October Contest Update

The party is officially started! Welcome to day 1 of our 31-day birthday bash. Tomorrow is our first Weekend Edition of the month and we have our first BIG prize to give away. So leave a comment for a chance to win. If you need a reminder of the rules, check the legal page here. You can see all our fantastic birthday guests here, on our calendar, and download your own copy by clicking the link on the right side.

And welcome to the October Contest Update! The prize vault is open. We have a surprise package of 2016 holiday books for one commenter.

For writers entering The ACFW First Impression Contest, one complete entry review for two commenters. You must mention you want to be entered in this giveaway in the comments. Prize must be claimed asap to ensure pages are returned before the October 15 contest deadline.

And for another commenter we have chocolate. All you have to do is comment today. We'd love to hear your contest plans for the month or you can share how long you've been following the Seekerville blog. Or just say "hi!" 

Published Manuscripts

The RWA RITA Contest will open for entries at 11 a.m. CT,  Nov. 1, 2016.

Unpublished Manuscripts

Suzannah. Deadline October 1. The Suzannah is different from most other writers’ contests in that  published authors and unpublished writers all compete against one another in a single pool of entries without categories. Entry consists of maximum of 7,200 words, including synopsis (there is no restriction on length of synopsis, so long as the entire entry does NOT exceed 7,200) *not a cheap contest, but cash prize for the winner*

All six finalists will have their entries evaluated by the full panel of agents and editors. Our 2016 panel of final round judges includes:

Linda Scalissi, Three Seas Literary Agency
Sharon Pelletier, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
Jessica Errera, Jane Rotrosen Agency
Victoria Curran, Sr. Editor, Harlequin Heartwarming, and Superromance
Lexi Smail, Assistant Editor, Grand Central Publishing
Candace Havens, Editorial Director, Entangled


The Emily. Deadline October 2. No synopsis!First 5,600 words, end on a hook, so less may be better.Open to published authors (you cannot have published in any form or length a title in your entry category during the 3 years prior to the contest deadline).Three first round judges for all entries. Lowest score dropped.

Long Contemporary –
Editor: Danielle Marshall, Amazon / Lake Union Publishing
Agent: Paige Wheeler, Creative Media Agency, Inc.

Short Contemporary
Editor: Brenda Chin, Entangled Publishing LLC
Agent: Carrie Pestritto , Prospect Agency

Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal
Editor: Angela James, Harlequin Enterprises
Agent: Moe Ferrara, BookEnds Literary Agency

Historical Romance 
Editor: Janet Clementz, Soul Mate Publishing
Agent: Patricia Nelson , Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Romantic Suspense
Editor: Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks
Agent: Elaine Spencer, The Knight Agency

Young Adult 
Editor: Alice Jerman, Harper Collins
Agent: Tricia Skinner, Fuse Literary

Best of the Best is a competition between the first place winners of each category. The winner will receive $100. Best of the Best Judge:2016 RWA Steffie Walker Bookseller of the Year: Anna Brown, Katy Budget Books

Joyce Henderson. Deadline October 9. Unpublished authors and Traditional or self-published authors who have not published in the category they’re entering within the past 5 years. Entry consists of the first 20 pages of an unpublished manuscript featuring romantic elements, PLUS a brief synopsis (up to one page, single-spaced). Synopsis is not judged. 

CATEGORIES:

Contemporary (including Women’s Fiction)
Editor: Sue Grimshaw, Penguin Random House
Agent: Nalini Akolekar, Spencerhill Associates

Historical
Editor: Lee Lawless, Tor/Forge Publishing
Agent: Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Literary Agency

Paranormal/Science Fiction/Fantasy
Editor: Georgia Woods, Hartwood Publishing
Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency

Young Adult
Editor: Mary Altman, Sourcebooks
Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary Agency

Romantic Suspense
Editor: Junessa Viloria, Penguin Random House
Agent: Jessica Waterson, Dijkstra Agency

*NEW* Inspirational
Editor: Susan Brower, Gilead Publishing****OPPORTUNITY!!
Agent: Julie Gwinn, The Seymour Agency

Four Seasons. Deadline October 10. Unpublished authors may enter any category. Published authors may enter any category in which they’ve not been contracted or published for three years in any novel-length work of fiction. Entry consists of the first 25 pages. No synopsis.

