January Contest Update

 

Welcome to the January Contest Update.

The prize vault is open! Today you have the opportunity to win a copy

 of Rocky Mountain Cowboy (print or ebook)

 and a Be Still mug. Two winners of each. 

All you have to do is comment to be entered.

What are your reading and writing goals for the new year?

Winners announced in the Weekend Edition!

Published Manuscripts

New England Readers' Choice Contest is now open. (Formerly Beanpot) Deadline January 6, 2017

Golden Quill is now open. Deadline January 13, 2017.

Holt Medallion is now open. Deadline January 15, 2017.

Booksellers' Best Award is now open. Deadline January 19, 2017.

The Athena. Deadline March 1. YA and NA novels & novellas published in 2016.

Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense- Published Division. Opens January 15. Deadline March 15. Details not available for 2017 Contest yet.

FHL Reader's Choice Award. (Formerly IRCA) Deadline March 1. 

ACFW Carol. Deadline March 1.

Unpublished Manuscripts

**Once again, a reminder that divas do not throw away money entering contest categories with no final judge name available. Always email the coordinator for more information.**

Great Expectations Contest. Entry and payment must be received January 4, 2017.Entry consists of the first 5,000 words. NO synopsis or blurb. Finalists will be asked to include an unjudged synopsis for editors.  Unpublished and Published authors. 

Final Round Judges

CONTEMPORARY SERIES

TBA

HISTORICAL

Elle Keck ~ Assistant Editor/Avon Books

INSPIRATIONAL

Raela Schoenherr ~ Acquisitions Editor/Bethany House

MAINSTREAM with ROMANTIC ELEMENTS

Marla Daniels ~ Assistant Editor/Simon and Schuster

NEW ADULT

TBA

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Lexi Small~Grand Central Publishing

SINGLE TITLE

Madeleine Colavita Editorial Assistant~Grand Central Publishing

SPECIALIZED (FFTTP)

Kristine Swartz ~ Assistant Editor/Berkley

The Golden Heart Contest-   Contest opens on December 1- Deadline January 11. The Golden Heart requires a full manuscript and is open to RWA members. The cost is $30. Once again Seekerville will provide an opportunity for entry reimbursement to writers who enter the Golden Heart in the category formerly known as inspirational. We're going to reimburse 10 entries -if the category makes it. So please consider entering! Read the rules here.

How it works. You enter and send us proof of entry. After the January deadline, RWA will announce if the category made it. If it does, we randomly pick 10 entrants to be reimbursed and then email them privately. Winner's first names only are announced on the blog in an effort to preserve contest integrity. 

The Marlene. Deadline January 23. Open to published and unpublished authors. Entry consists of a synopsis (up to 5 pages) and the beginning of the manuscript not to exceed 35 pages total for synopsis and manuscript pages. 

Erotic Romance

Final Round Judge: Rhonda Helms, Carina Press

Critique Author: TBA

Historical

Final Round Judge: Lexi Smail, Forever Romance

Critique Author: Elizabeth Essex

Paranormal

Final Round Judge: TBA

Critique Author: Mindy Klasky

Romantic Elements

Final Round Judge: Amanda Leuck, Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates

Critique Author: Tracy Brogan

Romantic Suspense

Final Round Judge: Alethea Spiridon, Entangled Publishing

Critique Author: Cristin Harber

Series Contemporary

Final Round Judge: Johanna Raisanen, Harlequin

Critique Author: Robin Covington

Single Title

Final Round Judge: TBA

Critique Author: Kimberly Kincaid

Young Adult

Final Round Judge: Wendy Loggia, Senior Executive Editor, Random House

Critique Author: TBA

The Catherine. Deadline January 31. Hefty entry fee for non-chapter members $30. You do not have to be a member of RWA. However, finalists get a critique by a very prestigious group of published authors before their entry goes to the finalist judges. Entry consists of: The first pages of a manuscript and may not exceed 30 pages or 7500 words including a synopsis. A synopsis is required and may not be longer than 5 pages.

