ABNA! TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT! Secrets Revealed

ABNA 2014 BEGINS AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!

There are secrets to ABNA.

Not all of them are known to the public.  It is that way with any world-wide endeavor.

I.)  THERE’S NO ROOM IN THE CYBER-INN!

If you were one of the first to enter last year, then many of you found to your horror that when you tried to copy and paste your EXCERPT, 

          there was only ghostly laughter and frustration awaiting you.

         The word "false" appeared in the field and wouldn’t accept any pasting or typing over.

Amazon published this for all of you:

 

“Thank you to all authors who have reported receiving the "False" code when trying to complete the Excerpt portion of ABNA entry form. 

After investigating the issue we isolated the problem to authors using newer versions of the Internet Explorer browser (versions 8 &9). We have deployed a fix to address this and are continuing to monitor the platform.

 If you are still having issues with the contest forms using the IE browser, please try these two alternate solutions:

1.) Reload your IE Browser cache. To do this:

a. Hold down the shift-key on your computer

b. Click the reload button on your IE browser

2. )Try a different browser:

Authors using Firefox, Chrome, Safari and other non-Internet Explorer browsers have not experienced this issue.

You may wish to complete you entry using one of these alternative browsers.

You will need to close your current Internet Explorer session after logging out of CreateSpace.com.

 Good luck to all entrants.

 I used Firefox to enter my EXCERPT, and everything worked just fine.

So you might consider using Firefox this year and spare yourself any unsettling surprises.

II.)  ARE YOU TRYING TO CONFUSE ME?
 

As you began to enter last year, you were asked for a 300 word DESCRIPTION of your book.

Later, you were asked to copy and paste your 300 word PITCH.

Say again?

The difference is that one, the PITCH,

is for the COMPETITION.

And the DESCRIPTION is for the introduction of the work on the website.

I put my pitch in both places.

The "About the Book" isn't used for judging, so don't worry about it.

This year I wrote a short description to not appear lazy or confusing.

III.)  HEY, I’VE GOT A PROSE CLOT!

Many previewed their EXCERPTS  last year, only to find it was one massive formation of prose.

Ouch!

If your excerpt appears as one large mass of text,

you should change your browser to Firefox or Chrome. 

It cannot be a good thing to bruise the judges’ eyes with a blunt instrument of prose.

IV.)  Finally …

If you have properly entered ABNA, you should receive a confirmation email.

You will be given your own code then too.

The following answers from the editors judging 2009’s ABNA are revealing: