Contest Timeline:
August 15, 2009 — Deadline for E-submissions
September 30, 2009 — First-Round Finalists Notification
October 31, 2009 — Final Round Winners Announced
The SFA-RWA chapter is pleased to announce the 2009 Heart To Heart Contest for unpublished writers.
Entries will be accepted in four categories in digital format only.
The top three finalists in each category will have their entries read by three final judges: a print editor, an e-pub editor, and an agent.
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:
Paranormal
Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency
Print Editor: Esi Sogah, Avon Books
ePub Editor: Raelene Gorlinsky, Cerridwen Press/li>
Historical
Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary Agency
Print Editor: Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks
ePub Editor: Patricia Tanner, Wild Rose Press
Erotica
Agent: Roberta Brown, Brown Literary Agency
Print Editor: Susan Swinwood, Harlequin Spice
ePub Editor: Theresa Stevens, Red Sage
Category Descriptions
PARANORMAL – Novels that mix the elements of paranormal, time travel, futuristic or fantasy
CONTEMPORARY — Contemporary romance novels, including contemporary romantic suspense and chick-lit
HISTORICAL — Novels featuring romance in time periods other than the present. Most editors consider historical books as set in time prior to WWI
EROTICA — Novels with a focus on the super-sensual
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Open to all writers unpublished by an RWA-approved publisher as of the entry deadline.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,
if previously acquainted up to a maximum of 15 pages.
Each entry may only be entered in one category.
However, you may enter as may 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.
Categories:
Awards will be given in the following categories: Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical, and Erotica. Please indicate on the contest entry form only which category your manuscript is entered 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.
Judging:
First round judges include experienced, trained PRO and PAN members. Final- round judges are acquiring editors.
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 no later than
September 30, 2009. Final round winners will be announced on or before October 31, 2009.
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:
Entrants must submit their contest entry form and payment before their entry is officially entered into the contest
The Contestant Waiver box must be checked for your entry to be accepted electronically and constitutes a signature. THIS IS MANDATORY!
If using the Paypal payment option, following the successful completion of your contest entry form, you may upload your entry on-line
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 sfheart2heart@gmail.com. Mark the subject line: HEART TO HEART CONTEST
The contest entry form will serve as your cover sheet. Do include the sub-genre, publisher, and/or line, if appropriate because this information will help our judges in evaluating your entry
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.
All judged entries and score sheets will be returned electronically to the e-mail used to submit your entry
If there are any questions regarding electronic entries, please contact the Contest Coordinator, Jane George at sfheart2heart@gmail.com.
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
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
c/o Jane George, c/o Jane George, 10 Westminster Place, Lafayette, CA 94549
Submissions will not be considered entered into the contest until a contest entry form and payment has been received by the Contest Coordinator
Questions:
Call or e-mail the Contest Coordinator, Jane George
(925) 274-9973 - sfheart2heart@gmail.com
