It’s time! The first contest on GabrielaLessa.com is finally here, and even I can hardly believe the judges I got for this. For this very first, very amazing contest, we’re having four (yes, four!) guest judges, all of them editors at Sourcebooks!
If you don’t know Sourcebooks, take a second to go to their website and get to know them. They publish wonderful authors like Tawna Fenske, Sharon Lathan, Grace Burrowes, Jill Mansell, Jennifer Fosberry, Georgette Heyer, Tim Sandlin and many, many others. Through its eight imprints, Sourcebooks publishes most fiction genres out there. Which means most of you will be able to enter this contest!
For this contest, four Sourcebooks editors will judge different genres. Each one of them will judge only the genres they work with, but you’ll find there’s a spot for pretty much everyone. Here’s a list of who they are and what they’ll be judging:
- Deb Werksman
Editorial Manager
Judging single-title romance (all subgenres) and women’s fiction.
Guidelines: For single-title romance, a minimum word count of 90K is required. Her criteria are: 1) a heroine the reader can relate to; 2) a hero she can fall in love with; 3) a world gets created; 4) a hook she can sell with in 2-3 sentences; and 5) the author has a demonstrable career arc.
- Leah Hultenschmidt
Senior Editor
Judging Young Adult (all subgenres)
Guidelines: 60 to 90K words. Protagonists who are 15-19 and allow for potential adult cross-over appeal. Unforgettable characters readers care about and can relate to in some way. An authentic voice for the audience. Powerful, credible world-building (applies to non-paranormal/fantasy/dystopian too!). A fresh premise with a marketing hook that can be conveyed in 2-3 sentences. An age-appropriate romantic element, even if it’s not the main focus of the story.
- Peter Lynch
Editorial Manager
Judging commercial (both contemporary and historical) and literary fiction
Guidelines: No genre fiction (such as fantasy, sci-fi, etc.). He’s interested in all types of commercial fiction and literary fiction with commercial appeal, especially novels with a distinctive voice. He acquires both contemporary and historical fiction, and commercial and literary fiction with strong romantic elements are also welcome.
- Aubrey Poole
Assistant Editor
Judging Middle-Grade and children’s fiction
Guidelines: Up to 2k words for picture books and up to 40k for MG. She’s looking for strong and believable storytelling, exciting plots, well-developed characters and polished writing.
Is your genre listed above? If it is, that means you can enter this contest! So read on!
THE CONTEST
This is a contest for finished manuscripts only. Please do not enter WIPs.
For this contest, the entries should be your first paragraph and a one-sentence pitch. That’s what the judges will take into consideration. Each judge will choose a winner, and each winner will get a prize from their respective judge. There’ll also be three honourable mentions, who’ll get prizes from me. Pretty easy, right?
HOW TO ENTER
1 - Follow this blog using Google Friend Connect or the Subscribe button.
2 – Sign up on the linky tool below. You can sign up until Tuesday, August 9th, but you probably want to do it earlier so you can get critiques on your work.
3 – From Friday, August 5th, through Monday, August 8th, post you entry on your blog and get critiques. (You can skip this step if you want, but why would you? Don’t you want the judges to see your absolute best work?) Make sure you also stop by other blogs and critique their entries.
4 – On Monday, August 8th, and Tuesday, August 9th, post your entry on the comment section of the post that launches the contest. It will go up on the 8th. Please don’t post your entry on this post, do it on the entry post I’ll put up on Monday, August 8th.
Here’s how your entry should look like:
Name:
Title:
Genre:
Manuscript word count: Check to see if your judge has word count restrictions
Judge: Check the judge list above to see who is judging your genre
One-sentence pitch: No more than 30 words
First paragraph: Enter your first paragraph (no longer than 170 words). If your first paragraph is shorter than 50 words, you may enter your first two paragraphs, as long as the second paragraph is not over 120 words. If your first paragraph is longer than 170 words… Well, you should probably cut some. That’s quite long.
A few observations: You can enter as many novels as you want, but you can’t enter the same novel more than once. If you do enter more than once, please leave a link on Mr. Linky for each entry, so I can have an idea of how many entries we’ll have. It can be the same link for both, just change the name, like Gabriela Lessa and Gabriela Lessa entry 2.
If the linky word count allows you, please put your genre in your linky title, so I know how many entries each judge should get.
Easy, right? And what do you get, you ask me? Oh, yes. There are prizes. Good ones!
