I had crazy jitters until the interaction really started. I entered one contest before but I didn't participate in anything. This is the first time I really dove into the community surrounding the contest (kontest) and I'm having a blast. Everything is out of my hands at this point so I'm just trying to soak up all the little tid bits of knowledge being handed out, meet other writers out there, and enjoy the experience!
I just returned from living in Beijing for 5 and a half years. I had written my book, got amazing feedback and even have a few fans so I've just started looking for an agent and publisher. I saw a tweet and entered the Kompetition on a whim. I banged out a query in a few minutes, not really sure of what I was doing (and not really sure why I didn't use other query letters that I had already written...my mind boggles me sometimes). I read the query over a few times, and a few times more and I was like...in my head..."I ROCK!" Sent it and felt like "oh yeah!" then went back to my other writing I was doing for a deadline. THEN....(cue the ominous music) I read my entry again.....and died. I could not believe how many typos were in it, typos I didn't see the first few times and so, that may have killed my chances this time around. I am getting involved in the community because I am, in essence, new to the querying and publishing process, having only come back to America three months ago, so I am happy to learn. I was terribly scared when I saw all the typos and I will be disappointed if I don't get a chance to compete. I know, however, I wrote a beautiful story, which is really freaking hard to pitch, cause it has so many elements that push the boundaries. Someday this story will be published, I have no doubt. So..if life is a journey....this rollercoaster is certainly one of the more exciting parts of it and the jitters are even sort of fun...mostly...ish.
Post by Michael Anthony on Apr 24, 2018 19:28:16 GMT -5
I'm excited to dive into the slush pile. Call them excited jitters! )
I have to admit, I envy all your nervousness...but only a little. I'd be awesome to participate in the tournament, but I'm perfectly happy hosting. It's safer that way lol.
Post by Dan Koboldt on Apr 25, 2018 9:16:36 GMT -5
Hello all, I'm honored to serve as a judge this year. Good luck to everyone participating!
Dan Koboldt Twitter: @dankoboldt Author of the Gateways to Alissia series with Harper Voyager The Rogue Retrieval (March 2016) The Island Deception (April 2017) The World Awakening (April 2018) Editor of Putting the Science in Fiction (Writer's Digest, Fall 2018)
Post by jlennidorner on Apr 26, 2018 7:25:08 GMT -5
Hi! Another judge stopping in to wish everyone the best of luck. I hope we all learn from this experience.
Please, call me J. I run the Debut Author Spotlight at Operation Awesome (@opawesome6) and am a Blogging from A to Z Challenge #AtoZChallenge co-host. Author of "Fractions of Existence" and "Preparing to Write Settings that Feel Like Characters."
Post by Earthbound Misfit on May 5, 2018 13:02:54 GMT -5
Good luck to all the Kombatants this year! I'm excited to be a judge again and look forward to reading all your wonderful entries.
Jitters are natural...I'm currently waiting to hear back about a short story I subbed, and I've checked my online submission status an embarrassing number of times.