Download Score Sheet      See Past Winners 2012 SOUTHERN HEAT WRITING CONTEST Contest opens Feb. 14, 2012 with entry deadline March 31, 2012 ELECTRONIC ENTRIES ONLY Entries include the FIRST 15 PAGES plus a 5-page max double-spaced SYNOPSIS. Entry Fee: Members of RWA-ETC $20 Members of RWA $25 Non-Members $30 PAY FEE PAYPAL is NOT giving an "options box" for entering your name/title as anticipated.  Please just let the coordinator know which name and/or email address you used at paypal -- we've had no trouble matching up entries with names so far. :)  Thanks! Categories: (listed with Final Round Judges) Help! Which Category Should I Enter? Final Round Judges Paranormal  -  Ethan Ellenberg  -  Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency Ann Leslie Tuttle - Senior Editor, Harlequin Paranormal Historical -  Courtney Miller-Callihan – Sanford J. Greenburger Associates Laura Bradford – Bradford Literary Agency Contemporary Single Title – Rebecca Strause – McIntosh & Otis, Inc. Rhonda Penders – The Wild Rose Press Inspirational - Mary Sue Seymour – The Seymour Agency Melissa Endlich - Senior Editor, Harlequin Inspirational Contemporary Series - Nicole Resciniti– The Seymour Agency Alicia Condon – Kensington Books Romantic Suspense – Aubrey Poole – Sourcebook                     Maria Carvainis – Maria Carvainis Agency, Inc. Contest Timeline: March 31, 2012 Entry and Fee Payment Deadline May 15, 2012 Finalists contacted by Phone and/or Email June 2012 Non-finalist score sheets returned July 15, 2012 Winners announced After July 15, 2012 Finalist score sheets returned Questions? Contact Carol Braswell, Contest Coordinator: cbraswell2@netzero.net Contest Rules: Competition for the Southern Heat is open to both published and unpublished writers, which simulates the real world of publishing. Unpublished authors may enter in any category as long as they are not contracted to a publisher by March 31, 2012. Published authors may enter only in a category in which they have not published in the past five years.  **For entrants, "published" = RWA recognized/PAN-eligible only.  We would like as many people to be able to enter as possible.  If you are not PAN or PAN-eligible, according to RWA National's guidelines, then you are free to enter any category.  For questions, contact the Contest Coordinator. Entries may be limited to the first 30 submissions in each category. Participants may enter as many manuscripts as they wish, including multiple entries per category.  However, entrants may not enter the same manuscript in two different categories.  Each entry must be accompanied by the appropriate fee and separate entry form. Each entry should include: - First (fifteen) 15 pages of your manuscript, including a prologue, if applicable - Double-spaced, judged synopsis of five (5) pages max Entry pages must be double-spaced with one inch margins all around and in 12 pt Courier New or Times New Roman font. At the top of each manuscript page in the header, place the following information: Left side header: - Title - Category Entered Right side header: - Page Number Your name should NOT appear anywhere on the entry pages. This is mandatory. First Round Judging: Every effort will be made to have two published judges for each entry. Judges will be given a comprehensive score sheet to use. They are encouraged to comment on both the score sheet and the manuscript. For electronic entries, comments are inserted and highlighted. Bonus points on the score sheet will be used as tie-breakers. A discrepancy judge will be used for any entry whose two scores differ by at least 25 points when one of those scores is at least 85 percent of the total points possible. Final judging for each category will be performed by both an editor and an agent, wherever possible. The decision of the judges is final. Electronic Submissions: Fill out the Southern Heat Entry Form with all the required information, including your name typed at the bottom. This constitutes your electronic signature. Save your entry form file as a Word .doc file using the name “EntryForm_Your Name_Category” Prepare your manuscript according to the contest format. Save your first 15 pages and synopsis TOGETHER in ONE file as an RTF (rich text format) file using the name “Title_Your Name_ Category.” On the subject line of the email message with your submission, enter “Title_Your Name_Category” Attach your entry form and manuscript and submit to the Southern Heat Contest Coordinator at: cbraswell2@netzero.net Entrants must submit their fee payment at the same time as their entry. Payment will be verified before the entry is allowed into the contest. Please consider the deadline of March 31, 2012 when determining your entry date and form of payment. PayPal payment of entry fee: Use the “Pay Fee” links provided above. In the PayPal options box, enter your Name, Entry Title, and Contest Category in which the entry should be judged. This is important, so that your entry is marked as paid. Once receipt of the payment is verified, the Contest Coordinator will contact you via e-mail confirming your submission into the Southern Heat Contest. Check payment of entry fee: Please make checks payable to RWA-ETC for the appropriate fee. Send checks to RWA-ETC, P.O. Box 131322, Tyler, Texas 75713. Allow sufficient time for the Contest Chair to receive your payment. Include a printed signed copy of the entry form. (Do not submit paper manuscript entries.)  Once your payment is received, the Contest Coordinator will contact you via e-mail confirming your submission into the Southern Heat Contest. All entries must be received by the Southern Heat Contest deadline, March 31, 2012. Entries received after the deadline will not be considered. If you have questions, please contact the Contest Coordinator at: cbraswell2@netzero.net Best of Luck!!