RWA contest

Status
Not open for further replies.

lrs

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 21, 2005
Messages
161
Reaction score
8
Location
Indiana
Is anyone or has anyone ever entered RWA's Goldenheart contest? Just wondering if it was worth it. Kind of expensive at $50 dollars an entry.
 

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!
Kind Benefactor
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 5, 2005
Messages
9,907
Reaction score
1,834
Location
Hiding in my writing cave
Website
www.cathyclamp.com
The Golden Heart is pretty much the PREMIER romance writing contest, so many do feel it's worth it. The GH is so popular that they usually have to cut off entries at about 2,000 in order to find enough people to read the entries. The trick with entering the GH is that you have to have completed your manuscript to the best of your ability, because if you make the finals, they will expect you to forward the whole thing to them to prove it's done. But it's worth it to many people, because the finalists are very often noticed by publishers or agents while the judging is happening, and it's seldom a surprise to have a finalist or a winner show up in the "Debut Sales" a few months later! ;)
 

Robin Bayne

~writes for Him~
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 30, 2005
Messages
1,876
Reaction score
178
Location
~the old line state~
Website
www.robinbayne.com
Cathy is right, and there is tough competition but winners get some benefit from their status. Be wary though, if you enter be sure to follow every rule and every detail to avoid disqualification. I'm talking really minor sounding stuff, like font size and margins. Good luck!
 

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
3,110
Reaction score
755
Location
Pennsylvania
Website
www.susangable.com
The manuscript that became my second novel was a GOlden Heart Finalist. It didn't win, but that was okay by me - because I sold it at the conference before the awards ceremony. I also was a rare situation because I entered the contest, then sold my first book, then finaled in the Golden Heart.

Bear in mind that you get no feedback except for some scores. There are no comments. It is an expensive contest, but as the others have mentioned, it's the most prestigious contest in romance for unpublished writers.

Good luck!

Susan G.
 

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
3,110
Reaction score
755
Location
Pennsylvania
Website
www.susangable.com
Oh, and Robin, they're not as nitpicky on the margins and stuff after that fiasco a few years back. :) I mean, you should still follow the rules to the best of your ability, but don't sweat getting DQed because your margin is off by a quarter of an inch.

Susan G.
 

Robin Bayne

~writes for Him~
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 30, 2005
Messages
1,876
Reaction score
178
Location
~the old line state~
Website
www.robinbayne.com
Susan Gable said:
Oh, and Robin, they're not as nitpicky on the margins and stuff after that fiasco a few years back. :) I mean, you should still follow the rules to the best of your ability, but don't sweat getting DQed because your margin is off by a quarter of an inch.

Susan G.

That's good to hear! I have never entered it, but felt so bad for those dis-q'ed. :)
 

lrs

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 21, 2005
Messages
161
Reaction score
8
Location
Indiana
Well now I'm intrigued, what happened a few years back?
 

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
3,110
Reaction score
755
Location
Pennsylvania
Website
www.susangable.com
lrs said:
Well now I'm intrigued, what happened a few years back?

Oh, a few years back things got majorally over-zealous with the RULES. Margins were measured, and if your margins weren't perfect, your entry was disqualified. Which lead to a huge outcry, because a LOT of people were disqualified. Now the contest is no longer quite that anal about margins. You're still expected to follow the rules, but the rules are not like that. :)

Susan G.
 

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
3,110
Reaction score
755
Location
Pennsylvania
Website
www.susangable.com
Inspiewriter said:
Which is good, because entrants want to be judged on the things an editor will be looking for. :)

Exactly! And I have yet to know an editor who got out a ruler, decided the margins were too small, and opted to reject the ms based on that.

<shaking head>

Susan G.
 

Robin Bayne

~writes for Him~
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 30, 2005
Messages
1,876
Reaction score
178
Location
~the old line state~
Website
www.robinbayne.com
Susan Gable said:
Exactly! And I have yet to know an editor who got out a ruler, decided the margins were too small, and opted to reject the ms based on that.

<shaking head>

Susan G.


:shhhh!! Don't give them any ideas
EmoteROFL.gif
 
Status
Not open for further replies.