Submissions are now being accepted for the Top of the Mountain Book Award. There are two categories, FICTION and NONFICTION. Please read the submission guidelines carefully.
First Place in each category receives $100 and recognition at the 2012 Northern Colorado Writers Conference and on the NCW website.
4 honorable mentions in each category will receive $25 each.
To Submit your contest entry, pay the $20 entry fee here and then follow the directions below for formatting and submitting the manuscript. If you have any questions feel free to contact us.
Top of the Mountain Book Award FICTION GUIDELINES
Dates of submission: December 20 – February 15, 2012
• The contest is open to unpublished novel-length fiction of any genre. No self-published, electronically published, or screenplays.
• Submissions must be author’s original work and not under contract for publication as of entry date.
• Submission must include a five-page double-spaced synopsis and the first twenty-five pages of the manuscript.
• Submission must be sent electronically to contests (at) northerncoloradowriters.com
• Manuscript must be formatted per standard industry guidelines:
Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt, black ink only.
1-inch margins all around. Ragged right margins.
Double spaced. 24-25 lines per page, except for the first and last pages of a chapter.
The first page of each chapter must begin one-third of the way down the page.
Header: Title and genre on left, page number on right.
Failure to properly format will result in disqualification.
• Author’s name must appear on cover sheet only. Inclusion of author name on synopsis or manuscript will result in disqualification.
• Submissions must be in English.
• Fee for entry is $20. Authors may submit multiple entries, but each must include entry fee.
• Authors need not attend conference to win.
• Judges are experienced critiquers and authors. Each entry will be evaluated by 2 judges, using a standardized score sheet. Judges' decisions are final.
• Finalists will be notified by email or telephone on or around March 15, 2012.
Judging criteria: (on a scale of 1-10, 100 points possible)
• Synopsis, including plot and character arcs
• Beginning hook – how well does the story grab the reader?
• Plot, pacing, and sense of story
• Originality and voice
• Setting/description/narrative
• POV–is it clear, appropriate to the story, and consistent?
• Dialogue
• Mechanics -- spelling, punctuation, grammar
• Placement in correct genre
• Correct formatting
Top of the Mountain Book Award NONFICTION GUIDELINES
Dates of submission: December 20 –February 15, 2012
• The contest is open to unpublished book-length nonfiction. No self-published, electronically published, or screenplays.
• Submissions must be author’s original work and not under contract for publication as of entry date.
• Submission must include a five to eight-page proposal and the first twenty-five pages of the manuscript.
• Submission must be sent electronically to contests (at) northerncoloradowriters.com
• Manuscript must be formatted per standard industry guidelines:
Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt, black ink only.
1-inch margins all around. Ragged right margins.
Double spaced. 24-25 lines per page, except for the first and last pages of a chapter.
The first page of each chapter must begin one-third of the way down the page.
Header: Title and genre on left, page number on right.
Failure to properly format will result in disqualification.
• Author’s name must appear on cover sheet only. Inclusion of author name on proposal or manuscript will result in disqualification.
• Submissions must be in English.
• Fee for entry is $20. Authors may submit multiple entries, but each must include entry fee.
• Authors need not attend conference to win.
• Judges are experienced critiquers and authors. Each entry will be evaluated by 2 judges, using a standardized score sheet. Judges' decisions are final.
• Finalists will be notified by email or telephone on or around March 15, 2012
Judging criteria: (on a scale of 1-10, 100 points possible)
• Proposal: Does it give a clear overview of the book and its marketability?
• Voice: Is it strong and consistent? Does author have a clear sense of their own writing style?
• Pacing and sense of story/narrative
• Originality: How is it different from other nonfiction of similar subject matter?
• Setting/description/narrative
• Is the message or theme clear and consistent?
• Dialogue
• Mechanics -- spelling, punctuation, grammar
• Placement in correct genre
• Appeal to intended audience?
http://www.northerncoloradowritersconference.com/http://www.northerncoloradowriterscon ... 2-conference.html?start=7
Click on the link above and go to the contest official site
