Blogview - Susie Sawyer Talks Contests!
Today I have the pleasure of posting my very first blog interview. I’m so excited to welcome the lovely children’s author, Susie Sawyer. Susie joins us to talk about writing contests. She has had a certain amount of success through entering contests and I felt it was a story worth sharing. Ladies and gentlemen...
Let’s hear a rousing blogplause for Susie Sawyer!
Contests aside for now-tell us about you, the author. What do you write?
A: I write fiction, prose and poetry, for kids age 0-12. My finished pieces include board books, picture books, easy readers, and middle grade chapter books. I’ve always been drawn to fiction because there are no boundaries - I love the creative freedom in writing fiction.
I do have a couple manuscripts simmering on the back burner that fall into the middle grade novel category. It’s been over a year since I worked on them, so I don’t expect them to be complete anytime soon. One of them came about because I decided to purposely try writing in another genre. The other grew out of a picture book manuscript that had way too much life for only 32 pages.
For some reason, much of my writing comes out in rhyme. And so far that is where I’ve had most of my publishing and contest success. There’s something special to me about working a rhyming piece over and over until all the pieces fit. Some call it the “Aha! moment.” I love the music of rhyme.
How long have you been writing?
A: In 2003, I made the choice to write for publication. For the first year, I spent the majority of my time learning the craft - everything from the writing process to revisions, to submission, to publication, to networking and marketing. Like most beginning writers, I had no idea how involved writing for children was. I’d like to think I wasn’t so naïve as to expect that it would be easy, but it did surprise me when I learned about the volume of manuscripts I’d be competing with, and the tiny percentage of those that actually get published. It took that first year just to get to the point where I felt I could attempt submitting to a publisher. In the end, I’m so glad I took my time because some of my original ideas were good ones, but I didn’t have the knowledge or skills to make them publishable at that time. I have since revised and developed them into appropriate submissions, some of which have been published and won contests.
Which authors have helped shape your writing?
A: There are so many children’s authors I admire. The first ones that come to mind are my favorite poets, including Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky, and the amazing Jane Yolen. I adore Ian Falconer’s Olivia series, and anything by Cynthia Rylant. For older children, I admire Sharon Creech, Kate DiCamillo...there are too many to mention!
With Silverstein and Prelutsky I admire their clever wit and word play. The take away after reading their poems is always satisfying and incredibly varied. Ian Falconer has a brilliant way of capturing personality in sparse pencil sketches and very few words. What a gift he has, to be able to write and illustrate his ideas. Rylant captures simple, tender moments and makes them fun and interesting to kids. Creech and DiCamillo make their readers feel a range of emotions. These are all things I strive for in my writing.
Now, onto the contests. How do you find writing contests?
A: Like my story ideas, they come from many different places. Sometimes I seek them out and sometimes they fall into my lap. Some of the writing groups I’m involved with sponsor contests (Children’s Writer, Smart Writers, SCBWI), and many fellow writers are generous enough to share information about contests they’ve discovered. Occasionally, I will search online for writing contests. Be forewarned, though - a huge number of writing contests are scams and not at all credible or worthwhile.
How do you spot scams or determine which contests are unworthy?
A: If I’m in doubt about the validity of a contest, I’ll do some digging and ask around within my writing groups (SCBWI, Verla Kay, Write4Kids.com) and my critique groups. I also check carefully to see which rights are given up by winning and/or entering the contest. I’ve come across some that actually acquire rights to your entry even if you don’t win. If I’m in doubt, I pass on it.
What are the factors by which you decide whether or not to enter a contest?
A: I’m going to be honest. I look at the prize first! I’ve never felt I should have to write for free. Some feel the exposure and a publishing credit is worth their time, talent and effort, but unless I have a piece that can’t find a home, I would likely not enter a contest that offers only a publication credit. An exception might be if the contest were being held by such a reputable organization that their opinion and validation of my work would truly be an asset to me.
For much the same reason, I resist most contests that involve an entry fee. Again, it depends on who is running the contest and whether the potential winnings justify the entry fee.
Do you generally write a new piece for the contest or rewrite an existing piece to fit the contest criteria?
