As of April 30, 2010, midnight PDT, the deadline has passed and the contest is closed to further entries. All entries that met the contest standards are now in the hands of the first round judges. Each entry has at least two published judges, and a few have three.
Finalists will be announced the first week of June, barring unforeseen circumstances, and winners will be announced on July 28,2010.
With the big flood in Nashville and the inundation of the Opryland Hotel, RWA and the Beau Monde have been sadly forced to re-locate our conferences. It is our great fortune that the RWA staff succeeded in re-locating the RWA conference to Orlando, Florida, and the Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels. The beau Monde is likewise working to obtain space in the same hotel complex for our short, one-day conference on Wednesday, July 28. So we hope for the best and continue to plan to announce our Royal Ascot winners at our annual Soiree that evening.
Good luck to the contestants, and may you either achieve a publishing contract or learn what you need to know to to make your journey toward publication a success!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The 8500 Word Limit: What Does It Mean?
One of the hardest things to work out in running a contest is the size of the entries. If it's a page count, then some contestants will always have the problem of being a page or two over the limit for the portion they want to submit. But there has to be a limit somewhere. So why did we set the limit this year as a computer word count?
Years ago, the Royal Ascot started out being a "First Chapter and Synopsis" contest. Sure, yes, Prologues could be included. Had to be 30 pages or less, synopsis no longer than 10 pages. So contestants were often forced to do what I call "cramming" in order to get the material they wanted into their entry. I know. I was entering in all those years.
Well, we decided that yes, sometimes an opener really needed to be two chapters long, and that would be okay if it stayed in the page limits. So contestants were soon trying to figure out how to turn three chapters into two. And cram it all in. One year I saw an entry with six chapters and I knew we had to make some changes.
It's really not fair if some people double space and others space at 1.435 or whatever. Should we limit the number of lines? It doesn't work if you don't specify a font. And some people dislike it if we tell them what font they have to use. I once saw a contest entry in 8 pt. Arial, with line spacing that was barely over single, and every sentence in not more than one paragraph per page.
The only thing that keeps the contest entries evenly matched in the beginning is to specify a computer word count. We set it at 8500 words. This, frankly, is more than equal to what a 30 page manuscript that an author would submit to an editor would hold. It's more than equal to "the first one or two chapters and up to ten page synopsis". That's a shade over 283 words per page for a 30-page document, and that's a lot of words on a page.
Computer word count. Not page word count. Not a "250-word-per-page" estimate (which would actually work if you're using Courier 12 pt, and probably would make it for Times New Roman too, if you're not cramming). I'll accept a count in Word or Word Perfect. Or even Open Office. And I do verify. So now that's settled, you don't have to worry about squeezing words onto pages. You can just double-space normally and use a nice Times New Roman 12 pt font. Go back to no more than two chapters. Don't try to make it three. Shorten your 15-page synopsis because you really shouldn't send one that long to an editor anyway.
I've written a few other blogs, mostly last year, on how to shorten entries, writing a better synopsis, etc. You'll find them in the archives of this blog.
Years ago, the Royal Ascot started out being a "First Chapter and Synopsis" contest. Sure, yes, Prologues could be included. Had to be 30 pages or less, synopsis no longer than 10 pages. So contestants were often forced to do what I call "cramming" in order to get the material they wanted into their entry. I know. I was entering in all those years.
Well, we decided that yes, sometimes an opener really needed to be two chapters long, and that would be okay if it stayed in the page limits. So contestants were soon trying to figure out how to turn three chapters into two. And cram it all in. One year I saw an entry with six chapters and I knew we had to make some changes.
It's really not fair if some people double space and others space at 1.435 or whatever. Should we limit the number of lines? It doesn't work if you don't specify a font. And some people dislike it if we tell them what font they have to use. I once saw a contest entry in 8 pt. Arial, with line spacing that was barely over single, and every sentence in not more than one paragraph per page.
The only thing that keeps the contest entries evenly matched in the beginning is to specify a computer word count. We set it at 8500 words. This, frankly, is more than equal to what a 30 page manuscript that an author would submit to an editor would hold. It's more than equal to "the first one or two chapters and up to ten page synopsis". That's a shade over 283 words per page for a 30-page document, and that's a lot of words on a page.
Computer word count. Not page word count. Not a "250-word-per-page" estimate (which would actually work if you're using Courier 12 pt, and probably would make it for Times New Roman too, if you're not cramming). I'll accept a count in Word or Word Perfect. Or even Open Office. And I do verify. So now that's settled, you don't have to worry about squeezing words onto pages. You can just double-space normally and use a nice Times New Roman 12 pt font. Go back to no more than two chapters. Don't try to make it three. Shorten your 15-page synopsis because you really shouldn't send one that long to an editor anyway.
