The Genesis Contest is the ACFW contest for unpublished Christian writers. The contest has a number of categories/genres to enter, the opportunity for unbiased feedback on writers' work by published authors and experienced judges, and the chance for the Category Finalists to have their work read by Christian publishing house editors and literary agents. ACFW has been pleased to see previous Category Winners and Finalists move further in their writing careers to become published authors.
Eligibility - The 2011 ACFW Genesis Contest is open to ACFW members unpublished in adult or young adult fiction or unpublished since September 1, 2004. If you have been published by a small press or electronic book publisher, see the GUIDELINES AND FAQ page for more information about your eligibility.
Any author contracted for publication before March 4, 2011 is not eligible to enter the Genesis Contest. If an entrant receives a publishing house contract for a manuscript entered in the Genesis between March 4 and August 15, they must withdraw that entry. If an entrant receives a publishing house contract after August 15, which is after the close of the judging on Genesis, then their entry is not disqualified. After March 4, 2011, if an entrant receives a contract on a manuscript other than the one(s) entered in the contest, the uncontracted manuscript(s) may remain in the contest. See GUIDELINES AND FAQ page for a more detailed explanation.
Self-published authors are eligible, however they may not enter a manuscript that is in print or that was/is available for purchase at any time between September 1, 2004 and September 1, 2011.
Previously entered manuscripts may be entered again, but Category winning manuscripts from previous ACFW contests or FaithWords finalist manuscripts may not be entered again. Manuscripts that have been finalists, not Category winners, may be entered again. See GUIDELINES AND FAQ page for a more detailed explanation.
Prizes - Each category will have a first place winner. The first place entry in each category will receive a winner's plaque, a gold Genesis lapel pin, and first choice for editor/agent appointments at the 2012 ACFW National Conference, plus one hour of telephone mentoring time with a published author. The winners will be announced at the 2011 ACFW Conference. The finalists in each category will receive a certificate and silver Genesis lapel pin. Finalists will be announced by May 13, 2011.
ACFW and the Genesis Contest do NOT guarantee that a winning or finalist entry will receive a publishing contract.
Fees - $35 per entry for current ACFW members. Multiple entries will require multiple entry fees.
Writers who want to join ACFW and enter the Genesis may do both online at the ACFW website. Make checks or money orders payable to American Christian Fiction Writers. Do not use pseudonyms on the entry form.
Any break in membership during the course of the contest will result in withdrawal of the entry and forfeiture of the entry fee.
If an entrant must withdraw from the contest for any reason they must forfeit their entry fee.
Guidelines - Please enter using the Genesis Online Entry Form. Entrants must fill out one entry form for each manuscript they enter.
All entrants are required to check the "accept" box on the entry form for the Contest Release, indicating acceptance of terms. If the "accept" box is not checked for the Contest Release, entry will be disqualified and returned.
This is an all e-mail contest. Do not send hard copies of manuscripts. They will not be returned. Only entries from novel manuscripts (completed or projected manuscript word count at 45,000 words or longer) will be accepted, not short stories or novellas. No co-authored entries will be accepted.
All contest entries and contest fees must be received by 8:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on March 4, 2011. If any entry and/or fees are received after 8:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on March 4, 2011, entrant will be notified of disqualification and fees will be returned.
All entries will receive a confirmation e-mail of receipt of their entry. If an entrant does not receive a confirmation e-mail by March 8, 2011, the entrant should e-mail the head coordinator, at genesis@acfw.com.
Each entrant must upload their entry as an .rtf (rich text) or .doc (Microsoft Word document) when filling out the Genesis Online Entry Form. PLEASE DO NOT UPLOAD .DOCX FILES (WORD 2007 OR LATER). The entries will be judged using Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature. If the entrant does not have Microsoft Word, the judged entry can be returned as a .pdf file instead. See the GUIDELINES AND FAQ page for more information.
The entrant must submit the first 15 pages of their manuscript, double-spaced, and a one-page single-spaced synopsis. The manuscript and the synopsis must be in the same file, not in two different files.
NEW THIS YEAR: If an entry does not have a one-page single-space synopsis, the entry will be disqualified.
The entrant may enter a maximum of 15 manuscript pages (not including the one-page synopsis) even if this is more than the first chapter. Prologues are acceptable. An entry may be shorter than 15 pages, stopping at a logical concluding point. If the manuscript portion of an entry (not including the one-page synopsis) is longer than 15 pages, the excess pages will be discarded before judging.
Manuscript must be in Courier New, or Times New Roman 12 point font, double-spaced, with margins 1-inch or larger. For more information, see the Manuscript Formatting article.
The Genesis coordinators highly recommend that entrants submit their entries by FEBRUARY 21, 2011, so that if the entry is lost in cyberspace or if any aspect of the entry is unacceptable, the entrant can mail a replacement entry before the deadline.
Categories -
* Contemporary Fiction
* Contemporary Romance (includes romantic comedy)
* Historical Fiction (not romance)
* Historical Romance
* Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
* Romantic Suspense
* Speculative Fiction
* Women's Fiction
* Young Adult
Submission Instructions
See the Sample Manuscript page (.pdf) and the Manuscript Formatting article (.pdf) both available as downloads from the ACFW website.
1. Use 12 point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins. The contest requires the use of Courier New or Times New Roman.
2. Include a header on each manuscript with the title, category/genre, entire manuscript word count, and page numbers. NO entrant's name or pseudonym should be in the header.
3. Send the first 15 pages of your manuscript, even if this is more than your first chapter. Prologues are acceptable. Start the first page of each chapter one-third to halfway down the page. DO NOT send more than 15 pages of your manuscript and a one page synopsis (16 pages maximum).
4. Send a one-page single-spaced synopsis, included in the file with your manuscript. Do NOT send a separate file for your synopsis. See GUIDELINES AND FAQ page for more information.
5. Category coordinators are listed below.
6. Fill out entry form, upload entry file, and pay contest fee using the Genesis Online Entry form. Do not use your pseudonym on the entry form. If joining ACFW, include application and membership fee as well.
7. Do NOT place your name or pseudonym anywhere on the manuscript.
Entries not fulfilling the above specifications will be disqualified. Entry fees will not be refunded.
For more information, see the GUIDELINES AND FAQ page on the ACFW website.
If you have any questions, please e-mail the contest coordinator, Camy Tang at genesis@acfw.com.
Timeline for the Genesis contest:
Genesis opens: January 1
Genesis closes: March 4 (8am Pacific time)
First round judging ends/(Semi-Finalists announced): April 8
Semi-Final judging ends/(Finalists announced): May 13
Category Winners announced at the 2011 ACFW Conference Awards Banquet in September.
More information here.
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