New Voices Post of Epic Winning (and giving a book away!)
So today the results were announces for the New Voices competition! Huge and hearty congratulations to the top 21!! To be in the final, with such stiff competition is truly, TRULY an accomplishment and nothing can diminish that. Heck, *I* want to be in the top 21. That is AWESOME STUFF!!!
But for those of you who didn’t make it, I just wanted to tell you that you were SO fantastic. I read and enjoyed so many wonderful entries. So much talent!
I know what it’s like to not final in contests. (you can say ‘Cool story grandma Maisey, because I know this is a repeat, but I’m repeating.) The grand and sparkly Lynn Raye Harris won the first contest I enter, and she’s a testament to how great these contests are. I didn’t get anywhere. And rightly so! My chapter just wasn’t up to snuff. Really. It wasn’t. My heroine likened herself to a manatee. I’m serious. We will not speak of it, it only upsets me.
The second contest I entered was the one the Very Fabulous Lucy King won. This entry was better than the first one. It was actually part of a full manuscript. I had some sense of pacing and conflict at least. And there were no manatee references. O_O
At the time I also had a different manuscript in with M&B and I’d gone through three rounds of revisions on it. I asked the editor I was working with if I could enter, and she said yes. I entered. I got a form ‘thanks but no thanks’ letter.
I was SO sad. I remember getting up at about 5am and stumbling to the computer to check the results and seeing my ‘thanks but not thanks’. Wah. I curled up in the fetal position and let the epic whining commence as doubt crows circled my sorry carcass.
What chance did I have if I couldn’t final in a contest? Surely the slush pile was a much deeper pile of pages to wade through.
I was despondent. I sat at the computer and looked at pictures of shirtless men. BUT NOT EVEN THAT HELPED. I was filled with WOE and BLAH. 
And about four months later, I sold. The MS I had done three rounds of revisions on, the one I had submitted through the slush pile, was acquired.
Cue happy dancing and hopping and stuff. *hops in memory*
the point is this: It is always really sad to not win. It is. It makes you feel yucky. it makes coffee taste less awesome and washboard abs seem less ab-y.
But there is ALWAYS hope. Just because this contest wasn’t your way to publication, doesn’t mean the slush pile isn’t. Or another contest. Or another publisher. Your journey is unique. Great things come from contests. And great things come in other ways too!
And now I give you this. Because it’s funny.
AND I’m giving away a copy of The Argentine’s Price!! So comment below to be entered to win!
Also, I promised Susie Mediwell on Twitter that I would post a song. I guess it’s in the spirit of all of you so bravely putting your work out there for judgment.
*yes, I know I once said on Twitter that every time someone covers an Adele song a kitten gets kicked. I’m truly sorry for my part in that.
Comments
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MAISEY! You woman of many talents, that was freaking amazing. Now, not only did I not finalise in New Voices but I’m aware that I would sound like my dog’s squeaky toy if I tried to sing that chorus. Way to bring a woman down 😉 Just kidding (except I really would sound like a squeaking snowman).
Thanks for sharing your story. For some reason, I had thought you were a contest winner. It’s nice to know that you made it big through the slush pile *cheers up*. Three rounds of revisions – you must have been on the edge of your seat for months, wondering whether they would be interested in the end. And YAY that they were! I’ve decided that I’ll wait until all the trimmings of NV are finished with (possible critiques of other subs or requests for partials), and then throw my entry into the churning, bubbling slush pile that occasionally burps out a winner!
Thanks again for the pep talk. My morning cup of tea didn’t taste as good as usual, but I think my next one will taste much better now 🙂
*blushes* well, thanks, Madeline. Winning American Idol is my back up plan. *har har* You know, my sensible option in case this writing thing doesn’t pan out. :p
And nope, I did not come through contests. I did three rounds of revisions and it took a total of 20months from slush sub to acquisition. But it was so worth it.
I really enjoyed your chapter and I hope you submit it.
Hey, Maisey I’m back with my new mac and can now post anywhere I like-thank you mac(my old one was still okay but the software was outdated and couldn’t cope with the web, plus I’d worn out three key boards!)
I’m truly in awe of the way published authors are doing all sorts of things to cheer up the NV entrants-so appreciated. Thank for your fantastic singing-that did cheer me up.
Keep up your fabulous work!
ms
PS: What about a duet next time?
I echo everything Madeline said!! WOWSERS. You even had my seven year old mesmerized. Well done, you!
Madeline – don’t stress I DID final in the Feel The HEat and M&B didn’t want me. So maybe not finalling is better 🙂
Hooray Margie! I think the husband and I could do a duet. 😀
We’ve all been there. We’re published now, but we know the disappointment, and that it can be a long road. So really, it’s no trouble!
Rach…awww. And also, M&B hasn’t found an MS of yours that works for them yet. Doesn’t mean it will never happen!
