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Venessa Bellido Schwarz

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Venessa Bellido Schwarz

Monthly Archives: February 2016

Blog Progress Report: Another American Idol Analogy…

23 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by Nessa B. Schwarz in REJECTION LETTERS & SUCH

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I’ve been writing little posts in this blog for over four years and it’s about time I write another blog progress report. When I peek back at my very first entries, I’m amazed by how much I’ve grown as a writer and also by how much more I need to learn. So tonight, I’m sweeping away the old goals, some I’ve accomplished, others still pending, and update my new writing hopes and dreams.

In 2012 I wrote a post comparing a rejection for a manuscript to being critiqued by Jennifer Lopez on American Idol. Some contestants bomb out during the audition process, believing they can sing, when in reality they can’t. Other hopefuls can carry a tune, but don’t have that “wow” factor. At last, there are those who sing beautifully and have the stage presence to keep the audience, and judges, enthralled. Some go far, but there is only one winner, one American Idol.

At the time, I wondered which category I fit. I spent many days and nights wondering if I’d bomb out, or just didn’t have the “wow” factor, or if I could write well enough to get an agent or editor’s interest.

As we approach the last year of American Idol, I can happily write that I’ve finally received a “golden ticket” to Hollywood (Publisher Land) when Dawn Frederick at Red Sofa Literary offered to represent my stories, but the show’s not over yet. Not even close.

Now, the stress to perform and “not crack” under pressure is greater than ever. The rejection becomes more personal (or it feels that way) and when it does come, it’s not one rejection at a time through an email or letter, it comes via your agent in a report with notes from an array of editors describing why they’ve rejected your story, why you’ve failed. And similar to American Idol, it feels as though the whole world is watching, although in reality it’s just your agent. But still.

This process is not for the faint of heart. One thing I’ve observed from American Idol contestants is how they “get in their own heads” and lose perspective. Over and over, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr., emphasize to sing the words from their hearts as though they believe and feel what they’re singing about. This is difficult to do with a plethora of other dynamics to juggle. It’s easy to overthink the performance, to lose touch with the audience.

This happens when you’re writing to impress an editor or your agent instead of writing for the unmitigated joy of moving words around a page, like rearranging furnishings in a favorite room until your eye sees that everything is perfect. The words can become a burden that won’t cooperate with your vision, and ultimately, the manuscript, the story, is overthought and lost.

The good news is that Jennifer Lopez (your agent) sees your potential and you’re still in the running for the grand prize. So presently, with the spotlight flashing on the stage, the stakes high, my new writing goal is to take a deep breath, cross my fingers, and sing … I mean, write my heart out.

 

Hurry Writers! Upcoming Contest Deadlines…

19 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by Nessa B. Schwarz in REJECTION LETTERS & SUCH

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My father in law is a sweet soul who enjoys the fact that I’m a writer. Each year, he sends me gift subscriptions to several writing magazines. One of them is Poets & Writers. The January/February issue highlights several contests that feature up and coming deadlines. So, I thought I’d pay my father in law’s kindness forward and share some of these deadlines with all of you … my fellow writers.

Here’s the first one (they’re in order by important dates):

Hunger Mountain (Literary Prizes)

“Three prizes of $1000 each and publication in Hunger Mountain are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay.”

DEADLINE: March 1st

Look online at http://www.hungermtn.org for more details.

James Jones Literary Society (First Novel Fellowship)

“A prize of $10,000 is given annually for a novel-in-progress by a U.S. writer who has not published a novel … Runner’s-up will receive $1000.”

DEADLINE: March 15th

Look online for details by searching: James Jones Literary Contest.

Winning Writers (Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction and Essay Contest)

“The annual awards are given for a short story and an essay.” The last winner won, $1,500.

DEADLINE: April 30th

Look online for more details at http://www.winningwriters.com/tomstory

Salamander (Fiction Prize)

“The annual award is given for a short story.” The last winner won, $1,500.

DEADLINE: June 1st

Look online for more details at http://www.salamandermag.org/contests

Glimmer Train Press (Short Story Award for New Writers)

“The award is given three times a year for a short story by a writer whose fiction has not appeared in a print publication with circulation of over 5,000.” The last winner won, $1,500.

DEADLINE (Very Short Fiction Award): August 31st

Look online for more details at http://www.glimmertrain.com

Omnidawn Publishing (Fabulist Fiction Chapbook Prize)

“The annual award is given for a short story or collection of short stories.” The last winner won, $1,000.

DEADLINE: October 17th

Look online for more details at omnidawn.com/contest/fiction

These are the contests I found most interesting and fun! I hope some of you will enter and win.

Best wishes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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