| Sponsor / Org |
Contest |
Type |
Eligibility |
Dates |
Entry |
Fee |
Submission |
Categories / Judges |
Awards / Other Info |
| Golden Heart Finalists of 1999 |
Jeannie Gray Golden Friendship Award |
Romance |
2012 Golden Heart Entrants who are unpublished |
Received by midnight EST on May 15, 2012; winner notified
by May 29. |
250-300 wd essay on: If your Golden Heart entry were published, how would that change your life? along with
proof of entry in the Golden Heart® 2012 Contest: |
Free |
Submit essay in body of email. GH entry proof may
be sent in a separate email. No attachments. |
Judges are members of the Golden Heart 1999 Loop |
$100 and a beautiful certificate for the winner |
| Georgia
Romance Writers of America |
Maggies Published |
Romance Book |
RWA authors who meet RITA guidelines for eligibility.
Books must have 2011 copyright date. |
Received by May 10, 2012. Finalists notified by July
16, winners announced Oct 6 at M&M conference. |
3 copies of book as published by publisher
(electronic and audio accepted in print-book format produced by publisher w/
copyright page) |
$20 |
Mail. Pay by check. |
Series Contemp, HR (includes Regencies),
ST Contemp, Para / TT / F / F, Inspirational. 2 judges from bookseller / librarian
pool will score each entry from 1 to 10. |
1st Place winner per category receives Maggie Medallion. |
| Celtic
Hearts Romance Writers of America |
Golden
Claddagh |
Romance |
Published authors may enter unpublished manuscript in Published category. Otherwise, authors must be unpublished / not published in last 5 yrs, with no accepted
offer. Entry must be from full-length, completed manuscript. |
e-deadline May 5, 2012; finalists notified by June 15; winners notified by Sept 1. |
beginning of ms, 30 pp max plus synopsis, 5 pp max |
$15, $20 check or Paypal; |
email |
First round scored by 2 trained judges and one published
author and the lowest score is dropped. 3
highest scoring entries go to final round. Final judges: FF&P
(Angela James, Carina Press); RS (Suzie Townsend, Nancy Coffey Agency ); Erotic (Katherine Pelz, Berkley);
HR (Laura Bradford, Laura Bradford Agency); Celtic (Laurie McLean, Larsen-Pomada Agency); Contemp
(Aubrey Poole, Sourcebooks); Published (Amy Pierpont, Grand Central; Becky Vinter, FinePrint Agency; Gold Claddagh (Liz Pelletier, Entangled Publishing; Kevan Lyon, Marsal-Lyon Agency) |
1st Place winner in each category receives a golden
claddagh pin. 2nd Place winner in each category receives a silver claddagh pin.
3rd Place winner in each category receives a bronze claddagh pin. All winners
receive certificates and icons to place on their websites. |
| Alaska
Romance Writers of America |
Breakup
|
Romance |
Unpublished as of deadline. AKRWA members not eligible. |
Received by May 1, 2012. |
Most tense argument, breakup, or black moment
(10 pp max), setup / synopsis (3 pp max) which will not be judged |
$30 via PayPal. |
electronic |
All judges are trained, PRO members or published authors.
Each entry receives at least 3 scoresheets. Finalists judged by Liz Pelletier, Entangled Publishing. Categories: Contemp, Fantasy / Para, HR, Erotica,
Inspirational, YA, RS, Chick Lit. Heat Levels: Sweet, Sensual, Ultra Sensual,
Erotic, Highly Erotic. Winning entry receives critique by Cherry Adair. |
All entrants receive a certificate of participation. |
| Academy
of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences |
Nicholl
Fellowship |
Script |
Screenwriters who have not earned more than $5,000
writing for film or television (see rules). Up to 2 authors per script. |
Uploaded by 11:59 pm PT May 1, 2012 |
Original feature film screenplay, approx 90-120 pp, in PDF format, written in English. |
$45 via credit card |
electronic |
First, quarter-final, semi-final and final rounds
of judging. Semi-final round judged by Academy members of the motion picture
industry. Final round judged by the Nicholl
committee. Finalists must write a letter
to Nicholl Committee, giving the Committee some idea of the writer’s
personal and professional interests should he or she receive a Fellowship. |
Up to five $30,000 fellowships are awarded to authors
who have previously earned less than $5,000 writing for film or television. |
| Oklahoma Romance Writers of America |
International Digital Awards |
novel or short work |
open to all works of fiction in English with original copyright date in 2010 or 2011 that are available only in digital format; entries capped at 100 per category. |
Midnight CST May 1, 2012; finalists and winners notified ~July 15. |
Novel or Short length work (minimum 10,000 words) |
$15 |
submit in non-DRM .pdf format as email attachment |
3 judges; five finalists per category per entry type (novel or short work). Categories: Contemp, Erotic, Historical, Inspirational, Para, Suspense, YA |
Prizes include an engraved paper weight for the first-place winner in each and certificates for the finalists. The winner is guaranteed five reviews plus tweets and Facebook posts about their winning title. Additional prize: The names of all entrants are placed in a drawing to receive a free book trailer for their story. Winner will work directly with the artist to create the trailer. |
| Ozarks Romance Authors |
Weta Nichols Writing Contest |
Fiction - any genre...romance, sci-fi, mystery, etc. |
Manuscript cannot be published (traditional, self-pub, or e-pub) or contracted at deadline. |
e-deadline midnight CT May 1, 2012 (extended from April 15); winners announced at Ozarks conference June 23 |
First 3,000 words of plus a one-paragraph flap copy / blurb (3,200 words max combined) |
$15 |
Email entry. PayPal preferred as payment |
Categories: HR, Contemp, Para / Sci-Fi, YA. Final judges: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency and Cori Deyoe, Three Seas Literary Agency. |
1st Place per category: $50; 2nd Place: $25; 3rd Place: certificate and ORA pin |
| Scriptscene
Romance Writers of America and Inktip |
Romancing the Script |
Story with Romantic Elements, not contracted, optioned or produced before April 1 |
RWA members in good standing |
Received by May 1, 2012; finalists hard copies must be postmarked by May 25 |
1st Act, not to exceed the first 30 pp. |
$20, $25 |
electronic in pdf format. Pay with check or PayPal |
Top 3 winners must submit the full completed screenplay for judging. Final Judge: Suzanne Lyons, Producer / President Snowfall Films, Inc., and WindChill Films, Inc. |
Top Prize: Read by Zac Sanford VP of Development at Suntaur Entertainment. Winner/Finalists receive log line listing in InkTip and a 6 month subscription to InkTip’s Preferred Newsletter www.inktip.com |
| Southwest Review |
David Nathan Meyerson Prize for Fiction |
Fiction |
Open to writers who have not yet published a book of fiction, either a novel or collection of stories. |
Postmarked by May 1, 2012; winner announced in August. |
Story of up to 8,000 words. |
$25 |
mail or email (can pay online) |
|
Prize: $1,000 and publication in Southwest Review Vol. 97, No. 4 (autumn), 2012. All entries will be considered for publication. |
| Tampa
Area Romance Writers of America |
TARA |
Romance |
Open to unpublished and published authors of novel length fiction; entry must be original work, unpublished and uncontracted as of deadline |
Received by 11:59 PM EST May 1, 2012; finalists notified ~July 1; winners announced ~Sept 30. |
prologue / first chapter (4,000 words max); optional
synopsis (1,500 words max; will not be judged) Synopsis is required if you final. |
$25 via PayPal |
email |
At least 2 judges (published authors or
TARA-trained and certified).3 finalists per category. To final, entry must have min overall score of at least 40.
Finalists have a week to make changes & submit synopsis before final round. Series Contemp
(Brenda Chin, Harlequin); HR (Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks); Para (Elizabeth Bistrow, NAL); ST (Sue Grimshaw, Random House); Women's Fiction (Lauren Plude, Grand Central); RS (Emilia Pisani, Pocket Books); Inspirational (Natalie Hanemann Thomas Nelson) |
Top prize Sterling Silver TARA pendant, certificate.
Finalists receive certificates. Winners announced in RWR. |
| Writers Digest |
Writers Digest Annual Writing Competition |
Various (see categories) |
Original, in English, unpublished (except Magazine Feature Article category) and unproduced, not accepted by any other publisher or producer at the time of submission. |
May 1, 2012; Late deadline May 20; winners notified by Oct 21. |
Memoirs / Personal Essay, Magazine Feature Article and Children's / YA Fiction: 2,000 words max; MS / Literary Short Story and Genre Short Story: 4,000 words max; Inspirational: 2,500 words max; Poems: 32 lines max; Scripts: 1st 15 pp in standard script format, plus one-page synopsis. |
Poems $15 for first entry, addl $10 ea. All others $25 for first entry, $15 each addl. |
mail or online if paying with credit card |
10 categories: Inspirational (Spiritual / Religious); Memoirs / Personal Essay; Magazine Feature Article; Genre Short Story (Mystery, Romance, etc.); MS / Literary Short Story; Rhyming Poetry; Non-rhyming Poetry; Stage Play; Television / Movie Script; Children's / Young Adult Fiction |
Grand Prize: $3,000 cash and a 3 day / 2 night trip to New York City to meet with editors or agents. Lots of other prizes; see website for details. |
| Coffee and Cream Publishing |
Spring Romance Short Story Contest |
Romance short stories |
Short stories with interracial and/or multicultural characters. |
April 30, 2012; winners announced on website first week of June |
email completed short story as MS Word document between 7,000 and 20,000 words |
$10 via PayPal |
email |
Judges: 40% reader website votes and 60% Coffee and Cream Acquisition Editor opinion. Categories: Contemp, HF, Mys-Sys, Para, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Christian, and YA. |
1st Place: $500 USD cash. 2nd Place: $100 USD cash. · 3rd Place: $50USD. Each will be promoted on Coffee and Cream Publishing website. Honorable mention maybe given to each genre. |
| Passionate
Ink |
Passionate
Plume |
Erotic Romance Book, Novella |
Open to all authors published in the erotic romance sub-genre with any erotic romance publisher (regardless of RWA non-subsidy, non-vanity publisher status). 1st copyright date or 1st NA printing in 2010 |
Received by April 30, 2012 (extended from April 15); winners announced at Passionate
Ink gathering at RWA National convention. |
e-book (pdf format only) |
$25 ($15 for members) |
Mail / email. Pay by mail or Paypal. |
Contemp; HR; F / F / Sci-Fi; Para / TT; Novella (25,000
wds or less). 1st round judges: Readers, writers, reviewers, booksellers, librarians.
Final Round Judges: Multi-published authors and reviewers. 5 finalists in each
category. |
1st Place winners
receive a Passionate Ink pendant and award graphic for their website. All
others will receive certificates and a finalist graphic for their website. Names
published in the RWR. |
| Passionate
Ink |
Stroke
of Midnight |
Erotic Romance |
Unpublished, uncontrtacted in the category entered |
Received by April 30, 2012; winners announced at Passionate
Ink gathering at RWA National convention. |
Beginning of ms (35 pp total entry for full-length, 20 pp for novella). A 5 pp max single-spaced synopsis must be included (it will not be judged). |
$25 ($15 for members). Pay by mail or paypal. |
email |
Contemp (Saritza Hernandez, L. Perkins Agency); HR (Roberta Brown, Brown Agency); F / F / Sci-Fi (Katherine Pelz, Berkley Publishing); Para / TT (Lauren Ruth, Bookends LLC) ; Novella (Monica Peters, Red Sage Publishing). 5 finalists in each category. |
1st Place winners will receive
a free one-year membership in Passionate Ink ($25 value), a certificate, and
an award graphic for their website.
All other finalists will receive certificates and and a finalist graphic for
their website. Results published in RWR. |
| Work Literary Magazine |
Employee of the Year |
Essay |
Anyone. Entry must be original work, unpublished (traditional, self-pub, or e-pub) and not contracted at deadline. No simultaneous submissions. |
e-deadline April 30, 2012; grand prize winner announced June 11 |
Essay with the theme of WORK. |
$15 via Paypal |
.doc or .rtf via email |
Two published authors judging each category. Finalists in each category are winners who contend for prize title Employee of the Year. |
Winner receives $50. Entry will be ranked with winning entries from the Memoir / Interview and Fiction categories and grand prize winner will receive an additional $50 plus limited edition WORK team t-shirt and honorary title "Employee of the Year" |
| Writers Type |
Writers Type Competition |
Fiction (flash, short story, novel excerpts) |
anyone; unpublished work in English |
April 30 , 2012 |
Dependent on contest entered, i.e., First Chapter, Short Story, Flash Fiction. Please see website for further details. . |
$10 via payPal |
electronic via WritersType.com |
WritersType.com sponsors three annual contests in the categories of First Chapter, Flash Fiction, and Short Story. |
In each category, the monthly winner receives $25 honorarium, comments from our readers, and publication on our site. Each month, the top two submissions in each category advance to the annual competition. Annual Prize: a total of $250, reader comments, and publication on our site. |
| Writers
Digest |
International
Self Published Book Awards |
Self-published, various types (see categories) |
English-language self-published books for which the
authors have paid the full cost of publication, or the cost of printing has been
paid for by a grant or as part of a prize |
Postmark by April 20, 2012. Winners notified by Oct 14,
2012. |
printed, bound book published OR revised and reprinted
between 2007 and 2012 |
$100 for 1st entry; $75 each addl |
online registration but send entry by mail |
MS / Literary Fiction; Genre Fiction; Nonfiction; Inspirational
(Spiritual, New Age); Life Stories (Biographies, Autobiographies, Family Histories,
Memoirs); Children's Picture books; Middle-Grade / Young Adult books; Reference
Books (Directories, Encyclopedias, Guide Books); Poetry |
Grand Prize is $3,000 cash plus trip to the Writer's Digest Conference in New York City. Lots of other prizes. See website for details. |
| River
City Romance Writers of America |
Duel
on the Delta |
Romance |
not published in book-length fiction in the last 5
years or contracted for book-length fiction in any format within past three years |
Received by midnight CST April 15, 2012; finalists notified April 20; finalists notified by May 5; winners announced ~June 30. |
First 20 pp plus optional one-page, single-spaced synopsis which will not be judged |
$25 via PayPal or check. |
email |
At least 3 judges (published authors, PRO members, or RCRW-trained). 3 finalists in each category. Finalists have 1 wk to make changes. Final judges: ER (Angela James, Carina Press); Contemp (Aubrey Pope, Sourcebooks); RS (Liz Bass, Carina Press); Para / Urban Fantasy (Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literacy Agency); HR (Deborah Nemeth, Carina Press); YA (Liz Pelletier, Entangled Publishing); Inspirational (Sarah Long, Bethany House) |
Finalists will have approx 1 wk to review judges' critiques and revise ms before the final round. If a finalist does not return revised ms by deadline, the entry will be disqualified from final round judging. Top prize: Duel on the Delta pin and $25. All finalists receive certificates. Winners announced in RWR and on RCRW website. |
| Orange
County Romance Writers of America |
Orange
Rose |
Romance |
RWA member unpublished / not contracted in last 5
yrs or prior to June 30. Limited to first 150 entries. |
Received by April 14, 2012; finalists announced July
14; winners notified Oct 13. |
5 copies of synopsis plus beginning of ms (55 pp max) |
$25, $35 via PayPal or check |
Email with RTF attachment |
3 in-depth critiques by published authors; scores
averaged. Top
10 finalists across all categories (must receive min. of 82% of points) go to 2 editors for final
judging; scores averaged. Short Contemp; HR / Regency; Inspirational; MS / RE;
Para / TT / Fantasy; RS; ST; ER; YA |
Four top-scoring entries receive Orange Rose Certificate
and check: 1st = $100; 2nd = $75, 3rd = $50, 4th = $25. |
| East Texas Romance Writers of America |
Southern Heat |
Romance |
Published or unpublished authors submitting unpublished,
uncontracted ms. Published authors (RWA recognized / PAN-eligible) cannot have been published in category entered within past 5 yrs. |
April 10, 2012 (extended from March 31); finalists contacted May 15; winners announced July 15. |
First 15 pp plus synopsis (5 pp max( |
$20, $25, $30 by PayPal or check |
submit as RTF file via email |
First round: 2 judges. Bonus points used as tiebreaker. Discrepancy judge used for entries whose scores differ by 25 points if higher score is 85% of total points possible. Para (Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency; Ann Leslie Tuttle, Harlequin Paranormal) HR (Courtney Miller-Callihan, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates; Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency); Contemp ST (Rebecca Strause, McIntosh & Otis, Inc.; Rhonda Penders, The Wild Rose Press); Inspirational (Mary Sue Seymour, The Seymour Agency; Melissa Endlich, Harlequin Inspirational); Contemp Series (Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency; Alicia Condon, Kensington Books); RS (Aubrey Poole, Sourcebook; Maria Carvainis, Maria Carvainis Agency); YA (Elaine Spencer, The Knight Agency; Leticia Gomez, Sawy Literary Services) |
|
| Valley
Forge Romance Writers of America |
The
Sheila |
Romance |
All RWA members not published in category entered within
past five yrs or contracted at time of deadline. |
Received by 11:59 PM EST April 7, 2012; finalists
notified June 2; winners announced Aug 4. |
Synopsis, beginning of ms (35 pp max), no more than
25 lines per page. Finalists can submit revised entry for final round. |
$25 (VFRW members), $30 all others. PayPal unless you email
the coordinator by April 1 for Money Order payment. |
electronic |
Entrants will receive a detailed score sheet from
4 qualified judges; lowest score dropped. Five finalists in each
category, but must receive minimum score of 240 (out of 300) to final. ST (Emilia Pisani, Gallery Books); HR, incl. short, long, Regencies (Elizabeth Poteet, St. Martin’s Press); F / F / P (Leah Hultenschmidt, SourceBooks); Women’s Fiction w/ RE / Chick Lit (Alex Logan, Grand Central); RS (Katherine Pelz, The Berkley Publishing Group); YA (Wendy Loggia, Delacorte Press / Random House Children’s Books) |
All finalists receive certificates. First through
fourth place winners will have their names printed in RWR Magazine. All decisions
of the judges are final. |
| The
Beau Monde Romance Writers of America |
Royal
Ascot |
Regency Romance |
RWA members who are unpublished or have not been published
in book-length romance by RWA Pan standards in last 5 yrs. Entry must be uncontracted
at time of entry. |
Received by midnight PDT April 6,
2012; finalists announced May 1, winners announced at The Beau Monde Conference |
Beginning of ms (7,000 words max) plus optional 500-wd symopsis. If time travel, begin where Regency
setting begins, with a 1-page summary to that point. |
$25, $30 |
Email entry. Pay by check, MO or PayPal. |
3 judges in 1st round, at least one published
in Regency romance. Lowest score dropped.. 3 finalists per category.Categories: Regency HR (longer Regency or Mainstream Regency-set); Hot Regency (Very sensual to Erotic Regency); Wild Regency (Para, TT, other similar Regency); Sweet & Mild Regency (Traditional, Inspirational, YA or other w/o explicit sex). Final judges: Stephany Evans, Fine Print Literary; Louise Fury, L Perkins Agency; Pam Hopkins, Hopkins Literary Associates; ; Lauren Plude, Hachette Book Group; Angela Polidoro, Random House; Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks. |
1st Place winner in each category: $100; $25 for finalists. All receive certificate. Note: If the sub-genre of any finaling
entry is not one acquired by the final round judge, an attempt will be made to
obtain a read from an editor who acquires that sub-genre. This editor will not
participate in judging. All final round judges place priority on story quality,
not acquirability. |
| PAGE International Screenwriting Awards |
PAGE International Screenwriting Awards |
Screenplay / scripts |
Anyone. Must be original work, unemcumered by any third party (not sold, produced or under option), and in English. |
Received by April 2, 2012; quarter-finalists announced July 15; finalists announced Sept 15; winners announced Oct 15. |
see categories for page length |
$39 if entered by Jan 15, $49 if by March 1, $59 by April 2; add'l $75 for judge's feedback, if desired |
by mail or online as pdf, final draft, movie magic or MS Word file. Pay via check, MO, or online with credit card, PayPal or bank transfer. |
Categories: Feature Film Scripts, 80-120 pp incl. Action / Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family Film, Historical Film, Science Fiction, Thriller / Horror; Short Film Scripts, under 40 pp; Original TV Pilots, 25-70 pp incl. TV Drama Pilot, TV Sitcom Pilot. See website for list of judges and process. |
31 Awards in this year’s screenwriting contest – including a $25,000 Grand Prize – plus Gold, Silver and Bronze Prizes in ten different genre categories. All told, this year’s Winners will receive over $50,000 in Cash and Prizes. |
| New Hampshire Romance Writers of America |
Query Quandary Contest |
Romance |
Open to published and unpublished authors |
e-deadline Midnight EST April 1, 2012; finalists announced by May 31; winners announced by June 30; Grand Winner announced by July 31. |
1 page Query + optional 1 page synopsis (will not be judged) |
$10 NHRWA members; $15 non NHRWA members |
electronic |
1st round: 3 trained judges. 5 finalists per category. HR (Courtney Miller-Callihan, Sanford Greenburger Associates); Contemp Series (Charles Griemsman, Harlequin); Contemp ST (Lauren Ruth, BookEnds, LLC); Mystery / Suspense (Patience Bloom, Harlequin); YA (Jenny Bent, The Bent Agency); Para (Esi Sogah, Avon); Erotica (Christa Desir, Samhain Publishing) |
Winners announced at NHRWA's Fall Fling Conference in Portsmouth, NH. in RWR magazine and on website. |
| Faith,
Hope & Love Romance Writers of America |
Touched
By Love |
Inspirational Romance |
Unpublished / not published in last 3 yrs |
Received by midnight ESTApril 1, 2012 |
Up to first 30 pp plus synopsis (2 pp max, double-spaced)
of inspirational romance |
$20, $25 |
Email. Pay by check or PayPal |
3 judges (one will be published or PRO) with lowest
score dropped. 3 finalists per category (must be in top 25% of scores to final).