Contemporary

Editor:  Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks

Agent:  Shira Hoffman, McIntosh & Otis

Contemporary: Short

Editor: Piya Campana, Harlequin

Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Erotic Romance

Editor: Brenda Chin, Entangled Publishing 

Agent:  Courtney Miller-Callihan, Handspun Literary

Historical Romance

Editor:  Jennie Conway, St. Martin’s Press

Agent:  Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency

Romantic Suspense

Editor:  Elizabeth May, Kensington Publishing 

Agent:  Stacey Donaghy, Donaghy Literary Group

Paranormal Romance

Editor:  Angela James, Carina Press

Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourrett LLC

Young Adult

Editor:  Annie Berger, Sourcebooks

Agent:  Vanessa Robins, The Corvisiero Literary Agency

Mainstream Fiction with Romantic Elements

Editor: Allison Carroll, Graydon House Books

Agent:  Janna Bonikowski, The Knight Agency

Great Beginnings Contest. Deadline February 14.  Contest is open to published and unpublished authors. Entry consists of the opening five (5) pages of your romance novel (projected length of at least 50,000 words).

Final Judges:

Historical – Nicole Resciniti, Agent, The Seymour Agency 

Paranormal – Lane Heymont, Senior agent, The Tobias Literary Agency

Romantic Suspense - TBA

Contemporary – TBA.

Fab Five. Deadline March 1. Enter early. Categories will be capped at thirty-five (35) entries. Any submissions received after a category has been capped will be returned. Entrants DO NOT need to be members of RWA to enter. This contest is open to all unpublished and self-published writers. Entry consists of the first 2,500 words. No synopsis.

Contemporary Meghan Farrell, Tule Publishing

Rachel Burkot, Holloway Literary Agency

Historical Lexi Smail, Grand Central Publishing

Lisa Rodgers, JABberwocky Literary Agency

Inspirational Shana Asaro, Harlequin Love Inspired

Jessica Kirkland, Blythe Daniels Agency

Paranormal/Fantasy/

Futuristic/Time Travel:

Theresa Cole, Entangled Publishing

Tricia Skinner, Fuse Literary

Romantic Suspense Tara Gavin, Kensington Publishing Corp

Jennifer March Soloway, Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Women’s Fiction Caitlin Dareff, St. Martin’s Press

Sarah Phair, Trident Media

Young Adult/New Adult Mekisha Telfer, Simon and Schuster

Shannon Powers, McIntosh and Otis

 ACFW Genesis Contest   Deadline March 15. Entry consists of a one-page, single-spaced synopsis, followed by the first 15 pages of your manuscript. Prologues are acceptable and should be included in the 15-page count. The entry will be 16 pages total, including synopsis.

Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense Unpublished Division. Opens January 15. Deadline March 15. Check here January 15 for rules and judges.

Other Opportunities.

Love Inspired #AmishBlitz.  Submission dates: Monday, January 9, 2017 – Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EST. What Love Inspired needs to see: A cover letter that introduces your book and includes any previous publishing credits, writing contest wins, or affiliations.A 3-5 page synopsis. What happens in your book—tell us the key moments, the crucial twists and turns, and how it ends! Show us what drives your story forward, including the internal and external conflicts your hero and heroine face to get to their happily ever after.The first chapter of your manuscript (up to 25 pages).

If you are in the Omaha, Nebraska area, don't miss the annual RAH (Romance Writers of the Heartland Retreat, January 13-17. Details here.

January 14. Florida Romance Writers Super Saturday Workshop Event. Featuring Debra Dixon. GMC and Big Black Moment. Details here.

Keep your on on this site #MSWL for writing opportunities. Manuscript Wish List where editors and agents let you know what they're looking for. It also keeps you apprised of trends in the industry.

Chicken Soup Callouts for January 2017-Dogs, Cats, Military Families and Teachers. Guidelines here. 

A salute to the 2016 Divas!

L to R. Deb Garland, Christy Distler, Cynthia Herron, Megan Besing, Angie Dicken,
Janette Foreman, Susan Hollaway,
Laura Conner Kestner, Sharee Stover, Renee McBride, and Laurie Wood.

That's it! Now go forth and contest!

       This Contest Update was brought to you by

 Tina Radcliffe. www.tinaradcliffe.com

December Contest Update

Leave a comment today for a surprise

 Amazon gift card to go under your Christmas tree. 

For two writers, a critique of the first 15 pages

 of their inspirational manuscript, to prepare for the Genesis.

Three winners announced in the Weekend Edition.

🎅🎅🎅THIS JUST IN! An anonymous SEEKER will take on two more critiques. 

So a total of four! Keep those comments coming! Merry Christmas!

Published Manuscripts


NRCA is open. Deadline December 15. 

New England Readers' Choice Contest is now open. (Formerly Beanpot) Deadline January 6, 2017

Golden Quill is now open. Deadline January 13, 2017.

Holt Medallion is now open. Deadline January 15, 2017.

Booksellers' Best Award is now open. Deadline January 19, 2017.

Attention Readers! 

• Interested in judging the  (New England) Reader's Choice Awards? Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.  

