Western Escape Shooting Star Writing Contest
Starts December 7, 2011
Are you the newest shooting star for
Western Escape Romance?
How it Works
Starting on December 7, 2011, please send one (1) copy of the first chapter of your manuscript (5000 words maximum) and a (1) page synopsis (single spaced is acceptable, but please, keep the font at 12pt or larger) to editor [dot] ansley [at] gmail [dot] com. Total entry must be in one file with the synopsis at the beginning or end of the entry. Entries should be in RTF (rich text format) files only.
Name and contact information must be listed in the body of the email.
For more information about the town and its citizens check out the detail pages on this blog.
Participants will receive a confirmation of entry. If you do not receive confirmation within two days of sending, please e-mail
Ansley Blackstock, the contest coordinator, or
Lea Finley, Western Escape senior editor, to ask if it was received.
Please enter a story only once. Authors may enter more than one story, but only one per week. Please keep in mind, the book must be finished.
Entries must be received by no later than midnight, February 22, PST.
NO Entry Fee or purchase necessary to win.
OFFICIAL RULES:
Eligibility
This contest is open to both unpublished and published authors of romantic fiction. All entries shall be the author’s original work and not contracted for publication prior to the entry deadline.
Entry Deadline
All entries must be received between December 7, 2011 and midnight PST February 22, 2012. Finalists will be announced March 7, 2012. All entries must meet the Western Escape submission limits for heat, content, and length.
Initial Judging
The entrants will be judged by a panel of Decadent Publishing editors and established Western Escape authors. The scores/score sheets will NOT be returned to entrants. Entries will be judged on the following: plot, pacing, characterization, genre appropriateness, narration, dialogue, writing mechanics and originality.
Final Round:
The finalists will be asked to send the first three chapters, last chapter, and synopsis to the coordinator on or before April 4, 2012 for final judging.
The winners will be announced on May 2, 2011.
Notification
The finalists will be announced on the The Western Escape Freewill blog page and Decadent Publishing’s Facebook page, on Mar 7th.
FIRST PLACE: The first place winner will be offered a publication contract from Decadent Publishing, including a detailed edit by the Western Escape team and a custom cover designed especially for the work. In addition, Decadent will provide a blog tour designed to help market the winning title.
SECOND PLACE: The second place winner will be considered for a contract from Decadent Publishing and will receive a detailed critique of the full manuscript by best-selling author Desiree Holt. Ms. Holt, an award winning author of erotic romance with more than one hundred titles to her credit, has graciously written one of the founding stories of the Western Escape line.
THIRD PLACE: The third place winner will receive the possibility of a contract from Decadent Publishing and a detailed edit of the first three chapters by a member of the Western Escape editorial team.
Additional Prizes:
One random winner will receive a content critique from erotic romance author Ann Mayburn. Ann is a Western Escape launch author and a shooting star herself, who has quickly become a recognizable name and talent in the romance world.
One entry for every twenty participants will be selected by random drawing to receive a collection of the Western Escape launch eBooks from authors Desiree Holt, Ann Mayburn, Camryn Rhys, and Barbara Sheridan.
All winners will be announced on the Western Escape blog site and on Decadent Publishing’s Facebook page.
IMPORTANT!
Understand that by entering you are stating that:
1. You have read, understand, and agree to abide by the rules of the Western Escape competition.
2. You understand that contest judging is subjective, and that the decisions of the judges will be final.
3. You agree to be bound by the judges’ decisions and by the contest officials’ decisions, regarding any question or dispute arising from or relating to the contest, the interpretation of official rules, and any other matters relating to the contest, not specifically covered by the official rules.
4. In the event of any dispute arising from or relating to this contest, you agree to defend and hold harmless Decadent Publishing, contest personnel, and judges from any and all liability.
5.You understand that failure to agree to the above terms automatically disqualifies your entry.
---This contest is for published and non-published authors. If you have any questions feel free to PM me---