Nominee vs Finalist

It drives me nuts. There are so many awards given in the romance genre -- Romance Writers of America gives the big ones, the RITA and the Golden Heart, and Romantic Times Magazine has their extensive list, then a bunch of the various chapters in RWA sponsor their own awards, as well. (Including my own, Romance Writers Ink, and the mega-cool More Than Magic and Where the Magic Begins awards.)

What makes my teeth grind is when people say they've been nominated for a RITA or More Than Magic or whatever. No, no, no. They are finalists. They were not nominated for the award; they entered the contest (or someone entered them). You're nominated for something when someone else (usually) says, "I think this person/book deserves to be honored." Not when you plunk down bucks and entry forms and put yourself in the running.

You're nominated for an RT award -- the staff at RT reviews the books from the previous year and suggests titles and authors for each category. (I'm jazzed to have been nominated for -- and to have won -- several of their awards.) I've finaled for (and -- ditto -- was jazzed to have won) the RITA and a bunch of others. Anybody can enter a contest and have a shot at finaling. Getting a nomination is out of your control.

We're writers. We use words. Let's use them right. Rachel10:33 AM