For those of you who are either new to the romance scene or have recently returned from exile on Neptune, the RITA is Romance Writers of America’s preeminent published authors’ contest. To final, an entrant’s book is judged and scored by five other published romance/women’s fiction authors. The top scoring books – over a certain grade, that is — go on to be read and scored by a second round of judges, and the winners are then announced at a fancy-schamcy ceremony at the RWA National Conference every year. While there are several other contests of varying degrees of prestige, sponsored by individual local chapters, this is the biggee. Now, this column isn’t intended to jumpstart a discussion about the merits of the contest itself (God, please no), or how it’s run, or the vagaries involved with identifying the “best†in a genre that releases more than 2000 titles every year. This is about one neurotic author (me) who has two books entered.
And finalist calls are going out tomorrow.
Meaning the odds of my having a productive writing day are zilch. Because before lunch I’m going to jump every time the phone rings (because where this is life, there is hope), and after lunch I’ll be moping.
Sad, but true.
Never mind that, even though one of my SIMs did final four years ago, I’m not really expecting a call. Yeah, it could happen (and it’s nice to know that writing this column cannot influence the gods in any way, since the scores were submitted weeks ago), but I’m not holding my breath. Not because I don’t think my books are worthy (I wouldn’t have forked over forty bucks a pop if I hadn’t) but because the odds of five random people going ga-ga over the same book aren’t all that high, frankly. Particularly because Long Contemporary is one of the more crowded categories (although that will change in the next year or so, as most Long Contemps – the Intimate Moments, Special Editions, and the like – have had their word counts shorted to Short Contemp length. But I digress.).
Anyway. Moping. Which I will be doing if I don’t get a call. Not forever, probably not for more than an hour or so. Okay, so two. Three at the most.
Still, an hour (or two, or three) is a decided improvement over a few years ago when I had four books entered, none of them made the cut, and I was devastated. Appalled at the weepy broad who’d taken over my body, but devastated nonetheless. So I’m definitely improving.
My writing day, however, will still be shot to hell.
Yes, despite bracing myself for not getting a call. And telling myself not to even think about the contest (which is like telling someone not to think about a pink elephant). And reminding myself that it doesn’t mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. I mean, really – who remembers the winners from five years ago? From last year? Nor is it as if RITA wins bring agents knocking on your door, or surprise seven-figure contracts in the mail, or major product endorsements or anything. If you’re lucky, your editor might e-mail her congrats, but that’s about it.
Yeah, well, this is where the Logical Me and the Emotional Me don’t see eye-to-eye. Because while Logical Me says “Eh, no biggee, let’s move on,†Emotional Me is over there whimpering, “They didn’t like me, they really didn’t like me,†at which point Logical Me starts screaming, “Oh, for God’s sake, woman – get a grip!â€
And while all this arguing is going on inside my head, focusing is futile. So I’ve finally realized it’s just easier on everyone concerned to let LM and EM duke it out for an hour (or two, or three) until they wear themselves out and I can finally focus on the writing again and forget all about the RITAs.
At least until next year.
No related posts.
Karen, don’t worry about the Rita call. Sure the Rita will gloss your career for a while, kind of like a nice waxing will make your Mustang shiny, but in the end, will it make you a BESTSELLINGAUTHOR? Look at the Rita winners or finalists whose careers have sadly winked out like the last dewy drop of the setting sun.
Having said that, I will proudly acknowledge I came close to a Rita in 2004 for my wonderful book, THE SEXUALLY DYSLEXIC DUKE. One judge wrote, “I have never read such dreck in my entire life. This book made me hide all the kitchen knives in fear of committing suicide. I would have shredded it, but I feared my shredder would gasp, cough and spit it out in disgust.”
Just imagine! Little old MOI having caused such a reaction! I was proud.
Don’t sit by the phone waiting for the Rita call. Just remember you’re number one in your book and that matters most. Perspective, baby, perspective! Must run off now, I have 10 more message boards to spam about TAMING LORD RANCID and the sex excerpt featuring a feather boa and some motor oil. And phhhfftt to those historical purists who say motor oil wasn’t invented in the Regency era. So what if I tweak history just a tad?
