tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post2811457448145656483..comments2024-03-29T03:42:04.742-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: What I’ve Learned From Judging Writing ContestsJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-57248803082083089352020-04-18T14:01:04.805-04:002020-04-18T14:01:04.805-04:00I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I defi...I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. <a href="https://moodle.bernatelferrer.cat/pluginfile.php/1/blog/attachment/187/learnonline.pdf" rel="nofollow">essays for sale</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03991345220722911344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-8667924720702435982019-03-08T01:27:11.258-05:002019-03-08T01:27:11.258-05:00Thank you for taking the time to publish this info...Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful! <a href="http://jenniemarieweddings.com/uncategorized/the-hidden-facts-on-essay-writing-service/" rel="nofollow">click</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04809939384441286954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-68280615428774569702019-02-21T08:51:28.634-05:002019-02-21T08:51:28.634-05:00This is highly informatics, crisp and clear. I thi...This is highly informatics, crisp and clear. I think that everything has been described in systematic manner so that reader could get maximum information and learn many things. <a href="https://www.tripoto.com/trip/main-characteristics-of-real-estate-you-should-be-looking-for-5c373abb6da5f" rel="nofollow">essay writing on old custom</a><br />SEO Experthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05405614014009487653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-28722444778328083312015-03-22T10:27:39.186-04:002015-03-22T10:27:39.186-04:00Jody, hi.
This is insightful, generous informatio...Jody, hi.<br /><br />This is insightful, generous information, plus encouraging. Thank you.Sheila M. Croninhttp://www.giftcounselorbook.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-22251051011714248332014-05-03T16:17:44.749-04:002014-05-03T16:17:44.749-04:00Thank you for the great quote. I just wish higher ...Thank you for the great quote. I just wish higher education wasn’t so expensive these days.Clipping Pathhttp://www.clippingpathusa.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-25872176314114279852012-07-24T21:59:18.850-04:002012-07-24T21:59:18.850-04:00Hi Marguerite,
Thanks for stopping by! If you ent...Hi Marguerite,<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by! If you entered a reputable contest, your manuscript shouldn't sit in a slush pile, but should definitely be passed along to judges who will hopefully evaluate the quality of your writing and story and not mark you down for your beliefs. <br /><br />And as you said, there are very few snail mail submissions nowadays. But even with online submissions, manuscripts can sit on agent or editor harddrives or months before they have the chance to read it. The process of querying and submitting can be quite lengthy.<br /><br />Hope that answers your questions! I wish you all the best!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-6817026772107672152012-07-24T20:29:21.031-04:002012-07-24T20:29:21.031-04:00Thank you, Jody, for the insight. No, I've nev...Thank you, Jody, for the insight. No, I've never judged a contest. Indeed, at just shy of 66 I've entered my first novel in my first contest without a clue as to how judging is handled. My concern is that the manuscripts might be put in a slush pile and read by screeners who, for political or religious reasons that prove contrary to personal beliefs, might eliminate my chance of being read by an actual judge. Also,I wonder how snail mail submissions are treated, even when allowed, since the vast majority of contests are conducted via online entry these days. Do you have any experience, or opinion pertaining to those three s's, i.e., screeners, slush, and snail? I so enjoyed reading your post. Truly. (I don't qualify for any of your 'select profile' choices so I'm choosing anonymous, but my name is Marguerite.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-39258312672079514992011-04-06T15:10:01.198-04:002011-04-06T15:10:01.198-04:00Thanks--I entered RWA's Golden Heart contest 2...Thanks--I entered RWA's Golden Heart contest 20+ years ago and had an interesting experience. Two judges were "whatever," but to be fair, there were so many entries that year, they may have been overwhelmed. Two more were like, "You're ready" and one even gave me the name and address of her agent. But the last two were the most interesting. They HATED my writing. One hated I had a "damaged" heroine (she'd been raped in high school) and the other said, "People don't talk like that." Funny thing that, as I'd taken the excerpt almost word for word from an actual conversation I'd had with a male friend. I asked Kris Rusch, who was our GoH at a SF convention that year about it and she complimented me by saying, "You're doing some pretty powerful writing, to evoke that response." So, I learned, 1. Reading and writing is subjective, 2. You may see the critique as wrong, but the judge is entitled to their opinion and 3. What you said, do something with your entry, because I never followed up with that agent recommendation! Thanks for a good post and good luck with your writing! http://fateandfaith-julee.blogspot.com/2011/03/welcome-to-my-new-adventure.htmlJulee J. Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-66710610959292303082011-04-03T13:32:06.233-04:002011-04-03T13:32:06.233-04:00Hi Jody
