Category Archives: Contests

2022 Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

March 30, 2022Contests, Publishing Opportunity$1000, $10K, Authors, Award, Book, books, Categories, Commentary, Feature Article, Fiction, Guidelines, Judges, Middle Grade, Monetary, Monetary Prize, Non-Fiction, Paid, Pitch Slam, Promotion, Published, Self-Published, Stories, Submission, Subrscription, Trip, Tutorials, Writer's Digest, Writer's Digest Annual Conference, Writers, Young Adultpdpabst

Self-published writers are often left out in the cold, struggling to market and promote their books. But every so often, there is an event to help them get noticed. The Published Book Awards via Writer’s Digest is such an event. Here is what is up for grabs:

GRAND PRIZE:

$10,000 in cash
An interview with writer for the March/April 2023 issue of Writer’s Digest
A paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a coveted Pitch Slam slot
Publication of an excerpt from the writer’s winning book on WritersDigest.com

FIRST PRIZE:

$1,000 in cash
Promotion of writer and their winning book the March/April 2023 issue of Writer’s Digest

BOTH WILL RECEIVE:

Be featured on the Writer’s Digest website
One year subscription to Writer’s Digest Tutorials
20% discount off of purchases made at Writer’s Digest University
A special graphic recognizing their winning status

Honorable Mention Winners will receive promotion on http://www.writersdigest.com and a special graphic for use in promoting their win. All entrants will receive a brief commentary from one of the judges. Be sure to check out the categories, guidelines, and submission details. Deadline is April 1, 2022.

As always, good luck.

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Harlequin Romance Pitch Event, So you Think You Can Write

March 27, 2022Contests, Pitch EventDiverse Stories, Diversity, Harlequin, Manuscripts, Publishing, Romance, So You Think You Can Write, Twitter, Writingpdpabst

Harlequin is hosting a Twitter Pitch event on March 30th, 2022 from 9am-5pm EST. They are looking for diverse voices and diverse stories in Romance. Be sure to include the hashtag #RomanceIncludesYou. If they are interested in your story, they will like your pitch. Then, they usually request a synopsis and first three chapters. Please understand you manuscript should be completed and polished because if they like the chapters, they will request the full. For complete details, go here.

Good luck!

P.D. Pabst

Oregon Literary Fellowship FY 2020

July 31, 2021Contests, Fellowship, LiteraryAuthors, Award, Categories, Develop, Entry, Guidelines, Information, Literary Arts, Literary Magazines, Magazines, Manuscript, Monetary Prize, Oregon, Oregon Literary Fellowships, Project, Publishers, Rules, Small Presses, Sponsored, Stories, Submission, Submit, Writers, Writingpdpabst

Oregon Literary Fellowships are intended to help Oregon writers initiate, develop, or complete literary projects. Fellowships are also awarded to support Oregon’s independent publishers, small presses, and literary magazines. Monetary prizes for the fellowships range around $3500 and $10,000 with several being given out in various categories.

This fellowship is sponsored by Literary Arts with a deadline of September 17, 2021. And though being a resident of Oregon is one requirement, be sure to read the entire guidelines and categories before entering.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Bath Children’s Novel Award

July 20, 2021Contests, Literary#WritingCommunity, agent, Authors, コンテスト, ประกวด, Bath Children's Novel Award, Bell Lomax Moreton Agency, Book Deal, books, Competition, Concorso, Concours, Concurs, Concurso, Contract, Cornerstone Literary Consultany, Course, Cuộc thi, Deal, Конкурс, Edit Your Novel the Professional Way, editor, Entry, 경연 대회, Guidelines, Gystadleuaeth, Independently, Information, International, Διαγωνισμό, Jane Brittan, Judge, kampf, Keppni, Kilpailu, Konkurrence, Konkurs, Kontes, Lauren Gardner, Learning, Longlisted, Lucy Van Smit, Macmillan, Manuscripts, Monetary Prize, Natjecanje, Novelists, Opportunity, Orphans of the Tide, paligsahan, Particpant, Penguin Random House, Published, Publishing, Rules, Sallyanne Sweeney, Shortlistee, Six Figure Deal, Sophie Cameron, Soutěž, Stories, Struan Murray, Submissions, Submit, Tävling, United Kingdom, Unpublished, مسابقه, Verseny, Wedstrijd, Wedstryd, Winners, Writers, Yarışması, 比賽, 比赛, المسابقهpdpabst

The Bath Children’s Novel Award is an international writing competition for unpublished and independently published novelists. This years judge is literary agent Stephanie Thwaites of Curtis Brown literary agency. The winner will receive £3,000 (approximately $2168 USD). And the most promising longlisted novel will recieve the Edit Your Novel the Professional Way from Cornerstones Literary Consultancy.

Some of the past participants and winners have gone on to getting agents and/or publishing deals. Inaugural winner Lucy Van Smit was swiftly signed by literary agent Sallyanne Sweeney. Jane Brittan attracted a Carnegie Medal nomination for her indie-published debut. Shortlistee Sophie Cameron signed a book deal with Macmillan Children’s after accepting representation with literary agent Hellie Ogden for her YA novel Out of the Blue. Struan Murray signed a six figure deal with Penguin Random House for his novel Orphans of the Tide.

