Launching a Star 2008
Rules & Regulations
Deadline: Postmarked or Emailed by September 8th, 2008
Launching a Star 2008
Rules & Regulations
Deadline:
Postmarked or Emailed by September 8th, 2008
1.
The contest is open to any
author unpublished in book-length fiction, or any author who is not considered
PAN-eligible under current RWA rules.
·
Specifically, any author who has
not received $1000 or more, either as an advance or in actual earnings, for any
single work of fiction within the last five years is eligible for this contest.
·
Authors who have been offered or
signed a book-length fiction contract which provides an advance of $1000 or more
by the contest deadline are not eligible.
·
Winning category entries (first
place) from previous years are not eligible. However, a winner may submit a new
entry if all other eligibility requirements are met.
2.
Each entry will consist of the
first chapter of a manuscript, up to a total of twenty-five pages.
Contestants may include a Prologue (if one exists) as long as the total
submission does not exceed twenty-five pages.
3.
The seven categories are:
Historical, General Paranormal, Fantasy/Futuristic Paranormal, Single Title
(Contemporary), Series Contemporary, Young Adult and
Erotic Romance.
4.
All residents of the
continental US must submit paper entries. Residents
of Hawaii and Alaska and those persons residing outside the continental US may
submit their entry electronically as long as the entry complies with the format
guidelines and is MS Word compatible.
5. Each entry must include a completed, signed entry form, plus entry fee. Photocopies of the entry form are acceptable. Electonic signatures are acceptable for electronic entries. Each entry must also include a cover sheet with the entrant's name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (if any), title of entry, and category
6.
Contestants may enter more
than once, but the same manuscript shall not be entered in more than one
category. For example:
a historical novel that has strong YA elements may be entered in the
Historical Category or the YA Category, but not both.
There is no limit to the number of eligible manuscripts an author may
enter. For example:
an author may enter seven different manuscripts, one in each of the seven
different categories. Separate entry
forms, SASE and fees are required for each entry.
7.
Manuscripts should be neatly
typed in size 12 Courier New or Times New Roman font, double spaced, with
1" margins, on one side only of plain white
8 ½” x 11" bond paper. No more than 25 lines per page excluding
header info. Good quality photocopies are acceptable. The name of the
entry, the category and the page number must appear at the top of each page.
THE AUTHOR’S NAME MUST NOT APPEAR ON ANY PORTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT.
Do not staple manuscript pages.
8.
NUMBER OF COPIES:
Electronic entries require only one copy of the manuscript.
Paper submissions require four (4) copies.
Use binder clips, not staples.
9.
FEES: SpacecoasT Authors of
Romance members: $25. Non-members:$30. Check,
money order or payment via PayPal is acceptable.
10.
SASE:
Each entry (except electronic) must include a separate stamped,
self-addressed, TYVEK envelope for the return of the entry. TYVEK
envelopes should be 10x13 or larger. (Cardboard mailers, manilla envelopes,
business-sized envelopes are not acceptable.)
Entries received without SASE will be judged, but will not be returned.
11.
DEADLINE: Entries from residents of
the continental US must be postmarked on or before September 8, 2008, and
received no later than September 15, 2008. Electronic
entries (see Rule #4) must be emailed on or before September 8, 2008, and
received no later than September 10, 2008. Entries
postmarked or emailed after Sept. 8th or received after the above dates, will
not be judged and will be returned. Entrants
should not use any mailing method that requires a signature upon receipt. If
confirmation of receipt is desired, entrants may enclose a self-addressed,
stamped post card.
12.
MAILING INSTRUCTIONS:
For contestants residing
within the continental US, address entries to:
Launching
A Star Contest
c/o Lee Duncan
1823 Laurel Oak Drive South
Rockledge
,
Contestants
residing outside the continental US who choose the electronic entry option:
Attach
entry form with electronic signature, cover sheet and contest material (3
separate attachments – MS .doc or .rtf files only) to an email titled
LAUNCHING A STAR CONTEST and send to: contest@authorsofromance.com
Each file name should
include the category and the name of the manuscript.
Example:
Single Title Manuscript Name App.doc
Single Title Manuscript Name Pages.doc
Single Title Manuscript Name Cover.doc
13.
ENTRY CAP – STAR reserves the right to
cap the number of entries at 175. The
first 175 received entries will be entered into the contest automatically.
Any entries beyond 175 will be numbered and every reasonable effort will
be made to accept them into the contest. However,
if STAR is unable to provide enough trained, experienced jduges to handle the
overflow, entries numbered 176 and above will be returned – unopened – at
STAR’s expense.
14.
NOTIFICATION:
Finalists will be notified by e-mail or telephone by October 28th.
Winners will be notified by email or telephone in mid-December.
The results will be posted on our website (www.authorsofromance.com)
and in RWR.
15.
The overall contest winner will have a star named for them through the
International Star Registry. The
winner of each category will receive an engraved STAR paperweight.
All finalists will receive a certificate.
16.
Frequently Asked Questions –
Please refer to the Contest page of the STAR website (www.authorsofromance.com)
for answers to frequently asked questions.
17.
Should any category fail to
receive a minimum of five entries, that category will be canceled.
Entrants will be given the option of moving their entry into a different
category or having their entries and fees returned.
18.
The preliminary round will be judged by at least two judges, at least one
of whom is published in romance. Unpublished
judges will be experienced contest judges or have completed judges’ training.
Judges are encouraged to provide positive feedback and comments.
19.
Determination of Preliminary Scores:
Scores of the two preliminary judges will be added together to
determine a final score in the preliminary round, as follows:
a + b = final score
20.
Discrepancy Judging:
In the event of a difference of 40 points or more between preliminary
judge scores, a discrepancy judge will also judge the entry.
The scores of all three judges (published, unpublished and discrepancy
judge) will be used to determine the preliminary round score.
If
you have questions, please see our list of Frequently Asked Questions on the
STAR website (www.authorsofromance.com).
If you still have questions, email them to the Contest Coordinator, Lee
Duncan, at contest@authorsofromance.com