Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2010

Montallie

For anyone interested, the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award has been announced, and here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=332264011

Irish writers can enter, although I think that to post on the discussion board you need to buy something from Amazon.com (although it doesn't have to be very expensive). Last year several Irish people got through the first and second rounds, so it's well worth having a go. You just never know.

LegacyUser

Ive decided not to enter again this year. While Im glad they added a YA category, theres still too much chance involved for my taste.

The two reviews I received after making it to round 2 last year showed that the reviewers had rushed their reading so much that they missed obvious facts. One complained that they did not know what a mage was. Not only did one of the characters say what it was, to me, thats kind of a standard word Id expect fantasy readers to know, if not most readers in general. Other reviews I read explicitly complained about how they hated the entrys genre. Tough luck there.

When I submit to an agent, Im targeting a specific person for a specific reason. I know from my research that this is a person who enjoys the type of fiction I write. Whether theyll like my book in particular is still up for question, but at least I know I wont have the agent going, "Ugh YA Science fiction? I hate this stuff"

If Tor puts up a "Breakthrough SciFi/Fantasy Novel" contest with a YA category, Im all for it. But something as general as Amazon? Ill stick with querying agents, thank you.

EileenG

I'm having a go at this. I'll keep you posted.

Memnoch

http://www.amazon.com/b?node=332264011

Anyone else get through to the Quarter Finals? It's strange, last year I was obsessing constantly, refreshing every two minutes on the day the results were due. This year I was much more relaxed and didn't really mind too much if I didn't get through. Still, I'm happy that I got through. While I will probably nurture pensive hopes for further progression, I'm happy enough I got this far. It's the first time I'm going to be getting a "professional" review of the full manuscript, so I'm hoping it will prove helpful.

As for my 2nd round reviews, they were as follows.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Although it still needs a major rewriting, it's quite strong. I; I'm impressed. I wanted to read more. I don't see this as a big seller but it could be an insightful and sensitive novel about a people we tend to ignore.

Amazon.com Review

A very strong beginning. The character has a confident narrative voice that carries the reader with him smoothly through the day's events as well as the background, which is introduced mostly smoothly as well. The job, the boss' order and hint of reprisal, the news first about the missing friend then of what the other vendor saw him do all creates and adds to tension and interest. It's a story and voice that I'd be interested in staying with

They are encouraging, though the "still needs a major rewriting," comment is slightly worrying. I would have preferred if the reviewer had pointed out some more specifics of the areas they were unhappy with, or that needed work.

Although a lot will depend on the PW review regarding entry into the next round, it's quite possible that the "major rewriting," comment might cause Penguin to overlook my manuscript when making their selection for the next round, but then I'm just speculating, who knows what their process is really like?

I've also heard it said from a few people who made it into this stage or further the last couple of years that some of the "freelancers," to whom the reviewing was outsourced by PW didn't really do a great job, with complaints that the reviews indicated that the manuscripts hadn't been fully read or had just been skimmed over.

I guess no matter the positives, we always find something new to worry about. Still, as I said above, if I can get a helpful review from PW, I feel it will have been worth it.

P.S. I believe there was an older thread on the subject but I can't seem to find it.

pickarooney

Orignal thread was here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055768663

I can merge if it you wish.

There was also some discussion on it here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055814892

but I'm not sure about merging that as it has a slightly different theme.

Congratulations to yourself and EileenG on making the QF

Memnoch

I'll leave the merging and moderating to you

Glad to here Eileen G also made it through. The next stage should be interesting.

EileenG

Mine needs a lot more editing too (which I've been working on). I'm already embarrassed by all the mistakes in the version I put into the competition.

Antilles

Wow, congratulations on making the QFs guys! Keep us posted!

EileenG

Can anyone think of a way to find out how many Irish writers are still in the ABNA? If there are only a handful, it could be a great marketing plug for selling your MS to a publisher.