Your post and the comments that followed a...Hi Jody<br />Your post and the comments that followed after made a fascinating insight into competition judging. I've only ever entered blog competitions but I think, even there, I could see the four stages of writing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15459671422564355990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-51027594169255997082011-03-31T06:51:15.800-04:002011-03-31T06:51:15.800-04:00Hi Kara! I appreciate hearing your perspective too...Hi Kara! I appreciate hearing your perspective too. It IS hard to have to give lower scores on freshman entries. But I really tried to be encouraging at the same time. Hopefully when we find a balance, the person will be able to digest the scores better. :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-87703086013011867432011-03-31T06:49:20.163-04:002011-03-31T06:49:20.163-04:00Hi Warren! It was definitely worth reading! Thanks...Hi Warren! It was definitely worth reading! Thanks for your efforts to work with blogger (even though at times it can be a hassle!) :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-48514176661415911562011-03-31T03:19:46.645-04:002011-03-31T03:19:46.645-04:00As a judge this year in the same contest, I found ...As a judge this year in the same contest, I found my freshman entries the most difficult to judge.<br /><br />I remember my first time of entering the contest (my first writing contest ever) and making the mistake of opening my results in an airport lounge and promptly bursting into tears at some of the scores.<br /><br />With the benefit of hindsight, the scores reflected my ability at the time, but it literally took me months to scrape myself off the floor and keep writing.<br /><br />Being on the other side, and finding myself gritting my teeth as I put down 2s and 3s for some of my entries, all I could think was "Oh no, I'm THAT judge."<br /><br />But I completely agree with Kaye - my experience has also been that often unpublished judges are harder than published ones and we do need to let go of al the rules we've been taught and let ourselves relax into the story. <br /><br />A couple of my entries I scored in the 90s, not because they were technically perfect and "obeyed" all the rules, but because their storytelling was so good that I had to go back and reread the entry multiple times in order to mark it, because the first time I was so engaged in the stories I forgot I was supposed to be judging them!Kara Isaachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482245933455012714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-12074426083792812512011-03-29T21:51:32.491-04:002011-03-29T21:51:32.491-04:00Mmmm, sorry for so many "deletes" from m...Mmmm, sorry for so many "deletes" from me. When I pressed to submit the comment nothing happened for a long time. So then I clicked away and it published the same comment 4 times (and I'm not sure it's worth reading once :)Warren Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956713921509659993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-1797946400286265732011-03-29T21:47:36.763-04:002011-03-29T21:47:36.763-04:00Jody,
It's great of you to be judging contests...Jody,<br />It's great of you to be judging contests and helping young writers.<br /><br />I adjunct for a junior college. Most of my students are high school juniors and seniors or back to school moms in their 40s. Among the younger set esp, writing skills are unbelievably poor. I've wondered what to do to help them.<br /><br />My son is in law school, and he had a professor last semester that did "paper consultations." Students submitted their paper, the professor read it, then he met with each student individually to discuss the paper with them, and gave them a couple of more weeks to make changes, add new material, correct mistakes. I loved the idea and am incorporating it this year. I'm doing a paper consultation with each student and will review all aspects of writing a paper: research, organizing ideas, writing, spelling, grammar, etc.<br /><br />One thing that traditionally distinguished the West from other societies is that we recorded our history, thoughts, and advancements. Following generations could read and advance in thought ahead of previous generations because of the accumulated, and written, record. Without good writers (and READERS) in the present and future, our civilization could reverse itself in ways that are not beneficial.