Delacorte Press Contest for a First Young Adult Novel

Camille · Apr 8, 2008

Delacorte YA contest

For your sake I hope they haven't decided yet, but I don't know why they would have sent the list of winners. I tried to paste part of the page onto this message and it didn't work. I can email it to you if you want. At least I can start submitting other places now.

carey93 · Apr 21, 2008

delacorte rejection

Just got my rejection letter today, 4/21. I believe the 2007 results printed on the flyer (no winner) reflects last year's competition.

Good luck to those still in contention!

Moonshade · May 10, 2008

Well, it's official, I finally received my reject letter yesterday. Dated 4/26/08. The back of the envelope was partially torn. Anyone else had a big old piece of tape stuck to the back of the envelope to seal it closed?

KTC · Jan 2, 2009

Sorry to bring up an old thread...but I thought it would make more sense to keep it all together than to create a new one.

DID ANYBODY ENTER THE 2009 FIRST YA NOVEL CONTEST? The deadline was December 31st, 2008.

jmascia · Jan 2, 2009

I haven't heard back either. My first time entering though. 4 months left to hear though. Keeping my fingers crossed.

KTC · Jan 2, 2009

The postmark deadline was just 2 days ago.

Jillangill · Jan 7, 2009

Hi

I entered the YA contest for 2009, but I was so eager that I submitted my ms during the first week of October. Waiting, waiting, waiting! Anybody have any idea roughly how many manuscripts get entered into this contest?

adarkfox · Jan 8, 2009

I submitted early November... no idea on the numbers... it'd be nice to know how many MS they received just for curiosity's sake

dawnfields1228 · Jan 12, 2009

I went to the SCBWI-LA conference last year and sat in with Krista Marino, one of the editors at Delacorte and she told the group that they receive approximately 500-600 for the MG and the YA contest each. She did also say that they do pull MS out of the bunch and even if they aren't really right for the prize, the editors may be interested and choose to have you do revisions first. That was how Christopher Paul Curtis was discovered. He entered the contest with The Watsons Go to Birmingham. Wendy Lamb said that the main character was too young for the contest so it didn't work, but they loved the book anyway and wanted to work with him. Curtis of course went on to win the Newbery with that book :>)
Anyhoo, I sent in my MS right under the wire as well...hope we can all keep each other posted when we hear something! SO glad this forum was renewed!

KTC · Jan 12, 2009

Thanks so much for sharing the information you have on Delacorte. Interesting stuff!

adarkfox · Jan 14, 2009

Wow 500-600 MS a piece? *jaw drops* First of all I feel bad for the interns I'm sure are wading through those XD Second of all I wonder how my poor big MS is doing floating around in the gianormous sea of 600 MS.

Any clues yet as to why they haven't awarded a prize some years? It seems pretty disheartening to think out of 500 manuscripts they couldn't find a single one worthy of winning?

KTC · Feb 4, 2009

Anybody hear anything yet? The guidelines say:

5. Writers will be notified between January and April as submissions are evaluated by the editors. Final contest results will be announced on our Web site on or around April 30, 2009.

For those who have entered in previous years, do they send rejections or do they only notify winners?

adarkfox · Feb 4, 2009

Haven't heard anything yet... I submitted mine beginning of November. I'm nervous every day I check the mail - one month down! LoL

AKB · Feb 5, 2009

I haven't heard back but I submitted my ms on 12/22; it's probably still at the bottom of the pile.

jmascia · Feb 5, 2009

Entered the contest. Got a nice note about my story, but unfortunately, nothing ever came of it.

dawnfields1228 · Feb 6, 2009

jamscia,
When did you enter? Was it this year or last year?
Yeah, I entered right at the deadline as well...
Nothing yet.
Please let's keep everyone posted so I can know when to start stalking my mailman.
Dawn

dawnfields1228 · Feb 6, 2009

KTC,
I have surmised from previous posts that they notify everyone of the status of their MS. Some people get form rejections and some get form rejections with a note about their MS and then some get rejections that are personalized, though that is very very rare. I have seen on other boards where people were notified if their MS made it to final rounds as well and then they get a form rejection letter and then I have heard from people where they are notified their MS is in the final rounds and the editor states that even if it isn't chosen, they are still interested in the work. (And even after that, they can still get a form rejection after they have sent in a rewrite :>)

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

KTC · Feb 6, 2009

Agreed, Dawn. Good luck.

James...you are talking about last year's contest, right?

KTC · Feb 6, 2009

Thanks, Dawn. We just cross-posted there. It's good to know something will come. I prefer an early rejection to waiting until the announcements and then finding out. I can't remember if email was involved in contact info??? Do they mail these or email?

footloose · Feb 8, 2009

I'm new on this site so forgive me if I'm confused here but from reading the posts chronologically I believe James entered the 2009 contest so if he's already received a reply then I guess we can all start checking our mailboxes now.

Jillangill · Feb 10, 2009

This is great info from everyone...thanks! 500--600 MS is a TON! WOW! I haven't heard anything yet about my MS, but I do have the list of other houses/agencies to submit to as soon as I do. I think it's cool the editors will occasionally grab other work from the pile to pursue, even if it's not right for the prize.

GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!

KTC · Feb 10, 2009

I like that idea too, Jill. That they might take something on even if they don't award it a prize.

Starfly · Feb 11, 2009

I'm also waiting on news about my YA Fantasy entered into Delacorte's contest. I'm afraid I rushed it in an effort to make the deadline. I'm hoping I'll at least get some feedback.

Good luck to everyone who entered!

KTC · Feb 11, 2009

And good luck to you. And welcome to AW!

Starfly · Feb 11, 2009

Thank you KTC

Delacorte Press Contest for a First Young Adult Novel

Camille

carey93

Moonshade

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

jmascia

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Jillangill

adarkfox

designs books | writes books

dawnfields1228

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

adarkfox

designs books | writes books

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

adarkfox

designs books | writes books

AKB

jmascia

dawnfields1228

dawnfields1228

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

footloose

Jillangill

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Starfly

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Starfly