It's my blog and I'll whine if I want to

First, an apology to you subscribers who received an email of a post yesterday. That entry was scheduled for the wrong date and is not supposed to post until Wednesday. So you'll get the same email in a couple days. Sorry for the mistake.

Second...THANKS to all who entered the giveaway for Allie Pleiter's Easter Promises! Using random name selector, a winner was chosen this morning. And the book goes to...

QUIETSPIRIT

Congratulations! Enjoy this book! (I know you will)

Now...on to today's post.

I'm more confused than ever. This may not shock those of you who know me, as confused is a state that's not necessarily new to me. But this time, I'm whining about it.

Got my Phoenix Rattler scores back. I haven't yet seen the complete list of winners, but I do know that in the mystery category, I placed 3rd out of 3. Bummer. However, this isn't the entry that's confusing. Well, it kind of is, because even though I placed last, the judge actually liked my story. She thought I had a strong voice and she liked the character. She just thought the voice was too playful for suspense. Let me insert here that the category was mystery-slash-suspense. There was nothing that specified how the tone should be. But, whatever. I can live with the fact that the worst she had to say was that it was too playful. And since that's the effect I was kind of going for, I probably won't change it much. Overall, I was highly encouraged by her comments. Even if I did place last out of the three finalists.

My other entry score really has me confused. Although I ended up placing 2nd out of 3, the final-round judge did not really, um, like my story. Dare I say she hated it? I won't go into what she didn't like about it, but I will say why it confused me. Several people have read this story. Most have loved it. A first reader for a major publisher raved about it. Crit partners (some published) have loved it. It scored two high-nineties scores in last year's Genesis contest. My mom absolutely adores it! OK, that one doesn't really count. But the overall consensus has been very positive.

Then this.

It would not be quite so confusing if I didn't admire this judge so much. She is well-respected in the industry and there's no question she knows what she's talking about. Everything in me wants to take her suggestions and feedback as gold and change everything she mentioned. But so many people have loved it as is.

So what to do?

This week, I'm mulling it over. My intention has been to resubmit to the Genesis this year. One low score knocked it out of the running last year and my ultimate hope is that it will final this time around. Oh - but did I mention that the Rattler judge happens to be the same person who will be judging the final round of my category in the Genesis? Oy... thinking she probably won't change her mind and suddenly like it in the next couple months.

Again...what to do? I basically have three options: Submit it as is, do a complete rewrite, or bag it all together.

So you see my confusion.

I am woman. Hear me whine.