Evie on the couch, a black leather casualty of divorce.
(Click here to continue.)

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Get in on the Fun!

Have you considered entering our contest? You still have two more days to get in on the Middle Grade/Young Adult category, the winner of which will be announced on April 12. But there are other chances to play.

Check out the schedule for the remainder of the year:
If you’ve written a book you’d like to share with the world, shine up your first chapter and synopsis, and download an entry form.

Email your submissions, or any questions you may have about the contest, to NovelJourneyContest@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing your entry!

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New Kid on the Block?

If you’re new to Novel Journey, you might want to check out our awards program, OUT OF THE SLUSH PILE, Novel Journey’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame Contest.
It’s an experiment we started this year, but we’ve had a great response so far.
In January, we chose a winner in the Historical category.

In February, we revealed the Mystery/Suspense winner.

The judges are currently reviewing the Contemporary/Women’s Fiction submissions, with the winner to be announced on March 8.

And we’re currently taking entries for Middle Grade/Young Adult Fiction (the deadline for those is March 10).
So kids, whether you’re 16 or 60+, if you’ve never published a novel, and have written a book you’d like to see in print, there’s time to submit your first chapter and synopsis. We don’t guarantee publication, but we do promise that the winner will get some good exposure.

Here's the schedule for the rest of the year:
Email your submissions, or any questions you have about the contest, to noveljourneycontest@gmail.com.

And welcome to the party! I’m sure you’ll fit right in.

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You Can Play Too!

If you'd like to participate in our contest, please check out the details.

The next deadline (for Contemporary/Women’s Fiction entries) is February 10. But if your story in that category isn't quite finished, don't despair; you can catch it the second time around, in August.

Ready to give it a whirl right now? Download the entry form.

The schedule for the remainder of the contest is:Email your submissions, or any questions you may have, to NovelJourneyContest@gmail.com.

We're grateful for all the interest we've had so far, and we look forward to seeing more great entries!

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Fifteen Minutes

Just a reminder about our new awards program, OUT OF THE SLUSH PILE, Novel Journey’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame Contest. If you haven’t already made plans to enter, please check out the details.

The judges are reviewing (and enjoying!) the entries for Mystery/Suspense, the winner of which will be announced February 8.

As you can see from the schedule below, the next deadline for submissions, February 10, is for Contemporary/Women’s Fiction entries.



Readers of the male persuasion should know, this category isn’t just for the ladies; it’s for any story with a modern setting that doesn’t quite fit into any of the other categories.

You’ve still got two weeks, so shine up your first chapter and synopsis, and download an entry form.

Email your submissions, or any questions you may have about the contest, to NovelJourneyContest@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing your entry!

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Our First Winner!

We are pleased to announce the winner of the first round of our OUT OF THE SLUSH PILE, Novel Journey’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame Contest.

This category is Historical Fiction, including Historical Romance (WWII era and before). We received a variety of entrants, each a well-crafted and enjoyable read.

Though it wasn’t an easy decision, the judges each independently named the same one as their first choice. They then discussed the merits of the runners-up, and came to the same conclusion again: The winner of the first-round Historical category, therefore, is The Nesting Dolls by Cynthia Rogers Parks of Kennesaw, Georgia. Cynthia is now in the running for our grand prize at the end of the year.

Though the chapter doesn’t begin with an immediate, attention-grabbing hook, the judges agreed that its mature, classic writing style, exotic but sympathetic protagonist, and vivid historical detail combine to draw the reader into the story quickly.

Other than the lack of a strong hook, the judges weren’t sure how well the synopsis conveys the true storyline. There is potential for this to sail to the heights, provided the author connects the idea of the nesting dolls with the growth of the characters; but it’s unclear from the synopsis how well that theme is developed.

But the weak synopsis was overshadowed by the appealing tone, well-researched setting, and intriguing possibilities of the story, as well as the overall high quality of the writing. All things considered, the judges felt that if they were editors or agents, they would likely ask to see more.

Now, without further ado (I’ve always wanted to say that), I present to you the first chapter of

The Nesting Dolls by Cynthia Rogers Parks:

For Olena Gubinova Barzov the day had begun miraculously, progressed unusually, and was still yielding surprises. She had awakened from a dream of her girlhood, of walking in the early morning with her sister Anna in the gardens of the Rose Palace. In the dream she had felt the soft warmth of the early sunlight on her throat and face and heard the twitter of birds and Anna’s tinkling laughter and seen clearly—the last remembered image—Anna’s slender white hand reaching for a flower. The flower had been a rose, perfect and garnet red, two glistening round crystals of dew standing high on its velvet petals.

She had dreamed of her childhood before. Not very often in the last years when she rarely ever slept the night through, but woke and paced and prayed for her daughters, no trace or remnant of any dream at all left in her conscious mind. But she had dreamed of the old days before. And not all of those dreams had been pleasant. Even if they had begun pleasantly, with some lovely vignette from the past—the two of them, perhaps, taking their morning lessons from Monsieur Pécaut, or picnicking beside the river—those dreams had often turned dark, bringing other memories best forgotten and a lingering sadness to her day. This dream had been rare, thoroughly pleasant, leaving her rested and refreshed. But rare as that was, it wasn’t the miracle.

The miracle was not the dream, but the fragrance. The perfume of the rose had reached her even in sleep, was still in her nostrils on waking, and had come and gone all morning. The whispery sweet scent had wafted up from her cup of tea, in the motion of brushing her hair and drying her hands, from ordinary objects and with the most common of morning tasks.

There were no roses in the apartment. None, as far as she knew, anywhere on Avenue Joffre. Probably, in September, there weren’t roses to be had at all in Shanghai, unless in some florist’s case. There had surely been roses, but she could not now honestly recall them, long ago in her family’s gardens. And it was true that the Gubinov estate had been called by that name. There had not been a peasant in eight day’s ride who had not known of the location, and inhabitants, of the Rose Palace. But it was the distinctive pink limestone that formed the façade of the manor house that had given rise to the name. Not roses.

And what of Anna? Dead these twenty five years. What meaning was there in Anna’s small young hand reaching for the flower? In the drops—two of them—of dew?

Click here to continue

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