All finalists receive opportunity to have their entries judged by 5 published
inspirational authors (scores averaged to determine winners). Categories:
Short contemp, Long contemp, Historical. |
Overall winner chosen from the category winners receives
critique of entry by Raela Schoenherr of Bethany House and $100 toward any writing related expense paid
within one year of the contest end. Remaining 1st place winners receive review by editor and $75 toward writing expense. 2nd Place receive $50 toward writing expense, and 3rd receive $25. |
| Heart
and Scroll Romance Writers of America |
Magic Moment |
Romance |
Unpublished in last 5 yrs |
Postmark by April 1, 2012; finalists notified by May 30. |
4 copies of 1st 10 pp |
$25 RWA members, $30 non-RWA members. Pay via PayPal |
Electronic |
4 detailed critiques of each entry. Top 3 entriest to to Final Round Judge: Pamela Harty of the Knight Agency |
1st Place Winner receives $100 and certificate; 2nd and 3rd Place winners receive certificates. |
| CJM Books |
Colonnade Writing Contest |
Fiction, Non-fiction |
Contestants must be 18 yrs or older. Stories must be written primarily in English and be previously unpublished. |
March 31, 2011; winners notifed 15 days after deadline; yearly winners announced upon release of anthology in early February. |
Submit complete essay or story (10,000 words max). |
$12 |
mail or electronic |
Fiction and Non-fiction judges change quarterly. |
Prizes: $125 to one quarterly winner in each category; $600 to yearly winner in each category. 24 total winners and runners up will be published in yearly anthology. |
| Gemini Magazine |
Short Story Contest |
Fiction short story |
Open to all. Stories must be unpublished. |
Postmark / e-deadline March 31, 2012 |
Any style, subject or length. Paste story into email. |
$4 |
email and PayPal; snail mail and check or MO |
Final judge: David Bright. |
1st place: $1,000; 2nd place: $100; three honorable mentions. All five finalists published in June 2012 issue of Gemini. |
| Hoffer Award |
Eric Hoffer Award for Short Prose |
Short prose - fiction or non-fiction |
Open to works previously unpublished or published with a circulation of less than 500 (online published works not eligible) |
Postmark by March 31, 2012 |
works of short prose fewer than 10,000 wds in length |
$? |
Online |
Judges may include authors, editors, agents, publishers, book producers, artists, experienced category readers, and health and business professionals. Categories: Art, Poetry, General Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Children, YA, Culture, Memoir, Business, Reference, Home, Health, Self-Help / Spiritual, Legacy Fiction, and Legacy Nonfiction. In addition to categories, there are 4 press awards (self-published, micro press, small press, academic press) See website for descriptions. |
$250 Grand Prize |
| Short Story Radio |
World Audio Short Story Award |
Fiction short story |
Anyone. Story must be original, unpublished and unbroadcast. |
Received by midnight GMT March 31, 2012. Winner notified approx 4 wks later. Winning story will be broadcast from Feb 14, 2011 |
Short story must be between 1,500 and 2,000 words, in English. None overly religious, political, sexual or violent in nature; no expletives. |
£4 |
mail or email. Pay by check drawn on a British bank or by PayPal. |
Final judge: Pat Richardson, founder of Perfectly Worded Writing and Editing Consultancy and former Fiction Editor at Best magazine (UK). |
The winner receives a cash prize of £50. The winning entry will be recorded by a professional actor and produced as a podcast, which will be available on Short Story Radio and as a download free of charge. The author of the winning entry will have an author podcast produced by Talking Bookshelf. All entrants, including the winner, will retain the copyright to their story but winner agrees that SSR can broadcast story for a period of 12 months. |
| The Write Place |
Modern Fairy Story competition |
Short Story |
Anyone |
March 31, 2012; results announced ~end May |
a modern fairy story with a moral to the tale, 1,500 words max |
£5, payment by check |
mail |
Judged by The Write Place committee |
Awards: 1st Place £100, 2nd Place £75, 3rd Place £50 |
| Writers
of the Future |
Writers
of the Future |
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy |
Open to those who have not professionally published
a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than 3 short stories
in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment and at least
5,000 copies or 5,000 hits. |
Postmark by midnight March 31, 2012 |
Works of prose, up to 17,000 words in length. |
Free and writer retains all rights. |
mail |
All types of science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy.
No poetry or works for children. No excessive violence or sex. |
Cash prizes of $500, $750, $1,000 every quarter.
Annual cash prize of $5,000. |
| Writers Type |
Writers Type Competition |
Fiction (flash, short story, novel excerpts) |
anyone; unpublished work in English |
March 31, 2012 |
Dependent on contest entered, i.e., First Chapter, Short Story, Flash Fiction. Please see website for further details. |
$10 via payPal |
electronic via WritersType.com |
WritersType.com sponsors three annual contests in the categories of First Chapter, Flash Fiction, and Short Story. |
In each category, the monthly winner receives $25 honorarium, comments from our readers, and publication on our site. Each month, the top two submissions in each category advance to the annual competition. Annual Prize: a total of $250, reader comments, and publication on our site. |
| Central
Florida Romance Writers of America |
Touch
Of Magic |
Romance |
Not published in book-length fiction in past 5 yrs |
e-deadline March 20, 2012 |
1st 25 pp plus unjudged synopsis (3 pp max) |
$25, $30 |
Electronic |
HR (Helen Rosburg, Medallion); Para (Meredith Giordan, Berkley); YA (Megan Records, Kensington); NSRE (Esi Sogah, Harper Collins / Avon); Series Contemp (Gail Chasan, Silhouette); ST / Long Contemp (Kate Dresser, Simon & Schuster); RS (Katherine Pelz, Berkley) |
Top Prize: Certificate, Frog Prince charm. Announced
in RWR. |
| Futuristic,
Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Writers of America |
Prism
Contest |
Romance with Futuristic, Fantasy or Paranormal elements |
Books (including ebooks) with first copyright or first printing date of 2011 by non-vanity, non-subsidy publisher. 40%+ of the story must be dedicated to the romance. |
March 20, 2012 |
1 electronic copy + 3 printed copies of book |
$30 for members, $35 for non-members; PayPal or check. |
Online and mail. |
Dark Para, Light Para, Futuristic, Fantasy, TT / Steampunk, Erotica / Romantica, Novella, YA, Best of the Best, Best First Book. |
Top Prize: Prism Award, certificate, pin. |
| Hearts
Through History Romance Writers of America |
Romance
Through The Ages |
Historical Romance or Romantic Historical Fiction |
Entry which is unpublished and uncontracted as of March 15, 2012. Do not need to be an RWA member. Previous 1st place entries
not eligible. |
e-deadline March 20, 2012 (extended from March 15); finalists
notified ~April 12; winners announced at RWA National. |
First 30 pp + 1-2 pp synopsis (single
or double spaced, will not be unjudged,) |
$20, $25 by PayPal, U.S. or Canadian check or MO. |
Email. Finalists must mail hard copy and SASE
for receipt back. |
Three 1st round judges, lowest score dropped. Scores
less than 3 must have comment. Finalists can revise entry. Ancient / Medieval / Renaissance (Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency); Georgian / Regency / Victorian (Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein, McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency);
Colonial / Western / Civil War (Rhonda Helms, Carina Press); Post-Victorian
/ World War II (Mary Sue Seymour, The Seymour Agency); TT / Para (Nicole D’Arienzo, The Wild Rose Press); HR ER (Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds, LLC).
Legend Award (Sara Megibow, Nelson Literary Agency); Best of the Best |
Legend Award is $50.
Each 1st Place winner receives gift certificate for one HHRW Campus workshop. |
| Romance Writers of America
San Diego |
Spring
into Romance |
Romance |
Unpublished / not contracted in book length fiction
in last 3 yrs |
Postmark by March 16 or hand deliver to RWA-SD meeting on March 18, 2012 |
1st 25 pp. |
$20, $25, $35 |
Mail |
1st round judges: published authors or trained. Discrepancy
judge for point spreads of 30 or more if the top score is at least 100, to determine
top 4 entries advancing to final round. Contemp Series (Sarah McDaniel-Dyer, Harlequin); ST (Angela James, Carina Press); RS (Leis Pederson, Berkley Publishing Group); MS w/RE (Kevan Lyon, Marshal Lyon Literary Agency); HR (Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency); Para (Sue Grimshaw, Random House); YA (Suzie Townsend, Nancy Coffey Literary & Media) |
Winners listed in RWR |
| Cassell
Network of Writers |
International Writers Competition |
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry |
Unpublished or self-published entries (except for
category (A) |
Postmark by March 15, 2012; winners announced ~May 31. |
See rules for category entry info |
$3, $5 per poem. Else: $5, $10 for entries under
3,000 wds; $10, $20 for entries 3,000-5,000 wds. |
Mail. Can pay via Paypal. |
Nonfiction Division: (A) Previously Pubbed Article /
Essay / Column / Nonfiction Book Chapter; Unpublished or self-published for rest
of categories: (B) Article / Essay / Column / Nonfiction Book Chapter. Fiction Division:
(C) Short Story (D) Novel Chapter. Children's Lit Division: (E) Short Story /
Nonfiction Article / Book Chapter / Poem. Poetry Division: (F) Free Verse / Traditional |
In each category: 1st Place - $100 plus certificate;
2nd Place - $75 plus certificate 3rd Place - $50 plus certificate; Honorable
Mention certificates will be awarded in each category as warranted. |
| Kiss
of Death Romance Writers of America |
Daphne
du Maurier Award for Excellence: Published |
Romantic Mystery / Suspense Book |
Book w/ 2011 copyright or with a 2010 original copyright date but first available to public in 2011. E-books, POD, subsidy, self-published
are eligible. Each category capped at 40 entries. |
Received by March 15, 2012; finalists notified ~May 25; winners announced at RWA National. |
4 copies of book. E-books, self-published, print-on-demand must be in mass market or trade paperback size. No unbound submissions will be accepted. |
$25 |
Mail |
3 judges, lowest score dropped. Top 5 entries proceed to final round. All
categories must be Romantic Mystery / Suspense except MS category, where romance
is optional. Category (Series) romance; HR: Inspirational romance; MS; TT / F / P; ST romance. |
1st Place winners receive engraved bookmark and gift certificate for one COFFIN online class. A certificate of recognition will be awarded to the editor of the winning entry. All other finalists will be awarded a certificate. The top overall scoring entry will receive the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellencein Mystery / Suspense. Results published in the RWR®. |
| Kiss
of Death Romance Writers of America |
Daphne
du Maurier Award for Excellence: Unpublished |
Romantic Mystery / Suspense (except MS category, where romance
is optional). |
Never contracted in book-length fiction from any publisher |
Received by midnight MT March 15, 2012; winners announced at RWA National. Note: MS and ST entries capped at 100, rest capped at 50. |
1st 5,000 wds + synopsis (675 words max) which will not be judged. Rules for finalists vary slightly from the above. |
$15 KOD members, $30 all others |
Electronic. Can pay with PayPal, US check or MO. |
Note: Judges listed below were 2010; not sure if they are also the 2011 judges. Four 1st round judges, lowest score dropped but all scoresheets returned. Top 5 qualifying finalists must receive score totaling at least 92 points. Categories and final judges: Series Romance (Dana Hamilton, HQN Intrigue & Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency);
HR (Megan Records, Kensington Publishing & Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency); Inspirational (Emily Rodmell, HQN Love Inspired & Linda Glaz, Hartline Literary); Para / TT / F (Michelle Vega, Berkley Books & Amy Boggs, Donald Maass Literary Agency); ST (Kristin Sevick, Tor/Forge Books & Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency); MS (Alex Logan, Grand Central Publishing & Josh Getzler, Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency) |
1st Place winners receive engraved bookmark, $25 and a certificate for one COFFIN online class. 2nd Place winners receive certificate, $15 and a certificate for one COFFIN online class. 3rd Place winners receive certificate, $10 and certificate for one COFFIN online class. HMs receive certificates. The top overall scoring entry receives the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery / Suspense. Results will be published in the RWR®. |
| Virginia
Romance Writers of America |
Fool
for Love |
Romance |
Anyone not published or contracted in book length in any form. Published author category is open to entrants not published or contracted in past 3 years. |
Received by midnight EST March 14, 2012; finalists notified May 5; winners announced June 6. |
1st 50 pp plus optional synopsis (5 pp max) |
30, $35 |
electronic; pay by PayPal or check. |
Detailed score sheets from 2 qualified judges. A 3rd judge for scores differing by 35 points or more. 3 finalists per category. Short Contemp (Elizabeth Mazer, Harlequin); Long Contemp (Meredith Giordan, Berkley Publishing Group); HR (Lucy Gilmour, Harlequin); Para / F / F / TT (Amanda Barnett, The Wild Rose Press); Inspirational (Raela Schoenherr, Bethany House); RS (TBA); Published Author (Pat Van Wie, Bell Bridge Books ) |
Top price $50. 2nd and 3rd place winners receive certificates and one free manuscript entry into VRW’s 2013 Fool For Love Contest (or first eligible book into the Holt contest, if published before then) |
| Utah
Romance Writers of America |
Great
Beginnings |
Romance |
Published or unpublished authors submitting unpublished,
uncontracted ms. Published authors must not be published in category entered within past 3 yrs. |
March 4, 2012 (extended from March 1); finalists announced March 30; winners announced April 30 |
1st 5 pp of ms, 25 lines max per page (projected length min 50,000 wds) |
$10 |
Email entry. Can pay via PayPal. |
3 judges, lowest score dropped. Final judges: Contemp (Marlene Stringer, Stringer Literary Agency); HR (Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency); Para (Elaine Spencer, The Knight Agency); Mystery / Suspense (Anita Mumm, Nelson Literary Agency); YA (Jennifer Fielding, Cedar Fort) |
The 1st Place winners receive $10 Barnes and Noble
gift card, a bookmark and a certificate. Others receive certificates. All 11
finalists will be recognized in the Romance Writers Report. |
| Romance
Writers Ink |
More
Than Magic |
Romance Book, Novella |
Books w/ 2011 copyright |
Cancelled. Entry deadline is March 2, 2012, books must be received
by March 7; finalists notified in May, winners
announced in Jney. |
3 copies of book; ebooks may be entered electronically
(author must provide 3 downloads or rtfs, including copyright page) Finalists may be asked to send an additional two copies for final round judging. |
$25, $27 if by PayPal |
Mail, electronic. Pay by mail or Paypal. |
Judges: Readers. Categories: Sensual Contemp; Sweet
Contemp; RC, HR, ST, Para, RS, ER, Novella, First Book. |
Grand Prize: Cash prize equivalent to RWA member's
national conference registration fee, certificate and pin. 1st, 2nd,
3rd places: certifcate and pin. A list of all place-winners will be published in RWR magazine, sent to all national & international RWA chapter loops, and posted on contest website |
| Faith,
Hope & Love Romance Writers of America |
Inspirational
Readers Choice |
Romance Book, Novella |
Inspirational romance or inspirational novel with romantic elements, copyrighted or with 1st print
date in 2011. No POD, self-published or e-book entries. Need not be RWA member
but publisher must be RWA approved. |
Entry received by midnight CST March 1, 2012. Books received by Mar
15, 2012; winners announced at RWA National. |
4 autographed copies of book. If there is a tie, 3
more copies must be submitted. |
$20, $25 |
Mail books; entry form by mail or electronic; payment
by check or PayPal. |
Judges: Inspirational Readers nationwide. Categories:
Short Contemp, Long Contemp, Short HR, Long HR, RS, Women's Fiction, Novella |
Finalists in all categories receive certificates.
