Delacorte Yearling Contest

JamieB · Feb 6, 2009

I found some threads from 2005 and 2006 on this contest, but nothing recent, so I'm brining it back to life. Does anyone have any experience with this contest? I'm thinking of sending something in, but I also want to try for an agent and don't know if I am patient enough to wait until Oct. 31 to find out about the contest.

Which is more valuable, or is one more valuable? Agent or publishers contest?

Thanks!!

MsJudy · Feb 6, 2009

I have not written anything that would qualify for the contest, so I can't speak to it directly.

But as for which is more valuable.... Either one would further your career, obviously. The real difference, I would think, is that the contest only matters if you win. And like any competition, when someone wins, everyone else loses. So if there are three fabulous books, the judges will still have to choose just one of them as the final winner. But agents aren't restricted by contest rules. So all three of those fabulous books could be picked up by an agent. In that sense, then, I think your chances are better of landing an agent than of winning a contest.

On the other hand, winning the contest makes it easier to find an agent. So I don't think there's anything to lose from entering the contest.

This is a very slow profession anyway. It took me six months to get an agent to request to see my full manuscript. It may take her another two or three months to decide whether or not to make me an offer. If she passes, I have other agents I'll be querying--who knows how many more months. And then there are still the submissions to editors, which could take even longer. So if you are hoping to get a quick answer.... Well, it does happen. But waiting until October is not really that long.

Smish · Feb 7, 2009

I plan to enter if I can get my story written and polished by the deadline. I think the chances of winning are very slim, particularly in light of the fact that they don't always select a winner, but it's worth trying. In the meantime, I plan to work on my next novel.

If you enter, good luck!

pengwinz · Jul 2, 2009

Broke down and entered two MSs for Yearling last week, one I had to revise from younger YA to older MG so it would fit. Actually found the process of whittling down to fit the page restriction and revisions made them both tighter and better. As for whether it's worth it, I went through the same paroxysms of doubt when I was waiting for the Delacorte 1st YA results. And waited... and waited. Actually considered not entering the Yearling and instead submitting directly to agents and editors, but in the end decided I could try and use the time to sub some other works (and revise my failed YA MS). Course, the contest is closed for this year, but I'd like to hear from anyone else who entered.

JSK, any updates on your agent's interest level? Is s/he subbing to houses?

MsJudy · Jul 2, 2009

pengwinz said:
Broke down and entered two MSs for Yearling last week
Good luck with them!

JSK, any updates on your agent's interest level? Is s/he subbing to houses?

She ended up passing - no feedback as to why - but i've queried others. I also went to an SCBWI conference, so I was able to submit to one editor directly. Haven't heard anything yet, and I refuse to get my hopes up. I'm planning on having a new book finished by the end of the summer, so... Onward and upward!

Judy

abctriplets · Jul 3, 2009

Is this the contest where they rarely pick a winner?

Smish · Jul 3, 2009

abctriplets said:
Is this the contest where they rarely pick a winner?

I wouldn't say "rarely". But yes, there are years without winners.

I decided not to enter. My novel needs more polishing. Good luck!

pengwinz · Jul 3, 2009

Thanks, Smish.
I had debated whether to enter or not, but then life got in the way and so it turned out to be more appropriate for me than doing a lots of subbing to agents. Not too hopeful, but as long as there's a chance...

Sorry, JSK, but you're right: Onward and Upward. Anyone with a little time in this business knows you just have to keep writing. Only the lucky and dedicated succeed (and few of us are lucky!).

pengwinz · Aug 26, 2009

No posts in a while. Anyone heard back yet?

PVish · Sep 3, 2009

I entered pretty early but haven't heard a thing. From their website:

Writers will be notified between July and October as submissions are evaluated by the editors. Final contest results will be announced on our Web site on or around October 31, 2009.

momofnine · Sep 17, 2009

Delacorte Yearling Middle Grade SASE

I also submitted my manuscript early (first week of April). It recently occurred to me that the postal rates changed on May 11,2009. I'm wondering how Delacorte is planning on dealing with all the SASEs that are stamped with inadequate postage. Will they be sent postage due or not at all? From now on I'm going to put an extra stamp on any SASE that I send to anyone.