Entry for the award ends November 30, 2021 (and remember, this is UK time zone)! For complete guidelines and entry fee information, go here. As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

#SFFpit Twitter Pitch Contest

January 18, 2021Contests#OwnVoices, #SFFpit, Age Group, Agency, Agents, Authors, コンテスト, ประกวด, Category, Concorso, Concours, Concurs, Concurso, Contemporary, Cuộc thi, Dan Koboldt, Конкурс, Editors, Epic, Event, 경연 대회, Fantasy, Favorite, Gystadleuaeth, Hashtag, Historical, Horror, Διαγωνισμό, kampf, Keppni, Kilpailu, Konkurrence, Konkurs, Kontes, LGBTQ, Magical Realism, Manuscripts, Multicultural, Mythic, Natjecanje, Opportunity, paligsahan, Paranormal, People of Color, Pitch, Pitching, Publishing, Sci-Fi, Science Fiction, Soutěž, Space Opera, Steam Punk, Tävling, Tweet, Twitter, مسابقه, Verseny, Wedstrijd, Wedstryd, Writers, Writing, Yarışması, 比賽, 比赛, المسابقهpdpabst

It’s that time of year again for science fiction and fantasy writers to polish their pitches for Dan Koboldt’s #SFFpit writing contest on twitter! It runs on February 3, 2021 between 8am-6pm EST. This contest allows 10 pitches total (one per hour), so use them wisely! As usual, it needs to be a 280 character pitch for twitter including the hashtag #SFFpit. For all the rules, including how to properly insert the age group and category, go here. And remember to research any agents or editors that favorite your tweet because ANY ONE can trawl the feed!

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group Pitching Contest on Twitter

January 11, 2021Contests#ISWG, #ISWGPit, AB Literary, Adult, Aevitas Creative, Agents, Authors, コンテスト, ประกวด, books, Britt Siess Creative Managemnet, City Owl Press, Concorso, Concours, Concurs, Concurso, Cuộc thi, Dystel Goderich & Bourret, Конкурс, Editors, 경연 대회, Fiction, Guidelines, Gystadleuaeth, Insecure Writer's Support Group, Διαγωνισμό, kampf, Keppni, Kilpailu, Konkurrence, Konkurs, Kontes, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, Natjecanje, Non-Fiction, Opportunity, paligsahan, Pitch Event, Pitching, Publishing, research, Soutěž, Stories, Submissions, Submitting, Tävling, The Seymour Agency, The Unter Agency, Thompson LIterary Agency, Trident Media Group, مسابقه, Verseny, Wedstrijd, Wedstryd, Writers, Yarışması, Young Adult, 比賽, 比赛, المسابقهpdpabst

Insecure Writer’s Support Group is hosting a twitter pitching contest on January 20, 2021 from 8am-8pm EST. This is for completed and polished manuscripts only! Be sure to pitch only once per hour and include the hashtag #IWSGPit. (As with all pitching events, do NOT fave a pitch unless you are a literary agent or publishing editor.)

There has been some chatter about this being a newer pitching event and caution due to no participating agents listed. However, I can assure you that legitimate agents and editors participated in their previous pitch event. Some of them were:

Samantha Wekstein, literary agent from Thompson Literary Agency
Erica Bauman, literary agent from Aevitas Creative
Jennifer Wills and Lynnette Novak, literary agents from The Seymour Agency
Sharon Pelletier and Ann Leslie Tuttle, literary agent form Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret
Mary Cain, associate editor from City Owl Press
Mark Gottlieb, Literary agent from Trident Media
Annie Bomke, kiteraryagent from AB Literary
Jen Nadol, associate literary agent from The Unter Agency
Britt Siess, literary agent from Britt Siess Creative Management
And several more!

Like all pitch events, be sure to research the agents or editors that favorite your pitch before submitting your materials. For complete details, go here. And as always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction

The Masters Review Short Story Award for New Writers

January 9, 2021ContestsAuthor, Award, コンテスト, ประกวด, Best, Bold, Canicelli Literary Management, Chances, Compass Tallent, Concorso, Concours, Concurs, Concurso, Cuộc thi, Dazzle, Конкурс, 경연 대회, Fiction, Fletcher & Company, Genre, Guideline, Gystadleuaeth, Helen Oyeyemi, Διαγωνισμό, kampf, Keppni, Kilpailu, Konkurrence, Konkurs, Kontes, Manuscript, Monetary, Natjecanje, New Writers, paligsahan, Plot, Publication, Short Story Award, Sobel Weber, Soutěž, Story, Style, Submission, Tävling, The Bent Agency, The Masters Review, مسابقه, Verseny, Wedstrijd, Wedstryd, Winner, Writer, Writers House, Yarışması, 比賽, 比赛, المسابقهpdpabst

The Masters Review Short Story Aware for New Writers is an annual contest that recognizes the best fiction from today’s emerging writers. This years judge is Helen Oyeyemi. The winning story will be awarded $3000 and publication online. Second and third place stories will be awarded publication and $300 and $200 respectively. All winners and honorable mentions will receive agency review by: Nat Sobel from Sobel Weber, Victoria Cappello from The Bent Agency, Andrea Morrison from Writers House, Sarah Fuentes from Fletcher & Company, Heather Schroder from Compass Talent, and Siohban McBride from Carnicelli Literary Management.

