Links to Contest listing websites:
Stephie Smith's Contest Chart for Writers
Contests via Yahoo Groups:
2010 On The Far Side Contest for Unpublished Authors
Fee: $20 FF&P members / $25 non-FF&P members
Deadline: August 29, 2010
Eligibility: Must not be published in full length fiction (40,000+) for the
genre entering/or not published in genre entering for past 5 years
Enter: 2 page maximum synopsis (OPTIONAL) and first 20 pages of manuscript
To enter, go to the website: FF&P
Florida Romance Writers Golden Palm
Fee: $20 FRW member/ $25 non-FRW member
Deadline: August 15, 2010
Eligibility: Unpublished authors
Enter: 25 pages maximum
Information: FRW website
Sponsor: Missouri RWA
Fee: Not Noted
Deadline: September 10, 2010
Eligibility: Open to unpublished, uncontracted writers in novel length fiction within the last 3 year.
Categories: Contemporary series, Historical, Paranormal, Single Title/Mainstream, Suspense, Young Adult
Information: Missouri RWA Gateway to the Best
Sponsor: North Louisiana RWA
Fee: $30 members/ $35 non-members
Deadline: October 1, 2010
Eligibility: Published and Unpublished authors in romance genre compete together. All categories of romance welcome. Open to novel and novella length.
Information: NOLA Suzannah
Contests listed on the RWA website:
Sponsor: The Golden Network Fee: $30 Deadline: August 15, 2010 Each entry in the Golden Pen will be judged by at least one published author and one Golden Heart finalist. Entries will be 55 pages. This is a chance to have a large portion of your manuscript evaluated. The format is similar to the Golden Heart, so this is a great contest to "test drive" your manuscript before entering the Golden Heart. Entries will be returned before the Golden Heart deadline.
Categories and final round judges include:
Series Contemporary – Susan Litman, Harlequin
Single Title – Katherine Pelz, Berkley
Historical – Leis Pederson, Berkley
Paranormal – Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks
Romantic Suspense – Holly Blanck, St. Martins
Inspirational – Melissa Enlich, Steeple Hill
Young Adult – Regina Griffin, Egmont USA
Novel with Strong Romantic Elements – Valerie Gray, Mira
Rainbow Awards of Excellence (RAEs)
2010 Golden Palm ContestSponsor: Rainbow Romance Writers
Fee: $15.00
Deadline: August 15, 2010
Eligibility: Any published work of GLBT romance, either electronic or print with an ISBN number, published in 2009. Entry: All entries will be electronic. Contest opens June 1. Categories: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Historical, Sci-fi/Fantasy, YA, Short/Novella (10,000-20,000 words). Judges: A panel of top writers in the GLBT genre. This is to be a completely peer-judged award similar to the Grammys and the Oscars. FMI, http://www.rainbowromancewriters.com/. Entrants can send questions to Sara at wavyscribe@aol.com .
Fee: $20 for FRW Members, $25 for all others
Deadline: Midnight, August 15, 2010
Entry: Maximum first 25 pages. Electronic Submission only.
Final judges: Editors/Agents. FMI, www.frwriters.org.
The Golden Pen
Fee: $30.00
Deadline: August 15, 2010
Eligibility: The Golden Pen Contest is open to writers who have not accepted a publishing offer for a work of original fictional narrative prose of 20,000 words or more by August 15, 2010. Entrant must retain all rights to the entry and not have granted any of them to a publisher or any other party prior to or by August 15, 2010. Previously entered manuscripts may be entered again, but no previous winning manuscript can be entered, even if revised. Entrants must be 18 years of age by August 15, 2010.
Entry: Entry shall include a synopsis plus manuscript pages in one document, together totaling not more than 55 pages. The synopsis may not be longer than 10 pages.
Categories and Final Judges: Series Contemporary, Susan Litman, Harlequin; Single Title, Katherine Pelz, Berkley; Historical, Leis Pederson, Berkley; Paranormal, Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks; Romantic Suspense, Holly Blanck, St. Martin’s; Inspirational, Melissa Endlich, Steeple Hill; Young Adult, Regina Griffin, Egmont USA; Novel with Strong Romantic Elements, Valerie Gray, Mira.
