September 2017 Contest Roundup

 

So, a crazy thing happened last month… I got a full time job. I haven’t had one of those in at least 20 years. I’ve been mostly working for myself all this time. But hey, it’s a really cool job and it has to do with books (of course it does, that’s why it’s cool) so I couldn’t really pass up the opportunity. I’m now the Branch Librarian at my local Public Library! Needless to say, it has been a super busy month. So, this here Roundup is a tad later than usual. But people have been helping each other in our Sub It Club Support Group and have been sharing those contest opportunities when they come up. Go team!

I know I’m late but holy cow, there are a lot of new opportunities coming up so check them out. And also, check out books at your library! <–shameless plug.

Here’s the upcoming contests in closing date order:

September:

9/15: Inked Voices First Pages – Open to persons of color writing a Young Adult novel related to their own experience. Winner receives a spot in the Online First Pages Workshop with agent John Cusick. Enter via online form.

9/15: #SonofaPitch – Open to Young Adult, New Adult, Adult. Submit your query and the first 250 words of your manuscript. Open to the first 50 entries. Chosen entries will be posted for publisher to peruse.

9/16: Inked Voices First Pages – Open to persons of color writing a Middle Grade novel related to their own experience. Winner receives a spot in the Online First Pages Workshop with agent Susan Hawk. Enter via online form.

9/17: Savvy Authors Pitch days – See individual posts for genres. Post your pitch directly into the comments of each individual pitch post. See rules for pitching. Please research each agent or publisher.

• Ella Marie Shupe, Agent, The Belcastro Agency open to Cozy Mysteries, Thrillers, Suspense, Mystery with romantic elements, Romance- Contemporary and suspense, Young Adult- Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Action/Adventure

•  Lea Schizas, Editor, MuseItUp Publishing open to Paranormal Romance

• Gail Martin, Editor, Passion In Print open to Paranormal, Historical, Mystery & Suspense, Contemporary, Erotic Romance

• Cheryl Yeko, Editor, Soul Mate Publishing open to Romantic Suspense, Sci-Fi Romance, Paranormal Romance

• Char Chaffin, Editor, Soul Mate Publishing open to Historical, Paranormal, Time Travel, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

• Susan Brooks, Editor, Literary Wanderlust open to Mystery, Thriller, Romance sub-genres, Historical Fiction, Western

• Laura Kelly, Editor, The Wild Rose Press, Inc. open to Romance sub-genres, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Mainstream Fiction, Women’s Fiction

• Rhonda Penders, Editor, The Wild Rose Press, Inc. open to Romance, Mainstream Fiction, YA

• Theresa Cole, Editor, Entangled Publishing open to YA, Romance, Paranormal Romance

• Robin Haseltine, Editor, Entangled Publishing open to Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance

• Stephen Morgan, Editor, Entangled Publishing open to YA, Adult Romance

• Kate Brauning, Editor, Entangled Publishing open to YA, NA, Adult

• Karen Grove, Editor, Entangled Publishing open to YA, NA, Adult

• Boroughs Publishing Group open to All Sub-Genres of Romance (not Inspirational)

• Kris Jacen, Editor, MLR Press open to M/M Romance, M/M Historical, M/M Action/Adventure, M/M Paranormal

• Jennifer Herrington, Editor, Lyrical Press open to all genres of Mystery (especially Cozies), Thrillers, Suspense, Sci-Fi, & Historical, Romance and non-romance submissions

• Celia Breslin, Editor, Champagne Books open to Romance, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi Romance

• Margaret Johnston, Editor, Sourcebooks open to Mystery, Literary Thriller, Psychological suspense, Women’s Fic, Historical Fic, Non-fiction, Memoirs

• Tricia Skinner, Agent, Fuse Literary Agency open to YA, Adult, MM

• Mark Gottlieb, Agent, Trident Media Group, LLC open to Fiction, Non-fiction, Children’s, Graphic novel

• Kortney Price, Associate Agent, Holloway Literary Agency open to MG, YA, Adult

• Kelly Peterson, Corvisiero Literary Agency open to MG, YA, NA, Adult

• Jordy Albert, Agent, The Booker Albert Literary Agency open to MG, YA, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance

• Jessica Errera, Agent, Jane Rotrosen Agency open to Commercial Women’s Fiction, YA, Contemporary Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Historical Fiction, Mainstream Fiction

• Dawn Dowdle, Agent at Blue Ridge Literary Agency, LLC open to Romance, Mystery

• Brittany Booker Carter, Agent, Booker Albert Literary Agency open to YA, NA, Adult

• Andrea Somberg, Agent at Harvey Klinger Literary Agency open to Fiction, Children’s, Non-fiction

• Alethea Spiridon, Editorial Director Entangled Publishing open to Historical Romance

9/18 – 22: #TellAMH – Open to unpublished writers looking for agent representation. Pitch your work to the agents of A.M. Heath during their series of themed pitch days. Favorites are an invitation to submit. One winning pitch per genre will be chosen for critique.

