Okay, so there are imprints with Harlequin that you can continue to sub your juicy romance novels. But the Ooooh..Canada Romance Subs get to bypass the slush pile through September 12th, 2016! Thus, if you’ve written an unputdownable manuscript with a Canadian hero, this is nearly your final call.
You’ll need to send your first chapter and a 3-7 page synopsis to Harlequin’s Ooooh…Canada Blitz. And as always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction
Pitch Slam is a great contest where writers can find agents for their manuscript. For this game the theme is Star Wars. Oh what Fun! During this event, there will be a mini critique available before the agent round. What do I mean by mini? Well, let me tell you writerly friends! You’ll have an opportunity to have your 35 word pitch and first 250 words honed (in order to be eye catching) before they go live for agents to make their selections. Below is a calendar of the events.
Be sure to check out the complete guidelines here and the participating Jedi Council, er the agents. Take note to the submission stages so you don’t miss one of the rounds. And as always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.
While Sourcebooks only accepts virtually all agented submissions, they’re doors are wide open for romance fiction subs—even from unagented writers! They are acquiring single-title romance fiction for their Casablanca imprint. Some of the subgenres they’ll accept are:
Please note, this is not an exclusive list as they state they’ll consider all subgenres. The manuscripts they’re looking for should be between 85,000-100,000 words. For complete criteria and to learn how to submit, go here.
As always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.
Chuck Sambuchino announced Writer’s Digest is hosting the 22nd “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest. The agent judge is ANDREA MORRISON of Writers House.
She started as an intern for Steve Malk in the California office in 2009, and has been in love with publishing and the company ever since. In NYC, she first learned under Brianne Johnson, and then went on to assist Rebecca Sherman and Geri Thoma. For this contest, she’ll want the first 150-250 words (i.e., your first double-spaced page) of your unpublished, completed book-length work of young adult (no high sci-fi or high fantasy, please). You must include a contact e-mail address with your entry and use your real name. Also, submit the title of the work and a logline (one-sentence description of the work) with each entry.
Please note, in order to be eligible to submit, you must mention this contest twice through any social-media. The contest will be live through the end of August 24, 2016, PST. Be sure to read all the contest guidelines before entering.
As always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.
This contest will feature the first 500 words and the 35 word pitch of completed and polished manuscripts written by Latinx authors. This is a diversity contest with many well known agents and editors participating.
Submissions open on August 16 at midnight EDT and close on August 17, 2016 at 11:59 EDT. Please check out the website for complete guidelines.
As always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.
Since Peter Knapp returned to Park Literary & Media, he has decided to give critiques to all middle grade and young adult submissions received before Tuesday, August 16th at 5pm ET that follow his guidelines. NOTE: This is NOT open to queries or submissions he has previously seen. No exceptions.
Be prepared to paste the first three chapters of your manuscript with your query. In the subject line put “Query – Peter Knapp – August 2016 Feedback Giveaway – [category + genre of your book]” (for example, “Query – Peter Knapp – August 2016 Feedback Giveaway – MG Historical”). Remember, this is only for COMPLETED manuscripts. To make sure your submission does not get deleted, be sure to follow Peter’s entire guidelines.
As always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.
Holy-moly! It’s another picture book contest in less than a month. Things are looking up for the PB writers and illustrators, indeed. On July 10th, 20016 Michelle Hauck and Sharon Chriscoe will co-host a Picture Book Party. Submission will open at noon EST and will close when 250 entrants have been received. You need to have a completed and polished PB manuscript and illustrations are encouraged to be submitted (if you’re an illustrator). The agent round will be between July 20-22, 2016. Be sure to checkout the complete guidelines on the website. You can also follow helpful hints for all writers on the twitter hashtag #PBParty.
As always, good luck.
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.
The University of Pittsburgh Press announces the 2017 Drue Heinz Literature Prize for a collection of short fiction. The prize carries a cash award of $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press under its standard contract. The winner will be announced in December (2016) or January (2017). No information about the winner will be released before the official announcement. The volume of manuscripts prevents the Press from offering critiques or entering into communication or correspondence about manuscripts. Please do not call or e-mail the Press.
The award is open to writers who have published a novel or a book-length collection of fiction with a reputable book publisher, or a minimum of three short stories or novellas in magazines or journals of national distribution. Digital-only publication and self-publication do not count toward this requirement.
Eligible submissions include an unpublished manuscript of short stories; two or more novellas (a novella may comprise a maximum of 130 double-spaced typed pages); or a combination of one or more novellas and short stories. Novellas are only accepted as part of a larger collection. Manuscripts may be no fewer than 150 and no more than 300 typed pages. Prior publication of your manuscript as a whole in any format (including electronic) makes it ineligible.
Manuscripts must be received during May and June 2016. That is, they must be postmarked on or after May 1 and on or before June 30. (That’s right, these are mailed submissions.)
As always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.
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 starts tomorrow June 23, 2016 between 8am-6pm EST. This contest allows 10 pitches total and Dan asks that you use them wisely! As usual, it needs to be a 140 character pitch for twitter and includes 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.
In partnership with We Need Diverse Books Penguin Young Readers celebrates 40 years of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor by launching a debut children’s fiction contest to find talented, ethnically diverse authors writing for readers ages 8-14.
The deadline to enter is June 21, 2016 at 11:59pm. Open to people of color (or those who self-identify as other than white) who are residents of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories and possessions, aged 18 and older.
Submit your manuscript (25,000-75,000 words) for a book about diversity for ages 8-14 and you could receive a publishing contract from Penguin Random House LLC with an advance of $35,000, plus royalties!
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