Yowza

I've been judging contest entries lately. I don't know quite how it happened -- coordinators would go online, saying "we need judges," and some little devil would automatically hit "reply to," and say, "I'd love to!"

And here I am with a whole slew of stuff to read, score and comment on. Whoa.

What amazes me is that I'm seeing stuff here that, honest to God, does not belong in an unpublished contest. Seriously, some of this is way more than good enough to be published. I'm on my second time through one entry -- I read once just to get a feel, then go back a day or two later, read again and score -- and I keep thinking wtf, why isn't this published??? I know most people enter contests to get legitimate feedback that can help them sell the book, so they don't want to hear, "Wow, I love this!" over and over. But this particular story is so good that I can't think of much that could improve it. I just want to zip it off to my agent and beg her to find a home for it so I can read the whole book. No shit, it's that good.

Obviously, every judge in the world likes to get entries they love, but the ones that need work are easier for me. Sometimes I have a whole slew of problems to pick from; I can offer a lot of advice. Then it's just a matter of of choosing the biggest of the shortcomings and make extra sure that I'm not discouraging. Publishing is a tough business. There are agents, editors, reviewers and readers just waiting to dump on you; you don't need it from a contest judge, too.

(Don't know that I always succeed at that. My measure is would I be offended/hurt/angry if someone said this to me? If the answer's no, then I go ahead and say it. But I've got a thick skin -- courtesy of this business and age. What rolls off me might be tougher to swallow for a more sensitive soul.)

Anyway, I'm totally convinced that one day before long, this one entry I'm judging now will be published, and then I'll be the first to post it here: you've got to get this book! Rachel7:10 PM