<br /><br />wbWarren Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956713921509659993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-86156061221673453772011-03-29T21:47:15.337-04:002011-03-29T21:47:15.337-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Warren Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956713921509659993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-64424760440510045592011-03-29T21:46:52.480-04:002011-03-29T21:46:52.480-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Warren Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956713921509659993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-70975592813321537842011-03-29T21:46:36.414-04:002011-03-29T21:46:36.414-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Warren Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956713921509659993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-58890002982287361762011-03-29T21:35:37.752-04:002011-03-29T21:35:37.752-04:00I've been fortunate enough to be on both sides...I've been fortunate enough to be on both sides of the contest fence. Just last week I served as a judge in a local contest for teens and I'm also currently judging in a national contest. I find it fascinating to see what others are writing and what are on the hearts and minds of so many different writers. I definitely agree that all writers fall into some beginning to advanced category. I do believe that as a judge one needs to seed good comments into the not so good ones, but in an honest format. As judges, we shouldn't lead writers astray just because we can't bring ourselves to be honest about the writing put before us. <br /><br />As to entering contests, I think it's one of the best things a writer can do for his/her work. You're placing your writing in front of judges who hopefully know what they're doing and know what to look for.Mary Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429769115085903305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-13032152897725255842011-03-29T19:03:36.100-04:002011-03-29T19:03:36.100-04:00It's intimidating and nerve-wracking that our ...It's intimidating and nerve-wracking that our work is always judged by the first page. (Not only by contest judges, but also by agents, editors and of course, readers.)<br /><br />I thought it was interesting that most writers seem to be sophomores and juniors. I've often wondered where I am and if I'll ever reach "senior level." [sigh]<br /><br />These are great tips also for critique groups. Thank you, Jody!<br /><br />LorenaThe Sisterhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09889577041903181315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-46471077509920612292011-03-29T15:35:42.562-04:002011-03-29T15:35:42.562-04:00Hi Jody -
When I entered the Genesis last year, t...Hi Jody -<br /><br />When I entered the Genesis last year, the possibility of getting contradictory feedback made me nervous. While there were some differences of opinion, their evaluations and advice helped me a great deal.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Susan :)Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-28593336385468298182011-03-29T14:48:30.631-04:002011-03-29T14:48:30.631-04:00Good info, Jody. You're always so helpful. :) ...Good info, Jody. You're always so helpful. :) I've entered a few non-fiction contests. Haven't judged any yet, but the Coffeehouse for Writers (where I teach an online class) is supposed to offer some soon and I think I'll be among the judges. Looking forward to that.<br />Blessings,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-18183681635029983272011-03-29T14:03:30.642-04:002011-03-29T14:03:30.642-04:00I love how you're on the lookout for positives...I love how you're on the lookout for positives, too. Those tiny bits of encouragement might be just enough to keep the writer going, and hopefully improving.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-43220530863655178742011-03-29T10:23:19.769-04:002011-03-29T10:23:19.769-04:00What worried me the most about entering a contest ...What worried me the most about entering a contest was my aversion to critique. It was painfully necessary to accept and grow from that experience.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15508887711850480059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-8369753972854596632011-03-29T01:17:18.247-04:002011-03-29T01:17:18.247-04:00Having an opportunity to judge is very beneficial ...Having an opportunity to judge is very beneficial to our own writing. For a few years, I judged the first 10 pages of novels. Can't tell you how much I learned. <br /><br />Great suggestions on your list.Midlife Roadtripperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06700277803842883251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-64474342962030004502011-03-28T23:58:08.282-04:002011-03-28T23:58:08.282-04:00I've been judging some contests recently and I...I've been judging some contests recently and I had one entry where I thought I might be overly negative. I mentioned it to the coordinator when I sent the entry back and asked them to review it and make sure I wasn't being too harsh. It's a challenge being a judge.Walt Mussellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07252729944233200374noreply@blogger.com