tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post4571305864769803461..comments2024-02-16T15:14:36.719-06:00Comments on Wet Noodle Posse: Good Things Can Come From the Golden Heart by Diane GastonMJFredrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06881706931355203700noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-73051272810483273862007-10-09T09:54:00.000-05:002007-10-09T09:54:00.000-05:00There's some great info on this blog! Thanks so mu...There's some great info on this blog! Thanks so much to posting about it on the WRW loop, Diane!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-52313308921021387362007-10-03T13:11:00.000-05:002007-10-03T13:11:00.000-05:00What an amazing and inspirational blog post... I'v...What an amazing and inspirational blog post... I've had the pleasure of dealing with several Noodlers -- and you ladies are the best!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for all these great posts.Marianne Arkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934613403368823760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-13432986872188227112007-10-03T11:31:00.000-05:002007-10-03T11:31:00.000-05:00JaneGeorge, as a preliminary bit of advice about y...JaneGeorge, as a preliminary bit of advice about your synopsis, I consider it every bit as important as the excerpt. There have been GH entries I judged where the writing was engaging but the plot was so-so, and I thought, "Well, she might be able to pull it off, but I'm really not sure." And that was reflected in the score I gave. Whereas I remember an entry by Laurie Kellog where the excerpt absolutely SHONE, and then the synopsis made me cry at the end! The best piece of advice I ever heard was to write the synopsis like you're telling the plot of a great movie to someone who won't have a chance to see it.<BR/><BR/>Another thing to remember: That final round is judged by agents and editors, and it's a real chance to make a sale. Those folks look HARD at synopses, so don't lose the chance to hook 'em.Esri Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912657945785764363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-90309482916284412722007-10-03T08:27:00.000-05:002007-10-03T08:27:00.000-05:00We can trust Trish when she tells us what RWA deci...We can trust Trish when she tells us what RWA decided because she worked on what they did decide!!<BR/><BR/>BTW, Trish and Mary F are very very experienced and successful contest entrants. Lots of contest finals and wins for these ladies!Diane Gastonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14770373530197339170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-26617726322988356852007-10-03T06:42:00.000-05:002007-10-03T06:42:00.000-05:00Reading comments this morning and just wanted to s...Reading comments this morning and just wanted to say that Trish is right on with her word count estimation. My WIP for the GH is currently 46,000 and I'm on pg. 177 using TNR 12pt. font/ 1"margins.<BR/><BR/>Good Luck EverybodyKeri Fordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03342480359177235075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-75169874228962276222007-10-03T06:30:00.000-05:002007-10-03T06:30:00.000-05:00So glad to see everyone here!No worries janegeorge...So glad to see everyone here!<BR/><BR/>No worries janegeorger - we'll be covering the synopsis later in the month.Jill Monroehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12917867670224368810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-56359533169574393962007-10-03T05:06:00.000-05:002007-10-03T05:06:00.000-05:00Doglady and Cyndi, sounds like you guys are on the...Doglady and Cyndi, sounds like you guys are on the right track!!!! I know all about that range of contest scores....the book I'm debating entering has had a WIDE range in the 2 contests I've entered it in.MJFredrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06881706931355203700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-19619897903906774292007-10-02T23:22:00.000-05:002007-10-02T23:22:00.000-05:00Rachel sent me .... mmm, sounds rather cloak-and-...Rachel sent me .... mmm, sounds rather cloak-and-dagger! <BR/>:-) <BR/><BR/>I'm so impressed with the wetnoodleposse's achievements. Obviously finalling in the GH is a very desirable addition to an unpublished writer's resume. I'm looking forward to your tips over the next month while I polish up my offering.<BR/><BR/>Thank you.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12210528042709798536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-89921869519302234872007-10-02T22:00:00.000-05:002007-10-02T22:00:00.000-05:00banksofmillbrooks, I don't know if anyone else alr...banksofmillbrooks, I don't know if anyone else already answered your questions, but I estimate on my word count every year and it hasn't stopped me from finaling. And yes, the GH has maxed out before, so get your entry in as soon as you can. And I say, definitely go for the GH, especially if you've done well on the local contest circuit already!<BR/><BR/>Good luck!Theresa Raganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15815320170046221853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-71294704362286642362007-10-02T21:53:00.000-05:002007-10-02T21:53:00.000-05:00We have no hard-and-fast word counts anymore. The ...We have no hard-and-fast word counts anymore. The "typically" is just that, and it's used in part to distinguish novels from novellas.<BR/><BR/>As for YA, they are expected to often be shorter. There's no hard-and-fast word count there either, but most YA runs at least 200 pages. A 40,000-word manuscript would give you probably somewhere around 160 pages.Trish Milburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812010789617982102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-34648327932448587772007-10-02T21:32:00.001-05:002007-10-02T21:32:00.001-05:00Forgot to say, HI RACHEL!Forgot to say, HI RACHEL!Diane Gastonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14770373530197339170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-13155558198934641292007-10-02T21:32:00.000-05:002007-10-02T21:32:00.000-05:00Gaill, check with RWA about how they are treating ...Gaill, check with RWA about how they are treating the "typically 40,000 words." It may not be a hard and fast word count. Definitely call them and ask. <BR/><BR/>Terry, even people who aren't entering are welcome here!