Hook, Line and Sinker Contest 2009

2009 HOOK, LINE AND SINKER CONTEST IS CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS.  LOOK FOR THE WINNERS IN JANUARY 2010.

 

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True or false? If the first three pages of your manuscript aren't attention-grabbing the agent or editor will probably stop reading and reject the work. Sad, but TRUE!

Hone your skills in hooking an editor or agent by entering our Hook, Line & Sinker Contest. Three Hudson Valley RWA members, at least one published, will critique the first three pages of your manuscript.  The five entries with the highest scores will be ranked by Harlequin editor BRENDA CHIN.  

In the event of a scoring spread of fifteen points or more between the high and low score, the entry will be sent to a fourth judge and the three high scores will be averaged.  Only the top five scoring entries will be forwarded to the editor for ranking.  In the event of a tie, a fourth judge will act as a tie breaker.

AWARDS
First Place-$50.00, Second Place-$25.00, Third Place-$10.00. Fourth and Fifth Place will receive certificates.  The contest is open to all RWA members, published or unpublished. The contest rules must be followed exactly, including signing the disclaimer and submitting it along with your work.

ENTRY FEE : $10.00.  
PLEASE NOTE:  NON-U.S. RESIDENTS MUST PAY BY BANK MONEY ORDER (U.S. BANKS ONLY) OR BY AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVELERS CHECK. 

Foreign checks, postal orders, money orders or bank checks from foreign banks will not be accepted and the entry disqualified.

PLEASE NOTE : Entries must be mailed to coordinator by regular mail. ENTRIES REQUIRING A SIGNATURE, to confirm delivery, will not be accepted.

CONTEST RULES  

CONTEST ENTRIES ARE LIMITED TO THE FIRST 125 ENTRIES RECEIVED

1. Include a cover page with your name, address, phone number, e-mail and title/genre of your novel. 

2. Enclose four copies of the first three pages of your unpublished, book length novel, double spaced and professionally presented. 

3. Enclose a 9 x 12 SASE with sufficient postage for return of your critiqued pages.  NO metered mail on SASE please!

4. Include a check or money order for $10.00 drawn from a U.S. bank in U.S. funds or American Express Travelers check in U.S. dollars made payable to Hudson Valley RWA. PLEASE NOTE: Foreign checks, postal orders or bank checks from foreign banks will not be accepted and the entry disqualified.  

5. Entries must be postmarked by November 1st of each year.
PLEASE NOTE : Entries must be mailed to coordinator by regular mail.
ENTRIES REQUIRING A SIGNATURE TO CONFIRM DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

6. Send entries to contest coordinator: 

7. Make three copies of score sheet and fill in title and genre on each. 

8. Include one signed disclaimer.  Entries without a signature will not be accepted. 

9. . Winners will be announced in January of each year.  

ANNUAL HOOK, LINE, & SINKER CONTEST SCORE SHEET

Fill out and send three (3) copies of this score sheet

BOOK TITLE__________________________________     GENRE_________________________ 

Scores range from 1-5 for each question. 3 is average, 5 is superior, 50 points maximum.  

1. Is the manuscript presented professionally and free of grammar and spelling mistakes?_______ 

2. Is there a sense of time and place? ________ 

3. Does it have compelling characters and believable dialogue (if any)? ________ 

4. Does it have a intriquing situation? ________ 

5. Is the point of view consistent? Are changes smooth and logical? ________ 

6. Is the writing vivid and evocative? ________ 

7. Is the conflict present or implicit? ________ 

8. Has the writer begun at an interesting place in the story? ________ 

9. Has the writer avoided unnecessary details? ________ 

10. Do these three pages hook the reader? ________ 

TOTAL SCORE ________ 

HUDSON VALLEY CHAPTER RWA

THE ANNUAL HOOK, LINE, & SINKER CONTEST DISCLAIMER

Sign and send one (1) copy of this disclaimer

Hudson Valley Chapter RWA #80 

I am requesting that the enclosed original work be entered in the HOOK, LINE & SINKER CONTEST. I understand that contest judging is subjective and that I may receive critiques from judges with which I do not agree. In consideration of Hudson Valley RWA’s acceptance of my entry, I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the chapter, its officers, members and all judges of said contest from liability for its/their actions arising from, or relating to, the judging and handling of my entry and conducting, sponsoring and advertising this contest.

Agreed to on this______day of ____________ in the year _______________

Full Name (print) ______________________________________________ 

Signature ____________________________________________________