Judging A Book By Its Cover - Kara Isaac

It's currently contest season for authors. At the beginning of each year scores of contests kick off aimed at celebrating the best books released the previous year. Some of the most well known in Christian circles are the Carols, the Christy Awards, the Inspys, the FHL Readers' Choice Award and Christian Retailings' Best Awards but there are many many others.

I recently judged the RITA awards, a contest run by Romance Writers of America (RWA) to celebrate the best books released in romance each year. Unlike the ones listed above, the RITA is a general market contest which has a "books with religious and spiritual elements" sub category.

One of the rules for the RITA is that if your books are entered then you also have to be a judge. So in January I found myself the recipient of a box of seven books in a range of genres. I have to admit I was a bit hesitant as some of these books were not ones that I would ordinarily choose to read voluntarily!

This is what was reinforced to me as I read:

Great writing triumphs regardless of genre or topic

Of the seven books there were three books that I gave a score above 9. There reason was simple. Though the genre or content may have been out of my comfort zone, the writing was great. While the characters may have made choices that were different to mine, I was invested them and wanted to know what happened (even though they were all romance novels and everyone knows how those end!).

Covers matter!

While it's all very nice to say that you can't judge a book by it's cover the truth is that well, often you can. That's kind of the point! There's a reason why books don't just come with a plain white cover with the title in black.

Sadly, I predicted which were going to be the lowest scoring books purely by their covers. While a great cover doesn't guarantee a book is going to contain great writing, where a book is independently published it does indicate that the author is prepared to invest in a professional to do that work (if they don't have the skills themselves to do one well). And if they're prepared to do that then it's almost guaranteed that they've also paid to have the book professionally edited which is critical for a great book. No one can write a great book without input from others. Where a book looks like it's been slapped together by someone who knows the bare basics of Microsoft Publisher sadly the story itself is often of a similar standard.

Whether a book was indie (independently) published or published by a traditional publishing house didn't necessarily designate the quality of the content

One indie book that I read was excellent with a good plot, strong characters and great pacing. The author had clearly put it through all the rigours of the traditional publishing process with multiple editors etc. On the flip side, a traditionally published book had so many different points of view and subplots going on that even though the writing was good I spent most of the time thoroughly confused as to what was going on!


If you're an author do you enter contests? Why? If you're a reader, do you ever pay attention to what books win contests? Does it influence your decision at all to read them? 

Kara Isaac lives in Wellington, New Zealand. Her sophomore romantic comedy, Can't Help Falling, is a funny, heartfelt romance about how an antique shop, a wardrobe, and a mysterious tea cup bring two C.S. Lewis fans together in a snowy and picturesque Oxford, England. and was an RT Review Top Pick. When she's not chasing three adorable but spirited little people, she spends her time writing horribly bad first drafts and wishing you could get Double Stuf Oreos in New Zealand. She loves to connnect on her website, on Facebook at Kara Isaac - Author and Twitter @KaraIsaac   

Have you ever considered … offering to be a judge?

Photo courtesy of "Idea go"/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Over the past couple of years I’ve discovered the joys of being a judge for a number of different writing contests, some full novels, others the first five and fifteen pages.

Now, you might be thinking that you haven’t published much (generally most writing contests require you to be a published author) and therefore aren’t qualified to be a judge but I don’t believe one needs to be a veteran author to volunteer one’s services.

As a newbie judge one is unlikely to be sent into the final rounds of judging. That typically goes to the more experienced authors and/or agents and editors who’ve been “judging” works for a while. As with many aspects of life where hierarchy is involved, one must earn their stripes, so to speak.

Qualifications to be a Judge

I don’t think I’ve actually seen a set of guidelines for being a judge. Yes, some may require you to be a book blogger/reviewer and show evidence of your work and as I mentioned above for those within a writing community (eg ACFW) will require you to be published.

However, in considering whether or not judging is for you may I suggest the following three criteria:

1. A love of reading. Goes without saying.

2. A love of assisting other authors.

There are many different ways we can do this and judging is just one way.

The authors have invested so much of themselves in these works so one needs to step into the role desiring to constructively assist them in their endeavours.

3. A willingness to be anonymous. This is no American idol or The Voice where the judges are the stars. In writing contests, the authors are the stars. In most cases the authors don’t know who’s judging their work and in some cases the judges don’t know the names of the authors whose work they are assessing.