Historical
Editor: Kristine E. Swartz,  Berkeley Publishing Group
Agent: Terrie Wolf, AKA Literary Agency

Single Title Contemporary 
Editor: Cat Clyne, Sourcebooks.
Agent: Saba Sulaiman, Talcott Notch Literary Services

Fantasy/Futuristic/Paranormal 
Editor: Deborah Nemeth, Carina Press
Agent: Andrea Somberg, Harvey Klinger Agency

Young Adult 
Editor: Amy Stapp, Tor/Forge
Agent: Marisa A. Corvisiero, Corvisiero Agency

Inspirational 
Editor: Elizabeth Mazer, Harlequin Love Inspired**OPPORTUNITY
Agent: Lane Heymont, Tobias Agency

Romantic Suspense 
Editor: Brittany Lavery, Harlequin
Agent: Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Agency


ACFW First Impressions Contest. Deadline October 15. Entry will contain, in this order, a 200-word, single-spaced blurb which begins two spaces below the header, followed by the first 5 pages of your manuscript. Prologues are acceptable and should be included in the 5-page count. The entry will be 6 pages total, including 200-word blurb. One first-place winner from each category will be chosen. They will receive a complimentary renewal of ACFW membership for the following year, their name included among the promotional material at the ACFW Conference, and a press release to their local newspaper, if contact provided.

Hook, Line & Sinker. Deadline November 1. Open to Published and Unpublished authors. Hone your skills in hooking an editor with our Hook Line and Sinker contest. Three judges, at least two of them published, will critique your first three pages. The top five entries will be ranked by Allison Lyons from Harlequin.  Open to nonRWA writers.


Emma Merritt Contest. Deadline November 30. Open to published and unpublished authors. Each entry must be an unpublished work – it cannot be published or under contract in any form or format, not in digital or print prior to the entry deadline.
Entry must be the first 5,000 to 8,000 words.

Contemporary:  Piya Campana, Senior Editor, Harlequin Super Romance; Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Paranormal/Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Tara Cuskaden, Editorial Director, Entangled Select-Otherworlds; (agent TBA)

Suspense/Mystery: (editor TBA); Marisa Corvisiero of the Corvisiero Literary Agency
Historical: Tara Gavin, Executive Editor, Kensington Publishing Corp.; (agent TBA)

LGBTQ: Angela James, Editor in Chief, Carina Press; (agent TBA)

Women’s Fiction: Susan Litman, Senior Editor, Harlequin Special Editions; Danielle Marshall, Editorial Director, Lake Union Publishing, an imprint of Amazon Publishing

Inspirational: Raela Schoenherr, Acquiring Editor, Bethany House/Baker; Cori Deyoe of 3 Seas Literary Agency


Young Adult (YA): Susan Chang, Senior Editor, Tor/Tor Teen; Louise Fury of the Jenny Bent Literary Agency


2017 Golden Heart Contest opens to entries December 1, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. CT. More details next month on Seekerville's GH Reimbursement Opportunity. The Golden Heart is open to RWA members and nonmembers. Requires a full manuscript. 

Other Writing Opportunities

Heart of Denver Romance Writers Mini-Conference, Oct. 15, 2016 8:30 am - 4:30 pm at the Double Tree Hotel 8773 Yates Drive - Westminster Registration Link Presenter: Dr. Linda Seger "Making your Good Stories Great: Structuring and Shaping a Great Romance." Also featuring Love Inspired Senior Editor Melissa Endlich. More information here: http://www.hodrw.com/ *******OPPORTUNITY!!!

Kensington Publishing Launches Digital Speculative Fiction Imprint-Manuscripts submitted to the new imprint for publication will be considered regardless of whether the author has an agent, Kensington said. The imprint's focus will also be on "soft" sci-fi, including thrillers; space travel; alternate worlds and histories; and classic epic fantasy. -Publisher's Weekly.


Focus on the Family Call for Submissions

Coming to an Iowa near you!!  Harlequin Red Quill Workshop. Saturday, October 15th. With Harlequin Assistant Editor, Dana Grimaldi. "Learn How to Be a Savvy Romance Author & a Hybrid Superstar." 10am – 2:30pm /Workshops 3pm - ... Socializing/Networking. Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport, 6111 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50231. Registration includes the Morning, Afternoon Workshops and Lunch. REGISTER NOW!!

In the Pennsylvania area? Check out the Keystone Christian Fiction Writer's Conference, coming in November. Love Inspired Editor, Emily Rodmell is taking pitches! 

Check out FaithWriters for more writing opportunities!

Angels, Miracles, Cats, Dogs, Canada and more... The Chicken Soup upcoming topic line-up can be found here.

We've had queries on Woman's World Magazine, so here's a repeat of the information presented in February. 

