September 2015 Contest Roundup

September means that August in New York (and everywhere else) is over. It’s a good time to get some submissions out there! There are some interesting contests coming up so it might be fun to add one to your submission plans.

Here at Sub It Club, Author Marcie Wessels was kind enough to share the query letter for her book PIRATE’S LULLABY: MUTINY AT BEDTIME and is giving away a signed copy of her book, so be sure to enter to win. All you have to do is leave a comment on the post saying you want to enter. Contest closes 8/31.

Now, onto the writing contests!

August

8/31: Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Awards – Open to residents of Victoria. Enter via form. Categories for short stories, poetry, novella, graphic short story, narrative non-fiction. Category winners receive $1000. Overall winner, $5000.

September:

9/1: The Scholastic Asian Book Award – This contest is open to unpublished manuscripts “written by writers of Asian descent, living in Asia”. Must be a chapter book or novel of no less than 6,000 words.  See the Rules and Regulationsfor details. Top winner will receive a prize of SGD 10,000 and have their manuscript considered by Scholastic Asia for publication. Two runners up will be offered advice by Scholastic Asia on editing their manuscripts to submit for publication.

9/4-6: Write Inclusively – Open to unagented writers with unapologetically diverse novels that involve issues concerning exclusive systems. Submit your Title, Word Count, Genre, System of Oppression, Author’s Identity, Query, and First 250 Words. Agents and an editor are participating.

9/10:  #PitMad – Pitch your completed manuscript on Twitter using the #PitMad hashtag from 8AM – 8PM EDT.

9/14: Picture Book Party – Enter your submission ready picture book manuscript via email. Entry must include your title, word count, genre, query, and first 50 words. Illustrators may attach one illustration. 15-20 entries will be chosen to move on to the agent round happening September 23-25. OPEN TO THE FIRST 250 ENTRIES ONLY SO YOU WILL WANT TO GET YOURS IN RIGHT ON TIME.

9/21: Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write – Enter you romance novel. Grand prize is a 2-book contract with Harlequin. Entrants must enter via Wattpad and hashtag their entry. See the Contest Categories page. Only one entry per person. See Official Rules for details.

9/25: #PitchCB –  Open to fiction and non-fiction of any genre. Pitch the Curtis Brown and Conville & Walsh agents on Twitter using the #PitchCB hashtag. The pitch window is open for 24 hours. (Do keep in mind that these agencies are in the UK.) Tweet your pitch one time only. Curtis Brown has posted specifics on how to participate.

9/30: Lee & Low New Voices Award – “Open to writers of color who are residents of the United States and who have not previously had a children’s picture book published.” Enter your 1500 word or less fiction, nonfiction, or poetry manuscript for children ages 5-12. Winner receives a publication contract and $1000. Honor Award winner receives $500.

October:

10/31: New Visions Award – Open to MG and YA by writers of color living in the U.S.  “Manuscripts should address the needs of children and teens of color by providing stories with which they can identify and relate, and which promote a greater understanding of one another. Themes relating to LGBTQ+ topics or disabilities may also be included.” Submit your synopsis, first five chapters, and a cover letter. Winner to receive $1000.00 and a standard publishing contract from Tu Books. Honor Award winner to receive $500.00.

10/?: Nightmare on Query Street – This contest from Michelle Hauck is all about fear. Last year entrants had to write a paragraph about their characters most fearsome obstacle. More info to come on this contest.

Upcoming:

12/4: #PitMad – Pitch your completed manuscript on Twitter using the #PitMad hashtag from 8AM – 8PM EDT.

12/? #SFFPit  – Pitch your Science Fiction and Fantasy on Twitter using the #SFFPit hashtag. Open to picture books, middle grade, young adult, new adult, and adult works.

If you know of another great contest please leave a link to it in the comments!