Melody of Love Novel Contest Tips
- The contest allows up to 25 pages. That doesn’t mean you should try to squeeze as much as possible into those 10 pages! Leave judges with a snappy ending, even if it means sending fewer than 25 pages. It’ll be worth it.
- Make sure you double check for typos and grammatical errors. If necessary, get someone to proof for you. A professional manuscript is not sloppy and will be nearly free of such errors. Honest.
- If you are uncertain about the electronic formatting of your manuscript, please give yourself enough time to work with the contest coordinator to meet the contest guidelines. We will work with you!
- An interesting beginning is definitely an asset. You don’t want to drown your judges right up front with backstory, nonessential or as-you-know-Bob dialogue, or long sections of worldbuilding or scenery. Sneak that stuff in. Find a balance!
- If the text of your entry is sizzlin’ hot, please consider checking the appropriate subcategory box on the entry form. This will help us assign judges who are familiar with the erotic romance market. Ditto if your entry is an inspirational or women’s fiction instead of mainstream romance. If your entry is not sizzlin’ hot in the part of the manuscript you’re submitting, it is your choice as to whether or not to check that box.
- If you happen to final, take advantage of the chance to revise before we send you to the final round editor or agent. Put your best partial forward!
- The judges really appreciate thank you notes. If you feel so inclined, you are welcome to hand write them and send them to the contest mailbox for distribution or email them to the contest coordinator. They can be anonymous if desired, in either format. Your personal information will not be shared with judges unless you request it.
Ideas from our judges!
- If you write cross-genre fiction (ie, a romance with a science fiction/fantasy setting or plot), please make sure you are familiar with the other genre(s). Every genre has tropes, some of them tired and clichéd. Many of our judges, like many readers, are well-versed in numerous genres. They will appreciate a non-romance genre trope done with flare, inspiration, or a new twist.
- Make sure you include enough hints of the story’s key conflicts to let the judges know what the rest of the story is about and they will be begging to read more. We only get to read the first 25 pages, so we need promises that the rest of the story will be just as fabulous as the first pages.
- Create your own style guide for the entry so you can ensure their characters’ names, settings, brands, etc., don’t change in the middle.
Additional questions can be directed to contest coordinator, Jody Wallace at contest@mcrw.com.
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More About Our Contest
2012 Melody of Love Novel Contest
2013 Minuet of Love Novella Contest
MCRW PITCH Contest
Melody of Love Novel Contest Tips
Previous Contest Winners
Why enter our contests when there are so many to choose from?
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