I’ve had a few lovely comments from authors who’ve written to the judging coordinator and then passed it onto me. Even though we’re still anonymous it’s great knowing that an author has appreciated your feedback especially when it’s confirmed some of their own initial thoughts about their work.

Benefits of Judging

1. Read some great stories that you perhaps wouldn’t typically choose for yourself.

Earlier this year, I was fortunate to be able to read some historical romance novels in periods that I wouldn’t have thought to read and loved them both. In particular, I appreciated how the authors weaved a strong spiritual message through the story.

2. You learn so much about the craft

Particularly in the short contests where the author only has five or fifteen pages you see how critical it is to grab your reader in those first pages.

Typically, judges will be provided with templates that provide a structured way of assessing the work. This helps guide you in your reading of the various works.

Funny, I was only reading the other day about an author who is also an editor and he made these two comments about juggling the two:

“Well, writers become blind or blurred to narrative choices and writing quirks and it takes a good editor to help them see with clearer eyes.”

“There are other differences, too, but I’ll just mention one more: lack of investment. Writers put everything they have into their story; they live and breathe it. An editor doesn’t have that same kind of initial investment, he’s just interested in making the story as good as it can be. So when an editor says ‘get rid of the unicorn vs. narwhal battle scene,’ it’s because the scene isn’t making the book better. He doesn’t know, or care, that the writer spent three weeks getting the description of the unicorn’s ‘ethereal rainbow shimmer’ just right; he just knows it’s unnecessary.”¹

I was able to relate both of those comments to being an author and a judge.

Does it help me when I’m editing my own work? I’m not so sure in the short term but like anything the more I practice the craft, fingers crossed the better writer I’ll become. The shorter contests are like a mini-writing exercise for myself and because I’m not invested in the story I’m able to quickly identify ways to enhance it.

Other Comments

It goes without saying one needs to be prepared to work to contest deadlines but these are well documented. As you'd expect reading multiple novels in a set period of time can be very time-consuming and one needs to plan ahead to ensure you fulfil your commitments. Further, it does disrupt one’s own reading routine so you need to coordinate any other commitments you may have made to authors or blog sites plus one’s TBR pile grows a little higher.

I’m excited to attack my TBR pile in a week’s time there are a couple of particular novels I’m very excited about reading.

I expect there are a few of us who may have been or still are judges and I’d love to read any comments you may have.

If a call goes out for judges from a writing organization you’re a member of why not consider putting your hand up.

Note: 1. Taken from a conversation between Stephen Parolini (author and editor) and Tosca Lee in Tosca’s latest email newsletter.

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Sydney, Australia. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Angelguard was the recipient of the 2014 Selah Award for Best Speculative Fiction. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

When God Closes a Door...

Writers are very familiar with the concept of closing doors. Maybe because we are always peeking through them while trying to sneak our foot inside. Queries. Proposals. Contests. Blogs. Everything we can to get the attention of reader, agent, or publisher. Some closing doors weren't very wide to begin with so it's not too painful. Query letters are a great example of this. You send out bunches and learn to expect a high rejection rate. Others, like a publisher you've been communicating with for months before they decide to turn down your work, carries a little more sting,  Every time these doors closed in the past, I convinced myself it was one of two things. Or a combination of both.

1. I need to make my writing better.
2. God has a better plan for this story.

But I've never seen His hand as clearly as I did this year:

At the end of March this year I gave birth to my third child. To beat baby blues I decided to enter into a writing contest. Namely, Love Inspired's Blurb-2-Book. (I've never had such an enjoyable recovery!)  I figured I had nothing to lose one way or another. And then I passed on to the second round. I must admit to being a little excited as I started in on a complete rewrite of a first draft I'd pounded out about eight years ago, which has been sitting as a file ever since. It went from being completely from the heroines POV to including the POV of on of the most complex, but easy to love (if I understand my critique partners and beta readers correctly) heroes I've written. The story came to life and I started getting hopeful.

Then the door closed.

I didn't make the third round in the contest. The editor enjoyed the story, but had a couple concerns about my poor, conflicted hero. She did leave the door unlocked for future submission of my work directly to her, but I was out of the contest.

I was disappointed, but that did mean I no longer had a tight deadline to have my story completed. Without the restraints on my time, I decided to enter a couple short story contests. I wrote two stories and entered them, and then went back to my novel, finishing it about the time the Blurb-2-Book judging was complete. At that same time I found out my short stories (which I wouldn't have even written if I'd continued in LI's contest) both won their contests and would be published.

