About a week after entering the competition, another entry appeared using an almost identical plot device. At first I felt put out - my entry had been online for the world to see for a week, what was stopping someone reading it, liking the idea and writing their own spin on it. But then a nagging doubt kept playing at the back of me mind. It seemed too much of a coincidence - but isn't that exactly what a coincidence is? As I do when I'm annoyed about something I had a chat with God about it while out walking and came to the conclusion that it was arrogant to assume nobody else could have had the same idea at the same time as me. It was hardly in the spirit of Christmas to make a fuss. What I thought was an original idea turned out not to be so and I thought I had to accept that my chances of winning were gone. However, not only did I win, but the entry that seemed so similar came third! I shouldn't have doubted the judge's ability to judge on the writing only and not on silly coincidences.
Interestingly, only three of the entries with the top ten votes made it on to the judges top ten as well (I was 16th in the votes). I suppose this is because a lot of voting is done by family and friends of the writers and so it has an element of a popularity contest about it. It's an interesting spin on judging which I'm not a huge fan of, but you know what you are entering when you enter and I am hardly in a position to complain! This is the third year I've entered and I've always found it a well-run and friendly competition.
The question is: Are competition wins like buses? Will three come along at once?
Lets hope so. Well done for this, Chloe, you must be very pleased. I'll have a look at your story now.
ReplyDeleteAnd in all seriousness, well done for thinking positively about the whole idea coincidence thing. Chats with the G man are always the way to go :)
Keep up the good work :)
Nari X
Congratulations Chloe. It's such an uplifting feeling to have a win at anything, but to have it in the field that you want to work in is just brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI hope the 'buses' theory is right too... for your sake and mine...
I like your positive attitude my friend, it's refreshing when a lot of my time is spent with younger people who are negative in the main.
Great work once again, and I'll get onto that story later, promise.
Thanks :) I totally didn't think positively about it for a couple of days! It just took me that long to get over my bruised ego. It was silly as it was a tiny story that took a couple of hours to put together from start to finish - not worth getting worked up over anyway even if I hadn't been just massively over-reacting.As you say Nari, chats with Him are the way to go!
ReplyDeleteTom, I will be looking out for your third bus...