Contest Review (Let's see where you rocked and where you didn't rule so much)

This already happens with crit exchanges. 

@pdblake I think he means crit exchanges with stories already submitted to the contest.

There's always time to write a new story. Find your zone, let it flow, and, there it is, a fresh born baby kraken, ready to take wing and fly into the future.

Posted by: @habaneropepper

Hi, after a few months on the forum I've realized that you can submit a story and receive some acknowledgement, but it's not like the judges can always peer review the way we do in the forums. Could we create a story exchange where we review people's stories to see why they got an honorable mention versus a distinct place? That way, if you usually don't have time to write an entirely new story, you know how to revise the one you have for a better entry. If anyone agrees, please reach out.

If you’d like to dm me, I’d be happy to take a look at your story with an eye toward contest placement. Obviously I’m not a judge but I’ve been subbing a long time now and might be able to give you some insight. Feel free to reach out. 

Posted by: @alexvss

@pdblake I think he means crit exchanges with stories already submitted to the contest.

Yeah. I actually assumed people already did that too. It does make sense. Lol.

Posted by: @pdblake

Posted by: @alexvss

@pdblake I think he means crit exchanges with stories already submitted to the contest.

Yeah. I actually assumed people already did that too. It does make sense. Lol.

It doesn't happen as often, but it still happens sometimes.

@rschibler Don't worry, you've already reviewed one of my stories before--remember the names Soot and Idris? I finished writing the climax of the story a few months ago and now I'm trying to write the ending. I would appreciate a crit review on the last story I submitted, but I'm just trying to pay back what people have done for me on here. 

@alexvss That's correct! The only incorrect part of your statement is the "he" part, however--I'm the girl that came up with the idea.

@habaneropepper Noted!

And, as I'm new here, I only have pending submissions. But I'd like to exchange crits after those submissions come back, yeah. It would be nice to see why they were rejected, or why they received HMs or became finalists. It's a good idea.

@alexvss Sure! I've only gotten honorable mentions thus far, but I'm a pretty well-read person so I bet I can figure out what rocked and what didn't rule. Hope to hear from you soon!

@writingdude That does sound like him 😀 

But I heard something pretty similar by Neil Gaiman in his MasterClass®. Actually, he told a story of when a writer called an editor, and the editor said just that.

The crit exchanges 3RD and 4TH QTR were brutal, but provided me with excellent insight on how I could improve. The first thing learned was proper manuscript formatting which I missed in first 2 QTRs.

I recall Gaiman mentioning that in his Masterclass also. I loved his lessons.

And, it was J. Michael Straczynski who originally told that story. He says he found Ellison's phone number in the phone book, rang him up and asked him how to start selling his stories/writing, and Ellison told him to stop writing 'crap' stories (paraphrased), and then hung up on him. LOL

Also, Straczynki's auto-biography, where he tells this story, is SO good and very worth while to read! (title: Becoming Superman)
10/10 and two thumbs up from me. He's a great storyteller. ♥

~A.

Posted by: @alexvss

It would be nice to see why they were rejected, or why they received HMs or became finalists.

I can't see anything wrong with getting some more eyes on your work after submitting. However, I would mention that others can only give suggestions and opinions (although several on this forum are VERY good, I believe) as to why a story scored the way it did. Only the judges actually know why it scored that way.

@alexvss 

Dave Farland wrote a terrific article about why most people only receive an Honorable Mention in the contest. If you haven't read it yet, you might find it helpful.

@morgan-broadhead Didn't know about it. Thanks!

Posted by: @alexvss

@morgan-broadhead Didn't know about it. Thanks!

This is the article: https://mystorydoctor.com/why-you-only-got-an-honorable-mention/

I've just read it for the hundredth time and am never much the wiser for my own stories. I think sometimes my idea and/or speculative element isn't strong enough, but otherwise, this is the sentence in the article that seems to apply to me: "Usually the author is blind to his or her own missing element."

I've thought many HMs I've critiqued have had a strong idea but haven't been at a high prose level e.g. clarity issues (such as pronoun and PoV confusion or blocking) or e.g. could be much more concise (I used to do something where I'd say the same thing twice or even three times to make sure I got my point across to the reader). These are just things I've picked up and are perhaps the kinds of things I spot when critiquing.

Hopefully we'll all figure it out someday.

@alexh Thanks for that link on blocking! I’ve known the importance of scene setting, but that really clarified the how’s and why’s of it.

For those who missed Alex’s embedded link, I highly recommend giving this a read. 

https://www.septembercfawkes.com/2018/01/how-to-handle-blocking.html?m=1

After looking through your responses, I'd like to thank you all for contributing to this discussion. Thanks to @alexh for linking those articles--I wasn't aware that David had already written something about honorable mentions. Again, I'm new, so I'm still exploring the forum. I think we can close this post for now, but you're welcome to post any additional articles/links that you think may further the topic. Y'all rule!

@alexh Thanks for that. I was going to suggest Writing Excuses, but the article you shared already did it. 😆  However, they've made yet another episode about it. Not doing any blocking whatsoever is called "white room syndrome" and is common in begginer writers.

And, as I'm also a cinephile (among a lot of other things), I'd like to share a YT video about movie blocking from a channel that I follow. It's good to have a visual example.

@alexh Hi Alex!

🤩

Posted by: @alexvss

@alexh Thanks for that. I was going to suggest Writing Excuses, but the article you shared already did it. 😆  However, they've made yet another episode about it. Not doing any blocking whatsoever is called "white room syndrome" and is common in begginer writers.

 

And, as I'm also a cinephile (among a lot of other things), I'd like to share a YT video about movie blocking from a channel that I follow. It's good to have a visual example.

 

For some reason, I thought that video was an advert when it started and was waiting to skip it. 😀 It's timely for my film-watching too, as I watched a film a few days ago and my photographer's eye wondered how my eyes were drawn to the protagonist in a crowded scene. I think it was probably shapes! 

I too watch videos about film and find them helpful for my short story writing. There are some brilliant channels on the specifics of writing for film where so much applies to prose too. I often find them more helpful than videos about short story advice, perhaps because I am a visual person. My favourite film-specific video is Hayao Miyazaki and the Art of Ambivalence (spoiler alerts) - I'm probably biased in that I adore Spirited Away and some of Hayao Miyazaki's other films, but there's stuff here I hope I take into my own stories.

And Hi back, @axeminister - I will be disappearing again soon!

@morgan-broadhead  Thanks for posting that. After I write a story I have noticed that sometimes I do forget something I should be putting in a story.  But looks like I was right a non HM means he didn't read my story all the way through. As I say a total rejection. 

Posted by: @ldwriter2

@morgan-broadhead  Thanks for posting that. After I write a story I have noticed that sometimes I do forget something I should be putting in a story.  But looks like I was right a non HM means he didn't read my story all the way through. As I say a total rejection. 

Not always, but it’s more likely a rejection means it didn’t get past first reader Kary. She has specific things Dave has her look for in the first two pages, and then she checks that your ending delivers as well before she decides if it should be sent on to Dave. So look to your openings and endings when you get an R. First place you should scrutinize if you wish to play Rejectomancy. 😊

@wulfmoon Okay