Maisey, good idea, you always need a realistic backup plan if living your dreams somehow fails 😉
And Rachel, that must have been so disappointing. Far out. But hey, Carina Press knew a star when it fell into their laps! You’ve turned your luck around. Thanks for sharing, you’ve supported what Maisey said: there are many ways to reach the end goal. I’ll just keep trying to walk several paths at once!
Madeline, there is nothing wrong with that!!
Everything is a learning experience. Even if it sort of sucks at the time.
Lordy woman, what a pair of lungs! You really nailed it and I think the kitten that was earmarked for a booting was just saved by your incredible rendition. Oh and I second the request for a duet. *sighs* How romantic singing with your hubby (of course that’s just for you – not everyone and their partner can sing…..in key – justsayin’)
And in the name of science, I am willing to sacrifice quite a bit of my time researching your hypothesis that disappointment can make washboard abs look less ab-y. Call it community service 😉
Just for the record – you can repeat that story about you not winning comps for as long as it takes me to get a ms of mine accepted – at this rate you *will* be a grandma and still repeating it but we won’t go there.
Go Madeline! Awesome attitude 🙂
Lovely post, Maisey. And, boy can you sing!! But as an English person I have to tell you how sick and tired I am of hearing Adele’s stuff, lol only joking!
Your story to publication is very inspiring and thanks for sharing it so honestly. I’m actually not disappointed about NV and not getting through. Let’s be honest, there was over 1000 entries, everyone only had a slim chance. I’m actually taking the whole experience as positive, it’s not often that an unpublished author gets the chance to get feedback from both potential readers and fellow authors.
I had some brilliant feedback on my entry, yourself included :-), so I will take all that and plough on with getting my story ready and then I WILL submit it.
One thing this competition has told me is that people actually LIKED my entry… Who’d have thunk it?!!
Now if you excuse me, I need to move that crow that’s looking to daunt me with doubts from my office window ledge ;-)!
Thanks once again for a lovely post.
You’re awesome!!! Look forward to the duet 🙂 Thanks for the nice words. I thought New Voices was a great opportunity to get feedback and was pleased that some people liked my entry, and some people pointed out where it was weak. So, a quiet weekend, then will start the rewrite. (I am a bit upset about the kitten though!)
Wow! AWESOME voice Maisey (two great voices – your singing voice and your M&B “voice” as well – go Maisey!) Thanks for the pep talk. I’ve had 2 cups of tea this morning and the 2nd one was *much* better after I read your blog ;o) – Caroline x
Maisey – you Adele clone!
You were fabulous – a woman of many talents. Do you do requests??!!!!
Epic win post indeed! You awesome woman!!
Thank you so much for the kick up the pants reminder I needed. Am off to pull out plans for next scene in wip. It *will* be kicked into submission :-}
And because I can, I had chocolate for breakfast, that was my lingering feel sorry for myself-ness. Now off to kick ms ass!
Entering NV is like childbirth, only more painful I find :s because you come out of it in a complete black hole of despondency, and worse than that, you have no idea where you went wrong (well I kind of have an idea, but you know what I mean). On the upside, I didn’t get a single negative comment and no-one found a typo in my entry (it’s the small things, right?). And I must stretch a hand out of my pit of woe this morning to click send on the partial that did final in a contest a couple of weeks ago, and then actually submit through slush, which is the one thing I’ve wimped out of doing so far.
Is there anything that you can’t do? Great post, great voice, great hair. We can’t be friends now.
P.S. Where’s the next video?
I’m fairly certain no kittens were harmed in the making of that post. You said there’d be drawings and there were! You are a woman of your word. 😉 Thanks for that wonderful dose of Maisey wisdom, I’m now going to harrass you on Twitter, and possibly tell your husband I now have a girl crush on his wife 😉
WOW. Just wow.
XX
Hi Maisey,
Thank you so much for the lovely post. I was feeling a little bummed out by not winning a spot as one of the 21…but your words gave me encouragement to look into my first chapter and to begin again (and again). You rock.
If I didn’t like you so much I could seriously hate you, Maisey! lol!
Tell me you are a terrible cook or something, no one can be this good at everything. Gorgeous video, and whilst I was there I watched the one with the frying pan and crows too. Really made me titter!
Top post Maisey, a good pick me up alround.
x
OMG, OMG, OMG I totally missed this pots, Maisey…
Can you sing or what? Now I’ve forgotten what the rest of the post was about….
But thanks for the encouragement anyway..
My 3year old declared you’re as good as ‘Adele’ after she listened to you….
Very very nice….:-)
Maisey, you ROCK!
Thanks for the inspiration and thanks for making me laugh every day on Twitter. Onward and upward to the NV losers!
Best,
Jo
Thanks for the inspiration, Maisey! You did a wonderful job singing so I’m sure no cats were harmed in the making of your music video. 😉
Lynn Raye Harris is one of my writing chaptermates. She also wrote an uplifting blog about the contest results that every #NewVoices2011 entrant should read. Between the two of you, hundreds, if not all of us have a better day ahead of us. Contests, rejections, and so forth are like falling off of a bike or riding a horse. Take the tumble, then get right back on. The race can’t be won without a runner.