•  Interested in judging the NRCA? Check this page for the form. 

Unpublished Manuscripts

A reminder: always ask to see the contest score sheet before entering any contest.


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

  
Romance Me Novel Writing Contest. Deadline December 15. Open to published authors. "Be it historical or contemporary, a grand love story or the gripping tale of a torrid affair, through December 15 submit your Romance novel for the chance to win prizes and be read by judges from Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Hachette Book Group." Submit the first thirty pages. One entry per person. NO FEE! Cash prizes awarded to our top three writers. Everyone else will receive AUTHORS.me basic service; your submission viewed by multiple publishing professionals; and access to future contests and writer services. Winners will be announced on Valentines Day, February 14, 2017. 
Final editor judges:

Marissa Sangiacomo-Macmillan Publishers

Lexi Smail-Hachette Book Group

Katherine Pelz-Penguin Random House


The Golden Heart Contest-   Contest opens on December 1- Deadline January 11. The Golden Heart requires a full manuscript and is open to RWA members. The cost is $30. Once again Seekerville will provide an opportunity for entry reimbursement to writers who enter the Golden Heart in the category formerly known as inspirational. We're going to reimburse 10 entries -if the category makes it. So please consider entering! Read the rules here.

How it works. You enter and send us proof of entry. After the January deadline, RWA will announce if the category made it. If it does, we randomly pick 10 entrants to be reimbursed and then email them privately. Winner's first names only are announced on the blog in an effort to preserve contest integrity. 

***   Here's a meme to share with your writer groups such as FHL, ACFW and your local chapters. Include this bitlink to this post: http://bit.ly/2fGt8LT

Great Expectations Contest. Open for entries October 30, 2016. Enter now, submit your manuscript later.  Entry and payment must be received January 4, 2017.Entry consists of the first 5,000 words. NO synopsis or blurb. Finalists will be asked to include an unjudged synopsis for editors.  Unpublished and Published authors. 

Final Round Judges

CONTEMPORARY SERIES
TBA

HISTORICAL
Elle Keck ~ Assistant Editor/Avon Books

INSPIRATIONAL
Raela Schoenherr ~ Acquisitions Editor/Bethany House

MAINSTREAM with ROMANTIC ELEMENTS
Marla Daniels ~ Assistant Editor/Simon and Schuster

NEW ADULT
TBA

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
TBA

SINGLE TITLE
Madeleine Colavita Editorial Assistant/Grand Central Publishing

SPECIALIZED (FFTTP)

Kristine Swartz ~ Assistant Editor/Berkley


Great Beginnings Contest. Deadline February 14.  Contest is open to published and unpublished authors. Entry consists of the opening five (5) pages of your romance novel (projected length of at least 50,000 words).

Final Judges:
Historical – Nicole Resciniti, Agent, The Seymour Agency 
Paranormal – Lane Heymont, Senior agent, The Tobias Literary Agency
Romantic Suspense - TBA

Contemporary – TBA.

Let's start getting ready for the ACFW Genesis Contest which will open January 2017. The first 15 pages and a one-page synopsis!

Other Writing Opportunities

• Want to Enter a RWA Chapter Contest? Here’s Everything You Need to Know. A TERRIFIC article by Angie Hockman.

• St. Martin’s Minotaur/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition. Deadline December 12. Details here.

• January 14. Florida Romance Writers Super Saturday Workshop Event. Featuring Debra Dixon. GMC and Big Black Moment. Details here.

• Keep your on on this site, #MSWL for writing opportunities. Manuscript Wish List where editors and agents let you know what they're looking for. It also keeps you apprised of trends in the industry.

• The Erma Bombeck Writing Competition opens December 1. Details here.

• Chicken Soup Callouts for January 2017-Dogs,Cats, Military Families and Teachers. Guidelines here. 

• Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference is coming! April 7-11 2017. Details here. 

Welcome to our December Diva, Laurie Wood from Canada!

 I am honoured to be Seekerville’s December Contest Diva! I met Tina Radcliffe through Harlequin’s “Manuscript Matchmakers” Blitz for their Love Inspired Historical Line, and she graciously asked me to blog about my contest experiences over the years. 

Although I grew up writing and dreaming of publication I chose a career in law enforcement and stopped writing. However, I changed careers, got married, and by 1997 I was staying at home raising our two special needs children. While they were/are a joy, I knew I needed something creative for myself. 

I joined RWA and in 2003 I came Third in both the Daphne du Maurier and the Jasmine contests  with a romantic suspense novel called Black Water. I wrote a sister book and queried agents with both of them because the feedback I got was excellent. Still, I didn’t sell either book.

