The HOOK, LIne & Sinker Contest

1. Hudson Valley RWA is proud to announce it 25th Annual Hook, Line & Sinker contest, now accepting electronic, as well as paper submissions!

25th Annual Hook, Line & Sinker Contest

True or false? If the first three pages of your manuscript aren't attention grabbing the agent or editor will probably stop reading and reject the work. Sad, but TRUE!

Hone your skills in hooking an editor or agent by entering our Hook, Line & Sinker Contest. Three Hudson Valley RWA members, at least one published, will critique the first three pages of your manuscript. The five entries with the highest scores will be ranked by Harlequin editor BRENDA CHIN.

HOOK, LINE & SINKER CONTEST 2010

Now accepting both electronic and hard copy entries!

General Rules

Entry fee: $10.00

Include a cover page with your name, address, phone number, e-mail and title/genre of your unpublished, book-length novel.

Manuscript should be professionally presented, double-spaced, with one-inch margins all around.

Entries must be mailed to coordinator by regular mail or emailed to the contest coordinator no later than midnight November 1, 2010. ENTRIES REQUIRING A SIGNATURE TO CONFIRM DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Send entries to contest coordinator: Gina Rosavin, 397 Ridgewood Blvd. North, Washington Twp., NJ 07676 or email your electronic submission to: HVRWAContest@gmail.com

For the purposes of this contest, the author's name should not appear on the manuscript.

Winners will be announced in January, 2011.

Send electronic copies to: HVRWAContest@gmail.com
Send hard copies to: Gina Rosavin
397 Ridgewood Blvd. North
Washington Twp., NJ 07676
FMI: http://hudsonvalleyrwa.com/contest

The HOOK ME Contest

This is a contest run by my very own chapter of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). I may even end up as one of the judges, so don't be shy! This is our first year but we're planning on making it an annual event. Here's the info:

The HOOK ME Contest, sponsored by the Ohio chapter of ACFW, is now open for submissions.

This contest is geared to help you polish your book for the Genesis and other writing contests!

Please check our web site for the contest page for the rules and a sample of the judging sheet. (Please note: we are still refining the page)

www.acfwohio.com/hookmerules.htm

Essentially, the HOOK ME Contest focuses on the opening of your book. You have to grab the attention of editors/agents/bookstore browsers in the first five minutes (if they even give you that much time!) and persuade them to keep reading.

ACFW Ohio offers judges who are published authors, editors, and/or experienced in judging other contests.

Every entrant will receive PDF downloads of articles that chapter members have written with writing, editing and research tips.
PLUS comments/suggestions from the judges, to assist you in polishing your opening in preparation for the Genesis next year, and other contests such as the Golden Heart.

There are two prizes available, along with winners' names being announced here on the main loop and posted on our web site.

DEADLINE: October 31, with winners announced at the beginning of December.

Please check out our site, OR you can email us for a .doc download of the rules.

Also, look for printouts at the conference in Indy!

