Tags
Book Group, books, Novels, writers, writing, Writing Contest
Several weeks ago I wrote about leaping out of my comfort zone and entering my novel, In Search of Beef Stroganoff, in a writing contest. Today I found out that I didn’t win. Happily, I was in the top 416 entries! No matter that only 416 people entered the contest, right?
Oh well. I am glad I entered and wish the nine finalists much luck in the last round of cuts.
Now I’d like to ask you all to wish ME luck on the next daring feat I’ll be performing without a safety net. My book group selected my novel for our May discussion. Yikes.
I’m excited about it and nervous at the same time. I look forward to hearing their feedback and because the book has received positive reviews from other readers thus far, I won’t have to drink myself silly before going to the book group meeting. However, it will be rather unnerving to have the book discussed while I am present.
One good thing about having my book as the next group’s book selection is that I won’t have to burn the midnight oil to get it read in time for the meeting. Goodness knows I can recite entire passages.
Be thinking of me on May 7th and I’ll let you know how it goes, unless I am hospitalized with a mysterious nervous disorder after the meeting.
Robin Coyle 
Wow, Robin, that is so incredibly exciting! Good luck with that, what a wonderful opportunity for you to gain feedback. 🙂
I’ll let you know how it went. That is, if I am can ever right another word after the trauma.
Oh please, I’ll bet they’ll love it and be extremely gracious! 🙂
Keep performing those daring feats. You inspire me in so many ways 🙂
What a lovely thing for you to say. Thank you! You inspire me too. That is why I missed seeing your blog.
I feel your pain, but I’m sure it will go just fine!
With that said, my book group has not yet to reviewed my book. I’m afraid to ask them and they have not volunteer.
I say go for it and ask them to read it!
I’m embarrassed to ask, I was hoping they’d ask me…
You are brave and are to be commended on this big step. Think of all the publishers who ignored the writers who ended up making it BIG with another SMARTER one. Someone out there will know a good book when he / they saw one.
Well, I like how you think.
Sieta de Maya the Wondrous Robin will dazzle the mix! As predicted by the great KL
Let’s pour margaritas to celebrate!
Yes!
You are a very brave woman. You keep one upping yourself in brave deeds. I’m impressed and I look foward to hearing how they like it. I am sure they will.
Brave . . . or crazy.
Good for you for trying and getting out of your comfort zone. I will be thinking of you and will be wishing you all the luck. Can’t wait to hear about it.
Thanks Corey. I hope it goes well.
No worries, my friend. The dog needs a walk and the house needs groceries because I’m sitting under my backyard umbrella enjoying your book 🙂
Aw Susan . . . that is great! I’ll bring over a load of groceries and take Soma for a walk for you so you can keep reading!
Congrats, that’s awesome!!! I know all those ‘gals’ are going to just love it, gal. p.s. that picture at the bottom is so me. Haha.
I know. I captured an image of you as you wait for your acceptance into the design program. It is going to happen!
Talking about the book with a group you know will be good practice for when it’s published and you speak to strangers about it! 🙂
I like how you think. Keep sending your positive energy my way!
Yikes, I’d rather sit there naked than have them read my book (if I had one to read)! I’m proud of you, Girlfriend!
Thanks! I will be sitting there figuratively naked for sure.
Best of luck to you! That’s around the same time my group will be reviewing my next long excerpt, so maybe we can cross our fingers for each other. 🙂
We should meet for drinks before our respective meetings. Good luck to you too!
Absolutely!
5:00 on Tuesday? Tee hee.
Well done for entering and good luck with your date with the lionesses 🙂 I’m sure it’ll be a lot better than you think.
Maybe I should bring raw meat and throw it to them so they don’t tear me limb to limb.
Just because you didn’t win doesn’t mean its not a good book, I’ve noticed for me it’s hard for me to sum up my books in an interesting way, My best friend can sum it up better than I can. Also I get really shy when I’m talking about it and I didn’t even have the guts to put it into a contest. Congrats on your achievements.
At the last meeting when they selected my book and asked what it is about, I FROZE. I got tongue-tied, teary, and stammered something moronic. They picked it anyway!
Dang thats good, I do the same thing when ever someone asks me what my book is about still congrats though
Thanks! You are awesome. I am checking out your blog right now. Expect a follow!
Aww thanks 🙂
Being new to this novel-writing thing myself, I can’t imagine being front and center in a group discussion about my book. But it’s also pretty cool. Good luck!
Nothing like throwing yourself to the lions, right? The ladies in my group are not actual lions, but are a well-read lot.
Congratulations on submitting to a writing contest and having your book reviewed by your book group. It’s a huge accomplishment putting yourself out there.
Keep smiling,
Yawatta
Thanks! I think that is why I am not more disappointed in not making the finals in the contest. Just submitting it feels like an achievement.
Congrats for stepping out on faith, Robin. The more you do it, the easier it gets and the less it stings if you don’t win. It’s a numbers game, right? Keep writing!
So true! Every time I hand any piece of writing over for someone to read, it gets easier.
Like pressing the “publish” button? But having to be there as other people discuss your work – defend it like a thesis? Very brave, I think.
As I said before. Brave, or crazy. Excuse me for a sec. There are nice men in white coats are knocking at my door.
🙂