I've written a few other blogs, mostly last year, on how to shorten entries, writing a better synopsis, etc. You'll find them in the archives of this blog.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Announcing the 2010 Royal Ascot
The Beau Monde Regency Writers' Specialty Chapter of Romance Writers of America is proud to announce its 2010 Royal Ascot. You can read the basic rules in the column to the right. Future announcements will specify the exact rules and final round judges, along with several blogs by experienced contest enterers and judges and published authors who have sold as a result of winning a contest.
The contest will be open for entries beginning March 15, 2010, and close to all entries at midnight PDT, April 20, 2010. If you have any questions or special needs regarding the contest, feel free to ask questions at any time. Just leave a comment on the blog, or contact the coordinator personally at theroyalascot@gmail.com.
Delle Jacobs
2010 Royal Ascot Coordinator
The contest will be open for entries beginning March 15, 2010, and close to all entries at midnight PDT, April 20, 2010. If you have any questions or special needs regarding the contest, feel free to ask questions at any time. Just leave a comment on the blog, or contact the coordinator personally at theroyalascot@gmail.com.
Delle Jacobs
2010 Royal Ascot Coordinator
Monday, July 20, 2009
2009 ROYAL ASCOT WINNERS!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2009 ROYAL ASCOT WINNERS!
*Regency Historical:*
FIRST PLACE: Alleyne Dickens, MisMatched ***
SECOND PLACE: Carol Jo Kachmar, Seduced By Passion
THIIRD PLACE: Karen Dobbins, Never Too Late
Final Round Judge: Linda Fildew, Senior Editor, Harlequin Mills & Boon
***MisMatched Revised full manuscript submission requested
*Sweet & Mild Regency:*
FIRST PLACE: Constance Hussey, The Angel and St. Clair (Traditional Regency)
SECOND PLACE: Donna Maloy, Legend of the Fox (Young Adult Regency)***
THIRD PLACE: Marjorie Gilbert, The Return of Hope (Traditional Regency)
Final Round Judge: Deb Werksman, Acquiring Editor, Sourcebooks
*** Legend of the Fox Submission of partial manuscript requested to Children's Editor
*Hot & Wild Regency:*
FIRST PLACE: Pamela Bolton-Holyfield, The Deceit of Desire (Very Sensual Regency Historical)
SECOND PLACE: Leah Ball, Secret Possessions (Very Sensual Regency Historical)
THIRD PLACE: Shereen Vedam, The Coven at Callington, (Fantasy Regency)
Final Round Judge: Tessa Woodward, Associate Editor, HarperCollins
*Regency Historical:*
FIRST PLACE: Alleyne Dickens, MisMatched ***
SECOND PLACE: Carol Jo Kachmar, Seduced By Passion
THIIRD PLACE: Karen Dobbins, Never Too Late
Final Round Judge: Linda Fildew, Senior Editor, Harlequin Mills & Boon
***MisMatched Revised full manuscript submission requested
*Sweet & Mild Regency:*
FIRST PLACE: Constance Hussey, The Angel and St. Clair (Traditional Regency)
SECOND PLACE: Donna Maloy, Legend of the Fox (Young Adult Regency)***
THIRD PLACE: Marjorie Gilbert, The Return of Hope (Traditional Regency)
Final Round Judge: Deb Werksman, Acquiring Editor, Sourcebooks
*** Legend of the Fox Submission of partial manuscript requested to Children's Editor
*Hot & Wild Regency:*
FIRST PLACE: Pamela Bolton-Holyfield, The Deceit of Desire (Very Sensual Regency Historical)
SECOND PLACE: Leah Ball, Secret Possessions (Very Sensual Regency Historical)
THIRD PLACE: Shereen Vedam, The Coven at Callington, (Fantasy Regency)
Final Round Judge: Tessa Woodward, Associate Editor, HarperCollins
Thursday, May 28, 2009
ROYAL ASCOT FINALISTS!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2009 ROYAL ASCOT FINALISTS!
