post ABNA wrap-up...

well, ABNA 2009 has come and gone. I happened upon it via Createspace in January, and felt the urge to enter...

(very long post...)

the biggest obstacle for me was the pitch. with some great eyes behind mine, it came together, and once that was sorted, getting my manuscript in shape was already in progress. for some reason it was the pitch that gave me the most heebie-jeebies...

anyways... once that was done, manuscript fine-combed and double spaced in TNR in the correct size (11 or 12, I can't recall...), then it was going through the helpful video shorts, full of bits that aren't in the rules. little pieces, that of course I can't recall now either. (it was four months ago!) but those tutorials were useful.

now, I should say this was my first contest. with that, I enjoyed it, especially the first month. five weeks actually, from entering to the quarter finalists being announced. nothing to do but ignore it, until that date arrives...

then, it gets busy. according to the rules, reviews offered on the excerpts were going to count towards moving on. however...

the winner, James King, garnered 5, count them, FIVE reviews as a quarter finalist. I believe he accumulated 8 by the end, and seeing some folks in the quarters had well over 50, I'm inclined to believe those customer reviews were...

not necessarily necessary.

but a great addition because that aspect made the contest interactive... you felt engaged (and could get friends and family involved if you like...)

that interaction was a part I really enjoyed. I read quite a few excerpts, and it took a bit for me to feel like I knew what I was doing in leaving a review. as I read, I knew in my gut if it was a 4 or 5 star, and let me say that there were some I began reading and just couldn't get through. I tried to review all that had a NANO connection, otherwise I stuck to general literature, my preferred genre.

maybe the reviews didn't count towards progressing, but it was nice to get feedback! that meant so much, because it's through comments and critiques that we get better at writing.

I had NO IDEA how I would do, and when I made the quarters, I was pretty pleased. I knew September Story was a pretty solid tale, and having read other excerpts, I felt I was okay to be there. for a month I was checking my page daily; any new reviews? reading the threads, getting to know the other entrants, personalities and boy, were there some interesting folks! mostly I loved being around so many WRITERS!! that was priceless, and I felt so at home...

then, the semi's approached, going from 500 to 100... good grief! I had no idea how I'd do, feeling like I could make the top 250, but 100? I really felt...

nervous. all right, scared. I mean, let's not beat around the bush. I wanted to move on. who didn't? it took all day for Amazon to update the quarter finalists, and I think all were expecting the same when they announced the semis...

but to our great surprise, early (well, it was for me, living in Pacific Daylight Time) that morning came the announcements. and I was on that list.

big deep sigh... looking back, that moment is huge in my burgeoning career. in that, out of probably 5,000 entrants (Amazon still isn't saying how many people entered), I had a manuscript worthy of being in the top 100...

that will resonate with me for a while. why? because I have so little idea if what I write is any good. insular, that's me. and it's one thing for family and close friends to say my writing is nice, but for professionals to offer that opinion...

well, yeah. it meant a great deal.

so, having reached that level, it was time to get serious. serious about realizing my chance of making the top three was like the Niners getting to next year's Superbowl.

uh, not very realistic.

there were some FANTASTIC excerpts in the top 100. work that made me go... WHOA! to be in that company was really humbling, made me smile too. there we were, all knowing only three would move on, and while there were excerpts I wished had advanced, the decision had been made. I read more, reviewed some great pieces of literature, books I hope to see on the shelves or self-published one day. engaging manuscripts, really fine writing.

again, being able to access excerpts is one of my biggest pushes for this contest. there they are, just download and read! leave a review if you like, or find another. participate in the threads, or not. it's all what you make it...

then came the 6th of May. the day the finalists got 'the calls'...

that day came and went for 97 people, of which I was one. in fact, no one called our house that day until 6.30 PM, someone for Jay...

and then, for me, it was done. but what a ride!! now, a few weeks later, James King has been voted by Amazon customers as this year's winner, his novel Bill Warrington's Last Chance to be published by Viking next year.

this contest is only in its second year, and I expect changes will be enacted. I'd like to see it made more clear whether or not customer reviews really do matter, as many semifinalists had less than 5 reviews, a few with only 1! also, those PW reviews...

well, many not much more than a synopsis, and in the rules they are stated as the 'prize' for all quarter finalists. what good is a prize that reads as a book review, or even worse, slams the excerpt so hard it might as well have dropped it from a 50 story building?

also better policing of the forums for disruptive forces would be appreciated.

otherwise, a contest I would enter again, if circumstances call. (meaning if I have no agent...) the camaraderie was fantastic, great folks truly interested in the art and craft of the fictional written word. now, as I said, this was my first contest. maybe I'm talking out my butt, but I really had a good time. the quarterfinal round was the most difficult, trying to be patient, but once past that, it was just gravy.

I know I was fortunate, getting so far my first time out. pretty darn... lucky? blessed is more like it. but it was what it was, and now my manuscript sits in Penguin's hands until the end of June. might I get a call, might someone there want my novel?

well... we'll see. if they do, I'll be sure to let you know... :)))