A: Yes. :) I’ve done both. I LOVE it when I find a contest with criteria that matches something I already have in my files. One of the benefits of entering contests, though, is that you are handed a set of criteria and a timeframe within which you must write. When coming up with a fresh new idea is difficult for me, I turn to contests to rejuvenate me. It becomes a writing assignment - a challenge - and I have nothing to lose (except, perhaps that nominal entry fee). Even if I don’t win, if I’ve done my work right I end up with a new, publishable manuscript. Win-win.
What do you do with pieces that you enter into a contest that don’t win?
A: Some of my non-winning stories have been sold elsewhere. Usually they require some form of revision in order to be publishable in a magazine, or certainly as a picture book, since the format is completely different. Some are still waiting to find a home, or to grow into whatever they were meant to be. I never, ever throw away a story.
Do you mention your contest successes on a manuscript submission to a publisher?
A: Yes, if I feel they are relevant. Tempting as it is to list all my publishing credits, I’m very careful when subbing to only mention those that would actually mean something to that particular publisher, looking at that particular story. If I’m subbing a sentimental 1,000-word prose picture book, the editor is not going to care that I recently won a humorous poetry contest. I believe it shows I’ve done my homework when researching the best houses for my story. One day I hope to have so many traditional publishing credits that I won’t need to list my contest wins. ;) ßAmen Sista!
Tell us about some of the benefits you’ve received from winning writing contests.
A: Honestly, one of the greatest benefits I’ve received is the sheer joy of seeing my hard work in print and receiving recognition from professionals in the publishing industry. As good as it feels to get pats on the back from friends and family, nothing compares to hearing it from those in the business.
Most often I receive a monetary award for the contests I’ve won. In 2007, my poem “Ask Yourself a Question” was chosen the Grand Prize Winner in a contest sponsored by Half Price Books. Twenty stories were chosen from over 3,000 entries to be published as a collection entitled, “Say Good Night to Illiteracy.” This contest resulted in a gift card to Half Price Books, ten copies of the book, and my first in-print publication! I was honored to be a part of this publication, because all proceeds go to the National Center for Family Literacy. For more information about the project or to purchase the book, please visit http://www.halfpricebooks.com/say_goodnight.html. This page also contains links to the authors and some of the winning entries, including my poem.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
A: Here’s an example of how a contest entry can lead to something much, much bigger. Back In 2006, one of my poems (“The Mermaid”) was chosen a winner in the Art of Storytelling contest held by the Delaware Art Museum. I received a generous cash award and membership in the museum. Being proud of my accomplishment, I posted a link to the Art of Storytelling project and my poem on my JacketFlap profile page. Early in 2008, I was contacted by an artist/illustrator named Angel Dominguez, living in Spain. He had come across the link, read my poem, and fell in love with it. He proposed we work together on a picture book featuring my poem and 26 watercolor paintings to be created by him! As we speak, we are developing this idea into what I expect to be an absolutely breathtaking picture book. Angel has already completed one outstanding painting, and hopes to complete the rest within a year. As soon as I am able, I will share the details of the project on my web site.
Lastly, I would strongly encourage writers to carefully research contests for those that are reputable and worthwhile. Weigh the pros and cons of entering - is there an entry fee? Is it reasonable? What rights are awarded? Will the publishing credit be helpful to you when trying to sell other work? Could your entry be sold to a magazine or traditional publisher instead? What do other writers think of the contest?
Entering contests teaches discipline in writing and in following specific guidelines, both of which are essential to successful publishing. Oftentimes, one of the criteria is a low word count. Practicing clear and concise, yet thorough, writing is beneficial to any genre. As I mentioned earlier, worst-case scenario - you’re left with a fresh, publishable manuscript.
Where can we learn more about you and your work?
A: I would love to have anyone interested in my work visit my web site: www.susiesawyer.com. You’ll find links to some of my work, synopses of works yet to be published, a little more about me, and a Guestbook just waiting for your comments! There is also a contact link, if anyone would like to touch base with me personally.
Thank you so much for this opportunity, Kai. I absolutely love your blog, and find it entertaining, educational and most of all inspirational.
Best wishes and happy writing!
Susie Sawyer
A super, special thanks to Susie for being my blogview guinea pig and for sharing such great info and her contagious enthusiasm.