<BR/><BR/>Margaret and Macy, you are engaging in a rite of passage! Entering means you are taking your writing seriously and that is a good thing!Diane Gastonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14770373530197339170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-45849350008785656142007-10-02T21:04:00.000-05:002007-10-02T21:04:00.000-05:00These stories give me hope. I've never entered bef...These stories give me hope. I've never entered before, but win, lose, or whatever, I'm entering this year. <BR/>MacyMacy O'Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08878660367256936308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-11718949984788164052007-10-02T21:01:00.000-05:002007-10-02T21:01:00.000-05:00I'm so grateful y'all are spending the month showc...I'm so grateful y'all are spending the month showcasing the Golden Heart! I'm entering for the very first time, and the success stories are really heartening. Thanks also for the clarification on judging the partial vs full MS. <BR/><BR/>MargaretAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-41572476911928513922007-10-02T20:49:00.000-05:002007-10-02T20:49:00.000-05:00What a great idea to focus on the GH for a month -...What a great idea to focus on the GH for a month - thanks Noodlers! I'm still deciding on whether to enter, so I'll be following your posts closely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-51458448785609396772007-10-02T20:42:00.000-05:002007-10-02T20:42:00.000-05:00Thanks for the pep talk, Diane!My plan is to send ...Thanks for the pep talk, Diane!<BR/><BR/>My plan is to send off the package and fuhgeddaboudit, immersing myself in another manuscript. (Well, that's the plan...)<BR/><BR/>Any words of wisdom on the synopsis? It's judged, right?Jane Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03199994711829637247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-54135855797151260632007-10-02T20:36:00.000-05:002007-10-02T20:36:00.000-05:00*Posting-but not wanting to win the critique away ...*Posting-but not wanting to win the critique away from someone who is entering the Golden Heart*<BR/><BR/>What a great blog, Ladies. It is very informative and showcases one of the things I love best about this industry-the generosity and willingness of others to share pivotal information for the betterment of their peers careers (good grief, I didn't mean to ryhme). Hats off to you Ladies for being such a great big hearted group.Terry Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05997784537799469954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-38993248632916667112007-10-02T20:19:00.000-05:002007-10-02T20:19:00.000-05:00Hmm, 40K words, huh. Well, I guess I need to add s...Hmm, 40K words, huh. Well, I guess I need to add some to it, I'm thinking I'm about at 32K. Thanks, though for addressing this, I look forward to the YA pro! Waving to doglady!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-2795038273899178732007-10-02T20:11:00.000-05:002007-10-02T20:11:00.000-05:00Thanks, MaryF. That is a good rule of thumb. My on...Thanks, MaryF. That is a good rule of thumb. My one and only almost finished novel has made finals in the Royal Ascot, the Molly and the Emerald City Opener. It won the RA. Still waiting to hear on the other two. I have received really helpful feedback from all ten of the contests I have entered. Glad to see my "seester" Gaill on the loop. She has written a phenomenal YA! This was such a great idea, ladies. Those of us who are complete nervous wrecks at even the thought of entering the GH really appreciate it. So glad to hear from my buddy from down under, Anna C. Is everyone else waiting for UNTOUCHED as anxiously as I am?dogladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392561174583932552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-55985174585738167362007-10-02T18:24:00.001-05:002007-10-02T18:24:00.001-05:00Gaill, in some ways the contest is brand new this ...Gaill, in some ways the contest is brand new this year. The categories and the rules have changed this year. <BR/>The rules define a novel as "A novel is typically over 40,000 words." <BR/><BR/>What "typically" means is the question!<BR/><BR/>Is your computer word count near 40,000? If so, I think you are all right. <BR/><BR/>Later in the month Trish Milburn, a YA GH winner will discuss issues specific to YA entries. She'll know!<BR/><BR/>Noodler DianeDiane Gastonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14770373530197339170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-66111997691604743462007-10-02T18:24:00.000-05:002007-10-02T18:24:00.000-05:00Yay, what a great idea. I checked out Courtney Mi...Yay, what a great idea. I checked out Courtney Milan's blog and she said you guys were doing this. I'm prepping my manuscript for entry and I can use all the help I can get. This entry is very inspirational though. Love to see the success stories.Beverley Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09175915580179121447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-90515993023878909042007-10-02T18:20:00.000-05:002007-10-02T18:20:00.000-05:00I am here at the behest of my friend, cm (aka Cour...I am here at the behest of my friend, cm (aka Courtney Milan). And though I would <I>love</I> to win a critique of my first five pages of a GH entry, I have just discovered (much to my dismay) that I am almost certainly ineligible to enter. (I did send an email to RWA requesting clarification, but I'm not optimistic).<BR/><BR/>I did love reading all the success stories and look forward to many of my writer friends sharing similar stories in the future.Jackie Barbosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02904049760374126059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-85335009743324477302007-10-02T17:47:00.000-05:002007-10-02T17:47:00.000-05:00Newbie here. Doglady referred me. How bad is it if...Newbie here. Doglady referred me. How bad is it if your partial for the GH is almost or more than 30% of your book? My WIP is a YA, and when finished (hopefully in time) will not be 125 formatted pages.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-74533729912023247082007-10-02T17:43:00.000-05:002007-10-02T17:43:00.000-05:00MaryF said...my rule of thumb is that my GH entry ...MaryF said...my rule of thumb is that my GH entry has finalled in at least one other contest before I send it to the GH. <BR/><BR/>Mary - this was an interesting comment to me. I have a MS that won one contest and received a wide range of scores in other contests (like 96, 94 and 68!). You have given me food for thought.<BR/><BR/>To others...if you've never judged the GH, you should. I judged it last year just to see the "quality" of the entries. None of the ones I read finaled, but it gave me "courage" to at least think about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-51840727773718592642007-10-02T16:44:00.000-05:002007-10-02T16:44:00.000-05:00Thanks so much for the advice and answers, ladies....Thanks so much for the advice and answers, ladies. I can't wait for tomorrow. :)Gillian Laynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15772849187702478349noreply@blogger.com