(Because it sucks that we can’t make comments.)
Dear RITA Entrant,
I had heard so much about your book before I got it in my RITA package. Not all of it was good. (Those bloggers can be so harsh.) I actually really enjoyed the book. Your writing is fresh, your premise most imaginative and intriguing, though the plot had me very confused, and you have a a real flair for action sequences, whether we’re talking action or “action.” Seriously hot sex, chica. Believe me, not one of the points I took off had anything to do with me thinking eroticism doesn’t belong in romance. Instead, it was due to the lackluster dialogue and out of left field ending. Still, great job. I’m sorry you didn’t final, but I’ll keep a look out for your books in the future!
Dear RITA Entrant,
I’m so glad to see that you finalled. I really enjoyed your book, which surprised me, because that kind of story isn’t usually my cup of tea. And yet, you won me over with your strong characterizations and storytelling skills. There were a few clunky moments, and I don’t appreciate the use of stereotypes to delineate ethnicity, but overall, a very sweet tale. Best of luck in the finals!
Dear RITA Entrant,
I can’t for the life of me figure out why you did not final in the RITA awards this year. I am overcome with feelings of guilt, as if perhaps the one-tenth of a point I subtracted for your use of a disturbing cliche somehow knocked you out of finalist range. I surely hope not, since your book was one of the most powerful, well written, inventive, and original category romances I’ve read in years. So beautiful. It made me cry, and very few romances have made me cry. I loved it. You were robbed.
March 28th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Funny!
Speaking of contest judging, has SB picked a winner for the “Crime Wave” post yet?
March 28th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
You would really want to make comments? I think it would just be frustrating for the author, since the book is already published (it’s not like they can go back and fix whatever you are saying is wrong). And it would probably lead to authors banging their heads against the wall and screaming UGH! That judge marked me down historical inaccuracy and I doubled checked my facts, etc.
Seems to me that for the RITAs, winning or losing is what matters. Comments? Not so much.
Just my opinion.
March 28th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
That’s a good point Phyllis, but I also find it aggravating to get a 7 and not know why it isn’t an 8 or a 9.
Also, a lot of writers of specifically erotic romance DO get points off because the judges are, well, big ol’ prudes, and I would like to be able to say to an entrant: I love your sex scenes! Keep up the hot work!
Stuff like that.
And yeah, mostly I wanted to write to the person who totally should have finalled and didn’t. I judged more than three Rita books — those were the entrants I thought I had something worth saying.
And, naturally, I could write the person if I wanted to, since i know who they are.
March 28th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Those must be the secret books on your “read in 2007 list”
I was disappointed to see that none of the entries I’ve judged this year made the finals (even though I gave one entry a perfect score!). I had some that I just KNEW would final… but alas. Kinda makes me wonder about my tastes as a judge (also makes me remember JEL’s post on the Plotmonkeys about judging).
Just goes to show how subjective if all is!
March 29th, 2007 at 9:15 am
That is a terribly frightening photo. Makes me want to rush out and volunteer for some foundation for bent bridesmaids.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I think comments would be great. No, we can’t work rework the already published book, but I for one, am always looking for ways to improve.
Judging is completely subjective, but I myself was so very curious about my own simply because when I was not pubbed with an RWA publisher, and I enterd contests, my enteries were always ripped apart. So I’m curious to see if that’s changed now that the publisher has.