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Writing Contests: how to interpret the results.
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I agree with Dwayne. Keep looking. "Not the right fit," is the correct answer. Anything specific beyond that is just asking for an argument. When you mention reputation in writing circles, I think that would only apply if you've already been in one or more writers groups, but it does not sound like you have. One thing to keep in mind is that it is a big commitment to critique a manuscript and most people, unless they are paid, don't have the time. If you can take a class in person, that might be something to sign up for. Be ready to take and give constructive feedback.
If you want feedback on your book, try Scribophile or Writer's Digest, The Next Big Writer, Writerscafe, etc. Just search online Critique groups. There are a ton of them. Be prepared for total honesty. Also, not everyone will like your book. I've had some harsh criticism, but I took what was said and improved the book based on the feedback. Don't argue with the reviewers. If you get a lot of the same type of critiques....then you need to listen to them. I had reviews done and got two wonderful reviews and then one who didn't like the language of one of my characters...which was okay. I'll take his 3 as he said what he didn't like.
Thanks for the answers. I see the assumption in at least one of these answers that I "have not worked hard enough" on improving my writing. Just to clarify, I've been writing for 30 years and have been trying to get published for 25. I've taken classes and read plenty of books. I know that this is not a case of "not trying hard enough" or "keep working to get better." However, I've gotten so used to people making the immediate assumption that this is the case that I don't usually point out their mistake.I do want to point out that I've been in several writer's groups before working on this present book, but for some reason they never last long while I am in them. I don't know if this is normal. I try not to have a toxic attitude but it has gotten pretty weird now that the local writer's crowd doesn't even want me in their groups. I'm starting to wonder if I'm on some sort of "blacklist".
Of course, as I said earlier, nothing I can say to explain the extent of my efforts will be enough for those who shrug me off with "he hasn't tried hard enough." Maybe this is just the industry groupthink?
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I'm not sure anyone here is assuming you don't work hard enough. If I missed something and that was implied, take it like you would any advice - graciously. You don't have to follow any advice here, but keep in mind, we're trying to help.
And for what it's worth, I've been at it for forty-one years and I'm still learning. Writing is one profession in which none of us will ever be perfect.
Suggestion - You could join American Christian Fiction Writers. They have groups all over the place. You could try that.
My assumption is that everyone on here is working hard on their writing, improving it, and learning craft. If you finished a novel or two, you have been working hard. Getting agents and breaking into traditional publishing is difficult at best, and is almost impossible most of the time. There may be multiple things they don't like about your work ranging from subject, to style, to multiple other things. It isn't only you.
I decided that traditional wasn't worth my time at my age when the feed back I got was that I had wonderful characters but my stories weren't what they were looking for. They were looking for clones of the books already being published which meant being two years past the popular books out. I discovered later that you have to hunt up agents for your specific genre who then send the work to the houses which accept that genre. Without an agent, it is difficult to even get your manuscript on the slush pile, let alone getting it looked at beyond the first page or two. Getting a good agent is also next to impossible. If that is the route you are set on going, I wish you the best of luck. It is a long and difficult road with tons of rejection which can last up to ten or more years. For me, I don't have ten years to waste. (Oh, BTW, if you haven't read "The First five Pages" by Noah Lukeman, you might want to check it out. He was an agent and tells you what will get your book rejected within the first five pages.)
My answers were for you're complaint of no writer's group to critique your work. If you have an email list, ask them to help you is another suggestion. Also, don't read into answers things that aren't there. We all work hard.
So, I have a dear friend who's writing is mediocreish. He does writers workshops and stuff and too often the editors (who are mainly just other writers, not professional editors) don't give him good feedback or just let it fall flat. I think they are afraid to hurt his feelings. Not sure if this is a veiled thing where people don't like your writing and they don't want to tell you. Even if you've been working hard and for a long time, some people just like some stuff and hate other stuff. You can't control that.
Of course, it could also be you don't write the same genres. I find I can't edit contemporary/literary works because I'm always looking for an external plot that isn't there.
I find it hard to find writing groups online anymore. In my city it seems like it's all word of mouth and finding an in person meeting via the internet is near impossible. It's become very invite only/closed circuit.
And one thing, reading/what people like is very subjective. You can't please everyone. You should just keep writing if you love to write.