*Regency Historical:*
Karen Dobbins, Never Too Late
Aleyne Dickens, Mismatched
Carol Jo Kachmar, Seduced By Passion
Final Round Judge: Linda Fildew, Senior Editor, Harlequin Mills & Boon
*Sweet & Mild Regency:*
Constance Hussey, The Angel and St. Clair (Traditional Regency)
Donna Maloy, Legend of the Fox (Young Adult Regency)
Marjorie Gilbert, The Return of Hope (Traditional Regency)
Final Round Judge: Deb Werksman, Editorial Manager, Sourcebooks
*Hot & Wild Regency:*
Pamela Bolton-Holyfield, The Deceit of Desire (Very Sensual Regency Historical)
Shereen Vedam, The Coven at Callington, (Fantasy Regency)
Leah Ball, Secret Possessions (Very Sensual Regency Historical)
Final Round Judge: Tessa Woodward, Assistant Editor, HarperCollins
Entries and score sheets will be returned to contestants by June 18, 2009. Thanks for entering!
Winners will be announced at the Beau Monde soiree in Washington, DC, July 15, 2009.
*Regency Historical:*
Karen Dobbins, Never Too Late
Aleyne Dickens, Mismatched
Carol Jo Kachmar, Seduced By Passion
Final Round Judge: Linda Fildew, Senior Editor, Harlequin Mills & Boon
*Sweet & Mild Regency:*
Constance Hussey, The Angel and St. Clair (Traditional Regency)
Donna Maloy, Legend of the Fox (Young Adult Regency)
Marjorie Gilbert, The Return of Hope (Traditional Regency)
Final Round Judge: Deb Werksman, Editorial Manager, Sourcebooks
*Hot & Wild Regency:*
Pamela Bolton-Holyfield, The Deceit of Desire (Very Sensual Regency Historical)
Shereen Vedam, The Coven at Callington, (Fantasy Regency)
Leah Ball, Secret Possessions (Very Sensual Regency Historical)
Final Round Judge: Tessa Woodward, Assistant Editor, HarperCollins
Entries and score sheets will be returned to contestants by June 18, 2009. Thanks for entering!
Winners will be announced at the Beau Monde soiree in Washington, DC, July 15, 2009.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
EVEN MORE FAQ's: Why not .docx?
I've had several people ask me what .docx is and why they shouldn't use it.
If you don't know what it is, then you probably don't need to worry about it. This is the file extension for the new format of Word 2007, so if you have Word 2007, you might want to check to see if your document extension is .docx and not .doc
Why can't we use it? Well the older versions of Word can't read it, and a lot of people have chosen not to update a program they see as working perfectly well for them. I actually bought a version of it, but it's been sitting in its original box since last summer, untouched, uninstalled. I don't want to go through the problems it creates. I'm sure it's a perfectly fine version, but if nobody can read it, why don't I just stick with my favorite, WordPerfect, which I already have to convert to send to people? Why go through two conversions?
There is a conversion package you can get. But I will be much better off as the coordinator if I don't have to solve this problem in addition to others that are bound to come up. So that's why I'm asking all contestants to save their entries in .rtf format. Then we all can read it. If you happen to make a mistake and send it to me in WordPerfect or Word as a .doc file, I'll just convert it for you and send it on to the judges. But if you send it as .docx, sorry, I'll send it back and ask you to fix it.
If you don't know how to save as .rtf, I'll be happy to help you do it. It's easy. But I can't do it for you because I can't open your .docx file. No, I have no clue why Microsoft did this and I probably won't ever know.
Maybe next year.
If you don't know what it is, then you probably don't need to worry about it. This is the file extension for the new format of Word 2007, so if you have Word 2007, you might want to check to see if your document extension is .docx and not .doc
Why can't we use it? Well the older versions of Word can't read it, and a lot of people have chosen not to update a program they see as working perfectly well for them. I actually bought a version of it, but it's been sitting in its original box since last summer, untouched, uninstalled. I don't want to go through the problems it creates. I'm sure it's a perfectly fine version, but if nobody can read it, why don't I just stick with my favorite, WordPerfect, which I already have to convert to send to people? Why go through two conversions?
There is a conversion package you can get. But I will be much better off as the coordinator if I don't have to solve this problem in addition to others that are bound to come up. So that's why I'm asking all contestants to save their entries in .rtf format. Then we all can read it. If you happen to make a mistake and send it to me in WordPerfect or Word as a .doc file, I'll just convert it for you and send it on to the judges. But if you send it as .docx, sorry, I'll send it back and ask you to fix it.
If you don't know how to save as .rtf, I'll be happy to help you do it. It's easy. But I can't do it for you because I can't open your .docx file. No, I have no clue why Microsoft did this and I probably won't ever know.
Maybe next year.
MORE FAQ's
I've had a few more questions I'd like to share with you. Most of them seem to relate to format, but there are others.
1. You don't say I have to double space my entry. But if I single space, I have far too many words. Why didn't you just say to double space?
