Running the gauntlet
February 4th, 2009 by Kathleen Bolton
Here’s an interesting tidbit for those who are contemplating a try at Amazon’s 2009 Breakthrough Novel Award contest. A judge for Amazon’s 2008 Breakthrough tells-all (ht Galleycat):
Now seems the right time for full disclosure: I am a member of the National Book Critics Circle. I penned several of the much contested Publishers Weekly reviews, for a $40 per manuscript honorarium. Am I a “professional” reviewer? I am a poet and a human being—and I review books, too. But for the purposes of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (the discussion boards insisted) I was the bloodless professional, the executioner. Over a period of six weeks, some twenty manuscripts arrived at my apartment. The deliveries thumped at the doorstep like children on Halloween, wanting treats. I dispatched them with 250-word critiques—tricks.
Double ouch:
The ten finalists were allowed to make a “plea” for themselves. Their manuscript excerpts were posted alongside photos and autobiographical statements—beauty-pageant-style effusions of their passions and dreams, stories about their pets, et cetera, worthy of a runway walk finale. The three top vote-getters were flown to New York where the winner was announced. Congratulations go to Bill Loehfelm, author of Fresh Kills—a mystery thriller I have never read and probably never will.
Oh dear.
7 Responses to “Running the gauntlet”
Wow! At least he’s not a judge this year, right?
Thanks, sort of, for this inside view. Will Rogers said there are two things one should never watch being made: sausage and laws. Perhaps we should make it three, adding “book contest judging.”
In the article, for those who can’t be bothered to read the whole thing, the author deplores the “American Idolization” of every artistic commodity, including writers. I can’t say that I disagree with him on that score, but does he have to be so smug about crushing people’s dreams?
Having said that, it’s writer beware when putting your stuff out in public. Because you can’t unring the bell once it’s online.
Uh… I guess I don’t understand why this guy is so down on the contest. I monitored it last year, and yes I entered it this year, for various reasons, NONE of which were “a feeling of worthlessness.”
ABNA has flaws, sure. But it’s only the second year.
And is it really that different from the “regular” system where you have to impress people (agents and editors) who are extremely busy reading and editing all day long? Yes and no, would be my answer.
And if he’s just lamenting the incredible quantity of bad writing he had to read, well then that just helps explain why query letters remain a part of the traditional system. But I read some of the excerpts, and there WAS some good writing in there.
So, I’m not sure I comprehend the objection. But then again, I enjoy watching American Idol.
(I don’t mean to sound defensive, really. I’m more perplexed than anything else.)
I think the judge was unprepared for the level of criticism he received for his “reviews”. He also thought it was more about popularity than about the writing. Hence the analogy to American Idol. But whatever, he shouldn’t diss the contest, esp. if he was paid to give his “objective” review. Sour grapes, imo.
Good luck with ABNA, Kristan. I hope it works out well for you!
Ah, I see what you’re saying, and you’re probably right.
Thanks, Kathleen!
(I have no illusions, haha, but it served as a good deadline & motivator, and hopefully will garner some feedback for me to use moving forward.)
Well, poor Mr. Wellington sounds like the husband who had an affair, then feels guilty about it, decides to confess all to his wife, and now wonders why she doesn’t trust him anymore. So this fellow doesn’t like being critiqued on his critique? Judges should just remain anonymous.