So, no, I have not followed through where my WIP is concerned. However, I have been writing. In fact, I’ve written more during the last few days than during the entire summer (unless you count posts in this blog).
I entered the Black Diamond Synopsis Contest and learned just two days ago, that one of my three submissions made it to the finals.
The feedback for each of my submissions was incredible. And insightful. What amazed me was how I seemed to make the same error in each one and how all nine judges (three for each synopsis), mentioned it as a sticking point.
I focus on the heroine – her internal and external goals, emotional reactions and growth – but not on the hero. In each of the comments sections, the judges mentioned how they felt disconnected with my hero and would like to know more.
What’s interesting to me about that is my feeling/fear that my stories were too centered on the hero. I guess I tried harder to get the heroine’s story out there and so left my poor hero (each one of them) standing at the curb. Poor guys.
The good news is that finalists were permitted to revise and resubmit before the final round of judging. So, for the last couple of days, I’ve been revising. And revising. And then when I finally had what I thought was the best synopsis possible… my file disappeared.
Disappeared.
I searched and searched and cursed and cursed. All to no avail. That file was gone. I have no idea how or why it happened. I saved it. Repeatedly. The file info acknowledged modification at the precise time I’d saved it but not one of my changes were there. And so, though I was advised to walk away, I could not. I sat there, determined to get this done.
And I did.
I resubmitted my new and improved synopsis within one hour of the deadline to do so. I don’t know how it will do but I do know I gave it my all.
And now… I will get back to my regularly scheduled goal and write something, anything, in my WIP each and every day.
Best of luck, Debbie, and good for you for persevering despite losing your document.
Linda
Debbie, what wonderful news. Your synopsis made the finals in the Black Diamond Synopsis Contest! Congrats!
Good luck with the version you had to rewrite. What a bummer that the whole thing disappeared.
Linda,
I like you’re perspective – “perservering”. I just condsidered it OCD. lol.
Kathleen,
I’m still trying to understand how it disappeared. I’ve no idea what I did wrong… or different. Very strange. Thanks for the good luck wishes!
~Debbie
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you Debbie. I have found contests to be both a blessing and a curse. The feedback can be invaluable or it can be devestating. And sometimes too much good feedback, finals or wins can give you premature confidence in your abilities. From my own personal experience and success that last bit was too true. I had to take a step back and look at my work from a new angle. I could see why I was successful and why my story would not sell the way it was written. You can put the same work in front of 10 people and walk away with 10 different opinions. Don’t take them all seriously good or bad, but look for the kernels of knowledge what will make your work better.
That being said… having success in a contest is pretty awesome. And finaling and winning contests looks great in query letters. I wish you lots of luck!
Oh, I forgot. I created a gmail account and send all of my updated work there in case of computer malfuction (I learned this from a multi-pubed author). Including synopsis & query letters. You can never have too much back up.