Judges: Each entry will be judged by three judges, including at least one Golden Heart Finalist and one Published Author.
Top Prize: $30, certificate, and Golden Pen.
FMI, www.TheGoldenNetwork.com.
Where The Magic Begins 2010
Fee: $25–27.00 E-receipt
Deadline: August 15, 2010
Eligibility: published/unpublished authors; entry cannot be contracted/published in any format. Entry: First 25 pages and a 1-page unjudged synopsis, submitted electronically.
Categories: Single Title, Light Paranormal, Dark Paranormal, Historical, Erotic Romance, Sweet Contemporary, Sensual Contemporary, Romantic Suspense.
Judges: editors and agents TBA.
Top Prize: WTMB certificate and pin.
FMI, http://rwimagiccontests.wordpress.com or email spwagner@gmail.com.
On The Far Side
Fee: $20–25.00 Deadline: August 29, 2010 Eligibility: Unpublished authors. Entry: First 20 pages. 2 page synopsis (maximum) optional.
Categories: Romantic Elements, Hard Science Fiction/SF/Futuristic, Dark/Light/General Paranormal, Time Travel/Steampunk/Historical with Paranormal Elements, Dark/Urban/General Fantasy, Young Adult.
Judges: Avid Readers.
Final Judges: TBA.
Top Prize: Winners of each category receive a check for $20, a pin, an OTFS winner website banner, and a certificate.
FMI, Sherry Peters, Contest Coordinator: otfs2010@shaw.ca, http://www.romance-ffp.com
Laurel Wreath Contest
Fee: $20.00
Deadline: August 31, 2010
Eligibility - Books copyright 2009 (ebooks appearing for the first time in print in 2009 are also eligible).
Entry: 3 copies of book.
Categories: Short contemporary (50,000 to 70,000 words); Long contemporary (over 70,000 words); Historical/Regency; Romantic Suspense; Romantic Elements; Paranormal/Fantasy/Time Travel.
Judges: Booksellers and Librarians.
Top Prize: Laurel Wreath engraved pendant.
FMI, http://www.vcrw.net/index.php/contests or email contest chair Laura Kirkland laura_lita1@yahoo.com
Rainbow Awards of Excellence (RAEs)
Fee: $15.00
Deadline: August 31, 2010
Eligibility: Any published work of GLBT romance, either electronic or print with an ISBN number, published in 2009.
Entry: All entries will be electronic.
Categories: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Historical, Sci-fi/Fantasy, YA, Short/Novella (10,000-20,000 words).
Judges: A panel of top writers in the GLBT genre. This is to be a completely peer-judged award similar to the Grammys and the Oscars.
FMI, http://www.rainbowromancewriters.com Entrants can send questions to Sara at wavyscribe@aol.com
Show Me the Spark
Fee: $25 RWA members/$30 Non-members
Deadline: August 31, 2010
Eligibility: open to published and unpublished.
Entry: Electronic submissions only/first 25 pages of your manuscript.
Categories: Contemporary, Historical, Suspense, Paranormal/Sci-Fi, Inspirational, Young Adult, Erotica.
Judges: Published authors and trained judges.
Final Judges: Agent/Editor TBA.
Top Prize: Certificate and a HeRA 'Ah Romance' short-sleeved Chambray Shirt (please include size).
FMI, Contest@HearltandRomanceAuthors.com
12th Annual Melody of Love
Sponsor: Music City Romance Writers
Fee: $27–32.00
Receipt deadline: September 1, 2010
Eligibility: Unpublished in category entered. Entry: First chapter up to 25 pgs of your romance genre manuscript, electronic format. Judges: Trained, experienced, local chapter members. Categories and Final Judges: Historical (Elaine Spencer, Knight Agency); Paranormal (Holly Root, Waxman Literary Agency); Contemporary (Beth Miller, Writers House Agency). Top Prize: $50, certificate, 1 year membership. FMI, visit our Web site www.mcrw.com; contact Jody Wallace, contest@mcrw.com.
20th Annual Hold Me! Thrill Me! Contest
Sponsor: Southwest Florida Romance Writers
Fee: $25.00
Deadline: September 1, 2010
Entry: First 20 pages. New this year—all electronic! Five categories, worthwhile agent final judges. FMI, www.swfrw.org or email contest@swfrw.org.
