~ By Mary E. Thompson
You’ve been working hard. Now it’s time to get rewarded. Enter your unpublished manuscript in the 2018 Stiletto Contest now!
I know, I know, it’s another contest. What’s the big deal?
Well, first of all, any author can enter. Yes, that’s right. You, published author, you can enter the unpublished book you’ve been sitting on. The first book in that series you’re debating on publishing but can’t decide. Yep, submit it.
That doesn’t mean unpublished authors are at a disadvantage. Nope. You’ve been working on your book for a long time. You’ve taken the same workshops and read the same advice. You’ve worked hard. Send your entry in.
There are some rules, which you can read here, but trust me when I say you don’t want to miss this one.
Have you seen our list of agents and editors?
If you missed the Facebook quiz, then you don’t know that Contemporary Long was the category most requested by editors. Who won that coveted honor and all the others?
Contemporary Long: Deb Werksman, Editorial Director @ Sourcebooks Casablance
Contemporary Mid: Sara Megibow, Agent @ KTLiterary + Stephanie Doig, Assistant Editor @ Harlequin’s Carina press
Contemporary Short/Novella: Nicole Payne, Agent @ Golden Wheat Literary + Rhonda Pender, Editor-in-Chief @ The Wild Rose Press
Suspense/Mystery: Sarah Blumenstock, Penguin Random House
New Adult: Kaitlyn Johnson, Junior Agent @ Corvisiero Literary Agency + Melissa Keir, Editor @ Inkspell Publishing
Young Adult: Kaitlyn Johnson, Junior Agent @ Corvisiero Literary Agency
Wow, just wow. I told you that you wouldn’t want to miss out!
What about the feedback?
Every entry will be judged by five first round judges. These are RWA members that are PAN, PRO, or General members. Feel free to check out the score sheets (at the bottom of the page). Every score that is below 4.0 requires a comment. Which means every single time a judge thought you missed a mark, you’ll find out exactly why and be able to improve your story.
Finalists will have a week to review the comments made by first round judges before submitting their entry to the final round judges. So all that feedback can help you make your submission that much better!
Still not convinced?
Maybe it helps to know we’re low on all entries. The Stiletto Contest closed Friday, April 13. That’s not long! Every category has plenty of space to accept you. Come on, you know you want to enter. You have a great story. It’s time to share it with the world. You never know where it could lead!
Ready to enter: Read all the rules for the 2018 Stiletto Contest then enter today! While you’re at it, grab your ticket to the Stiletto Party on Friday, July 20 at RWA Nationals in Denver! We’ll see you there!
Mary E. Thompson writes scintillating stories with a side of hope. She reenergizes every year with a trip to Nationals, and every month at her local chapter meeting. When Mary isn’t writing, she cheers on her daughter at gymnastics and her son at every other sport. Mary is lucky to have her own romance novel worthy husband to tag-team if things get too crazy. Visit her website to learn more.