SOLA’s
4th Annual
CONTEST RULES
1. Include a completed Contest Entry, Agreement and Release Form.
Multiple entries are accepted with
payment for each entry. Note: Entries
without a signature will not be accepted and will be returned.
2. Eligibility limited to those
unpublished in book-length fiction by RWA approved publisher in the last 5
years by the deadline date.
3. Enclose 5 copies of the first 5
pages of your double-spaced manuscript, 12-point Courier or Times New
Roman, on white paper and professionally presented with one inch margins and
with a one-line header at the top of each page with title and category on the
left, and page number on the right.
Include 2 copies of a title page
with your name, address, email address, phone number, target market, first and
second choice of categories, and the expected word count of your manuscript
when complete. Also,
include five copies of your
one-page, single-spaced synopsis. The synopsis will not be judged. Do not
write your name on your entry. Any
entries on which a contestant’s name appears will be disqualified. Receipt of your entry will preferably be sent
to your email address. Alternatively, you
may include a SAS post card if you prefer acknowledgment in that form.
4. Enclose a 9 x 12 SASE with sufficient postage for return of your critiqued
pages and score sheet. Flat rate
priority is suggested. Check the post
office for increased postal rates.
5. Include a check or money order for $15.00 in
6. Entries must be received or
postmarked by or on July 15, 2009. Send
entries to contest coordinator: N.
Genovese, C/O SOLA,
7. If fewer than 5
enter a category, that category will be dropped. Each entry from the dropped category will be
placed in the category selected as second choice by the contestant. Categories are: short contemporary, long contemporary, RS, single
title contemporary, historical, paranormal, inspirational, and novel with
romantic elements.
8. Judging:
All entries will be reviewed by 4
published or non-published trained members of RWA. The lowest score will be dropped. In the event of a tie, both entries will be
winners.
9. Winners:
First, second, third place, and honorable mention winners in each
category will be announced on September 30,
2009.
10. Prizes: Highest overall score receives $50 cash and a certificate.
First
place in each category earns a guaranteed reading by literary agent, Pamela G. Ahearn
of The Ahearn Agency and Kensington
Books Editor Kate Duffy. First, Second, third
place winners and honorable mentions will receive a certificate, announcement in RWR, The New Orleans Times Picayune,
and on SOLA’s Web site.