Last night there were twelve entrants and three places in the
finals up for grabs.
The prize
for getting through into the finals is getting the first chapter of your novel
published in an ebook of first chapters. Okay The Last Changeling is
already published as an ebook, but that didn't disqualify it, and I certainly
could use any extra publicity. It's a big world out there, and my little
book is only one of billions.
The ultimate
prize is the kudos of being the best, plus there's a week long residential
creative writing course in Wales
I didn't get through to the finals.
It didn't help that one of the judges said it was 'terrific' and the Compere said it had made him want to read The Last Changeling, even though, as a fantasy thriller, it's a genre he usually doesn't read.
I've grown used to winning and not winning, and although it's
easier to embrace the drama of losing, I've learnt not to take other peoples'
opinions as personal criticism - not everyone 'gets' what I write.
However, if it shows me where I can make my writing stronger, I use the
opportunity.
Losing a film competition spurred me on to write The Last Changeling, so maybe
this latest not-quite-setback will lead to a further creative surge?
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