And then the Lord swung yet another door open and shoved me through it.

A week or so after I won the short story contests, an author friend and critique partner said she felt a "God nudge" to mention me to her publisher, who wasn't accepting submissions unless you met them in person at a conference (hard to do with a new baby). They said I could submit my finished manuscript, and within a month offered me a contract!

It was difficult not to look back and not be amazed. Especially recognizing that if that LI editor had passed me on to the third round of the contest, I would have been scrambling to finish my manuscript (and it probably wouldn't have turned out nearly as well as it did), I wouldn't have entered any of the short story contests, and I wouldn't be working with my present editor who, from what I hear, will be excellent for me at this point in my career.

Most times we don't see the next doors open quite as wide or quickly as in this case, but looking back over the past ten years of writing I see how The Lord has prepared me, worked with me and steered me from closed doors to the ones that would bless my life. I am so grateful for such a faithful guide!

(As a side-note, last week I was offered a two book contract by another publisher on a manuscript -  and the premise of its sequel - that has had many a door shut in its face and and many a rewrite. I'm so grateful for the hands the Lord has placed it in!)

How have you seen doors open or close as the Lord guided you?

Angela K Couch is an award-winning author for her short stories, and a semi-finalist in ACFW’s 2015 Genesis Contest. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. Angela lives in Alberta, Canada with her “hero” and three munchkins. 
Visit her at www.angelakcouch.com 
Follow on Twitter or Facebook!

WRITERS, BEWARE THOSE RULES

Over the years I have heard many discussions and read many comments on blogs and emails about “rules” for writing fiction. I have also known discussions about submission guidelines to publishers and agents. Very rarely have I heard discussions about Entry Rules for writers’ contests. I for one have rather taken for granted that these rules are read and followed carefully. The last few weeks I have seen for myself, and been considerably surprised, the number of writers who either do not read and digest contest rules, or seem to think they can somehow get away with breaking them.

My local writers’ group has just sponsored a short story contest. As my postal address was used to receive the entries, I quickly checked each one to make sure the entry form was filled in correctly, the fee paid, the story complied with the word length and the name of the author was not on the manuscript. These and others requirements were all clearly stated in the contest rules.

There have been numerous times over the years I have been one of the judges for various writing contests. Those manuscripts I received had already been through the hands of coordinators. Any entries that had not obeyed the contest rules had already been disqualified so I never did see any of those. However, I have heard far too many stories of why entries have had to be disqualified. If the rule says to send only the first fifty pages of a novel in a certain size and type of font, it means exactly that. A one-page synopsis means exactly one page. Some do not understand that a synopsis is far more than a back cover blurb.

A few days ago those of us on our short story contest committee met. We were to commence reading entries to start the process of selecting the best ten to forward to the final judge. I had to report and show that several entries were well under the word limit. We briefly discussed whether they should be disqualified. Judges find it difficult enough to choose winners from stories that vary in length from 1500 to 2000 words. Despite the fact some of those entries may have been excellent short stories, in fairness to all the other entrants sadly we agreed they had to be disqualified.

This made me understand even more why some manuscripts are rejected by editors and agents. Some writers simply do not study the “Rules” stated as “submission guidelines” or if they do, hope “just this once” it would be over-looked.

For example, if a submission guideline for a particular line or genre book has a word limit, what must an editor think when the manuscript is many hundreds of words over or under it? If an agent or editor states they do not accept a particular type of book, e.g. poetry, children, romance, I wonder how many writers think they may be the “exception” to that request – or “rule”? I cannot help but wonder if this is at least one reason so many publishers these days state they will only accept submissions through an agent who can "disqualify" a manuscript. Of course, each agent must also know a publisher’s submission guidelines, what kind of books the publisher specifically states has no interest in even considering.

And briefly back to those other “Rules” I mentioned before. We do all know there are indeed basic rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling (although these even vary between different countries!). Unfortunately at times some try to make suggestions how to make manuscripts stronger a rule for all fiction. It is generally agreed that we must know “the rules” to know just how to be able to break them when necessary to try and make our stories shine. Certainly very experienced, multi-published authors may be able to break some “rules” successfully but I would issue a warning to beginner writers here.

I thoroughly agree with Brandilyn Collins who simply declares, “Story rules!” And her stories do certainly shine!