Michelle Levigne
ACFW Ohio president
www.acfwohio.com
acfwohio@aol.com

Contests All Around

Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest (EO - U)
New York City Chapter RWA
Deadline, September 13, 2010
Enter: A scene from anywhere in your novel*,
between the hero and heroine illustrating humor and
love/romance (fifteen pages max.), story/background
summary (two pages max., not judged)
http://www.rwanyc.com/Love-LaughterContest.html
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OCTOBER CONTEST DEADLINES
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Beacon Contest - Unpublished (U - P/3 - EO)
First Coast Romance Writers
Received by October 1, 2010
First thirty pages plus optional synopsis.
http://www.firstcoastromancewriters.com/contest_un.htm
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First Kiss Contest
New England Chapter
Emailed by October 1, 2010
Up to ten page scene where hero and heroine first kiss.
http://necrwa.org/kisscontest.html
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MERWA Synopsis Contest (EO - U - P)
Maine RWA
E-Sub Receipt Deadline: October 1, 2010
Synopsis of no more than ten pages.
http://www.mainerwa.com/
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Scare the Dickens Out of Us (U - P)
Clark Library Friends
Postmarked October 1, 2010
Enter five thousand word short story.
http://clarklibraryfriends.com/
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The Suzannah
NOLA Stars
Received by midnight CST, October 1, 2010
Beginning and synopsis not to exceed 7,200 computer word count.
http://www.nolastars.com/node/84
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Get Your Stiletto in the Door - Unpublished
ChickLit Writers of the World Chapter 204
Received by 11:59 EDT October 2, 2010
First 5000 words/500 word unjudged synopsis
http://chicklitwriters.com/home/get-your-stiletto-in-the-door/
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The Emily (U - PC/3 - EO)
West Houston RWA
Deadline: October 7, 2010
First 7,000 words or less (end on a hook).
http://whrwa.com/emily/
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Dawn Thompson Memorial Haunted Hearts Contest (U - P/5 - EA)
Gothic Romance Writers
Postmarked by October 8, 2010 - Emailed by same date.
First chapter - twenty-five page max. plus one page synopsis.
http://www.gothrom.net/contest.html
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Linda Howard Award of Excellence
Southern Magic
Emailed by October 11, 2010
First twenty-five pages or less.
http://www.southernmagic.org/lindahowardcontest.html
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Get Your Stiletto in the Door - Published
ChickLit Writers of the World Chapter 204
Due Date: Received by October 15, 2010
Published 4 copies of print book copyright of 2009
http://chicklitwriters.com/home/get-your-stiletto-in-the-door/
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Sweet, Spicy and Spooky Contest (EO - U - P/3)
Smoky Mountain RWA
Received by October 31, 2010
First ten pages of short story or novella.
http://www.smrw.org/contest.htm
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NOVEMBER CONTEST DEADLINES
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Hook, Line and Sinker
Hudson Valley RWA
Mailed or emailed by November 1, 2010
First three pages.
http://www.hudsonvalleyrwa.com/contest
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DECEMBER CONTEST DEADLINES
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Picture Perfect Cover Contest
Dunes & Dreams RWA
Entry Forms Received by December 1, 2010
Cover Front and Blurb on the back.
http://dunesanddreams.org/picture-perfect/
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Check out Contests and Contest Winners on: http://contestdivas.blogspot.com/
Check out the Award Winning Romance Books on: http://awardwinningromances.blogspot.com/
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Contest Alert-All the news on upcoming contests, plus Finalist & Winner listings, questions, etc. Sign up now!
ContestAlert-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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Announcement only list:
ContestDeadlines-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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For Published Authors
ContestAlertPublished-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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If you're a Contest Judge, join
ContestsJudges-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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Donna Caubarreaux is a member of Coeur de Louisiane, Scriptscene Chapter, NOLA Stars, Heart of Louisiana, and Kiss of Death. She received a RWA Service Award in 1997

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Writer's Contest Closing September 10!

This info is regarding THE GATEWAY TO THE BEST Writer's Contest, and it is closing in three days so get that entry in if you're interested!

FINAL JUDGES:

SINGLE
TITLE: Katherine Pelz, Berkley

ROMANTIC
SUSPENSE: Margo Lipshultz, HQN

CONTEMPORARY
SERIES: Laura Barth, Harlequin

PARANORMAL:
LaToya Smith, Grand Central

HISTORICAL:
Esi Sogah, Avon

YA:
Kathy Dawson, Dial Books/Penguin

If you would like a direct quote from the editor as to exactly what she is looking for in a manuscript, please feel free tocontact the Gateway to the Best Coordinator and she will email you the quote. jlitt67@yahoo.com

Hurry! The contest closes midnight SEPTEMBER 10 and will not be extended for any reason.

Gateway to the Best is sponsored by Missouri Romance
Writers.
Check out all the rules, judges and details at: www.morwa.org

The House in Grosvenor Square Ties for Second Place!

This past month (July) I went down to Orlando to attend the Award Ceremony of the Faith, Hope and Love Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. They were announcing the winners of the IRCC (Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest) of which my second book, THE HOUSE IN GROSVENOR SQUARE, was a finalist.

I was pleased and proud to walk away having tied for second place in the Long Historical Category. That's me in the middle below, with two of my sisters who were so excited that they joined me in Florida for the event. Sweet! We had a wonderful time together.

Finaling in a contest is a nice shot in the arm for a writer. Finaling in a national organization's contest is even more encouraging. Got any contest news? Send it here and I'll post it. There are numerous contests going on at any point in time, and for both published and unpublished writers.

Now that we're heading into fall, I look forward to entering my 2010 title into a few good contests (THE COUNTRY HOUSE COURTSHIP).

What about you? : )