JUDGING AND PRIZES
The good thing about this contest is that there are no middle judges. Every single entry will get in front of a final judge. And they are willing to request material from whomever they like, which means anyone could get a full request. In addition to that (as if you need an addition!), each judge will choose a winner and offer the following prizes:
Deb Werksman
Genres: single-title romance and women’s fiction
Prize: critique of first 3 chapters
Peter Lynch
Genres: commercial and literary fiction
Prize: critique of first 3 chapters
Leah Hultenschmidt
Genres: YA
Prize: query critique
Aubrey Poole
Genres: MG and children’s fiction
Prize: query critique
I will also choose three honorable mentions. Here are the prizes they’ll get:
1st HM: critique of 30 pages and 20% off any editing services
2nd HM: critique of 20 pages and 15% off any editing services
3rd HM: critique of 10 pages and 10% off any editing services
Sounds good? Then go ahead and enter! Really, why would you pass the chance of getting your work in front of an editor? Speaking of which, I’ll post an interview with the judges later this week, so make sure you stop by.
Sign up on Mr. Linky below and get those entries polished!!!!
AWESOME Gabi!!! Thank you!
I am SO excited for this contest, Gabi! Thank you for hosting! You are fabulous
This Mr. Linky for WordPress doesn’t show the list on the post, but it does show it once you click on the link! So don’t worry, the link is working!
And glad you like the contest, girls! Good luck!!!
Have I ever mentioned that you have the best contests ever?? Thanks for giving me a reason to pull Rupert out of the closet
Sounds like a great contest – I write fantasy – but that doesn’t seem to apply. Will pass along the news! Maybe next time!
Yeah, this time fantasy is out, unless it’s YA or MG… Sorry! But there should be another one soon. Hope you’ll come back often!
Awesome! Thanks for the great contest!
Another fabulous contest! You rule, Gabbi!
Thanks for this GREAT contest, Gabriela!
I have 2 questions.
The first paragraph of my YA novel is one line (5 words). I’m not sure that’s representational… (even my second para is only 23 words…um…I write short, punchy openings…)
I have a PB, too. Can I enter both my PB and my novel?
You can enter as many novels as you’d like! About the paragraph….. Ok, I’ll start a new rule. If your first paragraph is shorter than 25 words, you can enter first and second paragraphs, as long as your second paragraph isn’t longer than 100 words.
I’ve allowed more words! If you first paragraph is shorter than 50 words, you can add the second as long as it’s shorter than 120 words. No third paragraphs, though!
I’m glad you like the contest, everyone! Hope you’ll spread the word about it! And good luck!!!
Gabriela,
thanks so much for the heads up, I’ll be entering!
Thanks for answering my questions so promptly, Gabriela. I’ve recorded my two Linky entries (for the novel and the PB).
Just a reminder: you must enter your link on the Mr. Linky available on the bottom of this post. I’m seeing lots of people commenting that they’re entering but not posting their links. Please do! The Mr. Linky is on this post and you can enter your link right now. It’s the entry itself that you’ll post on the entry post I’ll publish on Monday!
Just letting you know mine is YA.
- Melinda
Pingback: That one-sentence pitch | Gabriela Lessa
Thanks for the opportunity to focus and get a bit out there.
I’m looking forward to this! Thanks for hosting!
One question: Because some of us start with short, punchy paragraphs (as mentioned by another poster), would it be possible to allow the first paragraph OR first 100 words (my first three paragraphs are less than 100; my first two paragraphs are less than 20)? I don’t mean to be difficult!
Hi Eva!
If your first paragraph is less than 25 words long, you can enter your first and second, as long as the second is less than 100 words. Sorry, no third paragraphs.
Good luck!
Just so you know, I’ve allowed more words! If you first paragraph is shorter than 50 words, you can add the second as long as it’s shorter than 120 words. Still no third paragraphs, though…
Thanks for this exciting possibility. I admire those who do contests like this. I bet it’s a lot of work.
Thanks for hosting the contest. I have my third complete manuscript to offer and I’m hoping to workshop it this fall as well. I’d love input from one of your editors.
YA paranormal – 45 000 words
After moving to a new city, Jared is haunted by the ghost of his adopted parents’ daughter, who has lived quietly through him for years.
Sounds great, Kim! But please remember to post your complete entry on the comments of the entry post that will be up on Monday, ok?
Good luck!
Yes, well, I think I won’t. My MS is too short for your YA judge. I’m already benefiting from the visitors to my blog, though.
Thanks for that.
By that, I mean, they are helping improve my pitch and possibly reworking my entire first chapter…
Pingback: Interview with the judges | Gabriela Lessa
Hope this works out!
My gosh, this is a confusing entry process! I am totally lost! I don’t think I have an URL.
This is my one line summary followed by my first paragraph. I will keep trying to figure out what to do with it next:
“Entertaining Naked People:” You can put all the faith in God you want to; but try to cram Him behind the wheel while you nap in the back seat, and you’re still gonna drive into a tree.