However, those kind of “rules” are more about the technique of story-telling. They do not apply to entry requirements, guidelines, rules for writers’ contests.

Do read and digest those entry rules – and follow them the very best you can! You never know, you might be a winner!

Mary Hawkins is a best-selling inspirational romance author.

A Queensland farmer’s daughter, she became a registered nurse before going to Bible College. She and her minister husband have three adult children and five grandchildren, enjoyed over 47 years of ministry including church planting in Australia, two years in England, three short term mission trips to Africa and now live in Tasmania, Australia's island state. Her 19th title, Justice at Baragula was released May, 2011 and was a CALEB fiction finalist in 2011. To read more about this Australian author click here 

She is also on Facebook as MaryHawkinsAustralianAuthor.

Genesis Semi-Finalist: When The Big News Is Yours

As many of us probably know, the ACFW Genesis results came out last week. For those of you who have no clue what I’m talking about the Genesis Contest is a competition that the American Christian Fiction Writers run each year for unpublished writers. There’s a first round, then the top 20% become semi-finalists and the top three in each category are the finalists.


It's a bit of a big deal for unpublished Christian writers. It's a really big deal for those of us residing at the other end of the earth for whom doing well in contests is one of the few ways we have to get our writing in front of editors and agents.

When I entered the Genesis Contest this year it was not without more than a little trepidation. The Genesis and I have a *ahem* checkered history.

Back in 2008 I was a novice writer, knew nothing about the craft of writing and even less about the publishing world. But I had finished my first manuscript, I thought she was something pretty special and I was 99% sure that everyone else who read it would realize the same.

The Genesis was my first brutal experience in finding out that the world did not agree with me.  It was also a very valuable lesson in Contest Rules 101. Namely never ever open contest scoresheets in a public place unless you enjoy having a full-scale meltdown in front of strangers.

Since that first scarring/humbling experience I'd entered a number of contests, but never my nemesis. This year I decided the time had come to suck it up and return. Being an all or nothing kind of gal I threw all my spaghetti at the wall. Three entries.

Having spent the last four years learning, and writing and doing my best to improve my craft this was the big test. While judging is always subjective, being able to get three anonymous not-related-to-you judges agree that your work has merit, is a pretty clear indication you've improved.

The first was the same one as I entered back in 2008, renovated and rewritten. I had high hopes for it, knowing it was so much better. The second was one that had enjoyed both success and failure in other contests and I thought it might have a chance. The third was a brand new idea and I had no expectations, I just wanted to float the story concept and see what the reaction was to it.

So, spaghetti thrown, I waited. The week of semi-finalists being announced arrived. I spent April 16th checking my email every other minute. Holding my breath every time my inbox loaded. Then I remembered that being in New Zealand, America was still in yesterday, today for them was still tomorrow and I was nurturing an ulcer at least a day early.

As the hours ticked by, I reconciled myself to this not being my year. Even though the co-ordinator had sent out an email saying it was taking longer than usual to collate the results. I steeled myself for disappointment. Reminded myself that truly only the best of the best can get three judges to think that that particular 15 pages is worthy of progressing. Reflected on how the odds of getting at least one judge who wouldn't enjoy my style. Tried to convince myself that not progressing would be a blessing in disguise - semi-finaling would mean having to find large chunks of writing time in a life where my husband already struggles some morning to find clean clothes to wear to work. Maybe this was God's way of telling me it was time to take a break from the writing dream?

Then an email was waiting for me early one morning. "Genesis semi-finalist" read the subject. And not just one entry, but two! In complete shock, I sat in bed staring re-reading it making sure it was real. My husband was away, there was no one to tell. I wasn't allowed to make it public until the results were officially released. Went to work and stared at the computer screen trying to process. Double semi-finalist. Two. Three judges had liked two enough to put them forward.

It was overwhelming. In the limited time that I have to write, how do I chose which one to focus my efforts on? The one that's more advanced, or the one I think is better? What if this is as good as it gets? What if I can't write a complete manuscript that lives up to the first 15 pages?

Then I got my scoresheets for my unsuccessful entry back.

Need to be convinced that God has a sense of humor?

The semi-finalists - entries #2 and #3.

Entry #1? It received worse scores than it did in 2008.

The moral of the story? Throw your spaghetti at the wall. You never know what is going to stick :)

Kara Isaac lives in Wellington with her husband and ninja speed crawling son. She spends her days working in the public service and nights trying to anticipate the ninja's next move.

