This is the part when I think it gets really hard. Because five days can seem like an eternity.
But what happens at the end of those 5 days?
Today I want to talk about what happens if you win. Because, honestly, that excites me more than I let on. And it scares me a little bit, too. In a good way.
There's a good scared and a bad scared. I talked about that many months ago. "Bad scared" warns you to get out of a bad situation. "Good scared" is the feeling you get when you are about to do something that takes a lot of courage but you know you will be glad that you did it.
If you win this contest, your name will be posted on the announcement page along with the title of the story you worked so hard on. And then you will work with Rooglewood's editors and marketers to polish up your story and share it with the world.
You will have to make changes. But you will also learn a lot. And it will be worth it. That's the part that excites me the most.
And you will sign copies for your friends and buy a copy for your grandma and all kinds of fun things like that.
Forever after, wherever your writing career takes you, you will always know that Anne Elisabeth Stengl liked something you wrote and believed in it enough to help you publish it. And that's pretty cool, too.
I've entered contests before, without winning. And I can honestly say that those were great experiences. I learn so much each time I write a story, and it makes every single one worth it. So, while I will be disappointed if my story doesn't make it into this book, I will be okay. Truly. You won't get anything out of me except gratitude.
But there's something about this announcement -- only five days away -- that makes me ask,
"But what if you win?"
So how about you? Have you asked yourself this question? Have you thought about what is most exciting about seeing your name on that list? What do you think your favorite part of winning is? What do you look forward to?
So how about you? Have you asked yourself this question? Have you thought about what is most exciting about seeing your name on that list? What do you think your favorite part of winning is? What do you look forward to?
I have been thinking about this alot, and since I lost last year, I'm prepared for it, but I'm really excited at the idea of winning, it would be something to put on my book proposals, the publishing credit would be great.
ReplyDeleteOoo, you're right Skye, it would be something good to put on a book proposal.
DeleteI agree, there's a difference between good-scared and bad-scared, and right now I'm definitely good-scared :).
ReplyDeleteI've asked myself 'what if I win?' multiple times :D. I think the most exciting thing about seeing my name written on the list of winners would be the knowledge that I'll get to work with Rooglewood's editors and soon hold a physical copy of a book with my name on it.
I would be looking forward to getting to share my story with the world!
One of my favorite parts of winning would probably be knowing that Anne Elisabeth thought my story was good enough to earn one of those five places :).
Five days from now can't come soon enough!!!
I will be content winning or losing, as I love my story; and I wouldn't change a thing about it, even if that meant the difference between winning and losing.
ReplyDeleteBut I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to win, because I really do. I'm just trying not to get my hopes up too much, as there will be a lot more losers than winners. My mother keeps insisting I will be one of the winners, but I feel like we all have parents telling us that! ;)
If I did win, I would be over the moon. The way you phrased things in your post is exactly how I feel (editing, elation, signing copies for Grandma). I think the best part about winning would be having a book on your shelf, and knowing that you wrote it. No matter what, you would know you got something published; and that you were good enough to do so.