Winner in each category receives engraved box. |
| Memoirs, Ink |
Half-Yearly writing contest |
Essay, memoir or auto-biographical stories |
previously unpublished entry, includes websites and blogs |
Late deadline is March 1, 2012 - extra $5 applies. Regular deadline Feb 15; winners announced Apr 30 |
1,500 words max, must be written in first person in English |
$15 1st entry; $10 each add'l (+$5 if "late") check or MO |
by mail |
Panel of Memoirs Ink judges. |
First Prize: $1000; Second Prize: $500; Third Prize: $250; plus publication. |
| Wisconsin
Romance Writers of America |
Fabulous
Five |
Fiction |
Unpublished and not contracted by any non-subsidy / non-vanity publishing program for novel-length fiction in past five years. Independent authors who have published via Smashwords or similar programs in which the author bears the publishing cost are free to enter our contest. |
Received by 11:59 PM CST March 1, 2012; finalists announced
in mid-April; winners announced at WisRWA conference June 1-3. |
1st 2,500 words of unpublished ms (30 entry limit per category) |
$18, $20 |
Email entry, payment by check or PayPal |
3 judges, lowest score dropped. Top 5 entries (out of 30 max entries) in each
category final. Final judges: HR (Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks); Para (Angela James, Carina Press); RS (Katherine Pelz, Berkley); Series Contemporary Long / Short (Megan Long, Harlequin Enterprises); ST (Nalini Akolekar, Spencerhill Associates); WF (Paige Wheeler, Folio Literary); YA (Melissa Frain, Tor) |
1st Place winner in each category receives Silver
Quill Award. 2nd - 4th receive certificates. Final placements posted on WisRWA website and announced in August RWR. |
| Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America |
Cleveland Rocks |
Romance |
Unpublished in book-length fiction in last 5 years. |
edeadline Feb 29, 2012 (extended from Feb 14); winners announced May 12 |
First 7,000 words + optional 1 page synopsis |
$15 NEORWA members, $25 non-members |
Email |
3 finalists per category. Final judges: Series (Laura Barth, Harlequin); ST Contemp (Alicia Condon, Kensington); HR (Rebecca Strauss, Mc Intosh & Otis Literary Agency); MS w/RE (Sara Megibow, Nelson Agency); Para (Whitney Ross, TOR); RS (Leonore Waldrip, Harlequin); YA (Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks) |
Winners of each category receive refund of entry fee, a winner’s certificate and a contest winner logo graphic. |
| Writers Type |
Writers Type Competition |
Fiction (flash, short story, novel excerpts) |
anyone; unpublished work in English |
Feb 29 , 2012 |
Dependent on contest entered, i.e., First Chapter, Short Story, Flash Fiction. Please see website for further details. |
$10 via payPal |
electronic via WritersType.com |
WritersType.com sponsors three annual contests in the categories of First Chapter, Flash Fiction, and Short Story. |
In each category, the monthly winner receives $25 honorarium, comments from our readers, and publication on our site. Each month, the top two submissions in each category advance to the annual competition. Annual Prize: a total of $250, reader comments, and publication on our site. |
| Women On Writing (WOW) |
Flash Fiction Contest |
Fiction, see website for theme |
Anyone, any age. Entry must be in English. |
Midnight PST Feb 28, 2012. Capped at 300 entries. |
250 words min to 750 words max (title not included in count) |
$10 (extra $10 if you want a critique) |
Online submission. Pay via PayPal |
(Assume) judges are Women On Writing editorial staff. You will be provided with your scores (1-5) in each category, and personal editorial feedback for each category as well. |
25 winners. 1st-3rd Place receive cash prizes ($300, $200, $100); 1st - 3rd plus 7 runners-up will be interviewed on WOW Blog; all winning entries published on WOW! Women on Writing website, all receive e-book pack, all receive Amazon gift certificates. |
| Storyboard TV |
Television Pilot Competition |
TV Script |
Adults age 18 and older, one writer or team of two. Must be a registered member (free). Entries cannot be under development or option, or submitted to any competition which could result in a 3rd party having an option or claim. |
Feb 26, 2012; semifinalists notified ~March 25; three finalists announced ~April 30; grand prize winner announced may 28. |
wholly original, uncontracted script for the first hour or first half hour of a new TV comedy or drama, written in English, in proper screen-writing format. See official rules. |
$20 |
electronic upload |
Initial judging panel, selected by Storyboard, will choose 10 semi-finalists. 2nd judging panel will determine 3 finalists; Storyboard members will vote for the grand prize winner. |
10 semi-finalists receive a notes session with SBTV. One grand prize winner receives $1,000. |
| Next Generation Indie Book Awards |
Next Generation Indie Book Awards |
Independent Books |
Open to independent authors and publishers worldwide for books released in 2011 or 2012 or with a 2011 or 2012 copyright |
Feb 24, 2012 |
2 copies of book |
$75 per title for 1st category; $50 each add'l category, via PayPal using Visa or MasterCard, company check or international money order. |
Online entry form; mail books |
More than 60 categories. See website. |
$1,500 1st prize plus trophy for best fiction book and best non-fiction book, down to $100 cash prize. See website for details. |
| Pacific
Northwest Writer's Association |
PNWA
Literary Contest (Zola Awards) |
Fiction, Screenplay, Poetry, Non-Fiction |
Entries must be original and not previously accepted
for publication or production at time of submission. |
Received by Feb 18, 2012; finalists notifed in June;
winners announced at summer conference July 19-22. |
Categories 1-7: beginning of ms and 1 p. synopsis (28 pp
max); category 8: complete ms (90-130 pp); category 9: 3 poems; category 10:
complete short story, 14 pp max; category 11: text for picture book, 1st 14 pp; category 12: complete ms, 10 pp max.
See rules for exact instructions for each category. |
$35, $50 |
Mail except for #3 Romance, which is electronic. Payment must be mailed. |
8 finalists in each category. Final judges are agents or editors. Categories: Book-length: 1-MS; 2-Historical; 3-Romance;
4-Mystery / Thriller; 5-Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror; 6-YA / Middle Grade; 7-Non-Fiction / Memoir / How-To;
8-Screenwriting; 9-Poetry; 10-Short Story; 11-Children's
Picture Book, / Chapter Book; 12-Adult Short Topics (Article / Essay
/ Short Memoir) |
Every entry receives two critiques. 1st Place: $700
and the Zola Award. 2nd Place
$300. Finalists who attend PNWA Conf. receive finalist
ribbon for name badge. Finalists’ mss made available
to agents and editors during conf. Winners have opportunity to
attend Agents and Editors Reception at PNWA Summer Conference. |
| Idore Anschell |
100 Words or Fewer Writing Contest |
Fiction, no lewd material. |
Worldwide. |
Feb 18, 2012, winner announced March 17, 2012. |
Story (100 words max) relating to one of the two categories. |
$15 ($10 if before Dec 18). $10 for checkmark evaluation. $35.00 for critique. |
online. Pay via PayPal or by check with permission. |
Categories: Eating, Uncommon Character. Stories must relate in some way to one of these topics. Final Judge is Dr. Erica Bauermeister. |
$400 First Prize in both categories. $50 Runner-ups in both categories. |
| Greater
Detroit Romance Writers of America |
Between
the Sheets |
Romance |
RWA members unpublished / uncontracted in book-length
fiction by Feb 14. |
Received by Feb 14, 2012; finalists notified Mar
28; final placements announced on or by May 4. |
love scene, 10 pp max, 25 lines per page max. 1 pp set-up (will not be judged) |
$21, $25 |
Email RTF file only. Can pay by PayPal or check. |
All categories, Sweet to Erotic. Each entry will
have three 1st round judges with lowest score dropped. Top 4 entries ranked by: Brenda Chin, Harlequin; Katherine Pelz, Berkley; Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency |
All 4 winners receive certificates. In addition, 1st
Place receives $100, 2nd Place $50, 3rd Place $25. |
| RomCom |
Readers' Crown |
Romance |
Books with original copyright of 2011 |
Submitted by Feb 14, 2012; finalists notified April 30; winners announced June 24 at RomCom 2012. |
6 copies of each book per category being entered. |
$29 - $246.99 |
electronic or mail (addl fees apply) |
All sub-genres of romance, Urban Fantasy, Mainstream Women's Fiction, and Young Adult Romance |
|
| San Antonio Romance Writers of America |
Merritt Contest |
Romance |
Open to authors who aren't PAN-eligible. Do not need to be RWA member. |
Received by midnight CST, Feb 14, 2012; winners announced May 2012 |
1st 25 pp + synopsis (5 pp max) |
$25 SARA members, $30 RWA members, $35 others |
Electronic. Pay via PayPal. |
Final Judges: Contemp (Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks); HR (Tessa Woodward, Avon); Para ( Amanda Barnett, The Wild Rose Press); RS (Patience Bloom, Harlequin) Women’s Fiction (Kate Seaver, Berkley) |
All finalists receive certificate. Winners in each category receive plaque and a year’s electronic subscription to SARA’s newsletter, The Love Letter. |
| Washington - Centerville Public Library |
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition |
Humor and Human Interest |
Open to writers of any age. Entry cannot have been published more than once in 2011; blogs entries are eligible. |
7:30 am EST Feb 14, 2012 (opens Jan 3); winners announced in March |
450 words or fewer written in the "spirit" of Erma Bombeck |
$15 |
online |
Panel of judges includes columnists, magazine writers, comedy writers, authors, and teachers. |
Four $500 prizes awarded (2 in Humor and 2 in Human Interest) plus registration fee ($350 value) to Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop held at the University of Dayton in April 2012. Notice in the Dayton Daily News and press releases issued to writer's hometown. |
| Crested
Butte Friends of the Library |
The
Sandy |
Fiction |
Work must be uncontracted at time of deadline. Entries capped at 250. No self-published. |
Received by midnight Feb 12, 2012 |
first 20 pp of novel plus synopsis (2 pp max). 24-25 lines per page, TNR 12 pt font, chapters must start 1/3 down page. |
$30, $35 by PayPal or chek. |
Email only |
1st round evaluated by 2 judges. A 40+ discrepancy
will result in 3rd judge with lowest score dropped. 3 highest scoring entries
in each category advance to final round. Finalists have 1 wk to edit entries
before submitting to final judges: Romance (Sue Grimshaw, Ballantine & Bantam Dell); MS (Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency); Suspense / Thriller / Mystery (Kat Brzozowski, Thomas Dunne Books); Fantasy / Sci-Fi (James Frenkel, Tor / Forge); Children's / YA (Mary Kole, Andrea Brown Literary Agency) |
1st Place winners receive $60; 2nd Place receive $35; 3rd Place receives $15. All receive certificate. |
| Amazon, Penguin Group (USA) & CreateSpace |
Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award |
Novel |
Open to unpublished and previously self-published novels. See rules and content guidelines. |
11:59 p.m. EST Feb 6, 2012 (or when 5,000 entries have been received in each category, whichever is earlier. |
See Categories / Judges column. |
Free |
electronic in doc, docx or rtf format |
2 categories: General fiction and YA fiction. 4 phases of judging: 1st: Amazon editors review 300-wd Pitch. Top 1000 entries in each category move to next round. 2nd: Amazon customers rate a 5,000 wd excerpt. Top 250 entries in each category move to next round. Quarterfinals: Publishers Weekly reviewers read and rate full ms of each quarterfinalist. Top 50 in each category move on to the Semifinals. Semifinals: Penguin USA editors read full ms and review all accompanying data for each semifinalist. Top 3 finalists in each category go to finals. Finals: Amazon customers will vote on the three finalists in each category resulting in two grand prize winners. |
Each winner will receive apublishing contract with Penguin, which includes a $15,000 advance. |
| Chicago-North
Romance Writers of America |
Fire
and Ice |
Romance |
Unpublished / not published in novel-length fiction
in last 5 years |
Received by midnight Feb 5, 2012 (extended from Feb 1); finalists announced in Apr; winners announced at April 28. |
1st 25 pp; Courier New 12 pt font, 25 lines per page |
$25, $30 |
electronic; payment must be made via PayPal |
Two experienced critiquers and published authors score
first round. Point spread of 20+ points where highest score is at least 80% of
total possible points will receive a 3rd judge and lowest score will be dropped.
Judges are encouraged to give comments. 3 finalists in each category. Final judges:
ST (Celina Summers, Musa Publishing); Series Contemp (Megan Long, Harlequin); HR (Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks); WF w/ RE (Cori Deyoe, 3 Seas Literary Agency); Para (Cindy Davis, Wild Rose Press); YA (Emily Easton, Walker Books) |
1st Place Winner: $30. All finalists receive certificates.
