As an aspiring writer, I admit I have caught contest fever from time to time. This fall, I entered a few, won one, and received two requests for full manuscripts. But even when I did not win, I felt it was money and time well spent because each contest judge returned my pages with their comments and thoughts on how to improve my writing. I dare say I was grateful and eager to return the favor. So what did I do? I volunteered to coordinate the 2011 Royal Ascot.
If you read or write Regencies, or if you love horse racing, you might be familiar with the Royal Ascot. But you might be surprised to learn it is more than race between thoroughbreds. The Royal Ascot is a contest devoted to the promotion of Regency Romances by encouraging the development of authors who set stories in the Regency Period. And this year, the contest will be different compared to past years.
What is new for the 2011 Royal Ascot?
* Categories will only be used for first round judging. Six finalists will be determined based on highest score.
* Trained first round judges.
* Six finalists will be sent to a panel of final round judges, all agents and editors. The final round judges will rank each of the six finalists from 1st place to 6th place. The total of all the rankings will be added and the lowest ranking entry will win the $100 grand prize and a certificate. No other rankings will be given, however each finalist will receive a $25 cash prize and a certificate. The entrants will receive their final score, but information regarding which judges gave which score will not be given.
* Entry length limited to 7,000 words (determined by computer word count) from the beginning of the manuscript. An optional 500 word synopsis may be included.
* Final Round Judges Panel include:
o Selina McLemore, Senior Editor at Grand Central Publishing
o Jessica Faust, Bookends Literary Agency
o Kevan Lyon, Marshall Lyon Literary Agency
o Elizabeth Bistrow, Editor at NAL
o Deborah Nemeth, Editor at Carina Press
o Rebecca Strauss, McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency
So if you write Regencies (broadly defined as within the United Kingdom between 1780 and 1840), this is the contest to enter. The deadline is April 1st and finalists will be announced the first week in May. If you do not write stories at least partially set in this time period, please help us spread the word to your friends, critique partners and writer’s groups.
For more information, please visit: http://www.thebeaumonde.com/royalascot/.
Sarah-
You’ve convinced me to give the RA a go.
Angel
What a fantastic concept for a contest!