Writing Contests

[Rita Gerlach]

I've been doing an online search for writing contests for full-length historical fiction. I have found lots of contests for romance through RWA chapters, but nothing for historical fiction. I'm not sure about submitting to any of the RWA ones that accept entries referred to as 'historicals' since they will be looking for steamy romance.

Any suggestions?

Rita Gerlach

Homepage: http://www.freewebs.com/ritagerlach/index.htm

Stepping Stones Magazine for Writers: http://www.freewebs.com/steppingstonesforwriters/index.htm

Favorites
Inspire / The Musings of a Historical Fiction Writer: http://inspire-writer.blogspot.com/
The Dash: http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/

[Emily Bryan]

Hi Rita,

I will tell you that my first submission to a RWA contest was not a romance and the readers immediately tagged it as a straight historical. There are specific reader expectations in every genre and we ignore them at our peril. You might try googling literary fiction writing contests and see if any of them have historical categories.

Best,
Em
www.emilybryan.com
DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS, "A colorful, charming tale,"~PUblishers Weekly
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VEXING THE VISCOUNT, coming March 2009

[Rita Gerlach]

Good idea.

I live in Maryland, and every year the Maryland Writers Association has a contest. I think I will enter that one. But I'd much rather 'win' a publishing contract!

Rita

Homepage: http://www.freewebs.com/ritagerlach/index.htm

Stepping Stones Magazine for Writers: http://www.freewebs.com/steppingstonesforwriters/index.htm

Favorites
Inspire / The Musings of a Historical Fiction Writer: http://inspire-writer.blogspot.com/
The Dash: http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/

[Emily Bryan]

Contest wins can lead to a publishing contract. My contest wins caught the eye of an agent, who then sold my manuscript. Publishing is such a subjective business. If someone else likes your work, it gives an editor or agent an excuse to take a chance on a newbie.

Good luck,
Em
www.emilybryan.com

[Gina]

I asked this question once..if I should contiune to enter contests(which I'm paying for Writers Digest etc.) or if I should just write my manuscript. I was told by the vast majority write my manuscript. So its what I"m doing. I have no doubt contests can be good, but for HF writers it seems to be hard to get any attention.

[Emily Bryan]

One of the benefits of contests is the potential for making a sale. If the final judging is being done by an editor whose eye you'd like to catch, it can be worth the entry fee. However, it's best not to enter your manuscript in a contest until it's complete. What would you do if you got a request for the full from the editor of your dreams and you only had three chapters finished?

So, my best recommendation is:
Finish the manuscript. You have nothing to sell until you do. Then while you begin work on the next one, send the finished manuscript around to as many contests as seem beneficial you. Once you have some wins or even finals, put that in your query when you write to agents or editors. Good luck!

[Gina]

I wouldnt send in my manuscript while unfinished.

It was short story contests that I was entering. Though that seemed to get me nowhere because the judges, it seemed to me, wanted modern fiction. That's something I just don't do.

[Emily Bryan]

I wonder what pops up if you google "mainstream novel length fiction contest"? Such a contest might have a historical category. Just a thought

Em
www.emilybryan.com