Announced in RWR. |
| Christopher Profeta |
Writers of the Unemployed Short Story Contest |
Fiction |
All stories dealing with unemployment or economic hardship will be accepted. |
Feb 3, 2012; winner announced March 2. |
7,500 words or fewer dealing with some theme relating to unemployment or economic hardship |
Free |
All submissions must have the author's name and contact information on the top of every page, and should be sent to chrisjprofeta @ gmail . com (without the spaces) |
Award winning author Christopher Profeta |
Winner will be published on Profeta's website |
| Columbia Journal |
Issue 50 Writing Contest |
Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction |
People who have graduated from Columbia University's MFA program are not eligible to submit until five years after receiving degree. |
Feb 1, 2012 |
Submit up to 5 poems or one fiction or non-fiction piece of up to 15 pages double spaced. |
$14, includes a copy of Issue 50 |
online |
Judges: Nonfiction: Author Anne Fadiman; Fiction: Author Dinaw Mengestu; Poetry: Author Eileen Myles Inferno |
1st prize per category: $500 |
| Seacoast Writers Association (NH) |
Seacoast Writers Contest |
Short story, poetry, and personal essay. |
Entry must be unpublished |
Received by Feb 1, 2012; winners announced May 14 at SWA spring Writers Conference in New Hampshire |
Fiction (3,500 word max); Poetry (up to three poems with no word limit); Non-Fiction (1,500 max in personal essay genre only) |
$15, $7 for SWA member |
By mail. Payment by check or MO. |
SWA obtains objective and qualified judges for the respective contest categories. The decision of the judges is final. We are not able to provide feedback on individual entries |
Cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50 in each category. Winning entries published in fall of 2011 in Currents VII, the SWA anthology of contest winners. |
| Smoky
Mountain Romance Writers of America |
The
Laurie |
Romance |
Any writer unpublished or who hasn't signed a contract in last 3yrs and is uncontracted
at deadline |
Received by Feb 1, 2012; finalists notified by May 1; winners announced at Romfest June 21-24. |
First chapter (25 pp max). Font restriction: Courier, Dark Courier or Courier New 12
pt or TNR 14 pt |
$25 by PayPal. |
Email only. |
3 trained judges . Top 3 in each category final. Final judges: HR (Tessa Woodward, Avon); Contemp (Deb Smith, Belle Bridge Books); Para / Fantasy (Debra Dixon, Belle Bridge Books); Inspirational (Tina James, Harlequin); RS (Allison Lyons, Harlequin); YA (Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks) |
|
| Year of the Skunk Productions |
Canadian Short Screenplay Competition |
Short Screenplay |
open to writers worldwide; original work; entry cannot have been previously optioned, sold or produced, and non-exclusive publishing rights must remain available. |
11:59 PST on Jan 31, 2012 is final deadline, addl fees apply. Winner announced May 28, 2012 at Yorkton Film Festival. See Fees for more info. |
Short screenplay, 15 pp max / 15 min screentime max, in English and industry standard format |
$25 - $75 Canadian dollars, depending on submission date. Check, money order, bank draft, PayPal. |
email or mail |
A panel of judges. |
Grand Prize winning script will be produced by Year of the Skunk Productions; also comes with option and purchase agreement plus more. 2nd and 3rd prizes, plus 10 finalist prizes |
| Writers Type |
Writers Type Competition |
Fiction (flash, short story, novel excerpts) |
anyone; unpublished work in English |
Jan 31, 2012 |
Dependent on contest entered, i.e., First Chapter, Short Story, Flash Fiction,. Please see website for further details. |
$10 via payPal |
electronic via WritersType.com |
WritersType.com sponsors three annual contests in the categories of First Chapter, Flash Fiction, and Short Story. |
In each category, the monthly winner receives $25 honorarium, comments from our readers, and publication on our site. Each month, the top two submissions in each category advance to the annual competition. Annual Prize: a total of $250, reader comments, and publication on our site. |
| Hoffer Award |
Eric Hoffer Award for Independent Books |
Self-published book of various types. See Categories. |
Open to academic, independent, small press, and self-published books written in English that were released or copyrighted in the last 2 years. |
Postmark by Jan 21, 2012 |
print copy of book (will be donated to library, school, or hospital, if appropriate) |
$50 (check, MO or online payment) |
Mail books. Online nomination form. |
Judges may include authors, editors, agents, publishers, book producers, artists, experienced category readers, and health and business professionals. Categories: Art, Poetry, General Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Children, YA, Culture, Memoir, Business, Reference, Home, Health, Self-Help / Spiritual, Legacy Fiction, and Legacy Nonfiction. In addition to categories, there are 4 press awards (self-published, micro press, small press, academic press) See website for descriptions. |
$2,000 Grand Prize; a single registration gives you 5 ways to win: by genre, press, the Montaigne Medal, the da Vince Eye, and the Hoffer grand prize. Coverage in The US Review of Books. |
| Yellow
Rose Romance Writers of America |
Winter
Rose Award for Excellence- Published |
Romance Book |
RWA PAN or PAN-eligible authors. Novels published
in 2011. Limited to first 75 entries received in each category. E-books accepted if printed and professionally bound. |
Postmark by Jan 21, 2012; winners announced May 12 at Winter Rose meeting |
4 print copies of book |
$25 |
Mail |
Books are judged by 3 different judges consisting of booksellers, reviewers, readers' group, librarians.
Categories: Para / TT / F; RS / ST Contemp; HR; Series Contemp; Insiprational. |
Highest scoring entrant from ALL category winners
receives Sterling Silver Rose pendant, Yellow Rose badge pin and certificate
of achievement. Highest scoring entrant from each category receives a certificate
denoting 1st place in their category, a Yellow Rose badge pin. |
| Yellow
Rose Romance Writers of America |
Winter
Rose Award for Excellence- Unpublished |
Romance |
RWA members not published in book-length fiction in
past 5 yrs. Limited to first 75 entries in each category. |
Postmark / e-deadline midnight CST Jan 21, 2012; finalists notified by March 24; winners announced May 12 at Winter Rose meeting |
1st 25 pp of 50,000+ projected-length ms |
250 via check, MO or PayPal. |
Entry form must be mailed. . Entry can be via mail or
email but everyone must email a copy to the coordinator. |
4 first round judges. Lowest score dropped. Three
highest scoring entries advance to final round. Final Judges: Contemp (Alicia Condon, Kensington Publishing); HR, including Regency (Amanda Bergeron, Avon); Para (Heather Osborne, Samhain Publishing); RS (Deb Nemeth, Carina Press); YA (Kari Sutherland / HarperCollins Children's Books). Top Prize is a partial read by agent Maura Kye-Casella of Don Congdon Associates |
Top Prize is a partial read by agent Maura Kye-Casella of Don Congdon Associates. 1st thru 3rd place winners receive Yellow Rose badge
pin and certificate. Also, 1st place winners receive $50.00 and Sterling Silver
Rose pendant, 2nd place receive $25.00, and 3rd place receive $15.00. Finalists
and Winners will be recognized in Romance Writers of America’s RWR. |
| New England Romance Writers of America |
Readers'
Choice Bean Pot Award |
Romance Novel or Novella |
Novels with original copyright of 2011; e-books accepted. No self-published entries. |
Postmarked by Jan 23, 2012; finalists notified by March 26; winners announced April 27 at conference. |
3 autographed copies of book; E-books accepted in pdf format only if print book not available |
$25 by check or PayPal |
Mail books |
Judges: Readers, librarians, booksellers. Judges give each entry a score of 3-10 (10 is highest). Different judges rank entries in the event of a tie. Categories: Novella; Short Contemp; Long Contemp; RS; HR; ER; F/F /TT/P; Inspirational; MS with RE; YA |
1st Place in each category: $50.00, Bean Pot engraved trophy, and a certificate. 2nd & 3rd Place: certificate. Winners announced on website, in newsletter, in RWR and at conference. |
| Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America |
Booksellers' Best Award |
Romance Book |
Books with 2011 copyright or 1st US printing;
includes e-books. |
Postmark / e-deadline Jan 15, 2012; books
postmarked by Feb 20; finalists notified by Jun 10; winners announced at RWA National Conference |
4 autographed copies of book |
$27, add'l $6 to enter Best 1st Book |
Online or mail for entry form, fee. Mail books. Pay by check, credit card or Paypal. |
Judges: Booksellers, librarians. They try to match book with judges from another region. Categories: Traditional / Sweet,
Short Contemp, Long Contemp, ST / MS, RS, YA, ER, Short HR (up to 85,000 words), Long HR, Para / TT / F, Inspirational
(contemp or historical), Best First Book; Novella (under 45,000 wds) |
Roster of winners’ names and covers printed and mailed to booksellers nationwide; uniquely designed award to each winner; reception for all finalists at National RWA conference; winners’ names listed in RWR; finalists' / winners' names and book covers posted on GDRWA site; certificates to all finalists and winners |
| Houston
Bay Area Romance Writers of America |
Judge
A Book By Its Cover |
Romance Book |
Books published in 2011 by traditional publishers,
ePublishers, POD publishers or self. |
Front
cover image must be uploaded by midnight Jan
15, 2012; winners announced Feb 10. |
Front cover of book in jpg or gif format |
$15 USD by PayPal or check |
electronic |
Judges: Booksellers from U.S, Canada, UK, Australia,
and New Zealand. Categories: ST / MS; Contemp Series; HR; Inspirational; RS; Sci-Fi /
Fantasy / Para; Sexiest; YA |
Winners may be asked to send high resolution image
files for inclusion in RWR ad |
| Southern Magic Romance Writers of America |
Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence |
Romance Book, Novella |
Entries must have
copyright of 2011, no matter the format. E-book only publishers accepted (non-subsidy / non-vanity / no self-pub). Entries may be entered in
electronic format (PDF or Kindle) only if they have not been released
in print format. |
Received by Jan 15, 2012, finalists
notified Mar 2012 |
3 copies of print book; Kindle or PDF copy of ebook. |
$30 1st book, $25 add'l books. |
Mail entry. Pay via check or PayPal |
Judged by romance readers, booksellers, and / or librarians.3 judges, lowest score dropped. Lowest score used in case of tie. to form the final score. Categories: Contemp ST, Series Contemp, Inspirational ST, Series Inspirational, RS ST, Series RS, HR, F / F / TT&P, YA, Novella |
All finalists receive a certificate. Winners receive an engraved bookmark and inclusion in a full-page RWR ad. |
| Washington Romance Writers of America |
Marlene
Award |
Romance |
RWA members unpublished or not contracted for novel-length
romance in past 3 yrs, or if book is with a small press, it cannot have earned $1,000 or more in royalties |
Postmark by, edeadline 11:59 pm EST Jan 15, 2012. |
synopsis up to 5 pp and beginning of ms (35 pp max for entry). 12 pt courier, courier new, or TNR fonts only, 25 lines per page. |
$20, $30 paid thru PayPal only |
email with .rtf or .doc file |
Each entry will be read by 3 judges and scored using a 50 point scale. The lowest score will be dropped. The top 3 entries in each category will be ranked by an editor or agent. Final Judges: Series Contemp (Johana Raisanen, Harlequin; Critique Author: Liz Talley); ST (Megan Records, Kensington; Critique Author: Jeanne Adams); Para (Heather Osborn, Samhain Publishing; Critique Author: Kristen Painter); HR (Esi Sogah, Avon; Critique Author: Diane Gaston) RE (Latoya Smith, Grand Central; Critique Author: Deanna Raybourn) YA (Holly Blanck, St. Martin’s; Critique Author: Diana Peterfreund) |
The winner of each category will receive a Marlene Medallion and a detailed critique of her or his submission by a published author. All other finalists will receive certificates. |
| Virginia
Romance Writers of America |
Holt
Medallion |
Romance Book |
Copyright date of 2011. Need not be RWA approved publisher. Book with 2011 copyright in both print and e-book must be submitted as print book. E-books accepted in e-book format only if print book is not available. |
Received on or by Jan 14, 2012; winners announced in June |
4 autographed copies of print book or e-book printed and bound or as pdf with
copyright info. |
$30. VRW members may enter one book free of charge. |
Pay by check, MO, or Paypal. |
Judged by readers. Single round judging will establish top 5 entries in each category. Entry with highest score wins; other 4 (in no particular order; scores are not disclosed) receive Award of Merit. Categories: HR, MS / ST Contemp, Long Contemp,
Short Contemp, Long Inspirational, Short Inspirational, F / F / TT&P, RC, RS,
Extra Spicy / Erotic, Strong RE, Novella. Bonus Categories: Best First Book; Best Book by a Virginia Author |
Each category winner receives certificate and pewter HOLT Medallion. Merit winners receive certificate. Contest results (all or in part) will be published in RT and RWR. |
| Colorado
Romance Writers of America |
Award
of Excellence |
Romance Book |
Novels with original copyright in 2011; e-books accepted. |
Received by Jan 13, 2012; finalists notified Apr 15; winners announced at May conference. |
3 copies of book; e-books must be submitted in book
or bound galley format. |
$20 via PayPal, check or money order |
mail books |
Judges: Readers, booksellers or authors. Categories:
Short Contemp; Long Contemp, ST, RS, HR, P/TT/F/F, Inspirational,
MS w/ RE, Erotic |
Top prize: Award of Excellence Trophy, letter congratulating the editor. All finalists receive certificate. |
| Desert
Rose Romance Writers of America |
Golden
Quill |
Romance Book, Novella |
Published RWA members. Copyright dates or 1st North
American printing / release date in 2011 |
Received by Jan 13, 2012; finalists announced
~Apr 30, winners announced in July RWR |
5 autographed copies of each book; e-books must be submitted in
book or bound galley format |
$30 per book and / or each category |
mail; pay by check, money order or Paypal |
Judges: romance readers. Categories: HR; Regency HR; MS ST; Long Contemp; Short Contemp; Traditional; Para / Sci-Fi /
Fantasy; Inspirational; Inspirational RS; RS, Hot / Sexy / Erotic;
GLBT; Best 1st Book; Novella (40,000 words max). Category winner will be highest scoring
book in its category, providing the score is in the upper 25% of scores of all
contest entries received. If none of the entries in a given category scores in
the overall top 25%, there will be no finalist in that category. |
Winners and finalists will receive plaques
or certificates, lapel pins and Golden Quill logo graphics for authors' websites,
as shown on their site. Announced in July RWR |
| Wisconsin
Romance Writers of America |
Write
Touch Reader's Award |
Romance Book |
RWA members with full-length romance novels copyright
date or 1st North American printing of 2011 |
Received by midnight Jan 13, 2012; finalists notified by Apr 11; winners announced at Write Touch Conference |
3 autographed copies of each book; e-books must be
submitted in book or bound landscape galley format |
$25 (WisRWA members are entitled to one free entry) |
mail; can pay via PayPal |
Judges: romance readers not associated in any way
with writing organizations or the publishing industry. Categories: Short & Long
Series Contemp; Strong RE; ST Contemp; RS; HR (includes Regency);
Erotica / Romantica; YA; Inspirational / Traditional Contemp; Para. |
1st thru 3rd Place winners will be recognized at WisRWA's
Write Touch Conference and invited to participate in booksigning
reception. A plaque or similar award will go to 1st Place winners. Certificates
will be awarded to 2nd and 3rd Place winners. Contest results will be published
in the RWR. |
| Gulf Coast Chapter of Romance Writers of America |
Silken Sands Self-Published Star Award |
Romance |
Open to writers who are 18 yrs of age by Dec 31, 2011. Works must have original publication date between January 1 and December 31, 2011 |
Received by 5 PM CT Jan 7, 2012 (extended from Jan 5); finalists announced Feb 15, 2012; winner announced March 17. |
complete work (see categories) |
$20 for Gulf Coast RWA members, $25 for all others |
electronic |
Short Story, Novella, ST Contemp, RS, HR, Inspirational, YA. All entries will be scored by three judges, with the lowest score dropped. Ties will be broken with the lowest score. |
Cetegory winners announced in RWR (featuring all first place book covers). Winners also receive certificate of recognition, a starfish award from the GCCRWA, and a winning icon to place on their websites. |
| Gemini Magazine |
Poetry Open |
Poetry |
Anyone |
e-deadline / postmark by Jan 3, 2012 |
up to 3 poems, any style or length |
$5 |
email or mail |
Final Judge: David Bright |
1st place: $1,000; 2nd place: $100; 3rd place: $50; three honorable mentions. All six finalists published in March 2012 issue of Gemini. |
| University of New Orleans - Bayou Magazine |
James Knudsen Editor's Prize for Fiction |
Fiction |
Original, previously unpublished fiction |
December 31, 2011 |
7,500 words max |
$15 (includes 1-yr subscription to Bayou) |
mail entry, pay by check |
Judge: Joseph Boyden |
Winner receives $500, publication and a 1-year subscription; finalists will be named on our website. |
| University of New Orleans - Bayou Magazine |
Kay Murphy Prize for Poetry |
Poetry |
Original, previously unpublished poetry |
December 31, 2011 |
Up to 3 poems per entry |
$10 (includes 1-yr subscription to Bayou) |
mail entry, pay by check |
Judge: Kay Murphy |
Winner receives $500, publication and a 1-year subscription; finalists will be named on our website. |
| Dream Quest One |
Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest |
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry |
Unpublished, published, All entries must be original to entrants. |
Postmark by Dec 31, 2011; winners announced Jan 31, 2012 |
Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject and / or write a short story, 5 pages max on any theme, single or double line spacing. |
$5 per poem; $10 per short story |
Mail. Can pay via PayPal ($2 add'l fee per entry). |
All categories welcome. Judges: Dare to Dream Master Selection Committee |
Prizes: Writing First Prize: $500.00, Second: $250.00, Third: $100.00; Poetry First Prize: $250.00, Second: $125.00, Third: $50.00. All winning entries will be published online in the Dare to Dream pages. |
| L. Ron Hubbard |
Writers
of the Future |
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy |
Open to those who have not professionally published
a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than 3 short stories
in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment and at least
5,000 copies or 5,000 hits. |
Postmark by midnight Dec 31, 2011 |
Works of prose, up to 17,000 words in length. |
Free and writer retains all rights. |
mail |
All types of science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy.
No poetry or works for children. No excessive violence or sex. |
Cash prizes of $500, $750, $1,000 every quarter.
