I would totally agree that it sounds as though your work just wasn't to the taste of the second judge.
A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend.
Willow ,'Conversations with Dead People'
The Great Write Way
A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.
sumi - Aug 12, 2004 6:58:03 pm PDT #6010 of 10001
Art Crawl!!!
Susan W. - Aug 12, 2004 7:24:23 pm PDT #6011 of 10001
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights
I would totally agree that it sounds as though your work just wasn't to the taste of the second judge.
Yup. It wouldn't surprise me if the judge who gave me perfect sevens has reading tastes that almost directly overlap mine, at least when it comes to romance, while the judge with the threes probably loves the books that make me scratch my head in puzzlement that they're published. Luck of the draw. And while I'd rather have lucked into three judges who all loved me, because then my chapter would be sitting on an editor's desk for the final round, it's instructive to get a broad cross-section of opinion, too.
Astarte - Aug 12, 2004 9:01:35 pm PDT #6012 of 10001
Not having has never been the thing I've regretted most in my life. Not trying is.
I'd say that sounds like a good result, if not the one you were ultimately hoping for when you entered, Susan.
Go, you!!
deborah grabien - Aug 12, 2004 9:23:40 pm PDT #6013 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
jeepers, ita.
Susan, yup on the contest - personal taste issues on the part of the judges, both yea and nay.
Susan W. - Aug 12, 2004 9:53:32 pm PDT #6014 of 10001
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights
Just in case it wasn't clear, I really am feeling good about this. To have three complete strangers who don't know or care anything about me read my work and get positive reactions from two out of three is validating.
deborah grabien - Aug 13, 2004 7:29:28 am PDT #6015 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Heh. Susan, you were totally clear, and I'm with you, you should feel validated. Plus, all feedback is useful.
Speaking of which, two big errands to run today plus cleaning the house, but also I need to be writing and editing today, so please do kick me out if I'm in here for more than a few minutes (I do check between bits).
Deena - Aug 13, 2004 7:43:48 am PDT #6016 of 10001
How are you me? You need to stop that. Only I can be me. ~Kara
I finally got a thought.
Ten times
During open heart surgery, three times. Waking from each death cursing the doctor who brought him back.
A stroke, twice. “I want to go home,” he said.
Congestive heart failure, 4 times. “Is this your fault? Did you pray to bring me back?”
In a fetal position, curled over his favorite La-Z-Boy, once. Alone. Finally free to go.
I dream of the funeral, over and over. In my dream, he sits up from the casket and laughs his caustic Muttley snicker. “Suckers,” he crows, and points at us, the body of us. We should not be sad he is gone.
Susan W. - Aug 13, 2004 7:48:48 am PDT #6017 of 10001
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights
Oooh, nice.
deborah grabien - Aug 13, 2004 8:01:41 am PDT #6018 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Jeepers. Deena, that's brilliant.
Susan W. - Aug 13, 2004 8:06:47 am PDT #6019 of 10001
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights
Anyone got any suggestions for how to improve my skills in writing action?
Dialogue I'm good at. Introspective narration, where I turn my viewpoint character loose and let him/her tell the story? Easy-peasy. Action is tougher. And the more removed the action is from my personal experience, and/or the harder it is to intersperse with dialogue or introspection, the harder it gets.
Any ideas? So far I've thought of analyzing action portions of my favorite books and pulling out my DVD collection and watching to see what kind of visual details most draw my eye.