• 9/18: Crime/Thriller/Psychological Suspense
• 9/19: Historical Fiction
• 9/20: Women’s Fiction
• 9/21: Children’s Fiction (any age group)
• 9/22: Any genre

9/22: AMM Mentee Critique Giveaway – Open to Middle Grade and Young Adult. Enter your name, email, and age category, and genre via form to win a Query + 1^st Page critique.

9/29: Picture Book Prize – Open to unpublished and unagented writer’s picture book text of 800 words or less. First prize winner will be offered a lunch consultation with Julia Churchill of A.M. Heath Literary Agents, a year’s subscription to Writing Magazine, and £200. 2nd and 3rd place prizes are offered as well.

9/30: New Voices Award – Open to picture book manuscripts by unpublished writers of color who reside in the U.S. Fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. “Manuscripts should address the needs of children of color by providing stories with which they can identify and relate, and which promote a greater understanding of one another. Themes relating to non-traditional family structures, gender identity, or disabilities may also be included.”

9/30: Writers of the Future – Open to Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Dark Fantasy up to 17,000 words. 1st prize – $1,000, 2nd prize – $750, 3rd prize of $50 plus an end of the year grand prize of $5,000.

October:

10/1: Inked Voices First Pages – Open to Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy writers of color, or who have a diverse background and are writing a novel related to their experience. Winner receives a spot in the Online First Pages Workshop with agent Eric Smith. Enter via online form.

10/2: #DVPit – Open to Children’s and Teen Fiction and Nonfiction from marginalized voices. Pitch your manuscript via Twitter using the #DVPit hashtag between 8AM – 8PM ET.

10/2: #SonofaPitch – Pitch your manuscript via Twitter using the #sonofapitch hashtag.

10/3: #DVPit – Open to Adult Fiction and Nonfiction from marginalized voices. Pitch your manuscript via Twitter using the #DVPit hashtag between 8AM – 8PM ET.

10/11: Inked Voices First Pages – Open to persons of color writing Middle Grade fiction related to their own experience. Winner receives a spot in the Online First Pages Workshop with agent Tina Wexler. Enter via online form.

10/13: Futurescapes – Open to short fiction up to 8,000 words on the theme “Blue Sky Cities”. 1st place receives $2000. 5 runners up receive $500 each.

10/24: Author Mentor Match – Open to Middle Grade and Young Adult. Submit your query, first 50 pages, and synopsis for the chance to be matched with a mentor.

10/26: #PBPitch – Open to picture books. Pitch your picture book via Twitter using the #PBPitch hashtag from 8am – 8pm EST.

10/26: #PitDark – Open to horror, dark fantasy, murder mystery,, non-fiction works about darker subjects, etc. MG, YA, NA, and Adult. Pitch your manuscript between 8am and 8pm EST using the #PitDark hashtag. See the long list of genre hashtags on the webpage.

10/31: New Visions Award – Open to U.S. writers of color who have not had a middle grade or young adult novel published. Submit via Submittable. Chosen winner to receive $1000 and a publishing contract with advance.

10/?: Nightmare on Query Street – Open to middle grade, young adult, new adult, and adult. All genres. There’s no official date yet but keep your eyes peeled! Approximately 40 entrants are paired with expert mentors. The shined and polished query letter and first 250 words go before agents for requests. Contestants must answer a Halloween-themed question in their submission.

Upcoming

12/1: Blue Mountain Arts 31st Biannual Poetry Card Contest – Open to poetry. “The author gives permission to Blue Mountain Arts, Inc. to publish and display the entry on the Web (in electronic form only) ifthe entry is selected as a winner or finalist.” 1st prize: $350,  2nd prize: $200,  3rd prize: $100.

12/7: #Pitmad Twitter Pitch Party – Open to all genres. Pitch your manuscript via Twitter using the #Pitmad hashtag.

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

Of course, if you know of a great contests that’s not on the Roundup please add it in the comments.