Thanks to author Jacqueline Gum for this guest post:
I’m pleased to pass along the information on a great contest that opens January 1, 2013, sponsored by The Columbus Creative Cooperative. This could be your shot! Check it out!
NOTE: This contest will open for submissions on January 1. At that time, you’ll find a special form to submit your work. Please hold all submissions until that time, do NOT email them. Put the finishing touches on your latest novel and submit it for a chance to earn a publishing contract as well as bragging rights in Columbus Creative Cooperative’s first novel contest!
Entries will close January 31, 2013. Submit early as CCC reserves the right to close the contest early to ensure that their panel of judges can devote adequate attention to each novel. They will accept no more than 200 valid submissions.
Harvey Klinger, founder and well-respected literary agent of Harvey Klinger Literary Agency, will select the Winner and Runner-up from the list of finalists. The cost for entry is $40 and is payable through Paypal.
You can find the contest on Facebook and you can read more about the publishing contract on the CCC Blog.
Prizes & Winners
A team of judges selected by Columbus Creative Cooperative will choose ten finalists from submitted manuscripts. Every manuscript submitted will be reviewed by at least one judge, without exception.
The list of ten finalists will be published to the CCC website, and Harvey Klinger will select a winner and a runner-up. (You need not be a member of CCC to submit).
The winner will receive his/her choice of a publishing contract with Columbus Press for their manuscript or a $1,000 cash prize! The winner will also receive public recognition for their achievement and all of the associated bragging rights.
The runner-up will receive a free publishing consultation (an $125 value) to help you improve your manuscript and understand your publishing options, as well as recognition for the achievement. All ten finalists will receive a free copy of While You Were Out: Short Stories of Resurrection.
For more information about the contest, rules and FAQ’s, CLICK HERE and good luck!
Most contest for full length novels do require an entry fee. $40.00 is not bad. I think Writers Digest charges $125. Unfortunately, both of my books are already published and I’ll never be ready with my next ms for this contest. Happy Holidays.
Sorry, but this is a thinly-cloaked scam. You’re basically paying $40 to submit your novel to a small press. Since when do we have to pay to submit our work? It’s as bad as paying poets per line written. It’s per verse! Seriously, though, this is just another way to take advantage of aspiring writers. http://www.bestpuns.com
Thanks for the comments, David. It’s not unusual to charge entry to a novel contest. Faulkner Society’s Words and Wisdom for example. This small press is a start up and they have published 5 anthologies to date and will roll out their first fiction titles Spring 2013. A portion of any collected fees pay for a professional edit prior to publication for the winner: in lieu of a fee for Mr Klinger he asked for a donation to his choice of charity: print run which will be dependent on entries. The author is not out of pocket for publication, only the entry fee. The contract for publication is online for all to read. If the winner doesn’t like if for any reason, they can take the cash prize of $1000.00 and still have the contest credit.
Winning or placing in contest competitions can be a useful tool to new authors seeking publication, but it’s true; there are no guarantees in any contests (just as there are no guarantees that contest promoters will raise enough to cover their expenses to run these for writers). Either way, writers should only submit if they understand the rules and can afford the fees.