My “early writing” halted when my husband joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in late 2004. Life became crazy with cross-country moves and deployments. However, when we came back to Winnipeg this time, I decided it was time to get back to writing. It’s been like starting all over again!

The first contest I entered was So You Think You Can Write in the fall of 2015. I got zero response, but I was determined to keep going! In April 2016, I entered my historical romance in the Harlequin “Manuscript Matchmakers” Blitz and made it to the second stage where they requested a partial. Still, it was a rejection. 

But that didn’t bother me because I gained what I consider to be the #1 Best Thing you can get from a contest entry: a new critique partner, new friends with other unpublished authors, as well as some lovely published authors with the Love Inspired Lines. Their help and expertise as I kept going throughout 2016 has been invaluable and I cherish these new friendships.

My biggest achievement for 2016 was placing Second in the Inspirational Category of the TARA Contest.  This was my historical romance which I finished despite not placing in “Manuscript Matchmakers”. There’s my second tip for entering contests: don’t just write up three chapters and call it a day. If you love your story, finish it! If you get good/great feedback on it, make use of it and keep going. It’s better to have some finished manuscripts on your hard drive than assorted chapters that lead nowhere. You’ll be poised to take an opportunity if it presents itself.

A couple of tips for entering contests in 2017:  

• Do you want feedback? Enter a short contest that takes the first 5 to 15 pages of your WIP. 

• Do you want to get in front of a specific editor at a publishing house? Scour Seekerville’s monthly updates for that editor and get that entry in!

• Do you want to final/win in some prestigious contests like the Genesis, the Daphne du Maurier, or the Golden Heart, to add these finals or wins to your query letters? Then mark them on your calendar and make a plan now. 

By the time you read this, I’ll have finished this year’s NaNoWriMo Contest….which means December will find me editing that WIP, and getting it ready for contests in 2017. I hope to see you in the finalist listings!

This contest update was brought to you by Tina Radcliffe. Find her at www.tinaradcliffe.com

That's it Seekerville! Now go forth and contest! (See you next year!)

November Contest Update

Three days left to this birthday party! It's been a wild month of living on cake and ice cream. Today we're going to talk about the rest of the year. 63 days until January 1. 

What's your contest agenda look like for the upcoming weeks? Any contest finalists/and winners out there care to raise their hands and encourage us along by sharing their lates news??  Don't make me out you.

I'm emptying out the vault today and I have books to give away. Leave a comment and let me know you want in. Two packages of books. Two winners. 

And there's a first chapter critique, (first 15 pages only, industry formatted) for two writers, up for grabs. All winners announced in the Weekend Edition.

Published Manuscripts


The RWA RITA Contest will open for entries at 11 a.m. CT,  Nov. 1, 2016. (You must register to judge in order to enter.)

NRCA is open. Deadline December 15. 
 
Readers' Choice Contest is now open. (Formerly Beanpot) Deadline January 6, 2017

Golden Quill is now open. Deadline January 13, 2017.

Booksellers' Best Award is now open. Deadline January 19, 2017.

Attention Readers! 

• Interested in judging the  (New England) Reader's Choice Awards? Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.  

•  Interested in judging the NRCA? Check this page for the form. 

See Julie Lessman's testimony here. 

Unpublished Manuscripts 

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

 
Romance Me Novel Writing Contest. Deadline December 15. Open to published authors. "Be it historical or contemporary, a grand love story or the gripping tale of a torrid affair, through December 15 submit your Romance novel for the chance to win prizes and be read by judges from Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Hachette Book Group." Submit the first thirty pages. One entry per person. NO FEE! Cash prizes awarded to our top three writers. Everyone else will receive AUTHORS.me basic service; your submission viewed by multiple publishing professionals; and access to future contests and writer services. Winners will be announced on Valentines Day, February 14, 2017. 
Final editor judges:

Marissa Sangiacomo-Macmillan Publishers

Lexi Smail-Hachette Book Group

Katherine Pelz-Penguin Random House


The Golden Heart Contest-   Contest opens on December 1- Deadline January 1. The Golden Heart requires a full manuscript and is open to RWA members. The cost is $30. Once again Seekerville will provide an opportunity for entry reimbursement to writers who enter the Golden Heart in the category formerly known as inspirational. We're going to reimburse 8 entries -if the category makes it. So please consider entering! Read the rules here.

