First Chapters Writing Competition

Jack_Roberts said:

My problem is that once I enter, I wouldn't be able to sibmit to anyone else until I was eliminated.

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This is not an uncommon requirement for contests (and one of the arguments against entering them, IMO).

I discussed this contest in my blog today.

- Victoria

Even if I finish my novel by the end of January I won't have time to edit.

we talked a little further about this over in the AW Roundtable. Some interesting things wree said. You might look at it.

I'm still tossing it around. I can't help but be intruiged. Whether or not I'm intruiged enough to send them something, I'm still uncertain.

I would think that you only have to fine-tune the first 3 chapters. That will buy you time as the next rounds are later. If you became a finalist and those 3 chapters intriguing, much less good enough to get votes, I doubt that they will hold too much against you for progressively more required editing. By that time you would have sold them on the philosophy of your book.

Also, if the runner-ups are good too, nothing says that they won't be offered contracts as well.

Much of the success of the contest and the candidates will be proportional to the number of interested parties, measured by votes. If only 2,000 vote, it will be a bust. But what if hundreds of thousands of people latch on to this idea and want to become a participant in the next Best Seller?

One last thought. I have a book that is only about 1/2 complete. I have so many other projects going that at the current rate, I will finish in 4 years. But I am proud of the first 6 chapters.
I could make an argument to submit 3 chapters and see if I make a final round. Of course I would be disqualified for the Grand Prize and runner-ups but if the vote count was high, I think I would get a call since only the Execs review the final manuscript.

I probably would not entertain submitting my primary novels I am completing. I will be pursuing a Publisher in the traditional way: Sales, Agents and lots of greed.

Just some thought I had.

Thanks for the link, I am tempted. I am also at 65% success rate for contest submissions.

Mike

ETA: Corrected my cursed spelling errors.

rtilryarms said:

I would think that you only have to fine-tune the first 3 chapters. That buys you time as the next rounds are later. If you became a finalist and those 3 chapters intiguing, much less good enough to get votes, I doubt that they will hold too much against you for progressively more required editing. By that time you would have sold them on the philosphy of your book.

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Always best to read the rules. You must email the three chapters and the ms at the same time. But you have until the Ides of March to do this.

Gah! I'm not a US resident so I can't.

Julie Worth said:

Always best to read the rules. You must email the three chapters and the ms at the same time. But you have until the Ides of March to do this.

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Yes, I posted based on my flawed comprehension, not my knowledge. I read the whole thing plus Vic's blog and realize my mistake. Thanks.

Not me. I saw this, too, but I don't like the rules.

I don't know... it takes a long time and also it seems to only based on popularity with "fans." I'd rather focus on effort on finding an agent or publisher if I have something good, worthy to be published. Not much of a contest guy, here.