On another note, I find it totally weird that they rejected you because you didn't have a social media following. Those, in my mind, aren't very professional agents. Of course, I might just have rose tinted glasses. I don't have an agent yet, so maybe I'll be hit with that soon enough.
Good luck!
In today's market, if you want an agent or a publishing house, they will look at your platform. If you don't have a big social medial following, you had better have over 10K on your mailing list and that is considered small. The reason....you are going to be doing the marketing for them with the advance they give you. That means you need to be able to earn that advance back. before you can earn any money from them. That is your professionals out there with traditional publishing.Self-publishing is a whole different story.
As to writing groups, I did discover it was difficult to find one close to home. I go 56 miles one way to go to mine once a month, twice if I can make it. I actually found the group on Meet-up where they posted their meetings. It didn't come up with writing groups in a search. I live in the middle of no-where so it's difficult at best to find anything in this area. All I could pull up was Phoenix and that's a 3.5 hour drive one way...not happening...so I can relate to your issue in finding a group. Try on line. Scribed is a good place to start or scribophile but be prepared to have your work torn apart and chopped up into little pieces. For me, it hurts but then I have become a better writer because of that.
B.A. wrote: "In today's market, if you want an agent or a publishing house, they will look at your platform. If you don't have a big social medial following, you had better have over 10K on your mailing list an..."Yeah, as cities, go, I live 10 minutes from a university that should provides enough intellectual capital for several writing groups, but I can understand having to drive even farther to find a decent group.
I've also put my writing online in writing groups, but I'm not seeing any reviews there, either.
I guess you have to already be a "somebody" if you want to be a somebody in the writing world.
Dwayne wrote: "Move on. If the writing groups feel you're not the right fit, keep looking. If the judges of writing contests don't want to give you a full critique as to why they gave you a low score, accept it. ..."I agree with Dwayne. There are billions of people and more than enough places to write and people who would love to critique your work. Move on...that is never the end...persistence is the key
Hey R,I have been writing since I was little. Today I am searching for a critique group, again. I was in one but after the 3rd time I figure out that they were occasional writers. Then, I went to another group which came from one of the classes I attended, only it fizzled out in a year. So like I said just be persistent and don't worry about "why" but locate a group that "will". Don't stop. Hey, have you ever thought about starting your own? Another suggestion is to check out the Writer's Market or your public library.
There is Scribophile online if you want honest critics. I've used them until I was lucky enough to find a group 54 miles from where I live (that's the closest city.) Two of them are serious writers, the others are doing personal memoirs they have no intention of publishing. Those of us who are serious, are willing to learn from the critiques. As we learn more about writing, our critiques are getting better and more focused. Good luck in your search.
Mod
You said this elsewhere. It's off topic here, too. In fact, nothing in your message fits what this group is about.
Mod
Calling your attention to the rules. No self promotion, no hijacking threads, and no links.
(Also, having written this post and looked it over, forgive me if it sounds like I'm just complaining; I'm not.)
I have finished a novel and am in the process of looking for an agent. I have had the novel edited by an editor, but when it came to finding writing groups for feedback, I have been rejected multiple times. I am starting to suspect I have developed a reputation inside the local writing circles, but when I ask for feedback as for why each group doesn't want me to join, they just say "you are not the right fit."
I began submitting to agents in January. So far I have had three ask for the manuscript. However, none of those panned out...and again the only feedback I've received was "you don't have enough platform" which tells me nothing as to the quality of my writing.
This spring I entered the book in a writing contest. The results were just as frustrating. Two of the three judges gave me a score that should have put me into the finalists--97% and 96%! The third judge destroyed me with a 68%. That's fine because I entered the contest for feedback (the scoring sheets purposefully leave room for judges to leave helpful comments). Of course, the judge who sank me left no comments whatsoever. When I asked the chair of the contest if they could glean any information from that judge as to why I received an inconsistent score, the response was that the judge "found the book's format redundant and dull. But I didn't want to say that to (me)". That's it. that's all I got. (I should add that this is an international writing contest and that the judge should not have been given my name or any identifying information that might give cause for them to discriminate against me as an individual.)
So my first question is this: does this happen to other people when trying to get feedback for their writing? Does anybody else get shunned by the local critique groups or get black-and-white-contrast scores when they enter their work in writing contests?
And of course my second question is: what can I do about it?