Love, Snidely
:smile:
Author of TAMING LORD RANCID
THE RANCID MAIDEN’S WELL HUNG LOVER
ALL COMING SOON FROM BIG NEW YORK PUBLISHER
I can’t wait until Snidely does a futuristic called The Rancid Man.
Good luck, but don’t frett too much. I know that’s nearly impossible. My rational side and emotional side don’t ever see eye-to-eye either. That’s probably because my ES is about two feet taller than my RS.
Trista *who has her fingers crossed for you*
Good luck –
I read that comment recently in a lengthy discussion about how it’s time the contest is revamped. I’ve got to say I agree, and it’s one reason I didn’t enter a thing last year, even tho I had 6 books eligible.
Karen, I’m right there with you on thinking about tomorrow. Hope springs eternal and it’s nice to dream.
About now I’m wondering if I put my work telephone number on my RITA entry form in case, just in case, Key of Sea finals in Single Title.
Good luck!
Hmm. Said I didn’t want to get into this here, but. . .
I would think, though, given the diversity of tastes among the romance community, that ten random people giving the same book a thumbs up is nothing to sneeze at — especially since it’s not always the biggest names that win. And since there’s no way you could have the entire membership read all 1000 entries and vote on them, I’m not sure how else to run the contest. Otherwise, it would become a popularity contest, with the only books to make the cut being those from best-selling authors who have scads of readers already (because a really good book with few readers wouldn’t have a chance in heck to get enough votes). Of course, I suppose I should go read the post in question (later!) before spouting off at the mouth.
Now off to see if I can spot my oldest kid, who’s visiting NYC, in the Today Show crowd — now there’s a priority!
And since there’s no way you could have the entire membership read all 1000 entries and vote on them, I’m not sure how else to run the contest.
The image committee members are apparently working on it, as Julie Leto says in the comments of said post:
Oh, and I didn’t read the whole post before commenting earlier, sorry! LOL! I skimmed the beginning.
The list is coming out tomorrow? Ugh. I entered the Golden Heart, and while I know I don’t have a snowball’s chance (it’s my first manuscript–entering was more of a ‘get over the fear of others reading it’ thing), still, dum spiro, spero. While I breathe, I hope.
Good luck to you! I suggest Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia as the perfect moping companion, but hopefully you’ll be reaching for the bubbly instead
Mm, no, it would have to be something with like an 11 on the chocolate Richter scale.
Oddly enough, writing this post (which usurped the one I’d actually been working on for a week, which may or may not appear at a later date) turned out to be very theraputic. Somehow, putting those feelings on paper helped put it all into perspective, and gave Logical Me a slight leg up over Emotional Me (aka The Crazy Woman).
Yes, I’m displaying my neuroses in public (so what else is new?), but think of the big bucks I save on therapists’ fees.
I’m with you, Karen. Except I’m waiting on Golden Heart results. Hopefully soon, I can worry about RITA results.
Finalling last year was great. Finalling this year would be super. And it would give me one more shot at winning before I *fingers crossed* make the move into publication.
Best wishes! I’ll be looking for your name!
Tell ya what — party at my blog tomorrow afternoon. Cyber bubbly for the ones that got a call, and a mope-fest (with comfort food of choice) for those that didn’t.
Looks like I’m not getting much work done today, either. . .
Sounds like a plan.:mrgreen:
I hope you get a call!
I will spare you my opinion of the Rita.
But different strokes and if you want it, I’ll be pulling for you to get it.
Good luck, Karen. The RITA seems to be one of those awards people want but they aren’t really sure why.
Good luck, Karen and Kristen and Stella and Nessili! I’ll be on pins and needles this morning too! Like you, Karen, I blogged about it the other day and felt much better afterwards!
FYI — no call, as predicted. BUT no moping, either. Amazing.
Must be something to this talking-it-out business after all.