Finalists are posted!! (Nathan Bransford's First Page Challenge)

[BarbaraKE]

Just wanted to let you know he posted six finalists on his blog and invites people to vote on the one they like best.

Good luck to all of them.

[megan_d]

None of my favourites made the top six. Was anyone here one of the finalists?

[Shady Lane]

My favorites didn't make the top, either. And I don't think I know any of the finalists? Ah well.

[KTC]

My favourites didn't make the list either. I've read them all a couple times. I'll vote tomorrow.

[Judg]

They are depressingly good though, aren't they?

[Mel]

Depressing? Nah, I'm going to take it as a lesson. They all did what is needed to draw the reader into the story. I think each character was strong, too. Much to keep in mind while writing.

[Nari]

Best Wishes to the finalists.

The entries that really drew my interest did not make the list either. I think the whole experience has been of great value, though, and it really does show how subjective the business is.

:)

[kzmiller]

There were a couple of folks I was rooting for and neither of them made it. Oh well. I cast my vote, and it looks like my fave of the finalists won't make it either. Just goes to show you that it's so subjective. In the long run, that's a very good thing. It gives us huge diversity in the publishing world and on the bookshelves when we go to buy something to read.

It also explains why just about everyone says that 90% (or fill in your percent) of stuff that's published is crud. That just says that 90% of the stuff out there isn't what any given person likes. On the other hand, I've seen some very poorly edited, poorly written stuff that makes me really wonder what the publisher was thinking when they took on the manuscript.

I'm sure the finalists will have to be roped and hauled back down to earth by their families and friends before they float away. I wish them all the best of luck!

[IdiotsRUs]

Well just goes to show how subjective it all is. None of the ones that made me go WOW are in that list. Of the six finalists, only one made me get to the end and want to read on. ( mostly not my genre though so....)

Ah well, good luck to the finalists!

[JJ Cooper]

Well done to everyone who submitted and congrats to the finalists.

Of course, thanks to Nathan for allowing us the opportunity to grow in confidence by submitting and to read on in awe at the submissions.

I like the idea of an AW contest along a similar line.

JJ

[Devil Ledbetter]

I went through all of the AW's entries and liked Grace's the best (Devil Ledbetter). Thank you so much, Mollyluna!:e2flowers
I read through the winners last night. Hmm. There's a funeral in my book, maybe I should have started with that? I'm kidding. My book starts exactly where it's supposed to.

[Sophia]

I loved Kari's entry, and voted for it, but also liked the voice in Heather!Anne!'s entry, as well as Luc's SF entry. All the finalists had something in them that felt fresh and interesting to me. Good luck to them all!

[Bufty]

It's interesting to note that only a further 3 or 4 entries out of the 675 generated any desire to read more.

That's a pretty sobering but not unsurprising statistic.

[Perks]

I thought Heather!Anne!'s was terrific and voted accordingly.

[Dawnstorm]

I voted for Kari. I think that's got a lot to do with me not having read a good authorial voice in quite some time. I wonder how I'd have voted next week. Or last week. Or next year.

I wonder how I'd have voted had I read >600 openings.

[Elladog]

I'm amazed by how many people actually seem angry about the choices!

[Nathan Bransford]

I'm amazed by how many people actually seem angry about the choices!

Me too. But you know -- no one is offering up their own choices, so I take it with a grain of salt. Maybe making tough choices and picking 6/675 and putting your choices up to public scrutiny is harder than it looks. ;)

[aruna]

I thought Heather!Anne!'s was terrific and voted accordingly.


Me too! 'cept my vote was posted as "Saskia", my daughter, because she was logged in to Blogger at the time!

[ink wench]

Really? Angry people over this? Good grief! Must check out the comments.

I'm obviously not cut out to be an agent because none of my favorites made it. While none of the winners were my kind of story, they did show some damn fine writing. I can appreciate that even if the story doesn't grab me. :) Good luck to them all! I voted for Heather!Anne!

[nerds]

Me too. But you know -- no one is offering up their own choices, so I take it with a grain of salt. Maybe making tough choices and picking 6/675 and putting your choices up to public scrutiny is harder than it looks. ;)


Yes, to me this has been a vital aspect of this contest - to gain some perspective from the agent's side of the desk, which in turn ought to make me a better, tighter, more interesting writer. IMO. And I think it will with time and practice. I'm not going to forget what I've learned from this.

While I know we could express our own choices/favorites in the blog comments, I chose not to because my best reading effort was only about 100 of the entries; unless I could get all of them read I didn't feel right about choosing.

I thought the final six were all worthy, I thoroughly enjoyed reading each of them and would have read on. Good job all around.

:)

[Mel]

I don't get the anger, either. Think about it. 675 entries. We can't sit here and say, think, or feel that there weren't lots of others Nathan and Holly liked. Only they can answer that, and I certainly don't expect them to do so. They had to choose only 6 out of all those 675.

They should be showered with their favorite drinks, chocolate, whatever, for the daunting task they offered to do for free.

