SOLA’s
3RD Annual
CONTEST RULES
1. Include a completed Contest Entry, Agreement and Release Form.
Multiple entries are accepted with payment for each entry. Note: Entries without a signature will not be accepted and will be returned.
2. Eligibility limited to those unpublished in book-length fiction by RWA approved publisher in the last 5 years by the deadline date.
3. Enclose 5 copies of the first 5 pages of your unpublished, book-length novel, double-spaced, typed in 12-point Courier or Times New Roman, on white paper (20 or 25 lb. weight), and professionally presented with one inch margins and with a one-line header at the top of each page with title and category on the left, and page number on the right. Include 5 copies of a title page, with your name, address, email address, phone number, target market, first and second choice of categories, and finished manuscript’s word count. Also, include five copies of your one-page, single-spaced synopsis. The synopsis will not be judged. Do not write your name on your entry. Any entries on which a contestant’s name appears will be disqualified and not returned. Receipt of your entry will be either sent to your email address or by a SAS post card that should be included with your entry.
4. Enclose a 9 x 12 SASE with sufficient postage for return of your critiqued pages and score sheet. Flat rate priority is suggested.
5. Include a check or money order for $15.00 U.S. dollars made payable to SOLA. Entries without sufficient postage will be discarded.
6. Entries must be received or postmarked by June 2,
2008. Send entries to contest coordinator: N. Genovese, C/O SOLA,
Entries that are mailed as return receipt requested or which require a signature will be rejected. Entries received after the deadline will be marked “return to sender”.
7. If fewer than 5 enter a category, that category will be dropped. Each entry from the dropped category will be placed in the category selected as second choice by the contestant. Categories are: short contemporary, long contemporary, RS, single title contemporary, historical, paranormal, inspirational, and novel with romantic elements.
8. Judging: All entries will be reviewed by 4 published or non-published trained members of RWA. The lowest score will be dropped. In the event of a tie, both entries will be winners.
9. Winners: First, second, and third place winners in each category will be announced on August 30, 2008.
10. Prizes: First place in each category earns a
guaranteed reading by literary agent, Pam Ahern. Second and third place winners
will receive a certificate. First through third place winners will be
posted on our web site and in Romance Writers Report, the official
journal of the Romance Writers of America.