The competition quandary – no contest. 

I’m a Libran and we prefer things in life to be balanced, particularly our emotions.  Guess I shouldn’t have become a writer then huh?

As writers we’re constantly in one of two states of mind; self-doubt interspersed with (if we’re lucky) the occasional rush of self-confidence.  If we already beat ourselves up about our abilities, why would we give the same privilege to someone else by entering competitions?

Because if we want to grow and improve as writers, giving our word-babies to others to inspect, to poke and prod and pass comment on, is a necessary evil.  Unless you have no interest in becoming published then other people’s opinions (and ultimately an editor’s) are the only gauge we have as to the quality of our work. 

Having critique partners is nice and personal.  You don’t have to tell anyone what they say about your writing and no-one else needs to know how much work you still have to do.  But entering a competition is a huge challenge because you’re forced to burst the ‘just me and my writing’ bubble and face comparison with other writers.  Face reality.

I don’t know about you, but when I receive the final ranking sheet I automatically go to the end and work my way up, looking for my title and hoping it’s not too close to the bottom of the page.  While it’s not very altruistic, for me there is a sense of relief if I’m not in the last few, that at least I’ve done better than someone. 

I’ve been lucky enough to final in the last two competitions I’ve entered, but it was not doing so well in the previous ones that spurred me on to try again to do better.  It was probably a few years between my last entries and the latest ones in which time, as you would hope, my writing obviously improved.  That didn’t, however, take the terror out of hitting the ‘send’ button or lessen the stomach-clenching anticipation of getting the results.  I doubt that ever goes away.

In the interim I also judged some competitions.  This gave me a real insight into the other side of things and I’m convinced it helped me inch my way up the rankings list.  It really brought home how important it was to make sure I went through the sample score sheets before sending my entries to make sure that my writing fulfilled all the criteria that would be judged.

Competitions are a double edged sword – they’re good for us but the process is stressful and can be painful.  However, as an avenue for not only improving our writing but also growing the thick skin which is a necessity for all writers, they’re invaluable.  

Andra Ashe

www.andraashe.com

Being encouraged recently by Melissa to write as I speak, I have put this together to form this Blog from inspiration given to me by Lia, when I consulted her for an idea. Now the challenge is being issued for you to peruse this with tongue-in-cheek.

I wish to extend my true gratitude to both Melissa and Lia.

Unsurmountable Fear

When you’re dreaming of becoming a writer, the formidable fear of becoming successful seems unsurmountable.  

There is an air of confidence around published writers that seems untouchable. They have all successfully navigated their way individually, through the mist and cloud covering the hidden steps.

But can you?

Peruse further for a step by step comparison for potential writers to gain an insight, to rise above this fear with a real life achievement at this goal.

 A guide to all potential writers for a better understanding of the weird desire within, to sit tapping the keys, by linking a surreal fear, which people do have, of riding a camel for the first time.

Linking this to the camel, on approaching this gorgeous beast, you wonder if it will spit.

Linking that to the writer, you are worrying when submitting your work. Will you be spat at with horrible remarks?  Will you receive many letters stating, they are not interested at this moment, which you can later use to line your walls; a true reminder that they do spit.  Will these comments, literally and metaphorically knock you off your seat?

 Linking back to the camel, will the spit smell? Does it stick? Will I get it off my clothes? How will I hide my embarrassment?

With the publishers, they may have truly stopped a lot of your good stories getting out there or being aired. The embarrassment may stick here as well. You never tell a soul that you like writing, want to write, or worse, that you do actually write.

To get closer to the camel, you use a new approach. You put the back of your hand forward to rub part of their long hairy neck, and hope they don’t stand on your toes.

A new approach to writing, you start by joining a writing club locally, as you feel you need help. When it’s time for you to be reading your work out for appraisal, you pray hopefully they don’t spit, growl, or stand on your toes by being condescending, creating a huge embarrassment.

For the camel, do you need support to rise up on the saddle? Well yes you will. You feel deeply inside, someone has to hold you steady. You want to try to do this, and you do need help. The camel is hushed down and turns its head, blinking those big dark eye lashes, with a stare, daring you not to do it. So you crumble.

Linking this back to writing, your friends aren't interested, or understand where you are at. There is no support for you to rise. The local writing pals secretly don’t want you to succeed and take their accolades as, they have been writing for years, and you’re a whipper snipper, snapping at their heels for their wisdom to use for your own accomplishment.

Mounting the camel that is sitting patiently waiting is for you alone. Give it a try to make it your personal accomplishment, as no one else is going to get on this camel for you.

You are the only one that wants and needs this thrill. You are the only one that can bathe in awe-inspiring pleasure from feeling the sensuous, warm muscles, under your body, and under your control, when you slide gently into the frame on its back.

 Right then you make a decision to become a romance writer. 

Linking back to writing, we get closer to success. You write a short story, enter a competition within the local writing club. An outsider evaluates it, and you become a winner. Wow what a feeling.

Continuing with the camel riding, your camel driver utters the words moosh, the camel growls a groan from deep down inside, coming out as a continuous bubble of noise. The back legs rise first, pushing you so far forward you are sure you will fall. You release and scream signally, you are out of control. Then the front rises, lifting you up high on top of the world. Walking quietly along in a rocking chair motion you become excited. Wow what a feeling.

Simular in the writing, you receive an awe inspiring phone call, from the writing group explaining they are doing an Anthology for the year, and wish to invite you, to put your winning short story forward to the printers. Wow, whoosh was said, you are up there. You are in print. You have taken the first step to a cushy ride to the top of your goal. So you branch out. Join another writing group, where you receive unbelievable guidance and support to achieve your goals with further writing achievements.

Linking this back to the camel riding, while you are on top of this world you quietly become amongst Mother Nature at her best as you ride along the track. The birds don’t move, they continue their work and song or food scavenging. You are at last in this peaceful place, enjoying the view from the top successfully, in their world.

Linking to writing romance, you become a member of Melbourne Romance Writers Guild which places you amongst such an awesome group of writers, linking you immediately to the upmost pinnacle of your goal. You settle in, become at ease with their song, which they share willingly.

Together these accomplishments result in a happy ending for you in both.

You’re now over your fear of mounting the camel and key board. You are now a writer and a rider. Both of these accomplishments had minor pitfalls. You are now overwhelmingly seasoned and experienced in both. Enjoying to the uttermost, everything achieved in the conquering, and rising easily above the original, internal wrenching of the dreaded, unsurmountable fear.