We're trying not to get into the old format wars that have dogged so many notable contests in the past. And we know sometimes double-spacing isn't really double, for various reasons. But at the same time, we want to give all contestants an equal chance.
So rather than concentrate on formatting issues, we've set a word and page limit. We hope you'll be kind to us and use a standard font and font size, reasonable margins and a nice healthy space between lines.
2. Okay, fine. Why don't you tell us what you would use?
Okay, you asked. But keep in mind you don't have to do it my way.
I'd set my margins at 1 inch, use Courier 12 pt, and 25 lines per page. To do this, I actually have to set line spacing at 1.85, not double. Sometimes I use Times New Roman but it's really difficult for me to spot typos, so I set it at 13 pt. Most people would go to 14 pt, which means it uses up more space than Courier. Times New Roman 12 pt. should NOT be set to get 25-26 lines per page. This gives far too much word density, since TNR's normal double spacing is 21-22 lines per page.
3. But if I do that, I can only get one chapter into the contest. I want to send three chapters.
The Royal Ascot was originally a "First Chapter" contest. We've always limited it to 30 pages including synopsis. We want to keep it that way but also realize for some writers the "beginning"
can include more than just the first chapter.
Regardless, try to find where your first major "hook" is, and stop at that point. If it falls outside the 30 pages, especially with the synopsis included, you probably will do better in contests if you condense your first chapter. I think you'll find that contests expecting three chapters will tend to run about Golden Heart-size length, 55 pages.
4. I want to get the judges to the point where the action starts to sizzle, but it doesn't fit within the 30 pages. What do I do?
Edit. Like crazy. Throw away those first few chapters that don't sizzle. Personally, I want my action jumping right out of that frying pan sizzling from the first page, but I know other people prefer it a little slower. Whatever your style, the point where the action "sizzles" is where your story starts.
Everything before that is backstory, not story. Move it or delete it, but don't put it up front because your readers have come for your story, not your words- no matter how beautiful your words are. Do your best to keep your lead-in to a page or two.
Please go read my post on February 26, FINDING THE RIGHT PLACE TO BEGIN:
http://theroyalascot.blogspot.com/2009/02/finding-right-place-to-begin.html
It explains this concept more thoroughly.
1. You don't say I have to double space my entry. But if I single space, I have far too many words. Why didn't you just say to double space?
We're trying not to get into the old format wars that have dogged so many notable contests in the past. And we know sometimes double-spacing isn't really double, for various reasons. But at the same time, we want to give all contestants an equal chance.
So rather than concentrate on formatting issues, we've set a word and page limit. We hope you'll be kind to us and use a standard font and font size, reasonable margins and a nice healthy space between lines.
2. Okay, fine. Why don't you tell us what you would use?
Okay, you asked. But keep in mind you don't have to do it my way.
I'd set my margins at 1 inch, use Courier 12 pt, and 25 lines per page. To do this, I actually have to set line spacing at 1.85, not double. Sometimes I use Times New Roman but it's really difficult for me to spot typos, so I set it at 13 pt. Most people would go to 14 pt, which means it uses up more space than Courier. Times New Roman 12 pt. should NOT be set to get 25-26 lines per page. This gives far too much word density, since TNR's normal double spacing is 21-22 lines per page.
3. But if I do that, I can only get one chapter into the contest. I want to send three chapters.
The Royal Ascot was originally a "First Chapter" contest. We've always limited it to 30 pages including synopsis. We want to keep it that way but also realize for some writers the "beginning"
can include more than just the first chapter.
Regardless, try to find where your first major "hook" is, and stop at that point. If it falls outside the 30 pages, especially with the synopsis included, you probably will do better in contests if you condense your first chapter. I think you'll find that contests expecting three chapters will tend to run about Golden Heart-size length, 55 pages.
4. I want to get the judges to the point where the action starts to sizzle, but it doesn't fit within the 30 pages. What do I do?
Edit. Like crazy. Throw away those first few chapters that don't sizzle. Personally, I want my action jumping right out of that frying pan sizzling from the first page, but I know other people prefer it a little slower. Whatever your style, the point where the action "sizzles" is where your story starts.
Everything before that is backstory, not story. Move it or delete it, but don't put it up front because your readers have come for your story, not your words- no matter how beautiful your words are. Do your best to keep your lead-in to a page or two.
Please go read my post on February 26, FINDING THE RIGHT PLACE TO BEGIN:
http://theroyalascot.blogspot.com/2009/02/finding-right-place-to-begin.html
It explains this concept more thoroughly.
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