[rwam]

Folks need to calm down. 6 out of 675 is not even the top 1 percent. I'm sure Nathan has a "mental honorable mention" list and maybe some of us made it.

Chances are, you saw things about your first page that you wished you would have changed before posting it. Now's your chance.

Rob (The Killing Stones)

[sunna]

I also thought Heather!Anne!'s was fabulous, though I'm going to read them all one more time before I vote.

It's interesting to note that only a further 3 or 4 entries out of the 675 generated any desire to read more.

That's a pretty sobering but not unsurprising statistic.

Yep, sobering would be the word! But I thought it was a pretty good snapshot of what a writer trying to get published is up against: not only did I get a peek at the agent side of this process (which made me look at my first page in a whole new light), but for me it was a much-needed reality check. 675 submissions; 6 finalists; 4 runners-up. Pretty stiff competition.

::rolls up sleeves:: :D


Nathan, thanks so much for doing this, and for offering your thoughts on the "grab" factor of a first page on your blog. I still can't believe you and Holly got through it all in one weekend.

[Elladog]

Chances are, you saw things about your first page that you wished you would have changed before posting it. Now's your chance.
You bet! (Starting with removing my rotting corpse...)
It was such a valuable learning experience. Looking forward to the next contest.

[Perks]

I'm amazed by how many people actually seem angry about the choices!
That's less surprising to me than the gumption to say it out loud. It's fine to have an opinion, but outrageously rude to take Nathan and Holly to task for it.

Nathan ran this contest on his own time. It gave us a glimpse at what we're up against competition-wise. It gave me some measurement perhaps as to why I do nothing but fail. It gave a good deal of information and excitement and did not take, or cost, anything.

[IdiotsRUs]

there's anger?

I've seen surprise about how subjective it is. I haven't seen any anger. I'll have to log onto your blog and check the comments now to see what erupted after I last checked!

[jenstrikesagain]

Well, I ain't up there, but that's okay. Next time, lobster, crackers, four-handed half-Cherokee FBI agent, laser eye surgery, Toyota gearshift and a llama in a rubber suit. Not necessarily in that order.

[Shady Lane]

I don't think anyone's angry, just expressing opinions.

[girlyswot]

I'm slightly disappointed at the number of people who seem to be voting purely based on genre. These are only 500 word fragments - is it that hard to see the merit in the writing rather than the type of story?

I voted for Kari's. That was the one that really sizzled for me.

[Perks]

Nathan deleted some of the more abusive posts, but people have suggested that maybe he didn't read them all or that he read too quickly or that he doesn't have a lot of experience.

Other than that, yeah, it's just opinion.

Obviously, Nathan Bransford and his cohort, Holly (if she even really exists) are complete nincompoops.

They didn't pick mine.

[davids]

I wanna vote-where do I find this on his blog the one the Stew posted? Help please??!!

[maestrowork]

Congrats to the finalists and winners.

But really, people, lighten up. It's a contest. it's subjective. I find it really childish to go from all supportive (oh, Nathan, way to go) to saying stupid, abusive things just because you didn't get picked. Wow, ladies and gents, have some class.

;)

[Perks]

I wanna vote-where do I find this on his blog the one the Stew posted? Help please??!!
David Darling, the entries are here -

http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/01/surprisingly-essential-first-page.html


Specifically, Stew's entry is here -

http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/01/surprisingly-essential-first-page.html#c4989959688220711633

And the six finalists you can vote for can be found here -

http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/01/americas-next-top-surprisingly.html

[Shady Lane]

oh. Well, anything that's been posted (and deleted) on the comments is a different story, but I can't say I think any AWer has been out of line, at least not that I've seen.

[IdiotsRUs]

I'm slightly disappointed at the number of people who seem to be voting purely based on genre. These are only 500 word fragments - is it that hard to see the merit in the writing rather than the type of story?



Actually, my genre is normally fantasy,one of my faves was Red Wedding - surprised it didnt make the final but there you are. None of the ones I REALLY liked did. *shrug* shows what I know!

edit: makes you wonder what good stuff gets lost in the slush pile.

Not knocking anyone! just wondering...

[Perks]

oh. Well, anything that's been posted (and deleted) on the comments is a different story, but I can't say I think any AWer has been out of line, at least not that I've seen.Oh, I don't think they were AWers. I wasn't swinging at anyone I knew (or knew that I knew - if that makes any sense.)

I think we represent better than that.

[otterman]

Contests make some people crazy but I've only seen supportive comments here. If there are those who have reacted poorly to what has been a very positive experience offered by an experienced agent, then they've missed out on what this whole thing has been about: making your writing the best it can be. Sometimes it takes a spotlight and a little pressure to get people to focus on their work; I know it has for me. I say thanks to Nathan and Holly for the experience and wish the finalists the best of luck.

[Polenth]

I'm amazed by how many people actually seem angry about the choices!

