Judges' reaction to NYC Midnight entry....

The good thing about the NYC Midnight contest is the feedback that comes with every entry. There is a forum set up on the site, explicitly designed for competitors to post links to their stories to receive peer feedback. And, as a bonus, the judges send an email with their own feedback.

This is a new experience for me. Most of the competitions out there that I've entered feel so very distant. You send your story into the ether of blind-judging and wait until the "winner announcement date" to know whether or not your story sucked--- and when you didn't place, there's nothing to indicate how close you might have come to placing.

There is a sense of community at NYC Midnight, one that is intent on encouraging writers and developing writers with constructive feedback.

I've included what the judges said about my piece. Apparently, I understood the Romantic Comedy genre better than I thought I did. And, the parts the judges felt needed work were exactly what I already knew--- that I severely lacked conflict/resolution. I will willingly take the ding about there not being enough setting in the latter part of the "story"... buuuuut, I'm not comfortable hanging out in a hair salon, and I couldn't bring myself to torture my characters by listing every piece of salon equipment they laid eyes on.....

NYC Midnight email:

WHAT THE JUDGE(S) LIKED ABOUT YOUR SCRIPT - ......The five friends are fun. This story's plot is believable because of the fast action and fun characters. The banter allows the reader to participate and truly engage the story's events. ...............The characters are well-developed. The dialogue and writing is believable and fits within the assigned genre well....................................................... WHAT THE JUDGES FEEL NEEDS WORK - ......More setting could be brought into the latter half of the story. Additionally, a lot happens quite fast but there doesn't seem to be a resolution or closing to the story. A key image might work well to close this great scene. ...............This is a good one-scene, but more substance is needed in order to achieve a story. Add some complexity of events. This can be achieved in a short space.........................…........................

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