2010 Great Expectations Contest

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2010 Deadlines & Updates

All entries should be emailed and received by midnight CST on
Wednesday, December 30, 2009.

Please complete the GE entry form and submit electronically to the contest coordinator by December 30, 2009. Great Expectations is no longer accepting mailed entries. Electronic entry fees will be processed through Paypal. Mailed entry fees will be deposited January 15, 2010.

Why Choose Great Expectations

We believe in email and stay in touch with our contestants.

Each entrant receives:

All finalists have the opportunity to update their entry and query letter, addressing their finalist status and applying comments received from the first round of judging.

Cash prizes for first, second and third places: $50, $30 & $15.

Eligibility

2010 Contest Rules

2010 Entry Form

2010 Query Letter Form

2010 Paypal Option

Category Descriptions & Final Round Judges

As final round judges are confirmed, they will be posted on our website. All final round judges will be editors or agents. Please review the score sheets for each category to determine which score sheet will best suit your entry. The choice of category is up to the entrant.

Contemporary Series, Victoria Curran, Editor with Harlequin Books

Romantic series novels. If your manuscript is a series romantic suspense, you may enter the Contemporary Series category or the Romantic Suspense category. Please check our score sheets to see which benefits your writing.

Avalon; Harlequin American, Blaze, Intrigue, Medicals, Presents, Romance, Super Romance; Silhouette Desire, Intimate Moments, Special Edition; Steeple Hill Café, Love Inspired, Inspired Suspense

Word count: 40,000 to 65,000

Contemporary Series Category Score Sheet

Erotic Romance, Katherine Pelz, Editorial Assistant with Berkley Heat

An erotic romance focuses on the growing relationship between two or more people. That growth includes several sexual encounters that are described in graphic, explicit terms. The sexual relationship is essential to the growth of the characters and is a key plot point of the story. Language is frank and uncensored. May include alternative lifestyles and sexual activities not usually seen in traditional romances.

Avon Red; Berkley Heat; Ellora's Cave; Harlequin Spice; Kensington Aphrodisia, Brava; Red Sage Publishing

Word count: 40,000 to 100,000

Erotic Romance Category Score Sheet

Historical, Danielle Poiesz, Editorial Assistant Gallery/Pocket

Romantic novels with non-contemporary settings, including regency & gothic romances.

All publishers of individual romantic historical titles; Harlequin Historical; Mills & Boon Historical

Word count: 40,000 to 100,000

Historical Category Score Sheet

Inspirational, Natalie Hanemann, Senior Editor with Thomas Nelson

Romantic novels with an inspirational message/theme, including romantic suspense, historical, etc.

All publishers of inspirational single titles; Silhouette Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense; Steeple Hill

Word count: 40,000 to 90,000

Inspirational Category Score Sheet

Mainstream with Romantic Elements, Abby Zidle, Senior Editor with Gallery/Pocket Books

Novels that include an element of romance. Mainly women’s fiction and chic lit.

All publishers of single titles; Steeple Hill Women’s Fiction

Word count: 75,000 to 150,000

Mainstream with Romantic Elements Category Score Sheet

Romantic Suspense, Alex Logan, Assistant Editor with Grand Central Publishing

Romantic novels that include an element of mystery or suspense. If the final round editor is from a single title publisher, contestants may want to enter series romantic suspense in the contemporary series category. It is up to the contestant. No one will be counted down or disqualified for entering a Harlequin Intrigue in the suspense category to take advantage of the suspense score sheet.

All publishers of individual titles of romance; Harlequin Intrigue; Silhouette Intimate Moments; Steeple Hill Inspired Suspense

Word count: 40,000 to 100,000

Romantic Suspense Category Score Sheet

Single Title, Holly Blanck, Assistant Editor with St. Martin’s Press

Romantic novels released as individual titles.

All publishers of individual titles of romance

Word count: 90,000 to 100,000

Single Title Category Score Sheet

Specialized, Talia Platz, Editorial Assistant with New American Library

Futuristic / Fantasy / Time Travel / Paranormal

Romantic novels of any time setting (historical or futuristic) that contain elements such as time-travel, paranormal or fantasy themes. The emphasis must be on the romance.

All publishers of individual titles of romance: Harlequin Luna; Dorchester Love Spell

Word count: 40,000 to 110,000

Specialized Category Score Sheet

Young Adult, David Linker, Executive Editor with HarperFestival, HarperCollins

Novels appropriate for young adult readers. Includes young adult heroes and heroines not exceeding twenty-five years of age.

All publishers of young adult fiction: Avon, Berkley Jam; Delacorte Publishing, Harlequin Teen, HarperFestival

Word count: minimum 25,000

Young Adult Category Score Sheet


Sample Query Letters

2010 Query Letter Form For simplification of judging this year, all query letters will use the same format. Please replace the bracketed information with your manuscript specific information. All finalists will be required to submit an original query letter addressing the category’s editor and additional information. Guidelines will be provided to all finalists.

Example #1: How to format your letter for our contest.

Example #2: How to write a query letter by Victoria Chancellor.

Example #3: Letter from a entry that finaled and was requested by the judge.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have additional questions, please e-mail our 2010 contest coordinators, Angi Platt.