I made the first round of cuts! Whoo! I didn't even realize how anxious I was until I woke up yesterday morning expecting the results. When they didn't show and no email came I started thinking I hadn't made it. The only thing that kept my same flame of hope alive was that there didn't seem to be anyone who'd received an email. After ten hours of constant check the list was finally up. I think I opened the file about ten times before I actually believed it was my name and my book title. Together.
The first round was the pitch round. I made it so I know my premise isn't crap and that essentially my query isn't crap either, although I have improved on it since submitting my pitch. Being rejected in round one just means you need to work on your pitch, find a way to distinguish it form the rest of the pack. I was kind of hoping to be eliminated in round one, that way I could tell myself that it's just my pitch they don't like.
Going into this second round, I'm scared to face the reviews of people I don't know, who I haven't established a writing relationship with. It's a month until the next elimination and I'm determined to put the contest to the side. To not worry about what the reviewers will say or whether I make it or not. But for now, I'm going to basking in the glory of having made it through round one! :)
On my iPod:
I'm in Love with a Girl by Gavin DeGraw
I'm very happy for you. It seems that there are many from TNBW that made it past.
ReplyDeleteann
It just goes to show how talented the members of The Next Big Writer are as writers and reviewers! My pitch would have sucked if I hadn't gotten such great feedback on how to improve it.
ReplyDeleteHope you make it through the next round. I do remember folks at tnbw ranting last time about people who criticized their work, starting out with the fact that their genre wasn't one the reviewer liked. How cruel is that? I wondered what point there was in offering reviews in a genre one neither likes or never read. But then, there are many strange folks in this world.
ReplyDeleteKeep busy and the time will slip by before you know it.
Excellent news!!! Crossing my fingers for you and the other TNBW folks.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! :)
Corra
from the desk of a writer (I moved my blog! I'm at Wordpress now.)
Congratulations!!! I made it too (also YA).
ReplyDelete(found you via Wordpress's random blog linkage)
Thanks Corra! I'll update my blogroll with your new link :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! and Congrats to you too! only 17 more days of waiting!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joy! I think getting through the next round is gonig to be hard, but hopefully this year they match up the reviewers better. :)
ReplyDelete