Lucky Number JEIL1TZZ

As you know, I like to reflect on contests after they're over. On a whim last Monday, I sent my first 250 words to the Authoress's January Secret Agent contest. The winners were revealed yesterday afternoon...so here's my reflection:

The contest was simple. The number of entries was unlimited and the fifty winners would be drawn by a bot, ensuring no human bias (or work) in the selection. The secret agent, the rules also said, was interested in historical fiction, historical romance, and all genres of YA. I had a feeling the secret agent would be more selective than any genre of YA, but that didn’t mean he/she wouldn’t want mine. There was no way to know how many other people would submit and the rules were clear that I could only submit once (at least for awhile, anyway). Still, I was waiting for Michelle Hauck and Amy Trueblood’s Sun vs. Snow contest. No harm could come from entering, so I did.

Moments after sending my entry, I received an automated response from the Authoress’s email telling me that JEIL1TZZ was my lucky number.

Later that night, the contest winners were posted on the Authoress’s blog. I started scanning the list, searching for that key J at the beginning of my lucky number. No such luck, I thought as I read down the list—until a few from the bottom. There was number JEIL1TZZ. I was more stunned than anything.

By Wednesday, my first 250 words were on the Authoress’s blog for anyone to read. Let me repeat that because, wow. MY FIRST 250 WORDS WERE ON THE AUTHORESS’S BLOG FOR ANYONE TO READ. I’d entered a contest, made it past the first round, and now my words were on the web. Again, wow.

As a part of getting into the contest, I had to comment on at least five entries. Since I’d submitted in YA sci-fi, I searched the list for those first, seeking out the ones that were somewhat similar to mine. I treated those first, precious words like they belonged to one of my CPs and told them what I liked and what I thought might need some revision. Other writers did the same for mine.

Then came the waiting. The contest was vague about a lot of things, one of which was how long until the secret agent would pop by and review the entries. I figured that wouldn’t be until the weekend. Turns out, I was right.

The secret agent’s identity—Taylor Haggerty—was revealed yesterday morning with a promise of winners to soon follow. I didn’t need to see the list of winners to know my entry wouldn’t be among them. Ms. Haggerty’s short bio mentioned that she was looking for historical fantasy, friendship stories, and contemporary with unique settings. My MS fit none of those. True enough, when the winners were posted yesterday afternoon, my entry was not among them.

While it would have been nice to be chosen, it’s hard to be disappointed when you know your MS wasn’t what the agent wanted. That’s the thing about a secret agent contest—you never know what the agent’s interests are. At least when querying you know you’re sending your MS to an agent that wants your genre. That increases your chances of success.

So, no worries. I’m pressing on. I’m taking the comments from my fellow winners and changing the necessary things. I’ve entered my MS for the Sun vs. Snow contest. Even more, I’m looking forward to the days when I will query.