Smish · Sep 17, 2009

momofnine said:
From now on I'm going to put an extra stamp on any SASE that I send to anyone.

Or you can use the "forever" stamps, which are always valid, even when the postage increases. I'd recommend using forever stamps anytime you send a submission, since editors (and sometimes agents) often take several months to send a response.

abctriplets · Sep 20, 2009

Smish said:
Or you can use the "forever" stamps, which are always valid, even when the postage increases. I'd recommend using forever stamps anytime you send a submission, since editors (and sometimes agents) often take several months to send a response.

Then again, the post office does give several months notice about postal increases...

Penguinscribe · Oct 2, 2009

I entered in June

I entered my novel in June for the Delacorte Press Yearling contest and haven't heard a peep. I was assuming no news is good news and if rejected you would have been notified at that point. Of course, I also moved recently and am now trying to find the right person to contact to doublecheck and update my address with Delacorte.

I'm very hopeful that something will come from the contest. I've never entered a contest before, but figured it was a way of getting read and maybe, whether within the confines of the contest or not, moving the book publication ahead.

Has anyone had much experience with Delacorte or with these contests? For the past many months, I've been sitting on my hands wondering. Waiting sucks. <--crass, but succinctly true.

Angela_785 · Oct 2, 2009

When was the cut off for this contest?

abctriplets · Oct 2, 2009

I forget, i know I entered into it once. It might have been last year, or the year before. But if you look at their track record, they don't find a winner half of the time...

Penguinscribe · Oct 3, 2009

Angela, the cut off was way back in June. April to June 30 every year. I entered back in June and hadn't heard, but recently called to update my address and was told that rejection letters go out throughout the process, not just at the end. So I'm hoping 'no news is good news', since I haven't received anything.

The track record of not always awarding a prize doesn't bother me. I don't think my book was completely right for the contest, but thought it a good way of gettting read. I believe there is something wonderful there, so if someone else there sees that...it could lead to something. They have signed authors who entered the contest and didn't win in earlier years.

PVish · Oct 3, 2009

I haven't heard anything yet either. Still keeping my fingers crossed. . . .

Penguinscribe · Oct 3, 2009

Does anyone have any idea roughly how many submissions they get? I'm very curious. I don't even have a guesstimate, but would love to know how many there are.

Gigi · Oct 3, 2009

Penguinscribe said:
Does anyone have any idea roughly how many submissions they get? I'm very curious. I don't even have a guesstimate, but would love to know how many there are.

I've read they typically get between 500-600 entries each year. Here's a good interview with the 2007 winner that gives some more contest details:

http://www.paulayoo.com/content/born-fly-qa-wmichael-ferrari-tue-71409

Good luck!

Penguinscribe · Oct 4, 2009

Thanks for posting that. Interesting, but didn't get any more contest details from it.

Angela_785 · Oct 4, 2009

Thanks penguinscribe and Gigi for the interview!

Penguinscribe · Oct 5, 2009

Other places for info on Delacorte?

Does anyone know or has come across any other boards where people are discussing having entered the Delacorte Press Yearling Contest and their experiences? Would like to see what people are saying...

Mileyrox · Oct 6, 2009

I have no nails left...

I haven't heard anything about responses to this contest. It's October 6th and not a peep from them. Maybe this year they're sending out all the rejections together at the end?? Has anyone who entered heard from them?

craig_everett · Oct 7, 2009

I'm also following similar threads on other writers' boards. No one has heard anything yet. Delacorte claims in their rules that rejections would be sent out piecemeal throughout the summer as they read and rejected manuscripts. So far, I haven't heard of ANY rejections. Maybe people are just shy about sharing...

Craig Everett

Delacorte Yearling Contest

JamieB

MsJudy

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

pengwinz

Roadtripper

MsJudy

abctriplets

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

pengwinz

Roadtripper

pengwinz

Roadtripper

PVish

Cat hair collector

momofnine

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

abctriplets

Penguinscribe

Angela_785

abctriplets

Penguinscribe

PVish

Cat hair collector

Penguinscribe

Gigi

Penguinscribe

Angela_785

Penguinscribe

Mileyrox

craig_everett