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SOUTHERN HEAT 2007 CONTEST RULES

Categories:

• Mainstream/Single Title – final judge Tessa Woodward of Harper Collins
• Historical – final judge Faith Black of Avalon
• Long Contemporary – final judge Paula Eykelhof of Harlequin
• Short Contemporary – final judge Agent Laura Bradford
• Paranormal – final judge Angela James of Samhain
• Erotica – Nick Conrad of Ellora’s Cave
• Inspirational – Melissa Endlich of Steeple Hill.

First round judges are published authors.

Deadlines:

• Entrants have the option of entering electronically or by mail.
• Mailed entry must be received by OCTOBER 26, 2007.
• Electronic entry must be received by OCTOBER 22, 2007, midnight central time.
• Entries received after judging packets have been finalized will be returned unopened.
• Electronic entry fees will be processed through Pay Pal, but an entry form must be mailed and received by OCTOBER 26, 2007.
• International entrants must enter electronically.

Entry Fee:

Payments for electronic and mailed entries may be received either through Pay Pal or check/money order with their RWA # noted on payment, made payable to RWA-ETC.  All payments and forms must be received by OCTOBER 26, 2007.

Entry Fees are as follow: East Texas Chapter members $20,  RWA members $25, Non-RWA members $30.  Checks and money orders must be in U.S. dollars and are non-refundable.

Do not send your entry via any means that require a receiving signature.

Verification of receipt will be made via the email address included on entry form.

Entry fee can be paid via paypal or all major credit cards here

Eligibility:

• You must be unpublished within the last 5 years in the category in which you are entered. Published authors may enter in a category in which they are unpublished and not under contract.
• Your entry must be unpublished at the time of submission deadline.
• You may enter multiple times in as many categories as you like. However, do not enter the same entry in more than one category.
• Previous first place winners may not re-enter the winning entry, even in edited formatted.

Format:

• 8 ½ “x 11” good quality bond (16-20#) paper, white and unlined.
• 1” margins all around (first page of chapters begin 1/3 – 1/2 the way down the page).
• Typewritten or good quality computer printer (no perforated edges).
• Double-spaced, one sided pages (including synopsis).
• One standard font throughout (no script, italics, or boldface, superscript, etc., for main body of manuscript). We suggest Courier New 12 point or Times New Roman 14 point.
• Photocopies are acceptable if they are of good quality and easily read.

Submission Requirements:

• One Cover Sheet must be on top of manuscript and synopsis copies with the following information.
• ____Author’s REAL NAME (not to appear on any other pages except entry form)
• ____Address
• ____Telephone numbers
• ____E-mail address
• ____Title of submission
• ____Category entered
• ____Approximate word count of entire manuscript

Synopsis:

• ____Five (5) copies double –spaced, and no longer than five (5) pages maximum.
• ____Header on each page: Title of manuscript should appear in the left hand corner along with category entered.
• ____Name should NOT appear anywhere on the synopsis.

Manuscript:

• ____Five (5) copies of the first ten (10) pages of manuscript, double-spaced, separated from synopsis by a sheet of colored paper.
• ____Header on each page of manuscript (title and category entered in the upper left hand corner).
• ____Pages numbered sequentially (double check for missing pages before mailing). Page number should appear in the right-hand corner of each page.
• ____Name should NOT appear anywhere on the manuscript.

Binding:

• ____Bind each copy of manuscript/synopsis with a small or medium size binder clip or a large paper clip. DO NOT USE staples, rubber bands, or small paper clips
• ____Place cover page on top of combined sets of manuscripts/synopsis pages.

Mailing:

• ____For each entry: Include a self-addressed USPS PRIORITY MAIL, TYVEK ENVELOPE (available free at post office) with sufficient stamp (not metered) postage to RETURN your copies and judging sheets. Insufficient postage attached may result in entry pages not being returned.
• ____Self-addressed stamped postcard (optional) may be included for notification of receipt other than e-mail.
• ____Five copies of manuscript/synopsis bundle with COVER PAGE on top, return Priority Mail SASE, signed and completed entry form/waiver for each entry (unless submitted electronically), then place along with check/money order made out to RWA-ETC with the RWA member number noted on payment, in a USPS PRIORITY MAIL, TYVEK ENVELOPE.
• ____Write category entered in the lower left hand corner of envelope
• ____Send each entry to the correct category coordinator for the category it is entered.
• ____Do not require signature on receipt.

Deadline: 

Must be received by OCTOBER 26, 2007.

Electronic Entry Form and Checklist:

• ____Completed contest form and signed contestant agreement – emailed and received by OCTOBER 22, 2007, midnight central time.____Mailed payment must be received by OCTOBER 26, 2007.
• ____Two RTF files: One with first (10) ten pages of manuscript and one with the        synopsis of no more than five (5) pages.
• ____Please indicate the contest category in your email subject line and include your entry       form in the body of your e-mail or attached as an RTF file.

Judging and Awards:

• Each entry will receive a score sheet from two published authors.
• A third judge will be used for any entry where two scores differ by 15 points or more and has potential of being a finalist. The lowest of the three scores then will be dropped.
• We intend to notify the finalists on their status by phone, mail, or email mid-November 2007.
• Final round entries will be judged by editors or agents.
• The degree and depth of the critique provided is at the discretion of the individual judge.
• Winners will be announced the last week of January 2008.
• Non-finalists entries will be returned after finalists are determined.
• First place winners will receive a review of their complete manuscript by the editor or agent judging the category.
• All other finalists will receive certificates.
• Winners will have their names printed in the RWR.
• Note: First round judging is confidential. The category coordinators will not reveal the names of the judges. At East Texas Chapter discretion, only the score sheets that determined the scores will be returned to the entrant.