How it works. You enter and send us proof of entry. After the January deadline, RWA will announce if the category made it. If it does, we pick 8 writers to be reimbursed. We will email them privately. Winner's names are not announced on the blog in an effort to preserve contest integrity.


Let's start getting ready for the ACFW Genesis Contest which will open January 2016. The first 15 pages and a one-page synopsis!


Great Expectations Contest. Open for entries October 30, 2016. (No information on website when this post was written.) Entry and payment must be received January 4, 2017. Unpublished and Published authors. ***INFO IS ON THE BLOG***

If you've been working on the same novel for the last 24 months..it's time to write the next book.

Other Writing Opportunities

Attention K Mart Shoppers: The Naked Truth About Self-Publishing is currently Free on all retailers. Here is the Amazon link:https://amzn.com/B015QOF860 This is the updated version.

 CWA Thanks to editor Lonnie Hull Dupont for letting us know about the Cat Writers' Association. Here it is!





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.

Keep your on on this site, #MSWL for writing opportunities. Manuscript Wish List where editors and agents let you know what they're looking for. It also keeps you apprised of trends in the industry.

Another way to keep up with the changes in publishing is to subscribe to Publishers Market Place. Check it out here. Or you can simply sign up for the weekly FREE newsletter, Publishers Lunch. Sign up here.

 "Publishers Lunch is the industry's "daily essential read," now shared with approximately 45,000 publishing people every day. Each report gathers together stories from all over the web and print of interest to the professional trade book community, along with original reporting, plus a little perspective and the occasional wisecrack added in."


And here's some fun. The UK Novel Writing Competition. The 'X Factor' for Writers.

~~~

Introducing the November Contest Diva, Renee McBride!

Ahoy, Seekervillians! Renee McBride, here, your Contest Diva for November.
May I be honest? When Tina asked me to wear this coveted crown, I laughed. You see, I’d entered seven contests this year, but have never actually won. 

What’s that, you say? Never won a contest?   

  Sadly, it’s true. I have nothing to show—nothing to display on my website, no impressive winnings for my signature line; nothing, nada, nil! 

Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re out there swimming the treacherous contest waters, gulping down pond scum, and fending off attacks from flesh-eating contest Piranha. Why would anyone listen to a writer as battered and bruised as Renee McBride? Hmmm…when you put it that way, I see your point.

Okay, then. So, we all agree. We should follow successful people, like the Seekers, not someone as pitiful as this: There I was, polishing my manuscript to a fine sheen. It was the greatest story to hit Christian publishing since the conversion of Francine Rivers. You know the feeling. You’ve farmed out that manuscript to your trusty entourage of critique partners, chewed off a few fingernails, then finally—in a rush of adrenaline—pressed “SEND.” 

Like me, you may have thought, Oh, no! I forgot to change the font size in the header! Panic soon gave way to the realization that your story is so good it speaks for itself. About this time, an exhilarating breeze of endorphins blows through your hair and it dawns on you that you have nothing to wear to the awards banquet. 

I can guess what you’re thinking, you’re way smarter than that. No way you’d ever open your contest results and find yourself crumpled on the bathroom floor, clutching a box of tissues repeating the words, “They just don’t get me.” But I digress…

Maybe it didn’t look exactly like that for you, but chances are your first plunge into the Piranha-infested contest waters didn’t go as planned. Rest assured, after the initial sting of rejection, we all realize some important things. First, you can write to a deadline! And second, two editing passes does not a polished manuscript, make. 

So, where do you go from here? After all, our delicate egos can only take so much. Why should we continue to expose ourselves to ridicule—and pay good money to do it? Well, when you put it that way, I do have a credit card bill to pay off, along with an unworn evening gown. Just in case you’re interested. That’s beside the point. The point is that if we continue to enter contests, someone, somewhere, at some time will inevitably ask to see the full manuscript. 

I know this to be true because this year I received three “Revise and Resubmit” letters from contest judge editors. Shouldn’t that be the goal anyway? 


Renee McBride writes wholesome romance for the cowgirl at heart. Follow her journey to publication at: www.ReneeMcBride.com. 

 Tina here: Dear Renee is correct. Winning isn't the goal. Selling is. Three Revise and Resubmits are something to stand up and cheer for. And being a diva is not about taglines. It's about having the courage to enter. For that Renee McBride, I stand up and cheer for you! YOU ARE A DIVA!

This post was brought to you by Diva Tina Radcliffe, who hopes you take serious steps toward your tomorrow-- today.

You may sign up for her newsletter if you want to be a cool cat diva. http://bit.ly/2angfWP

 That's it! Now go forth and contest!