While the ninja rests his eyes, she ignores the Mount Everest of laundry in favor of writing Contemporary Romance. Occasionally she also pops into www.downundermusings.blogspot.com

GASP! The Season of Contests

The season of contests is upon us. There is nothing better than being nominated for an award, or even better, winning an award to boost your chances of publication or selling your books.

But what if year after year your submission as an unpublished author doesn’t even make it to the finals? Or your novels never recieve those glowing awards?

Just yesterday a friend said her submission wasn’t ready after she’d worked on it for months. She said she was going to pull out of the contest. This saddened me. I felt she wasn’t giving her submission a chance.

Because in my opinion, contests are not about winning.

I wrote back to my friend and suggested that by keeping her submission in the ring, she would at least receive back a solid critique. Judges in any contest are writers who have put many years into their own writing. Their comments are worth their weight in gold.

A few years ago I entered my debut novel, Shadowed in Silk, in the ACFW Genesis contest. I’d been writing for eight years by this time, and had enough rejections to make a collage to hang on my wall. But I entered the Genesis with the prayer that God would do only what He thought best for my writing career at this point in time.

Because after so many years with nothing to show for it but a tattered manuscript I thought maybe it was time to hang up my skates.

I made it to the finals that year, and then in September, Shadowed in Silk won the Gold. But winning that year was the shot in the arm that I needed to keep on writing. In spite of winning, it was another two years before Shadowed in Silk was published. But I learned something from that contest.

The issue is not about winning or losing.

The issue is that God doles out to each writer what they need at precisely that moment to direct their path or encourage them to keep on going.

Maybe you didn’t make it to the finals-of whatever contest you entered-last year. Maybe you enter the race year after year and suffer disappointment.

But I have found that if I enter a contest with the prayer that the Lord will give to each participant something that he or she needs in their writing career, I am usually blessed in an extraordinary way. I don’t win every contest I enter, but I trust in a God who is loving and fair to each of His children.

Don’t think of just winning. Think of how God can encourage you or refine your writing through the process. Don’t allow fear to stop you from running the race, and take pride in the entering.

And if we're obedient to Him, then whatever we do for Him we will ALL earn a very special Christy that we can lay at His feet one day.

I'm looking forward to that day . . . I'm gonna buff my award . . . and breathe on it . . . and shine it up with my sleeve, and then give it to Him with a silly grin. Because it's all about Him, not me.


Christine Lindsay’s historical inspirational novel SHADOWED IN SILK won the Gold Genesis in 2009 for Historical, and is the January 2012 pick for ACFW Book Club. The Pacific coast of Canada, about 200 miles north of Seattle, is Christine’s home. Like a lot of writers, her cat is her chief editor.


Drop by Christine's website, www.christinelindsay.com for a visit.

In Pursuit of Action

Contests. 

For many aspiring writers, they dredge up a range of emotions. There's nothing quite like putting your baby out there, only for it to be returned to you a few months later marked up in red, with scores that have you wonder for a second if they've accidentally left a digit out.

I entered my first contest in 2008. To be honest, I knew little about writing and nothing about publishing. Fortunately, the contest ordained everything from the font, to the size, to the margins to the line spacing so I didn't have a chance to embarrass myself by sending in something single spaced, written in Verdana, in size 6 font, with 0.5 inch margins.

This was good, since the content held plenty that now makes me want to bang my head against the wall and be eternally thankful that at least entries are anonymous. Suffice to say the judges did not think they'd read the opening pages to the next Gone With The Wind.

I've since learnt that opening your story with you main character stuck in a traffic jam doing a lot of philosophical thinking isn't the best way to hook a reader. They also generally don't care much about what she had for dinner last night or how long it's been since her car got serviced.

What readers want, we're told, is ACTION. Especially at the beginning. Things have to be happening, and fast. You can fill us in on her elderly cat called Skittles who has a thing for donuts later.

My question for you is this; we're told that readers want action and they want it fast but how fast? What is your preference? Do you want to get to know your character at all before we knock her / him over the head with getting sacked / finding out  husband is cheating / discovering they've accidentally picked up the only copy of the nuclear launch codes and have terrorists after them? 

Or do you prefer a few pages (by which I mean 3 not 30) of getting to know them and scene setting before the writer turns their world inside down and upside out?