The Phoenix Rattler Writing Contest Rules
This is an all-email contest. The judges and entrants are entirely anonymous. Copyrights are protected per acceptance of contest terms by all judges and contest workers. Entrants must certify they have read and understood the contest Rules and Submission Guidelines on the Contest Entry Form.
This is an all-email contest. The judges and entrants are entirely anonymous. Copyrights are protected per acceptance of contest terms by all judges and contest workers. Entrants must certify they have read and understood the contest Rules and Submission Guidelines on the Contest Entry Form.
ELIGIBILITY:
The Phoenix Rattler “Does Your Story Have Bite?” writing contest is open to all unpublished novelists. Published authors may enter if at least five years have passed since their last novel publication (as of the entry closure date).
Self-published and e-published authors are eligible, however they may not enter a manuscript that is in print or that was available for purchase at any time in the last 5 years (as of entry closure date).
Previously entered manuscripts may be entered again, but winning manuscripts from previous The Phoenix Rattler contests may not be entered again. Manuscripts that have been finalists, but not category winners, may be entered again.
SUBMISSIONS:
The entrant may enter a maximum of 8-10 manuscript pages (equaling 2000 words or first ten pages) and synopsis (double-spaced and one page). Synopsis is required but is not included in the page count. Multiple chapters and prologues are acceptable. See Submission Guidelines on website for formatting requirements.
The manuscript should not contain profanity, graphic sex, gratuitous violence, or other objectionable material. CWOW may order the disqualification of submissions not meeting this requirement.
Categories:
Contemporary (includes Contemporary, Women’s, and Romance)
Historical (before 1960, includes Historical Romance)
Mystery/Thriller/Romantic Suspense
Young Adult (for under 18)
Speculative Fiction
Fee: $45 per entry or $30 for members with coupon code, payable via PayPal (see website for instructions on entering the contest)
Deadline: All contest entries and fees must be received by 5:00 p.m. Mountain (AZ) Standard Time on August 31, 2019.
Multiple Entries: Entrants may enter as many manuscripts and as many categories as they wish. A manuscript cannot be entered in more than one category. Entrants may not be selected as a Category Finalist (preliminary round 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in a category) with more than one manuscript. Entrants with multiple entries per category may only earn the honor of being judged by the Final Judges with one manuscript (their highest placing category entry).
JUDGING:
This is a two-round contest (Preliminary Round and Final Round).
Preliminary Round: Three Preliminary Judges (including published authors and experienced writers/critiquers) will score each entry using the contest score sheet. Scores will be averaged. (see website for sample contest score sheet).
In any category, if fewer than six (6) entries are received, the category shall be dissolved and will be combined with another category pre-determined by The Rattler and the final judges for the affected categories.
Preliminary Round Notifications: All finalists and non-finalists will be notified September 30, 2019. Score sheets and any manuscript mark-ups produced by Preliminary Judges will be emailed with the notification. Under no circumstances should comments given by a judge be used for publicity purposes without the express consent of the judge.
Finalists: The three manuscripts with the highest average scores in each Category of the Preliminary Round are the contest Finalists. Only one entry per writer can qualify as a finalist in each category.
Final Round: Each finalist entry will be judged by Cynthia Hickey, using the official contest score sheet. The scores will be averaged. (see website for sample contest score sheet)
Final Round Notifications: Winners will be notified by November 1, 2019. The overall contest winner will receive a gift certificate for $150. Score sheets and any manuscript mark-ups produced by Final Judge will be emailed with the notification. Under no circumstances should comments given by a judge be used for publicity purposes without the express consent of the judge.
WINNERS:
Category Winners: The winner of each category is the entry receiving the highest average score in the Final Round.
Overall Contest Winner: The overall contest winner is the manuscript with the highest score of all final round scores.