Hot Prospects Contest
Sponsor: Valley of the Sun RW
Fee: $25–30.00
Deadline: September 1, 2010 (postmark or electronic timestamp)
Eligibility: Any uncontracted/unpublished manuscript by an RWA member in good standing. Entry: First 25 pages of the manuscript plus synopsis, not to exceed 30 pages total. Categories: Historical, Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Long Contemporary/Single Title, and Series Contemporary. Judges: 2 trained judges, at least one of whom will be published.
Final Judges: One editor and one agent in each category, except short contemporary which will have two editors. Top Prize: The winner 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. FMI, www.valleyofthesunrw.com or nlandrews@prodigy.net.
Finally a Bride Contest
Sponsor: Oklahoma Romance Writers of America (OKRWA)
Fee: $25–30.00
Deadline: September 3, 2010
Eligibility: All unpublished authors of novel length romantic fiction, with a manuscript that has finaled but not won an RWA sponsored contest. Entry: First 30 pages - No Synopsis in first round. First round Judges: trained, published, and unpublished. Categories and Final Round Judges: Historical, Deb Werksman with Sourcebooks AND Chris Keeslar with Dorchester; Inspirational, Melissa Endlich with Steeple Hill and TBA; Mainstream with Romantic Elements, Keyren Gerlach with HQN and TBA; Paranormal/Time-Travel/Futuristic, Margo Lipschultz with HQN and TBA; Romantic Suspense, Alex Logan with Grand Central Publishing AND Charles Griemsman with Silhouette; Series Contemporary, Wanda Ottewell with Harlequin AND Patience Smith with Silhouette; Young Adult, Anne Bensson with St. Martin's AND Leah Wilson with BenBella Books. Top Prize: An engraved cake server and knife. FMI, www.OKRWA.com or contact FAB@OKRWA.com.
Launching a Star
Sponsor: SpacecoasT Authors of Romance (Florida STAR)
Fee: $25–30.00
Deadline: Entries emailed by September 8, 2010
Eligibility: Open to any author unpublished in book-length fiction, or any author who is not a member of PAN or considered PAN-eligible under current RWA rules. Entry: Electronic entries! First 25 pages of manuscript, no synopsis. Judges: One published and one unpublished. Final Judges: One editor and one agent for each category. FMI, www.authorsofromance.com.
Fiction From the Heartland Contest
Sponsor: Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA)
Fee: $30.00
Deadline: September 10, 2010
Eligibility: unpublished in book-length fiction in the past five years of deadline. Entry: Prologue/First Chapter/Synopsis (max. 35 pages). Judges: at least one published author and experienced critiquers. Categories and Final Judges: Final round judges one editor and one agent. Contemporary Single Title: Danielle Poiesz, Pocket Books; Category Romance: Susan Litman, Harlequin/Silhouette Books; Historical: Tess Woodward, Avon Books; Paranormal: Meredith Giordan, Berkley Publishing Group; Inspirational: Melissa Endlich, Steeple Hill Books; Romantic Suspense: TBA; Young Adult: TBA; Erotic Romance: TBA; Agent judges: Sara Megibow, Nelson Literary Agency; Helen Breitwieser, Cornerstone Literary Agency; Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency. Top Prize: $50.00 and Plaque. FMI, www.mararwa.com.
Gateway to the Best 2010
Sponsor: Missouri Chapter of RWA
Fee: $ 20–30 first entry, all additional entries half-price
Deadline: September 10, 2010
Entry: (electronic entries only) First chapter UP TO 7,000 words; no synopsis. Judges: Experienced, published. Final Judges: Editors. Top Prize: $100. FMI, www.morwa.org.
Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest
Sponsor: RWA/NYC
Fee: $25.00
Deadline: September 13, 2010
Entry: a scene from anywhere in your novel*, between the hero and heroine illustrating humor and love/romance (fifteen pages max; electronic entries only), story/background summary (two pages maximum, not judged). Judges: Published authors. Final judge: editor. Prize: $75.00. FMI, e-mail contest coordinator cwgreenfed@aol.com or visit www.rwanyc.com.