Annual cash prize of $5,000. |
| North
Texas Romance Writers of America |
Great
Expectations |
Romance |
Must be unpublished and uncontracted
in book-length romantic fiction, or published authors who have not published
or contracted in the entered category within the past 5 yrs. |
Received by midnight CST Dec 30, 2011; finalists announced ~Feb 1, 2012; winners announced end of March. |
1st 25 pp plus 300-word synopsis of ms |
$25, $30, $35 ($5 discount if received before Dec 10) |
electronic |
1st round: 3 judges. If 2 lowest scores differ by 30 points and entry has potential to be a finalist, a 4th judge will be used and lowest of the 4 scores dropped. 4 finalists per category. Contemp Series (Denise Zaza, Harlequin), ER (Katherine Pelz, Berkley), HR (Sue Grimshaw, Random House), Inspirational (Natalie Hanemann, Thomas Nelson), MS w/RE (Emilia Pisani, Pocket Books), RS (Adam Wilson, MIRA), ST (Meredith Giordan, Berkley), FTTP (Talia Platz, NAL), YA (Elizabeth Bistrow, NAL). |
All finalists will have opportunity to update their entry for the final round of judging. Cash prices for first, second and third places: $50, $30 & $15. All finalists receive certificates. Winners will have their names printed in the RWR. |
| L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival |
L.A. Comedy Scripts Screenplay Competition |
Comedy screenplay, script or film |
|
final e-deadline / postmark is Dec 20, 2011. Winners announced Apr 10, 2011 |
See website for page / film lengths for each category |
$30-$70, depending on submission date and type |
mail or electronic, pay by PayPal (+$2) or check |
Comedy Screenplay, Short Screenplay, half hour comedy TV pilot |
Over $10,000 in cash and prizes, including travel, industry meetings, accommodations and two VIP passes to the festival in Los Angeles, CA. |
| Mystery Writers of America- Florida Chapter |
Sleuthfest Short Story Contest |
Short Story |
Must be an unpublished (in mystery / suspense) registrant for Sleuthfest 2011 |
Postmark by Dec 20, 2011; finalists notifed ~Feb 1. |
6 copies of short story (2,500 wds max) |
|
mail only |
|
Winning story will be published in the SleuthFest 2012 program and the winner will be given free registration for SleuthFest 2013. |
| Hunger
Mountain |
Hunger
Mountain Ruth Stone Poetry Prize |
Poetry, unpublished, in English |
Anyone |
Postmark, e-deadline December 10, 2011 |
Submit up to 3 poems, not to exceed 6 pp |
$20 by check or PayPal |
Mail, online |
Judge is Dorianne Laux, author of The Book
of Men, Facts about the Moon, Smoke, What We Carry, and Awake. |
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Hunger
Mountain website. Two honorable mentions receive $100 each. |
| Connecticut
Romance Writers of America |
The Write Stuff |
Romance |
The entrant must be unpublished or, if published, cannot have earned $1000 or more in advances and/or royalties for a single work of fiction as of December 2011. Entry must be unpublished and uncontracted as of Dec 2011. |
Received by midnight Dec 5, 2011; finalists announced Mar 1, 2012; winners
announced May 12. |
1st 15 pp in 12 pt TNR or Courier New, no more than 25 lines per page |
$20, $30 via PayPal, check
or money order |
electronic |
Final Judges: Para (Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency);
Series Contemp (Sara Megibow, Nelson Literary Agency); MS (Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds Literary Agency ); HR (Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks);
YA (Jill Corcoran, The Herman Agency) |
Top Prize: $100 in each category. |
| International Thriller Writers |
Thriller Awards |
Thriller fiction novel or short story |
Novels and short stories first published in calendar year 2011 in print or ezine format. |
Received by Dec 1, 2011; finalists announced in April 2012; winners announced at ThrillerFest in July 2012. |
4 hard copies for 1st round judging. 3 add'l copies for 2nd round. |
No fee. |
Mail. |
Categories: Best Hard Cover Novel; Best Paperback Original Novel; Best First Novel; Best Short Story (includes novellas under 35,000 wds) . The top scoring entries (a total of 20 or 10% of entries) advance to 2nd round. Top 10 novels in each category are ranked 1-10. The top 5 ranked novels in each award category are named Finalists, with the number 1 position being the Winner. |
|
| Oklahoma
Romance Writers of America |
National
Readers' Choice Awards |
Romance Book, Novella |
Published romance novel with original copyright
date or 1st US printing date of 2011 and must have been available for sale in 2011; e-book OK
if submitted in either perfect bound or spiral bound, galley-printed book
form with an ISBN and evidence of copyright date of 2011
is provided. |
Register by Dec 1, 2011; books received by Jan 15,
2012 |
5 copies of Book (see Eligibility column for e-book
info) |
$25 (+ $5 if entering Best 1st Book category also) |
Online form entry, pay via PayPal, check or MO. Books sent via mail. |
Traditional; Contemp Series; Contemp
RS / Adventure Series; ST Contemp; YA; HR; Para; RS; Inspirational; Novel with SRE; ER, Novella; Best First book. Judges
are readers from across the U.S. |
Entries accepted from authors, editors, publishers, agents, readers, etc. - from whomever wishes to fill out the entry form, pay the entry fee, and supply the required number of copies of the title being entered. |
| Saints and Sinners GLBT Literary Festival |
Saints and Sinners Short Fiction Contest |
Short Story on broad theme "saints and sinners" |
Unpublished short stories only |
Postmark Dec 1, 2011 |
5,000-7,000 words with GLBT content on broad theme “saints and sinners.” |
$15 |
mail |
Judge: Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard Out of Carolina and Cavedweller, Allison will select the winning stories. |
Grand Prize: $250, publication in QueerMojo anthology, reading at Festival (May 12-15, 2011). Two 2nd place prizes: $50 each, anthology publication, reading |
| Screenwriting U |
Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition |
Screenplay, TV Script |
original screenplay or script written in English, which have not been produced, sold or currently under option |
Submission deadline Dec 1, 2011; finalists announced Jan 10, 2012; winners announced Jan 31, 2012 |
Full-Length Features: 80-130 pp; TV Pilots: 30-70 pp |
$69 (Fee reduction for early submissions. See website) |
electronic |
1st round judged by logline entries only; screenplay judged in final round. Genres: Action / Adventure, Animation / Fantasy, Comedy, Drama, Family, Historical, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller |
Grand Prize: $4,500 in cash and other prizes, including flight to Los Angeles to meet with Hollywood producers. See website for 2nd thru 10th places prices. The TOP 100 Loglines will go to producers! . |
| SellAScript |
All Access Screenwriting Competition |
Screenplay |
Feature length original screenplays of any genre, written in English, not under option at time of entry nor at time material is chosen as finalist or winner. Must be 18 yrs of age. |
Postmark / e-deadline midnight PST Dec 1, 2011; finalists announced Feb 1, Feb 15, and Mar 1, 2012. Winners announced March 15, 2012 |
bound copy of screenplay if mailed; electronic formats: PDF, Wordperfect, MS Word, Movie Magic Screenwriter, RTF, Text, Scriptware, Final Draft |
$40 thru Sept 30; $50 Oct 1 and thereafter |
mail or electronic |
Judging in 2 separate elimination rounds, plus a Quarter Final, a Semi Final and a Final round. 1st rd: initial 30 pp;. top 200 scores proceed to the 2nd rd (entire submission). 32 Quarter Finalists chosen from the 2nd round. 16 Semi Finalists will be chosen from the Quarter Finalists. 8 Finalists chosen from the Semi Finalists. 3 Winners chosen from the Finalists. |
Top 3 Winners receive: Screenplay synopsis sent out to 50+ studios, production companies, agencies and managers; Screenplay receives a recommended listing in our Script Marketplace for 1 year; Screenplay listed in special edition of Hollywood Bugle. Winners featured w/ photo + resume on our website; Cash Prizes: 1st Place ($2,000), 2nd Place ($300), 3rd Place ($100) |
| Writer's
Digest |
Poetry Awards |
Poetry |
anyone not affiliated with Writer's Digest |
Postmark / e-deadline Dec 1, 2011, winners notifed Mar 16, 2012. |
32 lines or fewer of rhyming poetry, free verse or
haikuas |
$15 |
mail or electronic (if paying by credit card) |
Writer's Digest |
1st Place: $500, 2nd Place: $250, 3rd Place: $100,
4th thru 10th Place: $25, 11th thru 25th Place: $50 gift certificate for Writer's
Digest Books. 1st Place winner has the option of a FREE package from Lulu.com.
Names and poem titles of 1st thru 10th place winners will be in July / August 2012 Writer's
Digest, and winners will receive the 2012 Poet's Market. |
| Yosemite Romance Writers of America |
Smooch |
Fiction |
Open to all YRM members and to nonmembers in California and Nevada. Must be unpublished in book length fiction. |
Received by 5 P.M. PT, Dec 1, 2011 |
First kiss (8 pp max) |
$10, $15 via PayPal or check. |
email attachment |
3 preliminary judges (at least one published author) 3 top entries will be judged by Debra Salonen. |
1st, 2nd, 3rd places awarded at 2012 YRW meeting. 1st place receives the 2012 Smooch trophy and $50. All finalists receive certificates. |
| Bottle Tree Productions |
One Act Play Competition |
One-act play |
Open to any English-speaking playwright. Play cannot have been professionally produced. Workshops and readings with professional actors are acceptable |
Nov 30, 2011; winners notified Jan 21, 2012 |
bound copy of one act play or no more than 70 minutes. Any subject matter. |
$25; $50 for critique |
mail entry; pay by cheque or PayPal |
Charles Robertson |
First Prize $1,000; Second Prize; $250 Third Prize $100 (Canadaian dollars) |
| Eco
Arts Awards |
Eco
Arts Awards |
Poetry, essay, short story, novella (Other
contest categories include Songwriting, Photography, Fine Art,
Functional Art and Short Videos. ) |
Anyone. Work must be original. |
Nov 30, 2011; winner announced April
20, 2012 |
5,000 word max short story, novella,
or essay; poem of any type. All must have ecological theme. |
$25 before September 30; $30 after that; pay
with PayPal |
mail entry or submit online |
Alan Leslie Combs and David Vaux will select
one winner from 5-10 finalists in the Literature category. Other
categories (with other judges) include Songwriting, Photography,
Fine Art, Functional Art and Short Videos. |
One winner in each of the 6 categories receives
$1,000. |
| Glimmer Train Press |
Short Story Award for New Writers |
Short Story |
writer whose fiction has not been published in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000. |
midnight PST, Nov 30, 2011; results posted Jan 31, 2012 |
up to 12,000 words |
$15 |
online |
|
1st place wins $1,200, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of that issue; 2nd-place: $500; 3rd-place:$300 |
| Romance
Writers of
America (RWA) |
RITA |
Romance Book, Novella |
Book published in English by non-subsidy, non-vanity
publisher with original copyright date of 2011. Entrant must be 18 yrs of age by registration deadline. Limited to first 1,200 entries. |
Register by 5 pm CST Nov 30, 2011. Books must be received by 5 pm.
CST Jan 5, 2012. Finalists announced by Mar 26, 2012 |
5 copies of the book submitted in print book format, complete with copyright page, produced by the publisher, with perfect or case binding and printing on both sides of the page. Text and formatting must be identical to published version. |
$40 for RWA members; $140 for non-members |
RWA members register by mail or online; non-members
by mail. Entries sent by mail. |
Contemp Series; Contemp Series RS / Adventure; Contemp
ST; HR; Inspirational; Novel w/ strong RE; Para; Regency HR; RS; YA; Novella;
Best First Book |
Finalists are announced in Romance Writers Report,
online at RWA website and at RWA National conference. Winner receives a Rita
statue. |
| Women On Writing (WOW) |
Flash Fiction Contest |
Fiction |
Anyone, any age. Entry must be in English. |
Midnight PST Nov 30, 2011. Capped at 300 entries. |
250 words min to 750 words max (title not included in count) |
$10 (extra $10 if you want a critique) |
Online submission. Pay via PayPal |
|
1st Place: $250.00 cash, 2 second place prizes of $50 each. The top stories will be published in an anthology from QueerMojo, an imprint of Rebel Satori Press. |
| Pikes Peak Writers |
The Paul Gillette Awards |
Fiction |
unpublished in short story and book-length fiction
with uncontracted entry; contest caps at 400 entries |
Received by 11:59 MST Nov 15, 2011 (winners notified early April
2012) |
Entire Short Story (5,000 wds max) plus paragraph about target market. For book-length, 1st 4,000 wds of novel plus synopsis
(up to 1,250 wds); for short story, send complete story (5,000 words max) |
$30 by PayPal (can pay addl for critiques) |
email |
1st round: 2 judges (3rd judge if scores are 25+ point apart, with lowest score dropped).3 finalists per category. Final round judges are editors and agents. Short stories, all included in same category; Book Length: Children’s (for ages 8-12); YA (for ages 12-18); Historical Fiction; MS; Mystery / Suspense / Intrigue; Romance; Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror; Short Stories (all genres) |
1st Place winner in each
category will be refunded his / her conference registration fee if attending that year or will be awarded a cash prize of $100 if not attending. 2nd Place
= $50, and 3rd Place = $30. In addition, winners
attending the conference will be given top priority with respect to their editor / agent
pitch appointment selections. |
| Romance
Writers of America (RWA) |
Golden
Heart |
Romance; caps at 1,200 entries |
Open to writers 18 yrs or older who have not accepted a publishing offer for a work of original fictional narrative prose of 20,000 words or more by Nov. 15, 2011 |
Register by
5 PM CST Nov 15, 2011; entry must be received by RWA office by 5 PM CST Dec 2, 2011; Finalists announced March 26, 2012 |
6 printed copies of partial (beginning of manuscript
and 15 pp max synopsis, total entry 55 pp max.) and one printed copy of full
ms or one .rtf / .doc file on CD. |
$50 for RWA members; $150 for non-members |
RWA members register by mail or online; non-members
by mail. Entry sent via mail. |
Contemp Series; Contemp Series RS / Adventure; Contemp
ST; HR; Inspirational; Novel w/ strong RE; Para; Regency HR; RS; YA. 5 judges (RWA members), each give a single score of 1-9 (9 being best), and those scores are totaled. Approximately 10% of each category become finalists. Editors judge finalists. |
Finalists are announced in Romance Writers Report,
online at RWA website and at RWA National conference. Winner receives a golden
heart necklace. |
| Writer's
Digest |
Short
Short Story Competition |
Fiction short story |
Anyone not affiliated with Writer's Digest. Entries must be in English, original, unpublished and not submitted or accepted elsewhere at time of submission. |
Postmark / e-deadline 11:59 pm EST Nov 15, 2011. Winners notified Feb 29, 2012 |
1,500 words or fewer; word count includes title of entry |
$20 |
mail or electronic |
Writer's Digest |
1st Place: $3,000, 2nd Place: $1,500,
3rd Place: $500, 4th thru 10th Place: $100, 11th thru 25th Place: $50 gift certificate
for Writer's Digest books. 1st Place winner has option of a free Best Seller
Publishing Package from Trafford Publishing. Winners' names will appear in the May / June 2010 issue of Writer's Digest magazine. |
| Silicon
Valley Romance Writers of America |
GOTCHA! |
Romance |
unpublished in category entered |
Nov 6, 2011 |
1st 15 pp of ms |
$25 |
electronic |
1st round judges: 1 published author and 3 experienced,
trained writers. Lowest score is dropped and 3 highest determine final score.
