The mission of The Emily is to professionally support writers and guide them toward a path to publication.
Emily Benefits:
* No synopsis!
* Four (4) new categories added (Romantic Suspense, Erotic Romance, Young Adult,
* Novel with Romantic Elements); custom scoresheets.
* This year, three judges for all entries. Lowest score dropped.
* Finalists go to three experts: agent, editor, and bookseller.
* Unbelievably easy, online entry. (We do all the heavy lifting.)
* Multiple entries allowed.
* Open to published authors (not published in category for 3 years).
* Judge Matching. Best effort to match with “like-minded,” published/experienced judges.
Deadline and Fee:
* October 7, 2010 (for the 2011 contest).
* Entry Fee- members of WHRWA – $20.00, non-members – $30.00.
Format:
* First 7,000 words max. End on a hook, so less may be better.
* Times New Roman or Courier, 12 or 14 point size, minimum 1″ margins. Double space (or use whatever your software supports) to get something other than single spacing.
* Headers must include title, category, and page number. See website for details on our eight categories. http://whrwa.com/emily/.
* Save your file in “rtf” file format.
* In fairness to judges and other entrants, we check word count.
**Do not include your name anywhere on the manuscript. This is mandatory.**
Enter Your Submission
Step 1: Get Ready. Before you enter, double check these rules, have your manuscript entry/file complete, and be ready to pay either by PayPal or by check
Step 2: Submit Your Entry. Use our new automated entry form! Go to our website (http://whrwa.com/emily), click on the ENTER THE EMILY tab, and follow the directions. Create a separate entry for each submission.
Step 3: Get Confirmation. You’ll receive a confirmation email from our online entry system immediately plus an email with payment information.
* If you’re paying by Paypal, you must use the link we provide to make your payment.
* If paying by check, you’ll mail your check to WHRWA Treasurer:
West Houston RWA
c/o Susan Breeden
3122 Sunset Blvd
Houston, TX 77005.
(Include your assigned entry number in the memo line as instructed in the payment email)
A Few Notes
* The Emily is open to published and unpublished writers. Unpublished authors may enter in any category not contracted in (book-length) by Oct. 7, 2010. Published authors may enter in a category not published (book-length) in the past three years. Book-length = 40,000+ wds. Published = Pan eligible.
* Each manuscript may be entered only ONCE; the same manuscript may not be entered in multiple categories. However, more than one manuscript may be entered in the contest (and yes, all of them into the same category).
* Entries may be limited to the first 60 submissions in each category.
* Every effort is made to have one published author judge each entry. Judges use a category-specific scoresheet and are encouraged to be generous with commenting.
* Many of our wonderful judges have been with us for years. We’re honored to have them.
* The lowest score will be dropped when determining finalists. We take 10% of each category to determine the number of finalists per category, however, all finalists must score 90% or greater.
* Final judging will be done by both an editor and an agent (for scoring and feedback) plus a bookseller (feedback only).
* Best-of-the-Best is determined by a panel of booksellers from the winning 1st place entries.
* The decision of all judges is final.
Questions: Email Lani Joramo, Emily Co-Chair via the Contact Form or at emily.contest@whrwa.com
More information here.
This blog is no longer updated. Please instead visit Writers For Diversity for new opportunities for women/ LGBT writers and writers of color. Thank you.
