Together we can!
CONTEST IS CLOSED
Colorado Romance Writers is pleased to announce the 2011 Heart of the Rockies Contest for unpublished writers. Numerous past Heart of the Rockies entrants have gone on to publication in book-length fiction. This year, there will be nine categories with achievement awards given in each. Entries are limited to the first 215 received. Entries received after the limit is achieved will be returned to the owner.
Every entry will be judged by two experienced judges. Manuscripts that qualify for a final round will be judged by editors or agents. Finalists will be notified no later than September 1, 2011. First Place winner in each category will receive $25; all finalists will receive a certificate. In addition, winners will be announced in the Romance Writers Report.
Entrants will receive one written critique and two comprehensive evaluations of their work based on twenty different potential problem areas. Each category uses an individualized score sheet for its particular genre.
SAVE POSTAGE, PAPER, AND PRINTING COSTS! AN ALL ELECTRONIC CONTEST! NO PAPER SUBMISSIONS!
By submitting electronically, the person entering the contest understands that submission constitutes a signature.
If paying by check, send by snail mail to
Colorado Romance Writers, P. O. Box 448, Eastlake, CO
80614-0448.
Names shall not appear anywhere on the submission entry or synopsis.
YOUNG ADULT Novels with a romantic element aimed at teen and young adult readers. Word
Count: More than 40,000 words. (Examples: TOR,
Kensington)
LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE Series romance novels that focus primarily on the romantic
relationship with a proposal length of at least 60,000 words.
(Examples: Harlequin American, Superromance, Silhouette Special
Edition)
SHORT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE Series romance novels that focus primarily on the romantic
relationship with a proposal length of less than 60,000 words.
(Examples: Harlequin Presents, Romance and Temptation; Silhouette
Desire and Romance; Avalon)
SINGLE TITLE ROMANCE Contemporary romantic novels not printed as part of a series.
(Examples: Mira; Avon). Projected length of over 70,000
words.
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE Novels that contain a strong element of suspense or mystery mixed with romance.
This may include gothic-style romances if they are set in modern
times.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE Novels that feature romance in time periods other than the present. Most
editors consider historicals as books set in times prior to World
War I. Entrants submitting Gothics will have to decide whether
their entries fit better here or in the Suspense category.
(Examples: Avon, Zebra, Harlequin Historicals and all Regency
lines)
PARANORMAL/TIME TRAVEL/FUTURISTIC/FANTASY Novels that mix romance with elements
of the paranormal, time travel or fantasy. (Examples: Love Spell;
Jove Time Passages, Magical Love)
INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE Novels featuring an inspirational message of personal religious faith
conveyed as a major element of the plot and not used as a plot
device or subplot. Examples: Love Inspired; Waterbrook Press;
Palisades; Barbour/Heart Songs; Multnomah Publishers)
MAINSTREAM WITH ROMANTIC ELEMENTS A work of fiction not belonging in another category
that contains a strong romantic element, such that one or
more romances contained in the story form an integral part of the
story’s structure, but in which other themes or stories may also be
significantly developed.
****Warning—The synopsis may be critical in judging this category if the Hero/Heroine do not meet
in the first 30pgs and if the romance is not introduced
yet.
RULES
1. CATEGORIES: Achievement awards will be given in the following categories: Erotic, Long Contemporary, Short Contemporary, Contemporary Single Title, Romantic Suspense, Inspirational, Paranormal/Time Travel/Futuristic/Fantasy, Historical Romance, and Mainstream with Romantic Elements. Please indicate on the submission header the category in which your manuscript is entered. If a minimum of 7 entries are not received in a category, we reserve the right to either combine categories OR that category will be cancelled and the entries and entry fee returned to their owners.
2. JUDGING: Each entry is judged by two experienced judges, one of whom is a published author. A score sheet focusing on 20 problem areas (with a total of 105 possible points) is used by each. Judges may make comments on the score sheet and may also choose to write on the manuscript. Please keep in mind that judging is subjective.
Manuscripts that qualify for a final round will be judged by editors or agents. Awards will be announced on October 8, 2011. First Place winner in each category will receive $25; all finalists will receive a certificate. In addition, winners will be announced in the Romance Writers Report.
3. AWARDS:
To qualify for an award, an entry must receive a total combined score of at least 160 points (out of a possible combined score from both judges of 210 points). If no entry in a category receives 160 points, there will be no award given in that category. Finalists will be notified by e-mail or
phone no later than September 10, 2011.
4. SUBMISSION: ELECTRONIC ONLY.
Submission consisting of the first two chapters and the complete 1-5 page synopsis, saved in RTF format only, total entry is not to exceed 35 double-spaced pages. There should be no cover page in the attachment. Only one version of each manuscript will be
accepted. Do not submit more than once. Do not follow up with
a paper entry.
Your submission should be uploaded with the entry form using the rich text font format. It will NOT be
accepted unless it is saved as an RTF format.
You may enter as many manuscripts as you wish in each category.
At the time of submission, you may not have had this work nor any other work in novel-length romantic
fiction of yours accepted for publication, including e-published
and self-published.
Entries must be submitted in either Courier New 12 or Times New Roman 12. If submitting an entry
form electronically, the person entering the contest understands
that submission constitutes a signature on the entry form.
Submissions should be uploaded as an attachment on the contest
entry form using RTF (rich text font) format. A link will be sent
to you following receipt of payment and electronic entry
form.
PLEASE WAIT FOR CONFIRMATION before contacting coordinators. Contest entry deadline is midnight
Mountain Time on June 30, 2011.
Names or personal information shall not appear anywhere on the attachment, submission entry or
synopsis. It may only appear in the body (cover) of the
email.
If there are any questions regarding electronic entries, please contact the Coordinator at: HOTRCoordinator@yahoo.com.
5. MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION:
Manuscripts must be suitable for submission in contest format (typed with the acceptable fonts and
double-spaced to be easier on the judges’ eyes, with 1” margins all
around, 25-27 manuscript lines per page.) WE ARE AWARE THIS ISN’T
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION FORMAT, HOWEVER, IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR
JUDGING
At the top of each manuscript page in the header, you must print the title of the entry and the
category entered. Page numbers will be included at the top of the
submission. Your name should appear ONLY on the cover sheet
which is the body of the email. If it appears on any of your
attached manuscript pages, your entry will be
disqualified.
Submit your entry as ONE attachment in .rtf format, with your 1-5 page synopsis placed at the beginning of
your submission, followed by the Prologue/Chapters 1 & 2, for a
total of no more than 35 PAGES.
6. FEES:
CRW Members--$25
Non-CRW Members--$30
All fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and must accompany your manuscript. Checks or money orders should be made
payable to COLORADO ROMANCE WRITERS. Or use the Paypal
options. A submission will not be considered entered into the
contest unless a payment has been received.
7. NOTE for Paypal entries: When you submit your entry and form, please indicate
you used Paypal.
8. MAILING: There will be no mailing of paper submissions this year.
9. DEADLINE: Manuscripts along with payment and entry form must be received no later
than June 30, 2011.
10. QUESTIONS? Contest Coordinator Liz Pelletier email: HOTRCoordinator@yahoo.com
Winners for the 2011 contest will be announced at the CRW’s 23nd Anniversary
& Romance Lovers Tea on October 8, 2011.
Final round judges are as follows:
© 2012 Created by Elizabeth L Pelletier.
