Last week I posted my most recent entry into the NYC Midnight short story contest. You can read it here. The judges provided me with detailed feedback, which I will include below. But first, I want to touch on the quality of this competition’s format that makes it so useful…and then I’ll tear all that down by pointing out where its limitations lie.
This was quite enlightening. I've never entered a competition, and so have never received critical feedback but it seems like it could be useful for developing one's narrative tools and now I'm a little sad that I've never tried.
Why not start now? Outside of the most obvious benefits--potentially winning a prize, having something to add to your "literary CV," getting feedback (on certain competitions)-- entering writing competitions give you a concrete reason to come up with a new idea, finish it and edit it to a submission ready standard. In my mind, anything that can make me write more is a good thing. It's never too late.
Oh Hamish... Thanks, but, no, I'm okay. I could give a dozen excuses, valid reasons all, but it comes down to time and focus. When I've finished my current project, I'll be looking for a new one, and then I think competitions would be an excellent way to expand my horizons, but for now... Bottled Embers is keeping me happily busy.
I was part of a poetry cenacle when I was 17 with extremely talented young poets. The feedback helped me reach the next level with my poetry. But it was savage, like going into the boxing ring and getting knocked-out every single time. It hurt until I found my mojo.
Yeah, I think this is exactly what's been holding me back. I'm afraid that I'd be so demoralized that I'd stop writing altogether. But I was terrified of putting my Bottled Embers up at first too, and no one has ever been anything but kind about it. As it is, I've convinced myself that I just don't have the time right now (I honestly don't) to write anything new or even re-polish anything to fit into a competition until I've finished up this current project (totally true), but maybe I'm really just a coward. 🤣😅
This was a poetry group lead by a seasoned teacher and we were honest with each other. We all became friends, it was a very cathartic experience. If I could find such a group today, I would join without thinking twice. But it would have to be with ridiculously talented people who don't hold any punches. 🤣
I find it great that you focus on your novel for now. It's the best!
Why thanks Claudia. I'm having a blast. I'm just neatly at the two thirds mark right now, as far as the storyline goes. And my twice a week ten minute long episode, cuts out half my sleep most nights of the week, (because that's the only time I can spare) just to be able to keep up. Not complaining, it's by choice and I don't mind, my writing is THAT important to me. Maybe one day I'll have the energy for competitions and workshops... And I agree that it'd be hard to find a circle of peers in the same face-to-face setting to critique you. Your stuff is already amazing.
Nice reflection on the writing feedback you received. Without knowing the story, I also liked the feedback of Judge One. But I think the other might have a point or two as well, again, if they read carefully and what they say makes sense in the story.
This being said, I would go with my gut feeling. You're writing the story after all. The fact that three people gave you 3 completely different opinions, tells me that a fourth would have yet another opinion and so on. If you feel like the story stands on its own, I'd leave out the feedback.
I agree with you Claudia. It's a familiar trap to shell up at the first sign of negative feedback and say, "they simply don't get it." So, I'll always make an effort to mine even the most generic feedback for small scraps of truth. As I said in the article however, I personally think developing an eye for the lessons hidden amid the whole range of writing, submission, feedback, is where the real growth comes from.
On your point of leaving the feedback out? I think it's a good practice to let this type of thing breath publicly (particularly the criticisms) In writing I find it's too easy to hide behind the subjective. If I can't hold up criticism (so long as it's reasonable) and make an argument for or against it, then I'm not thinking critically.
This was quite enlightening. I've never entered a competition, and so have never received critical feedback but it seems like it could be useful for developing one's narrative tools and now I'm a little sad that I've never tried.
Why not start now? Outside of the most obvious benefits--potentially winning a prize, having something to add to your "literary CV," getting feedback (on certain competitions)-- entering writing competitions give you a concrete reason to come up with a new idea, finish it and edit it to a submission ready standard. In my mind, anything that can make me write more is a good thing. It's never too late.
Oh Hamish... Thanks, but, no, I'm okay. I could give a dozen excuses, valid reasons all, but it comes down to time and focus. When I've finished my current project, I'll be looking for a new one, and then I think competitions would be an excellent way to expand my horizons, but for now... Bottled Embers is keeping me happily busy.
Fair enough. I'll have to read some of it. Is it here on Substack?
Really? I'd be honored.
I think the index is a good place to jump in, in case you don't want to start at the beginning.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jennyhoman01/p/index-c78?r=25941x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Ill take a look
It is rather long... 😶
I was part of a poetry cenacle when I was 17 with extremely talented young poets. The feedback helped me reach the next level with my poetry. But it was savage, like going into the boxing ring and getting knocked-out every single time. It hurt until I found my mojo.
Yeah, I think this is exactly what's been holding me back. I'm afraid that I'd be so demoralized that I'd stop writing altogether. But I was terrified of putting my Bottled Embers up at first too, and no one has ever been anything but kind about it. As it is, I've convinced myself that I just don't have the time right now (I honestly don't) to write anything new or even re-polish anything to fit into a competition until I've finished up this current project (totally true), but maybe I'm really just a coward. 🤣😅
This was a poetry group lead by a seasoned teacher and we were honest with each other. We all became friends, it was a very cathartic experience. If I could find such a group today, I would join without thinking twice. But it would have to be with ridiculously talented people who don't hold any punches. 🤣
I find it great that you focus on your novel for now. It's the best!
Why thanks Claudia. I'm having a blast. I'm just neatly at the two thirds mark right now, as far as the storyline goes. And my twice a week ten minute long episode, cuts out half my sleep most nights of the week, (because that's the only time I can spare) just to be able to keep up. Not complaining, it's by choice and I don't mind, my writing is THAT important to me. Maybe one day I'll have the energy for competitions and workshops... And I agree that it'd be hard to find a circle of peers in the same face-to-face setting to critique you. Your stuff is already amazing.
That's it, getting into that creative flow while building something out of nothing is the best feeling!
Thanks a lot 💚
It is not easy to analyze one's own writing in this way, but you make a very interesting analysis. Thanks for the interesting insights ;-)
Nice reflection on the writing feedback you received. Without knowing the story, I also liked the feedback of Judge One. But I think the other might have a point or two as well, again, if they read carefully and what they say makes sense in the story.
This being said, I would go with my gut feeling. You're writing the story after all. The fact that three people gave you 3 completely different opinions, tells me that a fourth would have yet another opinion and so on. If you feel like the story stands on its own, I'd leave out the feedback.
I agree with you Claudia. It's a familiar trap to shell up at the first sign of negative feedback and say, "they simply don't get it." So, I'll always make an effort to mine even the most generic feedback for small scraps of truth. As I said in the article however, I personally think developing an eye for the lessons hidden amid the whole range of writing, submission, feedback, is where the real growth comes from.
On your point of leaving the feedback out? I think it's a good practice to let this type of thing breath publicly (particularly the criticisms) In writing I find it's too easy to hide behind the subjective. If I can't hold up criticism (so long as it's reasonable) and make an argument for or against it, then I'm not thinking critically.