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2010 Heart-to-Heart Contest

Contest Timeline:
July 15, 2010 — Deadline for E-submissions
August 31, 2010 — First-Round Finalists Notification
September 30, 2010 — Final Round Winners Announced

The SFA-RWA chapter is pleased to announce the 2010 Heart To Heart Contest for unpublished writers. Entries will be accepted electronically only. The top three finalists in each category will have their entries read by a literary agent, a traditonal publishing house editor and an e-publishing editor. We will announce the winners, and certificates will be awarded to the top winner in each category.

Enter—
Send us that magical scene in which your hero and heroine meet for the first time

Win—
Published authors and experienced critiquers will provide detailed score sheets and feedback in twenty areas

Sell—
Get your story in the hands of these acquiring editors and agents:

• Historical
  Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary Agency
  Print Editor: Amanda Bergeron, Avon
  ePub Editor: Jessica Schulte, Carina Press
• Paranormal
  Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Literary Agency
  Print Editor: Leis Pederson, Berkeley
  ePub Editor: Angela James, Carina Press
• Young Adult
  Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency
  Print Editor: Adam Wilson, Harlequin
  ePub Editor: Kimberly Myers, Omnific Publishing
• Erotica
  Agent: Roberta Brown, Brown Literary Agency
  Print Editor: TBD
  ePub Editor: Tera Kleinfelter, Samhain
• Contemporary
  Agent: Stephanie MacLean, Trident Media Group
  Print Editor: TBD
  ePub Editor: TBD

Category Descriptions

PARANORMAL – Novels that mix the elements of paranormal, time travel, futuristic or fantasy

CONTEMPORARY — Novels in which sensuality constitutes a strong element in the romance

HISTORICAL — Novels featuring romance in time periods other than the present. Most editors consider historical books as set in time prior to WWI

EROTIC — Novels which are erotic in content and language (i.e. Ellora's Cave)

YOUNG ADULT — Novels with a strong romantic theme geared toward the young adult reader. These novels may contain paranormal, time travel, futuristic or fantasy elements.

Eligibility

Open to all writers unpublished by an RWA-approved publisher as of the entry deadline. Prospective entrants MAY be published with a non RWA-recognized publisher. However, they may not enter books/manuscripts that have been professionally edited or have ISBN numbers.

Entry Guidelines

Enter the scene(s) in which the hero and heroine meet for the first time or for the first time in the book, if previously acquainted, up to a maximum of 15 pages. Each entry may only be entered in one category. However, you may enter as many different entries as you wish. Each new entry must have a contest entry form and payment.

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES

The SFA-RWA chapter reserves the right to limit entries to the first one hundred manuscripts received. Failure to comply with any of the entry requirements herein could result in disqualification.

1. Categories:
   Awards will be given in the following categories: Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical, Erotic and Young Adult. Please indicate on the contest entry form only the category your manuscript is entered in and the market targeted.
   
   If a minimum of 10 entries is not received for a category, the chapter reserves the right to place the entry in an appropriate category.



2. Judging:
   First round judges include experienced, trained PRO and PAN members. Final- round judges are acquiring editors and agents. Each entry will be judged by four first—round judges, one of whom is a published author. The lowest score received is dropped and the three highest scores are averaged to constitute a final score. A score sheet focusing on 20 areas for a total of 100 possible points will be used by all judges. Judges may insert comments on the score sheets. The top three entries from each category will be forwarded to the final round. Final-round judges are acquiring editors and agents. First—round finalists in each category will be notified by e—mail or phone on or before August 31, 2010. Final round winners will be announced on or before September 30, 2010.
   


3. Submission:
   All submissions must be submitted electronically, up to a maximum of 15 pages. PAPER SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
   
   The following process will apply to all entries:
   
   
   1. Entrants must submit their contest entry form and payment before their entry is officially entered into the contest
   2. The Contestant Waiver box must be checked for your entry to be accepted electronically and constitutes a signature. THIS IS MANDATORY!
   3. If using the Paypal payment option, following the successful completion of your contest entry form, you may upload your entry on-line
   4. If you select the mail-in payment option, once your payment has been received by the Contest Coordinator, a confirmation e-mail will be sent. Entries can then be e-mailed as an attachment using RTF format (Save As/Format/RTF or rich text format in Word) only to 2010heart2heart@gmail.com. Mark the subject line: HEART TO HEART CONTEST
   5. The contest entry form will serve as your cover sheet. Your name should not appear anywhere on the submission entry. The entry is not required to be the opening scene of the book, but pages should be numbered as they appear in the manuscript to a maximum of 15 pages, in which the hero and heroine meet for the first time or for the first time in the book if they are previously acquainted. You may submit more than one scene if you wish, as long as the total is not over 15 pages. The scenes (and all pages) must be consecutive; (for example: submitting pages 9-18 of your book, along with an optional set-up page.) If your entry isn’t the first scene in the book, and if you feel that more information is needed so the judges will understand the situation, you may submit a one-page, double-spaced set-up. This is optional, and will not be scored. The optional set-up page will not count toward the 15-page maximum.
   
   If there are any questions regarding electronic entries, please contact the Contest Coordinator, Bettina Clairmont at 2010heart2heart@gmail.com.



4. Manuscript Preparation:
   
   • Double-spaced, Courier New or Times New Roman 12 pt., 1” margins all around, and 25 lines per page is required.
   • DO NOT include your name anywhere on the entry itself. Please include the title and actual page number from the manuscript in the header (left corner) on each page. Your name may appear only on the contest entry form. If it appears on any of the manuscript pages, your entry will automatically be disqualified.


5. Fees:
   
   • All fees are NON—REFUNDABLE ($15.00)
   • Fees may be submitted using either the Paypal option or mailed
   
   Paypal Payment
   
   NOTE for Paypal payment option: Please include your name, book title and category in the Optional Instructions section on the payment form.
   
   Mail-in Payment Option
   
   • Mail-in fees should be submitted in the form of a personal check or money order made payable to SFA-RWA and mailed to:
     Heart To Heart Contest
     318 Spear Street, #4K, San Francisco, CA 94105
   • Submissions will not be considered entered into the contest until a contest entry form and payment have been received by the Contest Coordinator
6. Questions:
   Call or e-mail the Contest Coordinator, Bettina Clairmont
   (415) 939-4601 - 2010heart2heart@gmail.com

Sorry, the deadline for entering this contest has passed.
Please join us next year!

Click here for a scoresheet (pdf)

Click here for last year's finalists and winners

Updated 05/25/2010 by Webmaster