MCRW Melody of Love 2008 Rules

Contest is now closed.  Thank you to everyone who submitted, and good luck!

Categories and Final Round Judges:

Contemporary: Holly Root, Waxman Literary Agency
Historical: Leah Hultenschmidt, Dorchester Publishing
Paranormal: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency

• Entry fee for RWA Members: $25 by check; $26.06 by PayPal

• Entry fee for non-RWA Members:  $30 by check; $31.20 by PayPal

• All entries must be received by July 1, 2008 (a Tuesday).

• Entrants must be unpublished and uncontracted in book-length fiction (past 5 years) at time of entry. 

• Questions? Contest Coordinator Jody Wallace: contest (at) mcrw.com

Entry Format and Submission: 

Whether you choose electronic entry or hardcopy entry, your entry must have the following elements:

1) A completed copy of the entry form.  (Print Version)  (Electronic Version)

2) Your manuscript’s first chapter -- no synopsis.  Entries limited to 25 pages max, including prologues.  All entries must be in standard manuscript format -- 12 point standard font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins.  If you send hardcopies, please do not use the "draft" setting on your printer.  Pages must be numbered and include a header which states the title of the manuscript.  Do not include a cover sheet.  Your name should not appear anywhere on the entry.  The specifics for both electronic entries and hardcopy entries will follow.

3) Payment (Via check or PayPal)

4) Coordinator will send emails to confirm receipt of entries.  If you submitted in hardcopy, please allow 2 weeks before you ask coordinator if the entry has been received.  If you submitted electronically, please allow at least 3 working days (ie, not weekends or holidays) before you ask coordinator if the entry has been received.  Email address for queries and questions is contest (at) mcrw.com and the contest coordinator is Jody Wallace.

Additional information for hard copy entries:

• Don't forget to send four copies of each entry, secured with small binder clips.

• Don't forget your SASE with adequate postage for return of contest scores and entries.  If there is insufficient (or metered) postage, contest coordinator reserves the right to return only the scoresheets unless other arrangements are made.  Entrant will be alerted via email to any postage deficiency.  Entries should not be sent via any manner that requires a signature for delivery. (More info about mailing/postage.)    

Additional information for electronic entries:

• Electronic submissions of first chapters go to contest coordinator Jody Wallace.  Email for submissions:  contest (at) mcrw.com

• Your chapter should be in .rtf or Microsoft Word format. 

• Be aware that your name may be in the document properties as the document's creator because of software settings.

• Do not paste the chapter into the body of the email.

• Use a standard font and standard formatting, as described above.

• Your entry will be test-opened upon receipt; if there are any issues, you will be notified. 

Note:  Scoresheets and/or critiques for electronic entries will most likely be emailed back to contestants.  This is our first year to go electronic, so there may be minor glitches.  We appreciate your patience and understanding as we join the modern age!  Rest assured, you will get your feedback, even if some of our judges prefer to print your chapters and we mail comments back to you via USPS.

Another Note: If you submit parts of your entry electronically and parts of your entry as hardcopy, that is fine, but all parts of your entry (chapter, entry form, payment) must be received by July 1, 2008, or your entry will not be counted in the contest.

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Contest limited to 75 total entries, in order of receipt.  The optional subgenres (Fiction w/Romantic Elements; Very Sensual; Inspirational) on entry form are used only to determine the best judges for your work and do not affect scoring or final round editor assignment. 

Judging:  First round judged by trained judges. Final round judged by editors and agents.  All judges’ decisions are final.  Barring unforeseen circumstances, finalists will be announced around the end of 8/08.  Finalists will be notified via e-mail, if e-mail address is provided.  Otherwise, notification will be made via regular mail or telephone.  Finalists will be posted on the MCRW website, http://www.mcrw.com.  First round scores of finalists will be mailed or emailed as soon as possible; finalists will have the option of submitting a revised draft electronically before it is forwarded to the final round judges, with a deadline to be specified at that time.  Other scores will be released within 30 days after the finalists are announced.  Winners will be announced shortly after all final round judges return their scores, usually during the month of 11/08.  Winners in each category receive: 1^st place, $50, certificate, and special prize; 2^nd and 3^rd place, certificate and special prize. 

Entries received from authors who are contracted or published (within 5 years) at time of entry will be disqualified.  No entry may be withdrawn after being submitted to the contest.  Entry fees from disqualified entrants will not be refunded.  Membership status of all entrants who claim RWA membership will be verified with RWA.  For the purpose of this contest, published author is defined as any author who has or has had a book-length work of fiction available for sale in any format, within 5 years of to the contest entry deadline.  This includes traditional publishing, electronic publishing and self publishing.  Contracts for publication offered after the contest deadline will not disqualify any entrant.  Entry fees will be refunded to entrants in any category that does not receive the minimum number of entries.  Any entries over the contest limit of 75, or those received after the due date, will be returned along with the entry fees.

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