Big News at Woman's World Magazine. Fiction editor, Johnene Granger, has retired after 16 years of reading our fiction and mystery submissions. Patricia Gaddis has taken over and there is no second reader. As always Patricia sends all stories on to the Executive Editor for final approval. More news: submissions are electronic as are contracts.  If you submit via snail mail, your submission will still be read. Save trees, time and stamps and consider submitting electronically. For authors who have sold to WW in the past, send your submission to FictionPro@WomansWorldMag.com - for authors who have not sold to WW yet, submit to Fiction@WomansWorldMag.com

Still pays $800 for an 800 word, short romance. If you do not hear back in four months, re: print or email submission, you can consider that your story has not been accepted. More good news. Patricia Gaddis is now a member of the Woman's World Yahoo Loop and available to answer your questions. So do consider joining. Send an email to wwwriters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  No changes to word count or payment has been mentioned. 


Looking for some other ways to make money writing for Woman's World? Check ou this information: http://www.womansworldmag.com/p/contact

~~~

Seekerville is delighted to welcome our October Contest Diva, Sharee Stover.

Taking the first step in sharing my manuscript was a pivotal point in this writing journey. It was the personal reckoning of whether I actually believed I could maybe—just maybe—be a real-life writer. As author/speaker Jen Hatmaker puts it, “it’s like standing naked in front of a group of people.” 

The great thing about having a writing community is the encouragement it provides. I’d see folks on Seekerville talk about their contest experiences and it helped to know others understood the angst. 

I decided if nothing else, the feedback was worth the entry fee. I desperately wanted the feedback. Needed the feedback. Feared the feedback.

Kids are great for throwing your words back at you and mine were no exception. They reminded me how I’ve repeatedly told them to step out in faith to grow. It was time to show and not tell.

I had two stories that I needed to test the waters with, so in 2015, I took a deep breath and hit send diving into the pool with the ACFW First Impressions Contest. The feedback I got was encouraging and painful but all of it helped me to see where I needed to make adjustments to the story. Back to the drawing board.

Shortly thereafter, I discovered the ACFW The End Contest. The only requirement was a completed manuscript written in 2015. I’d done that, so I entered and was thrilled when I won it! The prize package helped me to attend the conference this past August!

In February this year, I entered the Writer’s Digest Lucky Agent Contest. It was free so there was no reason not to enter. Unfortunately, I didn’t win or place in it. But the work to submit helped complete my tagline.

In March, I entered the ACFW Genesis with my first manuscript and although I didn’t place, it was a good reality check for where that particular story was and the work that needed to be done to it.

I entered the RWA Kiss of Death, Daphne Du Maurier with another story I’d completed, thinking there was no way I had a shot at this one. You can imagine my surprise when the phone rang and I found out I was a finalist. I couldn’t attend the award ceremony so I watched via live feed and just when they announced my category, the internet died. Are you kidding me? By the time it recovered, the announcement was over and I wasn’t the winner, but I did receive an Honorable Mention and a really great prize. This past August, I pitched the story from the Daphne Du Maurier and received requests for proposals from several agents. 

Devoting money, time, and a few tears for feedback to gauge your writing is invaluable. Whether you win or not, it’s a step of faith to share your story with the outside world and you might even get a reward for doing it.

Take a deep breath and dive into the contest pool! It’s worth the risk.

Sharee Stover makes her home in northeastern Nebraska with her longsuffering husband who is willing to eat pizza during the entire month of NaNoWriMo and listen to brainstorming story ideas ad nauseam. Her three amazingly wonderful children who understand the phrase “I just need a few more minutes to finish this scene,” which actually means an hour or more. And three needy and lovable dogs who insist on being let out every hour, on the hour to chase whatever squirrel, turkey or rabbit might dare to invade their yard. In between parenting college, high school and elementary aged children, attending high school sporting events, and walking an obnoxiously lovable German Shepherd, she writes romantic suspense stories.

That's it. Have a cupcake and then go forth and contest! 

Today's Contest Update was brought to you by Tina Radcliffe. Tina writes humorous, sweet and inspirational romance from her home in Arizona. She is a Carol Award winner for Mending the Doctor's Heart, as well as a 2016 Holt Medallion finalist, a 2016 Greater Detroit RWA’s Booksellers’ Best Book Award finalist and a NERFA finalist for Safe in the Fireman's Arms. The fourth book in the Paradise series, Rocky Mountain Reunion is currently available.  Rocky Mountain Cowboy will be available in December. She is a comma abuser.