All score sheets will be returned. Top 4 winners in each category will be sent
to an final judge. Categories: Harlequin / Silhouette Series (Susan Litman); ST / MS Contemp (Meredith Giordan, Berkeley / Jove); Mystery / RS (Allison Lyons, Harlequin Intrigue); HR (Allison Byers, The Wild Rose Press);
Para (Sue Grimshaw, Ballentine / Bantam Dell); Inspirational (Becky Monds, Thomas Nelson) |
Each category will be capped at a maximum of 40 entries. Entries received after the first 40 will be moved to the entrant’s alternate category if that category is not closed, or the entry fee will be refunded. Please indicate your preference on your Contestant’s Agreement. |
| Attraction Entertainment |
Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition |
Feature Screenplay, TV script, Short |
Open to all English language screenplays and writers who have earned less than $25k writing |
Extended final deadline is Nov 3 (addl fees apply) |
feature screenplay (130 pp max) or short screenplay in Word doc, PDF or Final Draft |
$40-$65 depending on category and submission date |
electronic submission |
3 rounds of judging using a 14-point evaluation system. 5 genre categories: -Comedy, Rom-Com; -Action, Adventure, Comic Book, Graphic Novel; -Family, Animated, Musical; -Drama, Historical, Biographical, Period; -Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller. |
Grand prize winner is offered a management contract from LA based Attraction Entertainment. Over $15k in additional cash and prizes plus free feedback for every entrant. Consideration by leading Hollywood production companies incl. HBO Films, Mandate Pictures, Escape Artists and more. |
| Hudson
Valley Romance Writers of America |
Hook,
Line and Sinker |
Romance |
all RWA members, published or unpublished |
Postmark by midnight Nov 1, 2011; winners announced January 2012 |
1st 3 pp of ms. |
$10 |
mail |
Top 5 entries will be ranked by Brenda Chin, Harlequin |
1st Place-$50.00, 2nd Place-$25.00,
3rd Place-$10.00. 4th and 5th Place will receive certificates. |
| Glimmer Train Press |
Family Matters |
Original, unpublished fiction / non-fiction / creative non-fiction short story about family |
all writers, all themes |
midnight PST, Oct 31, 2011; results posted Dec 31 |
story about family, 12,000 wds max |
$15 |
online |
|
1st place wins $1,200, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of that issue; 2nd-place: $500; 3rd-place:$300 |
| Script Savvy |
Script Savvy Monthly Screenplay Contest |
Screenplay / script |
Unproduced, original screenplays only |
Oct 31, 2011 |
feature length film script (80-140 pp) in standard industry format; short script is 60 pp max; |
$39 basic entry, $59 w/ feedback, $99 w/ full analysis.Short Script entry fee, $29. TV Script entry fee, $29 (1/2 hour and full hour specs and pilots) |
email |
A winner and 3 honorable mention scripts are chosen each month in the Feature Film Screenplay category. One winner is chosen in the Short Script category. One winner is chosen in the TV Script category. |
Winner receives $700, 3 Honorable Mentions receive $100 ea; plus other prizes. See website for more details. |
| Society of Southwestern Authors |
Writing Contest |
Fiction, Personal Essay/Memoir, Poetry |
All Writers |
Postmarked Oct. 31, 2011 |
Short Story or Personal Essay / Memoir - 2500 words max; or Poetry - 40 lines max. |
$15 |
Mail only |
Judges will be professional members of SSA and the community. |
1st: $250, 2nd: $125, 3rd: $75, HM: $25. Every entry gets judges' comments back. |
| Christian Writers of the West (Arizona branch of American Christian Fiction Writers) |
The Phoenix Rattler |
Christian Fiction |
Unpublished or not published within past 5 yrs |
5 PM PST, Oct 29, 2011; finalists notified Jan 14, 2012; winners announced Feb 11, 2012 |
First ten pp of ms |
$25 |
email |
Contemp Fiction (Don Pape, Publisher, David C Cook; Bill Jensen, William K Jensen Literary Agency); Historical Fiction (Karen Schurrer, Bethany House; Joyce Hart, Hartline Literary Agency ); Suspense / Thriller / Mystery (Sue Brower, Zondervan; Elizabeth Mazer, Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense); Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Allegory (Jeff Gerke, Marcher Lord Press; Author Jefferson Scott; Amanda Luedeke, MacGregor Literary); YA (Becky Monds, Thomas Nelson; Rachel Kent, Books & Such Literary Agency; Joanna MacKenzie, Browne & Miller Literary Associates); Women’s Fiction (Ami McConnell, Thomas Nelson Books; Sandra Bishop, MacGregor Literary; Judy Mikalonis, Andrea Hurst & Associates) |
Grand Prize: 2012 ACFW Conference ‘paid’ registration (value $515) **minimum of 150 entries required to award the grand prize. Category winners: $25 to each category winner. Finalists & winners: Award Certificate and posting on CWOW's website |
| Western Pennsylvania Romance Writers of America |
Bump In The Night |
Paranormal Flash Fiction |
Anyone |
e-deadline Noon, Oct 28, 2011 |
1,000 words or less |
Free |
online |
Judges: WPRW published authors |
Prize: $10 B&N Gift Card & 1 year Membership in W. PA Romance Writers |
| Earth
Vision |
Earth
Vision Nature Writing Contest |
Fiction, non-fiction or poetic prose with nature theme. |
anyone (English entries only) |
Oct 15, 2011 |
500-2500 words of original fiction, creative non-fiction
or poetic prose. Theme must be nature, deep ecology or spiritual ecology |
$12 |
email |
no categories, 2011 judge is Ann Palmer |
First prize: $500. Second and third prizes: $100 each.
Two (or more) honorable mentions. |
| Southern
Magic Romance Writers of America |
Linda
Howard Award of Excellence |
Romance |
Unpublished / uncontracted (by RWA publishing
standards) for past 5 yrs (i.e., after Oct 15, 2006) |
e-deadline 10 PM CST Oct 15, 2011; finalists
announced by Jan 7, 2012; winners announced by Mar 17, 2012 |
1st 25 pp of ms. Finalists must supply a synopsis
with revised entry by Jan 7, 2012 |
$20-$35 via check, money order or PayPal |
Email |
1st round: 3 judges. Lowest score will be
dropped. Series/Short & Long Contemp (Susan Litman,
Harlequin; Nalini Akolekar,
Spencerhill Associates, Ltd); ST (Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks;
Jessica Alvarez, Bookends, LLC); RS (series or ST)
Kristin Sevick, Tor/Forge;
Joyce Holland, D4EO); HR (Megan
Records, Kensington;
Jill Marr, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency); Para / TT/ F / F
(Melissa Frain, Tor / Forge; Marlene
Stringer, The Stringer Literary Agency); YA (Adam Wilson,
Harlequin Teen; Laura Bradford,
Bradford Literary Agency) |
1st place receives metal bookmark
with name of contest and winning manuscript's title
engraved. 2nd-5th place receive certificate |
| Stanford
University (Clayman Institute for Gender Studies) |
Ms. Essay Contest |
Reflection |
Anyone |
Oct 15, 2011; winners announced Jan 2012. |
150 word essay on a Ms. cover (how it captured
an era or moment, or how it may have shaped your own life) |
Free |
online |
No categories. Judges will be Stanford affiliates
or Ms. Editors |
Ten $100 cash prizes will be awarded for the
best short essays; exhibition on Stanford campus |
| Mills & Boon |
New Voices |
Romance |
unpublished |
Oct 10 , 2011 |
Enter first chapter |
free |
online |
4 stages: (1) upload your first chapter; (2) Mills & Boon editorial team will select 10 finalists who will submit second chapter (3) Readers vote for favorite entry out of top ten to choose 4 finalists (4) Finalists submit the "privotal moment" of their novel; readers and Mills & Boon judges select winner. |
publication of the winning entry by Mills & Boon and a Mills & Boon editor for a year |
Seekerville |
Query
Letter Contest |
Romance |
unpublished writers per RWA guidelines, 18
years of age and older. |
Midnight EST Oct 10, 2011; finalists announced
Oct 30, winners announced Dec 4 |
One page query letter and last page of an
unpublished and completed ms targeted at Love Inspired. |
free |
email |
1st round judged by the Seekers. 5 finalists.
Final Judge: Melissa Endlich, Harlequin Love Inspired |
The winner will have an opportunity to avoid
the slush pile and submit their first 3 chapters + synopsis
to Melissa Endlich by snail mail. |
| Clark
Library Friends |
Scare
the Dickens Out of Us and Junior Scare the Dickens Out
of Us for ages 12-18 |
Short story, ghost theme, any genre, any tone,
any subject |
Published and unpublished writers. Story must
be original, unpublished and in English. |
Postmark by Oct 1, 2011 |
short story, 5,000 wds max |
$20 |
mail, pay by check or MO. |
|
1st prize, $1000 and a trophy. 2nd prize,
$500 and a ribbon. 3rd prize, $250 and a ribbon. Junior contest
prize $250 and a trophy. |
| Maine
Romance Writers of America |
MERWA
- Synopsis Contest |
Romance |
Unpublished; must be member of RWA |
Postmark / e-deadline Oct 1, 2011 |
synopsis (10 pp or 2,500 words max) |
$20 (by check, money order, PayPal) |
email |
Contemp; HR; Para; RS; RE. Preliminary
round = 3 judges, published and / or trained. 3 highst averaged
scores are finalists. Top entry in each category goes to an acquiring
editor for final judging. |
The finalists in each category and grand
prize winner will receive certificates and be announced in the
RWR. |
| Maryland
Romance Writers of America |
Reveal
Your Inner Vixen |
Romance |
unpublished or published but entry must be
original and uncontracted as of Sept 1, 2011 |
e-deadline Oct 1, 2011 (extended from Sept
8 and Sept 1) |
scene showcasing chemistry between hero and
heroine, 20 pp max; 1 pp set-up (optional) |
$20, $25 |
Email. Pay via PayPal, check or MO. |
Three 1st round judges, trained and / or
published; lowest score dropped. 3 finalists per category will
be judged by 2 editors in that genre. Series Contemp, ST, HR,
Alternative, ER, YA |
All finalists receive a brief critique by
the final round judge, a certificate, and mention in a paid advertisement
in the RWA® Romance Writers Report. 1st Place winners receive
a $50 prize and gold Vixen pin. |
| New
England Romance Writers of America |
First
Kiss |
Romance |
unpublished in book-length fiction |
Emailed by Oct 1, 2011 |
scene of first kiss (10 pp max) plus 1 p set-up |
$15, $20, $23 by check or PayPal |
email |
1st round scored by 1 pubbed author and 1
qualified, unpubbed judge. Discrepancy judge if scores differ
by 30 or more and the point spread keeps entrant from finaling.
Patience Smith (Harlequin / Silhouette) will choose winners from
6 finalists |
1st Prize: $50 or Free registration to the
New England Chapter Conference ($189 value). 2nd Prize: $35,
3rd Prize: $25. |
| North
Louisiana StoryTellers and Authors of Romance |
The
Suzannah |
Romance |
Published or unpublished. Entry must be unpublished
and uncontracted as of Nov 30, 2011. Contest closes after 120
entries are received. |
e-deadline midnight CST Oct 1, 2011; finalists
announced Dec 1, 2010; grand prize winner announced at NOLA STARs
conference in March 2012. |
Beginning of ms, synopsis (25 pp max, 7,200
words max) |
$30, $35, check. money order or PayPal |
electronic |
No categories (6 finalists). Three 1st round
judges are published authors, RWA PRO members, industry professionals
(i.e. librarians and booksellers) with lowest score dropped.
Finalists are ranked 1 to 6 by judges: Laura Bradford, Bradford
Literary; Johanana Raisanen, Harlequin; Leah Hultenschmidt, Source
Books; Megan Records, Kensington; Weronika Janczuk, DEO4 Literary;
Helen Breitweizer, Cornerstone Literary. Lowest score wins, no
other rankings announced. |
Grand Prize Winner will receive $300 in cash
and a trophy. |
| Glimmer
Train Press |
Fiction
Open |
Short Story |
all writers, all themes |
midnight PST, Sept 30, 2011; results posted
Nov 30 |
word count 2,000 to 20,000 |
$18 |
online |
|
1st place wins $2000, publication in Glimmer
Train Stories, and 20 copies of that issue; 2nd-place: $1000;
3rd-place:$600 |
| L.
Ron Hubbard |
Writers
of the Future |
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy |
Open to those who have not professionally
published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette,
or more than 3 short stories in any medium. Professional publication
is deemed to be payment and at least 5,000 copies or 5,000 hits. |
Postmark by midnight Sept 30, 2011 |
Works of prose, up to 17,000 words in length. |
Free and writer retains all rights. |
mail |
All types of science fiction, fantasy and
dark fantasy. No poetry or works for children. No excessive violence
or sex. |
Cash prizes of $500, $750, $1,000 every
quarter. Annual cash prize of $5,000. |
| West
Houston Romance Writers of America |
The
Emily |
Romance |
unpublished / not published in category entered
in past 3 yrs. Entries capped at 300. |
Received by / e-Deadline Sept 30, 2011; finalists
announced Dec 15; winners announced Feb 11, 2012 |
1st 7,000 words, max in TNR or Courier, 12
or 14 point size |
$20, $30 |
online |
3 judges for 1st round, lowest score dropped.
Finalists judged by 2 experts (agent, editor). 3 finalists per
category. Contemp ST (Stephany Evans, FinePrint Literary Management;
Frances Jalet-Miller, Grand Central Publishing); Contemp Series
(Scott Eagan, Greyhaus Literary Agency; Susan Litman, Harlequin
Enterprises); ER (Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds LLC; Katherine Pelz,
Berkley); FF&P (Vickie Motter, Andrea Hurst & Associates;
Amanda Bergeron, Avon Books); HR (Laura Bradford, Bradford Agency;
Leah Hultenschmid, Sourcebooks); RE (Jenny Bent, The Bent Agency;
Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks); RS (Elizabeth Pomada, Michael Larsen,
Elizabeth Pomada Literary Agents; Patience Bloom, Harlequin Enterprises
Romantic Suspense); YA (Suzie Townsend, FinePrint Literary Management;
Sarah Shumway, Katherine Tegen Books, HarperCollins Publishers);
Best of the Best, selected from 1st place entries across all
categories (Karla Hodde, Katy Budget Books ) |
1st Place: EMILY brooch, all other finalists:
certificate. Best of the Best receives critique of the first
50 pages by the fabulous Leis Pederson, Berkley Books, Penguin
Group (USA) Inc. |
| Hunger Mountain |
Hunger Mountain Creative Nonfiction Prize |
Creative Nonfiction, unpublished, in English |
Anyone |
Postmark, e-deadline September 26, 2011 |
Submit an orginial, unpublished work of creative nonfiction in English of up to 10,000 words |
$20 by check or PayPal |
Mail, online |
The 2011 judge is Sue William Silverman, author of Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey through Sexual Addiction, Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, and Fearless Confessions: A Writer’s Guide to Memoir. |
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Hunger Mountain website. Two honorable mentions receive $100 each. |
| Oklahoma
Romance Writers of America |
Finally
A Bride |
Romance |
unpublished, uncontracted authors whose ms
have finaled (but not won) in a RWA sponsored contest or whose
ms placed in the top 25% of the Golden Heart. Do not have to
be member of RWA. |
e-deadline midnight Sept 23, 2011 (extended
from Sept 16 and Sept 2); finalists notified ~Oct 31; winners notified ~Jan
30, 2012. |
first 30 pp. For final round entries, an optional
synopsis (5 pp max) is strongly recommended |
$25, $30 |
emailed with rtf or Word doc format |
1st round: 3 judges, RWA trained or published
authors. Lowest score dropped. Combined scores of 2 final judges
for each category: Traditional / Inspirational (Melissa Endlich,
Steeple Hill; Nicola Martinez, White Rose Publishing); Series
Contemp (Patience Smith, Silhouette; Wanda Ottewell, Harlequin);
RS (Charles Griemsman, Silhouette; Scott Eagan, Greyhaus Literary Agency); HR / Regency (Deb
Werksman, Casablanca Sourcebooks; Carly Corcoran, Harlequin Historical);
Para / TT / F / F (Margo Lipschultz, HQN; Alicia Condon, Kensington);
MS w/RE (Jewelann Cone, Cascade Literary Agency); YA (Leah Wilson, BenBella Books; Nicole Sohl,
St. Martin's Press) |
The Bride (First Place Winner) in each category
will receive a lovely engraved knife and cake server, suitable
for cutting the cake in celebration of THE CALL. In addition,
any book that is published as a result of this contest will receive
a free entry into the National Readers' Choice Award the first
year of eligibility. All other finalists will receive suitable
recognition. |
| 100 Words or Fewer |
100 Words or Fewer Writing Contest |
Fiction of 100 words or fewer |
Anyone. Entry must be unpublished. |
Submission deadline Sept 18, 2011; winners notified by mail Oct 15 and posted by Oct 17. |
Fiction story of 100 or few words. No lewd material. |
$15, checkmark evaluation is $8, critique is $32 |
email entry, pay via PayPal. |
Subject can be anything but cannot contain lewd material. The Final Judge is Erica Bauermeister, author of the best-selling novel, The School of Essential Ingredients, and the recently published Joy for Beginners. |
Awards are $500, $150, $100, $50. |
| The Ayn Rand Institute |
Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest |
Essay with specific theme |
open to high school seniors (12th graders) and college undergrads and graduate students worldwide |
Postmark / e-deadline 11:59 PM PST Sept 17, 2011; winners notified by Nov 28. |
Choose one of 3 topics. Winning essays must be between 800 and 1,600 words and demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of Atlas Shrugged. |
free |
mail, online |
Judged on style and content. Essay submissions are evaluated in a fair and unbiased four-round judging process. Judges are individually selected by the Ayn Rand Institute based on a demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Ayn Rand’s works. |
One first prize of $10,000; 3 second prizes of $2,000; 5 third prizes of $1,000; 20 finalist prizes of $100; 20 semifinalist prizes of $50 |
| East Valley Authors - Romance Writers of America |
EVA Query Contest |
Romance |
RWA members, excluding East Valley chapter |
Received by Sept 15, 2011; winners announced ~Dec 15, 2011. |
1 pp query letter, synopsis (5 pp max), and a writing sample of the first 5 pp of ms (not to be used for judging purposes) |
$15 |
electronic |
The finalist entries will be read and judged by Sue Grimshaw of Bantam Dell / Random House, Inc. |
1st place: $50 Amazon gift card, 2nd place: $25 Amazon gift card, 3rd place: $15 Amazon gift card |
| Notes and Grace Notes |
Collected Poetry Contest |
Poetry |
Anyone 18 yrs and older |
Received by Sept 15, 2011 |
Complete manuscript 35-200 pp |
$15 |
Email entry. Pay by PayPal. |
1st round judged by editors and authors selected by Grace Notes Books. Finalists will be determined by a staff of editors from Grace Notes Books, NOTES Magazine, and Notesandgracenotes.com. Final judging will be conducted by Grace Notes Book’s primary editors. |
Winner will receive $450 or advance $250 against royalties, publication and 3 contributor copies. All finalists will be featured on website as well as a special edition of lit mag, including 5 poems published, full bio and author interview. All finalists will also be considered for publication. |
| Real Simple |
Life Lessons Essay Contest |
Essay in English |
U.S. legal residents age 19 or older |
Received by 11:59 P.M. ET Sept 15, 2011 |
Typed, double-spaced submission (1,500 wds max) essay theme-based, answering the question, "When did you first understand the meaning of love?" |
Free |
Mail or email |
Judged by Real Simple editors, based on originality, creativity, language and appropriateness to contest theme (25% each) |
One winner receives $3,000, round trip economy plae tickets for two to NYC plus hotel accommodations for 2 nights, tickets to a Broadway play, lunch with Real Simple editors, and publication in Real Simple magazine. |
| Windy
City Romance Writers of America |
Four
Seasons Award |
Romance |
Unpublished or not published in past 5 yrs in novel-length fiction in any format. Windy City members not
eligible. Each category capped at 30 entries. |
e-deadline Sept 15, 2011 (extended from Aug 1) |
1st 25 pp of ms in RTF plus optional 1 pp synopsis |
$25, $30 |
electronic |
Judges are experinced critiquers and published authors
of Windy City RWA. 4 highest scores in each category final. Lowest score dropped
to determine final ranking. Final judges: ST Contemp (Adam Wilson, Harlequin, MIRA; Scott Eagan, Greyhaus Literary Agency); Short / Long Contemp (Charles Geiemsman, Harlequin; Cori Deyoe, Three Seas Literary Agency); HR (Helen Rosburg, Medallion Press; Pam Strickler, Pam Strickler Author Mgmt); F/F/P (Leis Pederson, Berkley Publishing; TBA); YA (Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks; Diana Fox, Fox Literary) |
Winners in each category receive an engraved plaque.