They say they don’t have any preferences topically or in terms of style. They’re simply looking for the best. Also, they don’t define, nor are they interested in, stories identified by their genre. However, they consider themselves a publication that focuses on literary fiction and are looking for stories that dazzle, take chances, are bold — and do so by focusing on more than plot.

You can check out the complete guidelines for submissions and previous winners here. Please note the deadline to enter is January 31, 2021.

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

AUTHOR MENTOR MATCH

January 4, 2021Contests, Mentor ProgramAge Category, Agent Ready, Alexa Donne, Author Mentor Match, Authors, Critique Partners, Feedback, Fiction, Genre, Heather Kaczynski, Manuscript, Mentoring, Middle Grade, Opportunity, Publishing, Query, Stories, Submissions, Synopsis, Writers, Young Adultpdpabst

Author Mentor Match was created by Heather Kaczynski and Alexa Donne. The object is to match new writers with authors further along in the publishing process and gain invaluable mentoring! That’s right, this is an opportunity to get your manuscript critiqued (for free) before submitting to agents!

Authors can select up to four mentors during the submission window which is already opened! Submissions close January 14, 2021. Watch for the mentor BIOS to be posted to learn what age groups and genres they wish to see in their inbox!

Please note there is a two-step process for entering:

Fill out the submission form. (I believe the form will appear during the sub window period.)
Email the proper information to authormentormatch@gmail.com:

A query (pasted in the body of the email!)
The first 50 pages/3 chapters of your novel (whichever is longer & can be attached)
A synopsis

Be sure to include in the subject line the manuscripts Age Category +Genre + Title. (ie: YA Sci-Fi – Mars Plants are the Bomb) on the email submission. And check out the site in order to know how to select the mentors you wish to submit because it isn’t clear quite yet. (I’m guessing this might be part of the submission form.) As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

2021 Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition

December 26, 2020Contests$10000, Author's Agreement, Authors, コンテスト, ประกวด, books, Competition, Concorso, Concours, Concurs, Concurso, Contract, Crime, Cuộc thi, Конкурс, english, 경연 대회, Fiction, Genre, Gystadleuaeth, Διαγωνισμό, kampf, Keppni, Kilpailu, Konkurrence, Konkurs, Kontes, Literary, Macmillan Publishers, Manuscripts, Minotaur Books, Monetary Prize, Murder, Mystery, Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition, Natjecanje, Novel, Opporutinty, Over 18, paligsahan, Publishers, Publishing, Publishing Opportunity$10, Royalties, Soutěž, Stories, Submissions, Tävling, مسابقه, Verseny, Wedstrijd, Wedstryd, Writers, Yarışması, 比賽, 比赛, المسابقهpdpabst

Minotaur Books (Macmillan) and Mystery Writers of America are sponsoring the First Crime Novel Competition. This contest is open to writer’s age 18 and older, who has never been published or under contract to be published with a novel. The submitted manuscript must involve murder or another serious crime or crimes at the heart of the story. The winner will be offered a standard form author’s agreement and a $10,000 advance against future royalties. Submissions must be received by 11:59pm EST on January 1, 2021. For complete rules, go here.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Writer and blogger of MG/YA fiction

L. Ron Hubbard Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contest

December 15, 2020Contests, LiteraryArt, Artists, Artwork, Authors, Award, コンテスト, ประกวด, Concorso, Concours, Concurs, Concurso, Cuộc thi, Конкурс, Entrants, Entries, 경연 대회, Fantasy, Guidelines, Gystadleuaeth, Illustrators, Illustrators of the Future, Διαγωνισμό, Judges, kampf, Keppni, Kilpailu, Konkurrence, Konkurs, Kontes, L. Ron Hubbard, Manuscripts, Monetary Prize, Natjecanje, Nevelettes, paligsahan, Pictures, Prizes, Publication Rights, Science Fiction, Soutěž, Stories, Submissions, Tävling, مسابقه, Verseny, Wedstrijd, Wedstryd, Writers, Writers of the Future, Yarışması, 比賽, 比赛, المسابقهpdpabst

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers and Illustrators of the Future contest entries end at 5pm on December 31, 2020. So, hurry and get your submissions in.

Writers

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new and amateur writers of new short stories or novelettes of science fiction or fantasy. No entry fee is required. Entrants retain all publication rights. All awards are adjudicated by professional writers only. Prizes every three months: $1,000, $750, $500. Those quarterly winners then compete for one annual Grand Prize of $5000! If you have not read the contest rules, please click here before submitting.

Illustrators

L. Ron Hubbard’s Illustrators of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new science fiction and fantasy artists worldwide. No entry fee is required. Entrants retain all publication rights. All judging by professional artists only. Three prizes of $500 are awarded each quarter. Quarterly winners compete for $5,000 additional annual prize! If you have not read the contest rules, please click here before submitting.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

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