Posts in Series for Annette McCleave
Happy Easter everyone. I hope the Easter bunny delivers lots of chocolate to your house.
I’ve had two days to absorb the news that I’m a finalist in the Golden Heart. Thank you for all the congrats. My hands have stopped shaking and it finally seems real, but I’m still blown away. The reason for that is two-fold: a) I was sure it would be Sylvia who finaled and not me (I’m not kidding) and b) I’d convinced myself this was not the year.
I’m a re-writer - one of those people who writes the first draft in a couple weeks and then spends months polishing it. So, despite all the rosy ideals I had when I mailed in my entry last November, I had re-written so much of my ms I was sure the GH version was crap.
When I heard I’d finaled, I was amazed 
…and incredibly touched that five judges - at least a few of them my peers in PRO - had read my partial and thought it was good enough to grace with a high mark. Thank you, if you were one of those judges. It was a wonderful validation. I swear I get tears in my eyes and goose-bumps just thinking about those 5 people liking my story.
Yeah, I know the GH is as subjective as any other contest (Sylvia not finaling is a case in point :???:), but it still feels good. It’s helped stoke the fire I know I’ll need to reach the finish line - publication - which still might be some distance away.
For those of you who’ve considered entering the GH, or any other contest, and haven’t yet found the courage, I hope my experience will show you that anything is possible. But you have to enter. You have to get your stuff out there.
Go for it.
Congrats again - your GH final is an amazing accomplishment
by HelenKay March 27th, 2005 at 7:45 amTwo dark Lindt bunnies here!
And you’re right about entering, it’s the only way to win. Not always easy, especially as sometimes it doesn’t work out so well, but it’s no different than getting published. Not everyone will like your work then either.
So - have you bought your dress for the gala yet????
by Teresa March 27th, 2005 at 9:26 amAwww… Annette.
The hardest thing about ATM not being named a finalist is your confusion over why it wasn’t picked. I can understand this because I remain confused as to how ATM won over GoMH in the GO. In a fair world, it would have been the other way around.
Congratulations!! I’m awfully proud and thrilled for you.
You really deserved this.
by SylviaCongratulations Annette!! This is just the beginning fro you!
by Sasha March 27th, 2005 at 10:42 amCongratulations!!!
by Michelle March 27th, 2005 at 12:14 pmThanks, everyone!
No, Teresa, I don’t have a dress yet.
I’m hoping I can recycle something from my closet, but we’ll see. It’s hard to think that far ahead.
by Annette March 27th, 2005 at 12:33 pmCongrats, Annette!
by Sela March 27th, 2005 at 1:18 pmCongratulations Annette!
by Evangeline March 27th, 2005 at 2:03 pmAnd Sylvia, ATM was great. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t ever sell–you already have!
Wow, Annette! That is so cool! Congratulations on finaling in the GH.
:) 
by Cheyenne McCray March 27th, 2005 at 3:31 pmCongrats, Annette!
by Jaq March 27th, 2005 at 3:45 pm