I'm not amazed. I had the same thing back when I ran roleplaying events. There would always be people who were angry about the event. Their character didn't get enough to do, or they thought your organisation sucked, or the storyline sucked and they'll never come to one of your events again. It's an empty threat of course, because they always turn up so that they can find things to complain about. These people are out there in every community. Fear them.

Just imagine them in pink bunny suits. It worked for me.

[maestrowork]

There's a lot of bitter, bitter, bitter people in the world. That's one reason why I usually don't enter contests. :) Some of those people end up at Publish America.

I'm glad none (or few) of them are AWers. It shows the maturity of this crowd. Way to go, guys.

[althrasher]

Some of those people end up at Publish America.


We can only hope. :D

[maestrowork]

It's a frigging contest that's supposed to be fun and educational! * Sigh*

[davids]

David Darling, the entries are here -

http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/01/surprisingly-essential-first-page.html


Specifically, Stew's entry is here -

http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/01/surprisingly-essential-first-page.html#c4989959688220711633

And the six finalists you can vote for can be found here -

http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/01/americas-next-top-surprisingly.html

Thanks Perks I just get lost sometimes-I agree with you Ray-I do not understand the anger and the hypocracy-but hey I thought it just a bit of fun! love Dave:Hug2:

[Sage]

Hopefully, when it comes time to consider the next contest, Nathan and Holly remember all the people who say thanks in their entries and votes (and comments around the web), and don't only remember the jerks who complained and scrap the idea.

[OverTheHills&FarAway]

I thought the finalists were all fantastic, and I was drawn into every single one. Choosing one was hard.

I suppose, as an agent, one learns how to spot things in an opening that will become more important later on--character development, overreaching arc, sufficient conflict and tension--as well as good writing and the ability to suck the reader in. Perhaps that was what Nathan ultimately used to help him decide--not just a great first page in an of itself, but a first page that shows the potential of being the beginning of a very good story.

They all felt very grounded to me, weighty and substantial. I wonder if I'll ever be browsing a bookstore and come across any of them...or any of the ones I read, many of which were breathtaking...I would flip my wig...had I a wig to flip...

(no I don't have a wig stop looking at me like that)

[Andre_Laurent]

I was just glad I didn't get slammed by the guy doing crits, lol.

[Dawnstorm]

How embarrassing! I went back to have another look, see if I changed my mind, browse the other stories, and I notice that anonymous votes will not be counted. And I voted anonymously. (I'm not going to register just for one vote anyway, I'm just kind of sorry I wasted the webspace since I didn't really put anything into the post but the names [1. Kari 2. Luc]) Read the guidelines. Read the guidelines..

[Stew21]

you don't have to register to sign in with a name. I'm not registered. Just select "nickname" and put one in.

[kzmiller]

Has anyone suggested a thread where AWers can discuss who they would have picked at their top six? I think it would be hugely enlightening (and encouraging) to folks who entered the contest to find out that their entry made it on *someone's* list. I also think it would be a great exercise. And secretly (don't tell anyone!) I'm hoping that Chro and the others who went through the whole darned list and gave all those gizillion critiques would be interested in posting what they thought were the top entries.

[maestrowork]

Has anyone suggested a thread where AWers can discuss who they would have picked at their top six? I think it would be hugely enlightening (and encouraging) to folks who entered the contest to find out that their entry made it on *someone's* list. I also think it would be a great exercise. And secretly (don't tell anyone!) I'm hoping that Chro and the others who went through the whole darned list and gave all those gizillion critiques would be interested in posting what they thought were the top entries.

I am not in favor of a "public" discussion on the contest entries. It's not OUR contest and I think it will make people uncomfortable or feel left out, or obligated to comment on AWers, etc. It's less enlightening and may become more of a "popularity contest." I think if you like a piece, you should just PM the person and let them know how much you appreciate their work... I think that would be more productive than going public with our own personal top 10 lists.

And if you want Nathan to give you a private crit on your entry, I don't think he would object to it.

My $0.02.

[Sage]

I agree with Ray (as usual), and I like the PM idea, which also could be in the form of a rep point (I got a review like that). ;)

[twnkltoz]

If I ever have time, I'll go return the favor and critique a few, but I'm swamped!

This was such a great idea...I hope the negative nellies don't discourage Nathan from running more contests.

[nerds]

I agree with Ray.

:)

[Matera the Mad]

I would think poor Nathan will have to bathe his eyes with soothing liquids for a while before asking for it again. :D
Or bathe his stomach. ;)
I certainly had no quibbles over the finalists. Haven't looked in on the squabbles yet - busy - but I have my notions on what sort of Creative Soulz make the loudest noises.

[kzmiller]

I didn't think about people feeling left out. Sorry! I just saw a lot of posts about people saying they would have chose differently and I was curious who they picked to see if it matched up with mine. You're right that it's Nathan's contest too. Wisdom prevails!

[astonwest]

But really, people, lighten up. It's a contest. it's subjective.The regular query and submission process is subjective, too, but I don't think I'd suggest anyone take that lightly...