Thought chick-lit was dead? Think again!

So we've all heard that chick lit is so not happening right now. But I'm here to disagree. Okay, it's true that the market got a wee bit saturated so publishers backed off. I get that. But, come on! There are lots of us who love the genre and want more. At the moment, it seems as if the general market still has plenty of chick lit to go around. But the Christian market? Not so much. I personally believe it will make a comeback, but may be labeled as something else.

Anyway, if you're like me and love chick lit (think Kristin Billerbeck, Judy Baer, Erynn Mangum), and even more, if you love writing it, I'm here to announce a fabulous contest just for you. I actually finaled in this contest a couple years ago, and now I have an agent trying to sell that manuscript. Back then, it was labeled "Mom Lit" but since any phrase containing the word "lit" is a no-no in publishing these days, it's now being dubbed as "Women's fiction with a touch of humor." Same dif, if you ask me. But no one's asking.

So you may have heard of this contest. It's called Get Your Stiletto in the Door and is put on by the Chick Lit Chapter of Romance Writers of America. What's cool is there are several different categories, including Inspirational. I believe Inspirational is the category that always seems to get the least amount of entries. Which is a good thing because -- hello -- that means you have a better chance of winning!

Here's the info:

Eligibility: Basically, the rule is you must be unpublished in book-length fiction.

Categories (see official contest page for descriptions of each category): Single title contemporary, Women's Fiction (mainstream), Thrill, Paranormal, Inspirational, Red Hot, and Young Adult.

Deadline: October 1, 2010

How to Submit: Electronically

What to Submit: Up to the first 5,000 words. Optional: a 500-word synopsis

Entry Fee: $15 for RWA members, $25 all others (by PayPal, check, or money order)

Judging Process: Two rounds of judging. Top 4 entries in first round will go on to the final round, consisting of professional editors and/or agents (to be announced)

Winners Announced: On or around December 20th, 2010

Website: GET YOUR STILETTO IN THE DOOR

I am thinking about entering a Young Adult (we'll see!). Let me know if you decide to enter. We can cheer each other on!

Good luck!

Get your Stiletto in the Door!

As promised, I want to tell you about a great contest, exclusively for chick lit writers. At ChicklitWriters.com, a chapter of Romance Writers of America, chick lit is what it is. There is no shame or hiding behind other lables.

And the good news for us is that they hold an annual chick lit contest. It's called Get Your Stiletto in the Door (catchy, or what?) No Women's fiction or sappy romance allowed. This contest is for chick lit ONLY.

My novel, Mind over Madi, finaled in the 2007 Stiletto contest (Inspirational category) and my full MS was requested by one of the final round judges (an agent). Unfortunately, at the time, my MS wasn't nearly finished and I never did end up submitting. And also unfortunately, the OTHER final round judge basically hated my entry and scored me so low that I ended up finishing 4th of the the 4 finalists.

Sigh...

Anyway, that's over and done. Not wallowing. Really, I'm not!

Not sure if you qualify for this contest? Here's how the website describes chick lit:

Has your manuscript been shredded in other RWA contests because it's not quite romance? Do you write fun, sassy, contemporary fiction centering around the journey of the heroine? (Maybe you don't even have a hero at all.) Do your manuscripts not play by the romance rules?

Please note that this is a Chick Lit specific contest, not a romance contest. Our categories aren't suited for Regency entries. Contemporary Single Title, Paranormal romance, or Romantic Suspense won't do well unless the focus is on a plucky heroine with a true Chick Lit voice.

OK, now that I gave you the good news about this great contest, here's the bad: the deadline is June 15.

Yes, that is only 5 days from now. But don't panic. I haven't entered yet either. I still need to put together a synopsis (up to 5 pages), which is required as part of the submission. But I have faith in us! We can do it!

Some basic details:

• There are 5 categories: Classic Lit, Chick Thrill, Paranormal Chick, Inspirational Lit, and Young Adult Lit.
• Entry fee is: $10 for CLW RWA members (Please include RWA member number.),$20 for other RWA members (Please include RWA member number.), and $30 for non-RWA members
• Finalists are notified by August 25.
• Winners are announced by November 5

Get complete details, including the two final-round judges for each category, here: STILETTO CONTEST DETAILS.

If you enter, come back and let me know so I can cheer you on!

Long live Chick Lit!

Results are in...

And I really wish they weren't.

I debated whether or not to post this soon after hearing the bad news. Finding out that my manuscript placed FOURTH out of FOUR finalists in the Get Your Stiletto in the Door contest is a little like someone telling me my baby is ugly. The editor judge gave me 57 points out of 135. Yes, FIFTY-SEVEN. She might as well have sent me an email simply saying, YOUR STORY STINKS! In other words, your baby is butt-ugly (excuse my French). Lock her up and throw away the key. And believe me, it's tempting.

OK, I'll admit I'm a little emotional right now. I'll even admit that the temptation to eat every single chocolate chip cookie I baked today is overwhelming. Everything in me is screaming, "QUIT WRITING! GIVE IT UP! YOU'RE NO GOOD!"

I now have a choice to make. I can listen to that overbearing inner voice. Or, I can listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, who is (more gently) telling me it will be okay. There is no need to pull my hair out or rock in the corner. That this contest doesn't define my ability as a writer. That it's not the make-or-break of my writing career. That beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And my baby is still beautiful.

At least it is to Judge #2 - the judging agent - who requested the full manuscript when it's complete. It just amazes me that two judges can score the same manuscript so differently. I know, I know...it's all subjective. But when you just received yucky, VERY LOW scores from an editor who's well-respected in the industry, "subjective" takes on a whole new meaning.

But I'll keep plugging away on my novel. Because I actually like the thing. And hopefully I'll find an agent or editor who's on the other end of Judge #1's subjectivity. Who knows? Maybe it will be Judge #2.

Forgive me for venting. You're probably thinking I should be thankful I finalled at all. And I really am, even though it doesn't seem like it at the moment. Venting somehow cleanses the soul. And right now, I need some major soul cleansing.

So the results are in.

Yippee for me.

P.S. Check back tomorrow. Chances are I will be past the "poor me" stage and into the "ok, what can I do to improve this manuscript and actually win next time?" stage.