First paragraph:
Here I was with my first naked woman ever, not a stitch on her, she kept squirming closer, and I kept jabbing paint into her eyes.
Sorry if it’s confusing, Robert. Here’s how you do it. If you don’t have a url, don’t worry about the Mr. Linky. Just come back on Monday and post your entry on the comment section of the post that will come up on Monday. It’ll be a launching post, where all the entries will be focused. Does that make sense?
Here’s how your wntry should be formatted:
Name: (your name)
Title: (the title of your manuscript)
Genre: (the genre of your manuscript)
Manuscript word count: (Check to see if your judge has word count restrictions)
Judge: (Check the judge list above to see who is judging your genre.)
One-sentence pitch: (No more than 30 words)
First paragraph: (Enter your first paragraph — no longer than 170 words. If your first paragraph is shorter than 50 words, you may enter your first two paragraphs, as long as the second paragraph is not over 120 words.)
So you just fill those up and post it on the comment section on the post that will be up on Monday. Is that better? Let me know if you have any other questions!
Thanks for hosting the contest. My entry is up for critique now.
Oh yeah, I put a link up for your blog also.
Thanks for hosting again, Gabriella. I’m excited about the opportunity and enjoyed your last contest as well.
This is fabulous. I’ll start going around tonight to read everything else.
Please forgive me for the above nonsense and please feel free to delete it. I tried to, but unsuccessfully. As an Irish writer, I’d be proud to attribute that to having been drunk at the time, but can only claim fatigue from having intensively edited three chapters earlier in the day. I was simply very slow on the uptake and I’m sorry. I couldn’t even remember my own blog.
LOL! Not a problem at all… We’ve all been there!
not sure I am successfully connected via your instructions; my apologies for technical ineptness, as I would like to enter your contest. Any advice? I think my url is the problem??
I’m pretty sure your link is there, Michelle. But you can just come back on Monday and post your entry on the comments. That’s the part you really can’t miss or you won’t have entered.
This is my WIP dedicated web site; I have a ‘day job’ site which is:
http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com
Thanks for this opportunity! I’ll be sure to post my entry on Monday.
Ok, you’ve tempted me. I’ll submit on Monday too!
Hi Gabi – I attempted to sign up via Mr. Linky and this is what I got:
Link URL must begin with 'http://'
No idea what that means. Please help, I’d like to enter your contest. Thanks.
Zooks
Hey Mary!
Sorry about that Mr. Linky. All you have to do to enter is go to the latest post (http://gabrielalessa.com/launching-post-this-is-the-one-where-you-post-your-entries/) and post your entry, properly formatted, on the comment section before Tuesday night. Good luck!
I’m excited about the opportunity to get my completed and self-published debut novel, “Out, Out,” in front of editors who can help me make a splash. Thanks for hosting this contest.
Re: Submission from Janet Hudgins
Title: Treason, The Violation of Trust
Genre: Creative Non-Fiction
MS Word Count: 71,017 (plus Resources, Biblio, Acknowledgements, etc).
“Treason” is about the life and times of first settlers in colonial North America, the politic individuals who held sway, and their use and abuse of power.
Late in 1634, in the town of Maidstone, Kent, thirty-eight miles southeast of London, William Palmer was at a turning point. Less than a year ago, Sarah Heath, his wife of two years, died in childbirth along with the child, a girl, and he hadn’t cared much about anything since. He carried on with his job at the sessional courts where he was the clerk, sometimes police court magistrate, reader and writer for those who were arraigned and their families. But it was as an after-hours farm hand for his father, John, that Will kept balance in the family. His education and position in the courts elevated him several notches above his father who reckoned that working in the fields and mucking out the stables was good for Will. “Moind yer plaice,” he’d say.
Sounds great, Janet. Could you post it in the entry post please? This is it: http://gabrielalessa.com/launching-post-this-is-the-one-where-you-post-your-entries
And make sure you include the judge it’s intended for! Good luck!
I entered by website as the requested URL on Mr. Linky. OK?
That’s great! Now all you have to do is post your entry on the entry post, right here: http://gabrielalessa.com/launching-post-this-is-the-one-where-you-post-your-entries/
Good luck!
Wow, this sounds like such a fun contest! thanks for running it!
Very cool. I’m in!
Thank you very much, Gabriela, for partnering with Sourcebooks to provide this opportunity.
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Thanks for the contest!
Whew! I made the deadline! Thanks for hosting this!
Ohhh- Gabriela another amazing contest and I got home just in time to enter. Thank you so much and a huge thank you to the judges. Best of luck everyone.
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