Your tweets are so much fun! Don’t stop delighting us with your quick wit, please! Thanks again. Blessings!
Thanks for your awesome words of support! NV was my first time ever sharing my writing and even though I didn’t make it thru, I thought it was an awesome experience. The positive comments and suggestions were very appreciated. Thanks again, you’ve made me smile like, well, very googy smile.
Grand and sparkly? I like! 🙂 Nice video. I cannot sing. Not a lick. Except to myself, in the shower, or listening to iTunes while drinking wine. Then, I’m pretty fabulous (snort). Why don’t you give X-Factor a try next year? Then you can tell Simon when he asks what you do that you are a bestselling romance novelist. Bet he’s never heard that one before! 🙂
Who’s Adele?
Okay, okay I’m kidding.
You are an artist extraordinaire – writing, drawing, and singing! But can you dance?
Awesome voice Maisey! So brave to put it out there – i would be more afraid of singing in front of people than putting my writing up!
Well done 🙂
Egads, people! I go out for the day and all awesome breaks loose here without me.
Elissa, I’m sure I could talk him into a duet. 🙂 And I’m glad you don’t mind me repeating my stories.
Rebecca, bite your tongue about Adele. But *I* really enjoyed your entry and I’m glad you feel like you got something out of the experience!
Susie, way to get back on the horse! Yeah, the kitten bit is sad…
Well thanks, Caroline. 🙂 Am glad to have had a part in improving your tea!
Susan, LOL…sure, throw one out there. Bear in mind I have the vocal range of…a man.
You, Miss Catherine, MUST pull your big girl pants on and get back to work because I would like to read more of that fab book of yours.
Jane, they don’t make epidurals for this, sadly. But also, your MS won’t throw mashed peas into your hair.
Lacey, do you have time for a list of things I can’t do? Math, sewing, organizing, anything that involves glitter, glue or raffia…
Mel, am honored.
*blush* at Suzanne
Diane, hooray for feeling encouraged! Go FOR IT!!!
Joanne, See the list I gave Lacey about my shortcomings. 😉
Sri, your three year old is my new favorite person. LOL. Keep going, sweetie, I know you’ve been feeling very down. But keep going.
Joanna, thanks for laughing at me on Twitter! Well…you know what I mean. 🙂
Thank you Katherine! And I saw Lynn’s Post (and all of you should go read it!!)
Johanna, aww that’s lovely! Glad you found positive things in the experience!
Lynn, I always think of you as sparkly. Or glittery. 😀 You are so supremely glamorous. LOL on X-Factor…I would rather hide in my writing cave. 😉
Marcie, GET THEE TO itunes!! She is amazing. And no, I can’t dance. So we’ll add that to the list too. NO DANCING. None. I am…awful.
Kerrin, I’ve been singing longer than I’ve been writing. 😉
I read this last night and thought it was a pretty inspirational “get off your duff and keep writing” (or would that get back on your duff?).
Keep inspiring us!
Good Lord, girl! You got a set of pipes! *applause*. I think this illustrates perfectly how to bravely put yourself out there. Brava!!!!
A-MA-ZING! Made only more fabulous with Howard Keel’s accompaniment (I have Seven Brides on in the background 😀 )
You is one talented lady, Miss Maisey!! #1 daughter said your singing was very good! (she was in the room whilst I was listening). Love Lynn’s idea of the X-Factor, that would be awesome! Lovely Blog post too. 🙂
Desire, yeah, that’s get back ON your duff. But feel free to get up for a minute and stretch and get snacks. :p
Jessica, thank you. 😉 Though, I think I was much more nervous when my first book came out…
Karina, AH! Howard Keel! You know me so well.
Alexandra, thank you. Can you imagine all the snide romance jokes they’d make on X-Factor. I’d have to cut someone.
Hi Maisey,
Loved your singing!
Your journey to publication is inspiring. And with your own story, you motivate everyone else. Thank you.
I’ve seen Mum’s condition when she submitted. She kept checking email obsessively. Thank God, I’m just a reader!
Oh my goodness! You have a fabulous voice. Thanks so much for sharing an ‘extra’ talent that anyone else would be glad to have as their mainstay. Would be depressed if I wasn’t so busy thinking how lucky I am to know someone so talented 😉
Riya, that’s so sweet of you to day. 🙂
Chelsea, I feel lucky to know someone as talented as you!
Wowzers, who knew you could sing!! I am impressed as I cannot, well not unless I need to evac a room in which case I am, THE best person for the job 😉 I submitted to NV and was not surprised that I didn’t get through, especially having read it again – way too much backstory, way too little dialogue. So now I’ll redo and maybe even after two years of gasing submit it via the slush that is. My only problem is too many stories uncompleted. Three weeks to finish a story is amazing, me two years and I only have one finished and about twenty started in various stages. Hmm maybe I need chocolate and superglue so that I get one finished.
🙂
SJ