Kathleen Woodiwiss would never win a contest.

You’ll have to forgive the unkind comment. Please bear in mind that I am not in any way cutting down Kathleen Woodiwiss. I admire her work greatly, and if told I had to be stranded on a island with only one book to take with me, it would be The Rose in Winter. Or The Wolf and the Dove. Or perhaps Shanna. Well, you get my point. What I am trying to say is that the reason Woodiwiss is beloved by so many is that she refused to write a cookie-cutter romance. She loaded her books with backstory. She told instead of showed. And she had heroes who were human and fallible and needed to grow. All of these are things that are constantly criticized by contest judges in my work.

My introspection comes from mailing what I consider my swan song of contesting. I know I have morphed into somewhat of a contest diva, though I doubt I’ve entered as many chapter contests as some think. But I am ready to end that part of my “career.” With a kiss and a prayer, I sent Murphy’s Law to RWA for Golden Heart competition.

My story won’t final. I’m sure of that. Sending it in anyway is my statement of inner strength. It’s my way of thumbing my nose at the notion that all stories are created equal. Murphy’s Law is unique. It doesn’t contest well, and I often receive comments that range from “your hero is unlikeable” to “your heroine is too independent and needs to soften up.” Odd thoughts, in my opinion.

Seth — my hero — is on a journey of redemption. Perhaps the contest judges might realize that by actually reading the quote that begins the manuscript. (…the only redemption is when a person puts himself aside to feel deeply for another person. Tennessee Williams) I would think that offers some insight that this is a story of change and growth. Yet, the judges don’t like Seth and rate the manuscript poor in the “hero” category.

Katie — my heroine — is independent. She’s feisty, stubborn, and not looking for love. And that makes her a bad heroine? Puhleeze… Why does a romance heroine have to be a sniveling, clinging vine to receive high scores from judges?

I sent Murphy’s Law in to state my own independence. To show that I think the world of romance is so much more than the stereotype. To show that it has room for characters who have the capacity to change and for heroines who are their own women. To show that a good story with fresh writing is always welcome in the world of publishing.

And if it finals, I’ll be truly amazed.