CERTIFICATES & PRIZES:
All Finalists and Winners will be featured on the CWOW website and will be allowed to reference their contest achievements on private websites and blogs. Certificates and prize will be awarded per the current contest information (see website). Under no circumstances should comments given by a judge be used for publicity purposes without the express consent of the judge.
CWOW and The Phoenix Rattler Contest do not guarantee that a winning or finalist entry will receive a publishing contract.
The Phoenix Rattler “Does Your Story Have Bite?” writing contest is open to all unpublished novelists. Published authors may enter if at least five years have passed since their last novel publication (as of the entry closure date).
Self-published and e-published authors are eligible, however they may not enter a manuscript that is in print or that was available for purchase at any time in the last 5 years (as of entry closure date).
Previously entered manuscripts may be entered again, but winning manuscripts from previous The Phoenix Rattler contests may not be entered again. Manuscripts that have been finalists, but not category winners, may be entered again.
SUBMISSIONS:
The entrant may enter a maximum of 8-10 manuscript pages (equaling 2000 words or first ten pages) and synopsis (double-spaced and one page). Synopsis is required but is not included in the page count. Multiple chapters and prologues are acceptable. See Submission Guidelines on website for formatting requirements.
The manuscript should not contain profanity, graphic sex, gratuitous violence, or other objectionable material. CWOW may order the disqualification of submissions not meeting this requirement.
Categories:
Contemporary (includes Contemporary, Women’s, and Romance)
Historical (before 1960, includes Historical Romance)
Mystery/Thriller/Romantic Suspense
Young Adult (for under 18)
Speculative Fiction
Fee: $45 per entry or $30 for members with coupon code, payable via PayPal (see website for instructions on entering the contest)
Deadline: All contest entries and fees must be received by 5:00 p.m. Mountain (AZ) Standard Time on August 31, 2019.
Multiple Entries: Entrants may enter as many manuscripts and as many categories as they wish. A manuscript cannot be entered in more than one category. Entrants may not be selected as a Category Finalist (preliminary round 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in a category) with more than one manuscript. Entrants with multiple entries per category may only earn the honor of being judged by the Final Judges with one manuscript (their highest placing category entry).
JUDGING:
This is a two-round contest (Preliminary Round and Final Round).
Preliminary Round: Three Preliminary Judges (including published authors and experienced writers/critiquers) will score each entry using the contest score sheet. Scores will be averaged. (see website for sample contest score sheet).
In any category, if fewer than six (6) entries are received, the category shall be dissolved and will be combined with another category pre-determined by The Rattler and the final judges for the affected categories.
Preliminary Round Notifications: All finalists and non-finalists will be notified September 30, 2019. Score sheets and any manuscript mark-ups produced by Preliminary Judges will be emailed with the notification. Under no circumstances should comments given by a judge be used for publicity purposes without the express consent of the judge.
Finalists: The three manuscripts with the highest average scores in each Category of the Preliminary Round are the contest Finalists. Only one entry per writer can qualify as a finalist in each category.
Final Round: Each finalist entry will be judged by Cynthia Hickey, using the official contest score sheet. The scores will be averaged. (see website for sample contest score sheet)
Final Round Notifications: Winners will be notified by November 1, 2019. The overall contest winner will receive a gift certificate for $150. Score sheets and any manuscript mark-ups produced by Final Judge will be emailed with the notification. Under no circumstances should comments given by a judge be used for publicity purposes without the express consent of the judge.
WINNERS:
Category Winners: The winner of each category is the entry receiving the highest average score in the Final Round.
Overall Contest Winner: The overall contest winner is the manuscript with the highest score of all final round scores.
CERTIFICATES & PRIZES:
All Finalists and Winners will be featured on the CWOW website and will be allowed to reference their contest achievements on private websites and blogs. Certificates and prize will be awarded per the current contest information (see website). Under no circumstances should comments given by a judge be used for publicity purposes without the express consent of the judge.
CWOW and The Phoenix Rattler Contest do not guarantee that a winning or finalist entry will receive a publishing contract.