All finalists receive certificates and will be in RWR. |
| Writer's
Digest |
Sci-Fi Contest |
Science Fiction / Fantasy |
Anyone not affiliated with Writer's Digest. Entries must be in English, original, unpublished and not submitted or accepted elsewhere at time of submission. |
Postmark / e-deadline 11:59 pm EST Sept 15, 2011. Winners notified Dec 31, 2012 |
4,000 words max; includes title of entry |
$20 |
mail or electronic |
Writer's Digest |
1st Place: $1,000 cash; 2nd Place: $500 cash. 1st and 2nd receive $100 worth of Writer’s Digest Books. 1st, 2nd, and Honorable Mentions receive promotion in Writer’s Digest and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market |
| Writer's
Digest |
Thriller Contest |
Thriller / Suspense |
Anyone not affiliated with Writer's Digest. Entries must be in English, original, unpublished and not submitted or accepted elsewhere at time of submission. |
Postmark / e-deadline 11:59 pm EST Sept 15, 2011. Winners notified by Dec 31, 2012 |
4,000 words max; includes title of entry |
$20 |
mail or electronic |
Writer's Digest |
1st Place: $1,000 cash; 2nd Place: $500 cash. 1st and 2nd receive $100 worth of Writer’s Digest Books. 1st, 2nd, and Honorable Mentions receive promotion in Writer’s Digest and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market |
| Bartleby Snopes |
Dialogue Only |
Fiction |
Anyone. No simultaneous submissions or previously published stories (includes blogs, message boards, personal websites, etc.) |
Sept 12, 2011; results on Oct 14. |
Short story composed of dialogue (2,000 words max) |
$10 |
electronic. Pay with credit card or PayPal. |
Staff of Bartleby Snopes judges first round.
Two guest judge editors judge final round. Last year judges were
Kevin Dickinson of Writers' Bloc and Rae Bryant of Moon Milk
Review. This year's judges are Ben Loory (author of Stories
for Nighttime and Some for the Day, Penguin Books) and Matt Rowan
(editor of Untoward Magazine). |
A minimum of $290 will be awarded, with at least $250 going to first place and at least $10 to our four honorable mentions. Our five finalists will also appear in Issue 7 of the magazine due out in January 2012. Last year we awarded almost $1000 in prize money. For every entry over 25, an additional $5 will be awarded to the first place story. |
| New
York City Romance Writers of America |
Kathryn
Hayes Love and Laughter |
Romance with humor |
not contracted / published in novella or novel-length
fiction as of deadline. RWA membership NOT required. |
Postmark or e-deadline midnight Sept 12, 2011. |
Any scene in your novel between the hero and heroine which illustrates humor and love / romance (15 pages max.); story / background summary (two pages max., will not be judged). |
$25, $30
can pay by PayPal |
email |
Judges = published authors. No categories, open to any romance genre in category or ST length. Final Judge: Denise Nelson from Carina Press. |
Grand Prize: $75 |
| Southwest
Florida Romance Writers of America |
Hold
Me, Thrill Me |
Romance |
Unpublished entries in English (need not be
RWA member) |
e-deadline Sept 11, 2011 (extended from Sept 1) |
1st 20 pp (a 2-5 pp synopsis is required if
you final) |
$25 |
mail |
Contemp
(Amanda Bergeron, Avon); HR (Elizabeth Bistrow, New American
Library); Para (Meredith Giordan, Berkley) RS (Alex Logan, Grand
Central); YA (Kristin Rens, Balzer & Bray) |
1st Place $50 and a Certificate of Achievement
2nd Place $20 and a Certificate of Achievement 3rd Place a Certificate
of Achievement |
| Mid-America
Romance Writers of America |
Fiction
from the Heartland |
Romance |
unpublished and uncontracted; excludes MARA
members |
Received by Sept 9, 2011 |
prologue, 1st chapter, synopsis (35 pp max) |
$20, $30 for 1st entry, add'l entries half
price. Check or PayPal |
mail, electronic |
Judges: at least one published author and
experienced critiquers. Final Judges: Category (Susan Litman,
Harlequin / Silhouette); ST (TBA); HR (Amanda Bergeron, Avon
Books); RS (Lauren Plude, Grand Central Publishing); Para (Meredith
Giordan, Berkley Publishing Group); YA (Natashya Wilson, Harlequin
Teen); Inspirational (Melissa Endlich, Steeple Hill); Agents
are Sara Megibow, Nelson Literary Agency; Lauren Ruth, Book Ends;
Helen Breitwieser, Cornerstone Literary Agency; Laura Bradford,
Bradford Literary Agency |
Prize: $50.00 / Plaque / Certificate. |
| Missouri
Romance Writers of America |
Gateway
to the Best |
Romance |
writers who are not contracted / not published
within last 3 yrs. Self-published authors may enter if entry
is unpublished by self or others. |
e-deadline 11:59 p.m. CDT Sept 9, 2011; finalists
announced ~Oct 30; winners announced ~Dec 3. |
up to 1st 25 pp |
$20, $30; half price for add'l entries |
electronic |
3 judges for 1st round, lowest score dropped.
Final judges: Contemp Series (Laura Barth, Harlequin); HR (Esi
Sogah, Avon); ST (Katherine Pelz, Berkley); Para (LaToya Smith,
Grand Central Publishing); RS (Margo Lipschultz, Harlequin);
YA (Adam Wilson, HQ Teen) |
Overall Grand Prize: $100 + full reading and
critique of ms by a major pubbed author. 1st Place: Gateway charm,
electronic banner for website, + 1 yr newsletter membership.
2nd Place: newsletter membership. 3rd Place: certificate (all
receive certificates). |
| Music
City Romance Writers of America |
Melody
of Love |
Romance |
unpublished by traditional or digital publisher
in category entered in. Contest is limited to first 80 entries
received. |
Received by Sept 9, 2011 (extended from Sept
1); finalists notified mid-Oct; winners announced in Dec. |
first 25 pp; Finalists may be asked to provide
a short synopsis |
$22, $27, $32 |
electronic only, can pay by check or PayPal |
Discrepancy judge employed if needed. Finalists
can revise before submitting to final judge and may submit a
one page synopsis at final judge's request. Final judges: HR
(Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary Agency); Contemp (Latoya
C. Smith, Grand Central Publishing); Para (Angela James, Carina
Press); YA (Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks Fire) |
Winners in each category receive: 1st place,
$50, certificate, and special prize; 2nd and 3rd place, certificate
and special prize. |
| Celtic
Hearts Romance Writers of America |
Novellas
Need Love Too |
Romance novella |
Published or unpublished author (separate
categories) with completed novella |
Sept 9, 2011 (extended from Sept 1) |
First 5 pp of romance novellas 12-40K in length |
$10 |
electronic |
Each entry will have three judges, one of
which is a published author. Final judges: Para (Imogen Howson,
Samhain); Erotic (Kelli Collins, Ellora's Cave); HR (Mary Hamilton,
Samhain); Contemp (Grace Bradley, Ellora's Cave); Published (Gina
Bernal, Carina Press); Distinguished Novella Award (overall)
(Heather Osborn, Samhain) |
|
| Heartland
Romance Writers of America |
Show
Me The Spark! |
Romance |
Unpublished, not published in last 3 yrs. |
e-deadline midnight CST Sept 9, 2011 (extended
from Sept 2). Finalists notified by Oct 21. Winners announced
Dec 23. |
1st chapter (25 pp max) |
$25, $30, $35 |
Email only. PayPal. |
1st round: 2 judges. 3 finalists in each
category proceed to the final round. Finalists have a week to
revise entry. Contemp (Charles Griemsman, Harlequin); HR (Laura
Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency); RS (Holly Blanck, St. Martin’s
Press); Erotica (Raelene Gorlinsky, Ellora’s Cave); Inspirational
(David Long, Bethany House); Para / Sci-Fi (Rebecca Strauss,
McIntosh and Otis); YA (Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks) |
|
| First
Coast Romance Writers of America |
Beacon
Award, Unpublished |
Romance |
unpublished / not contracted in book-length
(50K min) in last 3 yrs; RWA membership not required. Contest
limited to first 125 entries. |
Midnight EST Sept 8, 2011 (extended from
Aug 31). |
1st 30 pp with optional synopsis (synopsis
will not be judged but should be included in page count) |
$25 FCRW members, $30 RWA members, $35 others |
electronic; cn pay by check or PayPal |
1st round = 2 judges, at least one published;
3 finalists per category. Final judges: HR / Regency (Kevan Lyon,
Marsal Lyon Literary Agency; Holly Blanck, St. Martin’s
Press); ST Contemp (Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency;
Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks); Contemp Series (Weronika Janczuk,
Lynn C. Franklin Associates; Laura Barth, Harlequin); FFP (Courtney
Miller-Callihan, Sanford J. Greenburger; Lauren Plude, Grand
Central); RS (Nalini Akolekar, Spencerhill Associates, Ltd; Leis
Pederson, Berkley); YA (Beth Miller, Writers House, LLC; Susan
Litman, Harlequin); Erotic (Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary
Agency; Ralene Gorlinsky, Ellora’s Cave); Inspirational
(Mary Sue Seymour, The Seymour Agency; Rachel Burkot, Harlequin
Love Inspired); Chick Lit / Women’s Fiction / MS (Lauren
Ruth, Bookends, LLC; Tessa Woodward, Avon / Avon Impulse) |
1st place per category - Beacon Lapel Pin.
All finalists will receive a certificate for their achievement.
Winners will be posted in the RWR |
| 3-Day Books |
3-Day Novel Contest |
Fiction |
Anyone - must follow rules |
Register with fee by Sept 2, 2011; winners announced Jan 2012 |
full novel written during Labor Day weekend |
$50, $55 |
online or by mail |
panel of judges from the writing and publishing community |
Awards: 1st Prize: First Prize: Publication by 3-Day Books 2nd Prize: $500; 3rd Prize: $100. |
| Notes and Grace Notes |
Discovering the Undiscovered |
All genres |
Anyone 18 yrs and older |
Received by Sept 1, 2011; finalists announced Oct 1; winners announced Nov 1; winning book published March 2012 |
complete manuscript (between 30,000 and 100,000 words) |
$20 |
email entry, pay by PayPal |
Novels / Memoirs- 70,000-100,000 words. Novellas and Short Story / Essay Collections - 40,000-65,000 words. Both open to all genres. 1st round judged by editors and authors who had previously judged monthly Notes and Grace Notes writing contests. Finalists chosen by Notes and Grace Notes staff. |
Winner of the Novels / Memoirs Contest receives $1000 or an advance $350 against royalties and a standard publishing contract of 15% of the cover price (retail is generally $12.99 for our trade paperbacks), plus 5 contributor copies. Winner of the Novella and Short Story/Essay Collections contest receives $300, publication and 3 contributor copies. All finalists will also be considered for publication. |
| Valley
of the Sun Romance Writers of America |
Hot
Prospects |
Romance |
Published or unpublished RWA member in good standing |
e-deadline / postmark by 11:59 pm PST Sept 1, 2011; finalists notified Oct 31; winners announced ~Dec 15. |
synopsis (5 pp max), beginning of ms (25 pp max) |
$30 |
mail or electronic. Pay by check or PayPal. |
1st round - 2 judges. If scores vary by 26 or more points, there will be a 3rd judge with lowest score dropped. 3 finalists per category. Final round judges: HR (Katherine N. Pelz, Berkley; Jennifer Schober, Spencerhill Associates); FF&P (Deborah Werksman, Sourcebooks; Jenny Bent, The Bent Agency); RS (Amy Pierpont, Grand Central Publishing; Paige Wheeler, Folio Literary Management); Contemp Long / ST (Jennifer Enderlin, St. Martins; Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency); Series Contemp (Johanna Raisanen, Harlequin; Leanne Morgena, Sweetheart Rose, The Wild Rose Press) |
The single highest scoring first place entry across all categories can choose between a book trailer, static banner and active banner from Firebird Web Designs for the book of their choice (a $300.00 value) or $100.00 USD. All finalists in each category will receive a certificate, a graphic for their website and an acknowledgement in the Romance Writers Report. |
| Memoirs, Ink |
Annual writing contest |
Essay, memoir or auto-biographical stories |
previously unpublished entry, includes websites and blogs |
Late deadline is Aug 31, 2011 (extra $5 applies after regular Aug 15 deadline); winners announced Oct 7 |
3,000 words max, must be written in first person in English |
$15 1st entry; $10 each add'l (+$5 if "late") check or MO |
by mail. Can pay via Paypal. |
Panel of Memoirs Ink judges. |
First Prize: $1000; Second Prize: $500; Third Prize: $250; plus publication. Winners' stories will be published. |
| Gemini Magazine |
Flash Fiction Contest |
Fiction short story |
previously unpublished flash fiction; new or established writers; no restriction on content, style or genre. |
Aug 31, 2011 |
up to 1,000 words |
$4 for first story, $3 each add'l |
email / mail; pay via PayPal |
David Bright |
Grand prize: $1,000; 2nd Place: $100; 4 honorable mentions. All 6 finalists will be published in October 2011 issue of Gemini Magazine |
| Women On Writing (WOW) |
Flash Fiction Contest |
Fiction |
Anyone, any age. Entry must be in English. |
Midnight PST Aug 31, 2011. Capped at 300 entries. |
250 words min to 750 words max (title not included in count) |
$10 (extra $10 if you want a critique) |
Online submission. Pay via PayPal |
|
25 winners. 1st Place: $250.00 cash, $25 Amazon Gift Certificate, entry published on WOW! Women On Writing, plus more. 2nd Place: $150 cash, $25 Amazon Gift Certificate (see website for further awards) |
| San
Francisco Area Romance Writers of America |
Heart
to Heart |
Romance |
unpublished by RWA recognized publisher as of deadline |
e-deadline Aug 31, 2011 (extended from Aug 15); finalists notified Sept 30; winners announced Nov 1. |
hero and heroine's first meeting, 15 pp max (numbered
as it appears in the ms) plus optional unjudged, double-spaced, one-page set-up. |
$15 |
electronic only. Can pay by PayPal or mail. |
Four 1st round judges, one of whom is a published
author. The lowest score is dropped. Final-round judges are acquiring editors and agents. Top 3 entries in each category final. Categories: Para, Contemp, HR, Erotic, YA Judges: PAN and PRO members, trained and unpublished members. Final Judges: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency; Leis Pederson, Berkley; Jay Austin, Xtasy Books and Devine Destinies; Kimberly Myers, Omnific Publishing; Tera Kleinfelter, Samhain Publishing |
Top prize: certificate |
| Volusia
County Romance Writers of America |
Laurel
Wreath Award |
Romance Book |
published RWA member, copyright of 2010 |
Received by Aug 31, 2011 (winners notified by mid-Nov) |
3 copies of book, e-books accepted in a printed / book
form, bound and covered. |
$20 |
mail |
Contemp; RS; HR / Regency;
FF&P / TT; YA; Inspirational; ER. Judges: booksellers. Judges give each entry a score of 3-10
(10 being the highest). Judges also rank entries, if needed, for tie-breaking. |
|
| NANO Fiction |
Nano Prize |
Fiction |
Anyone except friends and family of the editors. Piece must be unpublished. |
Received by Aug 31, 2011. |
flash fiction piece, prose poem, or micro essay of
300 words or fewer. |
$15 for first 3 pieces, $2 each add'l piece. (You
also receive a 1-yr subscription to NANO Fiction). |
1) by mail with check or money order or 2) by email with payment thru PayPal |
Judges are editors at NANO Fiction. |
One winner receives $500 and publication. All entries considered
for publication. All entrants receive a 1-yr subscription to NANO Fiction. |
| Glimmer Train Press |
Short Story Award for New Writers |
Short Story |
writer whose fiction has not been published in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000. |
midnight PST, Aug 31, 2011; results posted Oct 30 |
up to 12,000 words |
$15 |
online |
|
1st place wins $1,200, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of that issue; 2nd-place: $500; 3rd-place:$300 |
| SpacecoasT
Authors of Romance - Romance Writers of America |
Launching
A Star |
Romance |
unpublished writers in book-length fiction
who are not PAN eligible (entries may be capped at 150) |
Received by midnight EST Aug 25, 2011; finalists
notified Nov 8; winners notifed mid-Dec. |
1st 25 pp of ms |
$25, $30 |
electronic |
1st round: at least 2 judges. If 40 point
difference, a discrepancy judge will be assigned; the 2 closer
scores will be averaged for score. 5 finalists per category.
