Comments on: You Be the Judge http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:05:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Viola Estrella http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/comment-page-1/#comment-4832 Viola Estrella Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:56:41 +0000 http://mamawriters.com/blog/?p=3031#comment-4832 Hi Melissa, I love judging the published contests for the simple reason that I don't have to worry about critiquing the technical stuff. I just have to sit back and enjoy...or not. LOL Hi Melissa,
I love judging the published contests for the simple reason that I don’t have to worry about critiquing the technical stuff. I just have to sit back and enjoy…or not. LOL

]]> By: Eliza Knight http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/comment-page-1/#comment-4831 Eliza Knight Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:13:15 +0000 http://mamawriters.com/blog/?p=3031#comment-4831 Melissa, I couldn't agree more! This year was the first time I judged The Golden Heart, and I found the experience to be so much different than other contests. Mostly because I didn't have to scour the manusript to score on all the technical points, etc... that you normally have to check off when judging. I was just able to read and then decide if the story itself was good, if it caught me and did I fall in love, and yes essentially was I up until the wee hours because I couldn't stop reading. I think thats the major difference with the Rita's and Golden Hearts versus other contests. With the Rita, its already published, its being judged on whether its a good read. Although the GH's aren't published, essentially those writers are ready to submit, or have already to a publisher. With other contests, a lot of times they are writers testing the waters and looking for feedback. I think there should be a lot more opportunities for contests like the Rita and GH. Just MHO. Great post, Cheers! Eliza Melissa, I couldn’t agree more! This year was the first time I judged The Golden Heart, and I found the experience to be so much different than other contests. Mostly because I didn’t have to scour the manusript to score on all the technical points, etc… that you normally have to check off when judging. I was just able to read and then decide if the story itself was good, if it caught me and did I fall in love, and yes essentially was I up until the wee hours because I couldn’t stop reading.

I think thats the major difference with the Rita’s and Golden Hearts versus other contests. With the Rita, its already published, its being judged on whether its a good read. Although the GH’s aren’t published, essentially those writers are ready to submit, or have already to a publisher. With other contests, a lot of times they are writers testing the waters and looking for feedback.

I think there should be a lot more opportunities for contests like the Rita and GH. Just MHO.

Great post, Cheers!
Eliza

]]> By: Melissa Mayhue http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/comment-page-1/#comment-4830 Melissa Mayhue Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:07:48 +0000 http://mamawriters.com/blog/?p=3031#comment-4830 Thank goodness for us "easy" readers!!! Still, I think you've totally nailed it... As readers, we want to be inside the room in the thick of the action, not peeking in the window! [Of course, as authors, that's the hard part!!!] ~ Melissa Thank goodness for us “easy” readers!!!

Still, I think you’ve totally nailed it… As readers, we want to be inside the room in the thick of the action, not peeking in the window!

[Of course, as authors, that's the hard part!!!]

~ Melissa

]]> By: Sarah Simas http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/comment-page-1/#comment-4829 Sarah Simas Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:21:20 +0000 http://mamawriters.com/blog/?p=3031#comment-4829 HI Melissa! I've never looked at a contest from the judge's standpoint. Very interesting! Would that every judge see their job as you do. LOL I wish! (it would sure save my sanity!) I need a character that intrigues me and makes me want to fall into their world. It's the same way with the heroes. I have be drawn into their story or I can't finish. I don't like being at the window looking in-- I want to be in the thick of things. I just started Sara Lindsey's debut Promise Me Tonight and her style and voice have won me over. If an author can get me addicted to the way they write characters, I'm a fan for life! (lol Does that make me sound easy or what?! *wink wink*) HI Melissa!

I’ve never looked at a contest from the judge’s standpoint. Very interesting! Would that every judge see their job as you do. LOL I wish! (it would sure save my sanity!)

I need a character that intrigues me and makes me want to fall into their world. It’s the same way with the heroes. I have be drawn into their story or I can’t finish. I don’t like being at the window looking in– I want to be in the thick of things.

I just started Sara Lindsey’s debut Promise Me Tonight and her style and voice have won me over. If an author can get me addicted to the way they write characters, I’m a fan for life! (lol Does that make me sound easy or what?! *wink wink*)

]]> By: Melissa Mayhue http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/comment-page-1/#comment-4828 Melissa Mayhue Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:27:40 +0000 http://mamawriters.com/blog/?p=3031#comment-4828 Good call, Helen! You're right. It's that being sucked in as a reader to the point where you BELIEVE it's happening!! ~ Melissa Good call, Helen! You’re right. It’s that being sucked in as a reader to the point where you BELIEVE it’s happening!!

~ Melissa

]]> By: Melissa Mayhue http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/comment-page-1/#comment-4827 Melissa Mayhue Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:26:44 +0000 http://mamawriters.com/blog/?p=3031#comment-4827 Awww, Alba! I'm sending great big virtual hugs your directions today!!!!! :-) ~ Melissa Awww, Alba! I’m sending great big virtual hugs your directions today!!!!! :-)

~ Melissa

]]> By: Melissa Mayhue http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/comment-page-1/#comment-4826 Melissa Mayhue Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:25:56 +0000 http://mamawriters.com/blog/?p=3031#comment-4826 I'll tell you another of my 'revelations', Lily... anyone can learn the technical parts of writing, but I believe storytelling is inside you. One of the best technical teachers in my opinion?? Reading books you love. You'll pick up much of what you need to know by lots and lots of reading. As always... my opinion only and your mileage will vary! :-) ~ Melissa I’ll tell you another of my ‘revelations’, Lily… anyone can learn the technical parts of writing, but I believe storytelling is inside you.

One of the best technical teachers in my opinion?? Reading books you love. You’ll pick up much of what you need to know by lots and lots of reading.

As always… my opinion only and your mileage will vary! :-)

~ Melissa

]]> By: Helen Hardt http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/comment-page-1/#comment-4825 Helen Hardt Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:43:21 +0000 http://mamawriters.com/blog/?p=3031#comment-4825 For me it's all about the emotion and the passion between the hero and heroine. I can forgive some of the technical imperfections if that relationship keeps me interested. For me it’s all about the emotion and the passion between the hero and heroine. I can forgive some of the technical imperfections if that relationship keeps me interested.

]]> By: alba http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/comment-page-1/#comment-4824 alba Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:08:51 +0000 http://mamawriters.com/blog/?p=3031#comment-4824 Exceptional That's how I feel when I read your books, They keep me wanting more.... have a good one alba. Exceptional That’s how I feel when I read your books, They keep me wanting more….
have a good one alba.

]]> By: Lilly http://mamawriters.com/2010/02/you-be-the-judge/comment-page-1/#comment-4823 Lilly Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:57:02 +0000 http://mamawriters.com/blog/?p=3031#comment-4823 I so glad to hear this from a writer because I'm not a technical writer at all. I want to get my story out and have my co-author handle the technicality. To me its like wanting a web site but not knowing how to create one using html. Being a working mom doesn't help my situation either. Doesn't leave me with a lot of time for technical writing classes. I so glad to hear this from a writer because I’m not a technical writer at all. I want to get my story out and have my co-author handle the technicality. To me its like wanting a web site but not knowing how to create one using html. Being a working mom doesn’t help my situation either. Doesn’t leave me with a lot of time for technical writing classes.

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