Whew! I made it, although I have to admit I almost didn't. I wasn't quite sure how to interpret the rule that said the entry must be "postmarked and received" by March 6th. I could definitely do the postmarked part, but not the received part, since I was sending it from New York to Texas.
I worked really hard to improve my opening chapter, using every piece of information I've learned from reading blogs online and working through Donald Maass' "Writing the Breakout Fiction Novel Workbook". I almost gave up on the contest entry, though, because I was working full-time during the day, and then writing full-time into the wee hours, and I was wearing out. (Even though you're sitting in a chair, typing on a laptop, it doesn't FEEL like you're doing nothing, probably because the ole brainbox is sprinting a marathon at the same time.)
And of course doubt crept in.
It was bound to, because after reading through my entry forty eleven times, it started to sound like the back of a cereal box written by someone picking words at random from the dictionary. The really fun part was reducing a five-page synopsis down to a one-page synopsis, and ensuring it didn't read "Boy meets girl. S*** happens. They lived happily ever after."
But I couldn't quit.
There's a fine line between determination and stubbornness, and I cross over it so much, the border guards just wave me through. I've come to believe the effort IS worthwhile, even if the result isn't what I anticipated. I'm benefitting from the discipline required to revise and meet a deadline. I'm benefitting from writing when I'm tired and would prefer to watch another episode of "Gossip Girl" (even though everyone will agree that studying Chuck Bass is a justifiable research endeavor).
It's such a good feeling to put that entry in the mail, knowing that I've done my best, and I've learned a lot in the process.
Now my fingers are crossed into pretzel shapes, hoping the contest judges feel my work is worthy of their esteem.
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