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:
- an email confirmation when their entry and payment arrives
- notification when entries are forwarded to judges
- notification when checks are scheduled for deposit
- notification of their category’s finalists
- prompt return of their judged entries
- notification of all winners
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
- Great Expectations is open to writers who:
- are unpublished and uncontracted in any book-length romantic fiction OR
- are published or contracted in a category other than the one being entered OR
- have not published, sold or contracted in their category within the past three years.
- Previous first place winners may not re-enter the winning entry, even in edited format. They may, however, enter another work.
- Authors may enter as many times as they wish.
- All entries must be the author’s original work that has not been contracted for publication prior to the entry deadline.
- Failure to comply with any of the rules may disqualify the entry and result in a forfeit of the entry fee.
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.
If you have additional questions, please e-mail our 2010 contest coordinators, Angi Platt.