Final judges: ST (Emilia Pisani, Simon & Schuster; Sara Megabow,
The Nelson Literary Agency); General Para (Meredith Giordan /
Berkley Jove; Marlene Stringer, The Stringer Agency); Futuristic
/ Fantasy Leah Hultenschmidt, SourceBooks; Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan
Ellenberg Agency); HR (Amanda Bergeron, Harper Collins; Laura
Bradford, The Bradford Agency); Series Contemp (Susan Litman,
Harlequin Special Edition; Roberta Brown, Brown Literary Agency);
RS (Holly Blanck, St. Martin's Press; Chelsea Gilmore, Maria
Carvainis Agency); Inspirational (Natalie Hanemann, Thomas Nelson;
Suzie Townsend Fine Print Literary Management); YA (Kristin Daly,
Harper Collins; Becca Stumpf, The Prospect Agency) |
All finalists will receive a certificate.
1st Place winner of each category receives engraved STAR paperweight.
Overall contest winner will have a star named for them through
the International Star Registry. |
| Florida Romance Writers |
Golden Palm |
Romance |
Any writer who has never been contracted in book-length fiction (40,000 words or more) from any publisher. |
e-deadline midnight EST Aug 22, 2011 (extended from Aug 15); finalists notified ~Oct 18; winners notified ~Jan 10, 2012 |
First 25 pp |
$20, $25 |
electronic entry, pay by check, MO or PayPal |
1st round: 3 judges, at least one a published
author. Lowest score dropped. Final judges: Short / Long Contemp
(Megan Long, Harlequin Superromance); ST (Whitney Ross, TOR); MS w/RE Elaine
Spencer, The Knight Agency); HR (Elizabeth Bistrow,
New American Library); Para / Fantasy / Sci-Fi / TT (Deb Werksman,
Sourcebooks); Erotica (Kelli Collins, Ellora’s Cave) |
Finalists can send a revised copy to final judges. First Place in each category will received $25, along with a Certificate and a Golden Palm pin. Second and third in each category will receive a certificate. |
| Kensington Publishing and RT Book Reviews |
Writing with the Stars |
Romance |
Unpublished authors i US and Canada with completed novella-length (20-30,000 wds) manuscript (with sensuality tone that matches the Brava line) in any romance genre, written in English.. Limited to 1st 500 entries. |
Received by 11:59 PM EST Aug 22, 2011; top 8 finalists announced Sept 26. |
full novella manuscript (20,000-30,000 wds) |
Free |
electronic |
5 rounds of competition; each round will include comments from celebrity judges from the romance blogosphere. |
Finalists will have a chance to work with Brava authors in the hopes of being the one lucky winner who lands a publishing contract with Brava! |
| Memoir Journal, Inc. |
Memoir
(and) |
Traditional and experimental prose, poetry, graphic
memoir, narrative photography, lies, and more |
Anyone |
Aug 16, 2011 |
prefer Microsoft Word format. See
guidelines for details. |
Free |
prefer electronic but also take mail |
Prose (one submission, maximum 10,000 words); ; Poetry (maximum of five poems of any length, all in one document); Graphic memoir (one submission that will fit on no more than twenty 7” x 10” pages); Narrative photography (up to five images) |
4 prizes: Memoir in Poetry or Prose: Grand Prize:
$500, 2nd Prize: $250, 3rd Prize: $100; and Graphic Memoir Grand Prize and Photography Grand Prize: $100. Winning entries published
in print and online plus receive free copies of the
journal. |
| Romance
Writers Ink |
Where
the Magic Begins |
Romance |
Unpublished or not published in the category entered in the past three years. Includes non-RWA recognized publishers and published novellas of 15,000 words or more. |
Aug 15, 2011 (extended from Aug 1); finalists announced Oct 8. |
1st 25 pp, synopsis (1 pp, may be single spaced, will not be judged) |
$25, $27 |
electronic |
1st rd judges are trained and instructed to provide constructive written feedback BOTH on the manuscript pages and the score sheets. Each entry receives 3 first round scores, averaged. Discrepancy judge if difference of 50 points or more between lowest and next-to-lowest scores. The 3 top-scoring entries in each category final. Final judges: HR (Alicia Condon, Kensington Brava); ST (Amy Pierpont, Grand Central); RS (Holly Blanck, St. Martin's Press); Light Para (R. Leis Pederson, Berkley Publishing); Dark Para (Erika Tsang, Avon Books); ER (Raelene Gorlinsky, Ellora's Cave); Sensual Contemp (Gail Chasan, Silhouette Special Edition); Sweet Contemp (Emily Rodmell, Love Inspired Steeple Hill) |
|
| Rose
City Romance Writers of America |
Golden Rose |
Romance |
Anyone unpublished or not published by RWA recognized publisher in novel length fiction in last
3 yrs and uncontracted at deadline |
e-deadline midnight PST Aug 1, 2011; finalists notified by Oct 13; winners notified Dec 6. |
beginning of ms (50 pp max plus 1-2 pp synopsis which will not be judged). |
$30, $35, $50 (+$2 if paying by payPal) |
electronic only; pay by PayPal or check |
Preliminary round: 4 trained judges, at least one will be published author or RWA Pro. Lowest score will be dropped. The top 3 in each category final. Contemp Series (Scott Eagan, Agent, Greyhaus Literary Agency); ST Contemp (Jessica Alvarez, Bookends LLC); HR (Rebecca Strauss, McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency); MS / RE (Katherine Pelz, Editor, The Berkley Publishing Group); Para / F / F (Vickie Motter. Andrea Hurst Literary Management); RS (Kristin Sevick, TOR); YA (Holly Blanck, Assistant Editor, St. Martin’s Press); ER (Linda Ingmanson, Editor, Samhain) |
The GRAND PRIZE winner is the entrant with the highest total score overall. This winner will win a 12" American Beauty Rose dipped in 24K gold. First Place Winners in each category will be offered a free chapter membership plus a one-of-a-kind handcrafted necklace (a $30value). All 1st through 3rd place winners will receive a certificate and a website web banner. The names of all winners will be published on the RCRW website and in the Romance Writers Report (RWR). |
| From
The Heart Romance Writers of America |
Golden
Gateway |
Romance |
unpublished or not published in book or e-book
in last 5 yrs (An author is considered published regardless if
their publisher is RWA recognized.) |
July 25, 2011 (extended from June 24); finalists
notified Aug 29; finalists must have latest copy to coordinator
by Sept 4; winners announced ~Oct 24. |
beginning of ms and 5 pp max synopsis, max
total 55 pp |
$20, $25, $30 |
electronic; pay by check, MO or PayPal |
3 first round judges, experienced or published.
Discrepancy judge if scores vary by 20 points or more. Top 5
entries with score of 225 or above will final. Final judges for
Unpublished:: Short / Long Contemp Series (Charles Griemsman,
Silhouette Desire); ST (Lauren Plude, Grand Central Publishing);
MS / RE (Talia Platz, NAL); HR (Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks); RS
(Shana Smith, Harlequin Romantic Suspense); Para / F/ F / Sci-Fi
/ TT (Latoya Smith, Grand Central Publishing). Judges for Published
will consist of a panel of industry professionals, including:
Laura Barth, Harlequin Blaze/Harlequin American Romance Tessa
Woodward, HarperCollins/Avon Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary
Agency |
1st Place in each category receives plaque
and choice of a free FTHRW contest entry fee or a year’s
worth of FTHRW dues. 2nd Place in each category receives an e-certificate
and choice of FTHRW dues paid or a free FTHRW contest entry.
3rd, 4th, and 5th Place in each category receive e-certificates.
A Grand Prize of $100 goes to highest overall scorer based on
1st round judging. |
| Utah / Salt
Lake Romance Writers of America |
Heart
of the West |
Romance |
published or unpublished with uncontracted entry |
July 18, 2011 (extended from July 15); finalists notified Aug 20; winners announced Oct 8 |
prologue, first chapter, up to 20 pp (max of 25 lines
per page) |
$25 |
electronic only, can pay by PayPal, check or MO |
1st round: 3 scores, lowest dropped. Categories: Contemp (Michelle Wolfson, Wolfson Literary Agency); HR (Anita Mumm, Nelson Literary Agency); Para (Marisa Corvisiero, L. Perkins Agency); ER (Kiersten Cherry, Loose Id Publishing); Mystery / Suspense (Lauren Ruth, BookEnds, LLC); YA (Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency); Published (Lisa Mangum, Editor, Shadow Mountain - will be judged collectively.) Golden Pen (Tara Parsons, Harlequin) |
1st Place Winners receive $40 and a certificate. 2nd thru 4th Place receive certificates. All finalists will be recognized in the Romance Writers Report. |
| Grand Rapids Region Writers Group |
GRRWG Writing Contest |
Genre Fiction |
Unpublished. If published, must be out of contract for at least 1 year by entry deadline. |
Received by July 15, 2011; finalists announced Aug 20; winner announced at conference Oct 22 |
1st chapter (30 pp max) |
$25 via PayPal |
electronic in .doc format |
Highest rated entrant in each category advances to final round. Categories: Mystery / Thriller, Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror; Romance, Western / Adventure, YA. Final Judge: Miriam Kriss, Irene Goodman Agency |
|
| Heart of Louisiana Romance Writers of America |
Heartbeat |
Romance |
Unpublished or not published authors not contracted for the entry. |
Received by July 15, 2011 |
Query Letter and first 5 pp |
$10, $15 |
|
Categories: Contemp (long, short, ST); Inspirational; HR; Para; ER. Each entry will be read by at least 1 published author in 1st rd. Final Judges are published authors |
|
| Colorado
Romance Writers of America |
Heart
of the Rockies |
Romance |
Unpublished / uncontracted as of deadline. Entries limited to first 215 received. |
e-deadline June 30, 2011 (extended from June 15); finalists notified by Sept 1; winners announced Oct 8. |
1st two chapters plus 1-5 pp synopsis (35 pp max) |
$25, $30 |
Email. Can pay via PayPal or check. |
Each entry has 2 judges, one is published author.
Final judges: Short Contemp (Laura Barth, Harlequin); Long Contemp (Charles Griesmann, Harlequin); ST (Stephany Evans, Fine Print Literary Agency); Para / TT / F / F (Laura Bradford, The Bradford Literary Agency; HR (Sara Megibow, Nelson Literary Agency); RS (Laura Baumbach, Passion in Print); Inspirational (Julie Gwinn, B&H Publishing Group); YA (Megan Records, Kensington Publishing); MS w/RE (Kristin Sevick, TOR) |
All entrants receive one written critique and two comprehensive evaluations of their work based on 20 different potential problem areas. Each category has individualized score sheet. 1st Place winners receive $25; all finalists receive certificate. Winners announced in the RWR. |
| Northwest
Houston Romance Writers of America |
Lone
Star |
Romance |
unpublished or not published in last 5 yrs in category entered |
e-deadline midnight June 8, 2011; finalists announced Aug 19; winners announced at awards luncheon in Oct. |
first 25 pp |
$20, $25 via PayPal |
Email |
3 first round judges, at least 2 of them published. Lowest score dropped. Top 3 high
scores in each category final. Inspirational (Rachel Burkot, Harlequin; Kimberly Shumate, Living Word Literary Agency; Nicola Martinez, White Rose Publishing); YA (Kat O'Shea, Leap Books; Susan Hawk, The Bent Agency; Meghan Conrad, Ellora's Cave); RS (Katherine Pelz, The Penguin Group; Tina Tsallas, Great Titles, Inc.; Kelli Collins, Ellora’s Cave); Contemp Series (Wanda Ottewell, Harlequin; Pam Strickler, Pam Strickler Author Management; Lori Graham, Wild Rose Press); ST (Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks; Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency; Leanne Morgena, Wild Rose Press; HR (Junessa Viloria, Random House; Sara Megibow, Nelson Literary Agency; Susan Yates, Wild Rose Press); FF&P (Ann Leslie Tuttle, Harlequin; Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency; Raelene Garlinsky, Ellora’s Cave) |
First place winners in each category will receive the Lone Star Brooch. Achievement certificates will be awarded to all finalists. |
| From the Heart Romance Writers of America |
The Lories Best Published |
Romance Book, Novella |
Authors published in romantic fiction, print or electronic. Does not have to be RWA recognized. Book, novella with first release date in 2010. |
Postmarked by May 28, 2011 (extended from April 23 and May 9). Placements announced ~July 5. Winner notified ~Aug 15. |
Book in pdf, html or 4 copies in print format |
$20, $25, $30 (subsequent books: $15, $20, $25) |
electronic or mail. Pay with check, money order or PayPal. |
First round judged by a panel or readers using a simple scoring system. Top 3 entries for each category will place as they score. 1st place entry in each category goes to final judge. Final Judge: Bookseller. Categories: Contemp Category, MS / RE, ST, HR, incl. Regencies, RS, Para, Steamy / Erotica, Inspirational, Novella |
Grand prize: plaque, e-certificate, and registration fee paid for RWA, RT or the writing conference of your choice, up to $400 value; or cash prize of $200. Autographed paperbacks and ebooks, and e-certificates to 2nd place winners; e-certificates to 3rd place winners. |
| Writers'
League of Texas |
Writers' League of Texas Book Award |
Fiction, Nonfiction, poetry & literary prose, children's books |
American authors of books published in 2010 |
6 pm March 15, 2011 (extended from Jan 31); winners announced in Oct. |
3 copies of the published book; may be submitted by authors, publishers, or agents |
$25, $35 |
Mail. Pay by cash, check, credit card or money order. |
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry & Literary Prose, Children's books (short works), Children's books (long works) |
Winners in each category receive a $1000 cash prize, a commemorative award and an appearance at the 2011 Texas Book Festival. |
| Magnolia
State Romance Writers of America |
Dixie
First Chapter |
Romance |
Unpublished authors |
E-deadline March 1, 2011 |
1st 25 pp |
$25 by check or PayPal |
electronic |
Trained published and unpublished authors. Final judges: ST (Alicia Condon, Kensington Books); Contemp Series (Wanda Ottewell, Harlequin Superromance); RS (Allison Lyons, Harlequin Intrigue); Para (Kelli Collins, Ellora's Cave); Inspirational (Tina James, Steeple Hill); HR (Kevan Lyons, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency); YA (Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks Young Adult Line) |
|
| Women Writing the West |
WILLA Award |
Romance Book about girl or woman set in the American West |
Novels with original copyright of 2010 (in any form--hardcover, softcover, e-books, CD, Internet downloads, POD, etc.) |
Postmark by Feb 1, 2011, winners announced at conference |
3 books, if paper books. If e-books or electronic, such as CD, etc., one copy of the actual product plus 3 bound, hard copies. |
$50 |
Mail |
Judges: Panel of 21 professional librarians. Categories: Contemp Fiction; Creative Nonfiction; Scholarly Nonfiction; Historical Fiction; Poetry; Original Soft Cover Fiction; Children's / YA Fiction & Nonfiction |
|
| Orange
County Romance Writers of America |
Book
Buyer's Best Award |
Romance Book |
Published RWA members with novel with 2010 copyright
date, first printing date, and / or first North American release date. Ebooks welcome. |
Received by Jan 8, 2011, finalists announced Apr 9; winners announced June 11. |
5 auto-graphed Books. e- book must be submitted in print format with perfect or case binding (no galleys or ARCs accepted) |
$30, $40 |
Pay by mail or Paypal. |
Preliminary round judged by readers, booksellers and librarians.
Highest score in each category advances to final round. Final judge: Sue Grimshaw, romance book buyer for Borders Group, Inc.. Categories:
Category Romance, Category Spicy, Category Suspense, ST, MS w/ RE, HR& Regency, Para / TT / Fantasy, YA, Inspirational |
Winners announced at OCRWA general meeting. Sue Grimshaw will present the "Top Pick." |