It's Q&A Day
Our GH Q&A day was so popular, we're having another. Just ask your questions in the comments section, and our Noodlers will do their best to answer them!Here's our first question:
What is the best way to mail your GH entry? How soon/late do you mail it?
Labels: Golden Heart
posted by Jill Monroe @ 10:07 AM
8 Comments:
I've certainly mailed a contest entry or two in overnight mail, but I'd suggest mailing early enough that you can check on delivery and then remail if necessary.
The ending hook. If I'm looking at my story from a Scene/Sequel (Swain) standpoint-
Scene: Goal/Conflict/Disaster
Sequel: Reaction/Dilemma/Decision
then is a better hook likely to come at the "Disaster" section, or would you want to provide more information and try to end at the "Dilemma" section? I'm assuming the "Decision" section is a bad choice because it's some kind of resolution.
Or is this totally dependent on the story? (sigh) I'm just trying to wrap my head around these terms, which are still fairly new to me...
Mailing: I think two weeks in advance, regular mail, is plenty (as long as you're in the U.S.). I liked to hold on to it as long as poss, in case I got valuable feedback from a reader or another contest. That way, I still had time to make changes.
Gillian: I'd end with a disaster, unless it makes your entry much shorter, in which case the dilemma is fine. Can you give us the ending line or two of each choice?
Gillian, I assume you are talking about your GH entry. I wouldn't over-analyze.
Disaster is good, but Dilemma works, too, and even Decision, because it is a "closing" point and you are closing your entry. Probably Reaction isn't the greatest.
I think in a contest it is most important that the entry end in a logical place, better yet if it is a compelling hook, as well.
I once heard Jennifer Crusie give a brilliant workshop on Scene and Sequel as a tool to analyze your book to troubleshoot. I've just not been able to wrap my mind around it.
No question right at the moment, but can I take a moment to gloat, just a little, tiny gloat?? I just want to say that I am the luckiest person around because I got my critique from the Divine Ms. G and it was SO HELPFUL!!! The best part? She treated me like a real writer and let me know everything she was thinking. I cannot begin to imagine the time and effort she put into reading my partial and synopsis. I cannot express how helpful and encouraging it is to me. So, that is my gloat. Thanks to the Wet Noodle Posse, not only have I had access to what amounts to a master class on the Golden Heart, I have also had a fantastic critique from someone whose work I truly admire. Thanks all around!! Off to read through my critique and decide what changes to make!
Diane: Duuuuude.... I want a cool moniker like "The Divine Ms. G."
Diane is a super-duper writer, Doglady. You're a lucky gal.
And of course you're a real writer!!
Gee....(blushing)
And here I was afraid doglady would be mad at me because I said everything I was thinking!
She's a wonderful writer and all I did was suggest some polish.
Dear Louisa-
Of course you are a "real writer"! Not to mention a brilliant crit partner :)
Sorry to have disappeared, Diane and Esri-seriously blowing Midwest winds were playing havoc with my internet yesterday.
I think after messing with my partial (again) there's really only one good ending that lets me get the right amount of pages in, as well.
Thanks for your advice!
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