Does your first scene compel editors to ask for more?
Your opener is the hook that attracts an editor or makes a potential reader decide to purchase your book.
Polish the first seven pages of your manuscript and send them to the Emerald City Opener Contest. You will receive feedback in the form of detailed score sheets. Your judges (published writers or Golden Heart finalists and winners) are encouraged to include comments on your entry.
Contest Timeline
June 1 - Contest is closed.
September 1 - Finalists notified by telephone
October 10 - Winners announced at the Emerald City Writers' Conference
October 16 - Score sheets and entries returned
Judging
Preliminary Round - Three judges (at least one published author plus Golden Heart finalists and winners); judges will be encouraged to electronically insert comments into the manuscript as time permits and at the discretion of each individual judge. Judging is done on a point basis using score sheets.
Final Round - Judges consist of editors and/or agents who will be attending the Emerald City Writers' Conference.
Single Title Contemporary ~ Megan McKeever, Pocket Books
Series Contemporary ~ Wanda Ottewell, Harlequin
Historical ~ Alexandra Machinist, Linda Chester Literary Agency
Paranormal ~ Peter Senftleben, Kensington Publishing Corp.
Romantic Suspense ~ Steven Axelrod, The Axelrod Agency
Novel With Strong Romantic Elements ~ Vivian Chum, Prospect Agency
Awards
First, second, and third place winners in each category will receive an award certificate and an individual editor or agent appointment at the Emerald City Writers' Conference (Oct. 9-11, 2009). In addition, the first place winner in each category will receive a $25 gift card.
Categories
Historical Romance
Single Title Contemporary Romance
Series Romance
Romantic Suspense
Paranormal Romance*
Novel with Strong Romantic Elements**
* Young Adult paranormal or Erotic paranormal may be submitted to the Paranormal Romance category.
** Young Adult non-paranormal or Erotic non-paranormal may be submitted to the Novel with Strong Romantic Elements category.
Entry Requirements:
- Follow editor-submission format: double-spaced with one-inch margins, 25-27 lines/page, 12-point font (we suggest Courier, New Courier or Times New Roman). No script fonts.
- Include the title of the entry and sequential page number in the manuscript header. DO NOT put your name on manuscript pages.
- Limit two (2) entries per person. Each entry must be e-submitted separately; a signed entry form and check or money order (or, if paying via PayPal, a copy of your receipt) must be snail-mailed for each entry.
- Failure to comply with these requirements will result in disqualification.
Deadline:
Entries must be received (first seven pages of manuscript e-received) by midnight (PDT), June 1, 2009.
You will receive an automatic email confirmation for each entry after completing the online submission form.
You will receive an entry acceptance email confirmation for each entry when the Emerald City Opener Contest Signature Form and payment have been received.
Special Note
If an entry is disqualified for any reason (such as it is clearly not romance fiction or a novel with strong romantic elements, does not fit the contest categories, is improperly formatted, etc.), the entry fee will not be returned to the contestant.
Questions? Email contest@gsrwa.org
