The Submission Period Has Begun in the First Chapters Romance Writing Competition

I'm looking forward to seeing the entries! Although I don't have one, good luck to everyone who does.

With the early posting / late voting, there are likely to be problems with 'losing' votes from people who don't know not to rate until later. Will any ratings recieved between August 1 and August 27th be wiped out prior to the official voting period? I'd hate to read something and rate it, without realizing it was in the contest, then have that vote invalidated because it's outside the rating period.

Hi Pat~
We will be clearing out any votes made prior to August 27, so that if people accidentally vote too early, they will have a chance to vote again. Thanks for bringing that up!

THANK YOU Kristen! I have several friends entering and was petrified of rating anything! That helps so much!

This will be interesting and perhaps more straigh forward that the previous competition since it's limited to only one genre this time around.

Watching with interest. Did I read the rules right though? You have to be a US citizen to enter?

Aw, c'mon Kristin--with all due respect, serious writers want to know: WHY romance?
(Yeah, I know. Let the flaming begin.)

Yes Pippa - this competition is for US citizens only. Thanks for your question!

I have published a book with PublishAmerica.com, does this exclude me from this competition if I use a non-published work I still have hidden at home, unseen by any other eyes than mine???
Thanks!

Paul! I'm shocked! I thought you enjoyed my entry in the last contest! Now you'll get a different one.

Although this is not my favorite genre, I'm still supporting all of the unpublished authors with great stories to tell!

However, I still would like an answer as to whether there will be another contest for the other genres or not. I have my second manuscript half-way complete, and two more in the works.

If you are or might be planning another contest, do you think you could at least provide us with a time frame?

Thanks! Best of luck to all of the Romance writers!

Sarah~
We were very pleased with the success of our first First Chapters Competition, and we're anxious to see lots of participation in First Chapters Romance. We are always on the lookout for new opportunities to bring to the community, but there is nothing I can share with you at this time regarding other genre-specific competitions.

Tom's judging? Does he USUALLY read romance novels?

Egad! Don't remind me the deadline is approaching. I'm editing, editing, editing. Editing some more. Editing...

editing...

Hard at work, serous now, more than ever! The ccreative juices are flowing! Ellen B,

Can you answer the question, please, about previous PublishAmerica suckers getting to enter? I'm one of those suckers, but I have a brand-new completed romance/horror novel that I think fits. Can I submit?

I sure hope my pc. and is ready and my keyboard issues are all resolved in time so I do not have to hunt and peck to make it legible, Ellen B

Hi, will you have a first chapters competition for mysteries? Thanks!

I am wondering how we go about finding (and reading) the submissions of others. I posted mine last night, but couldn't find it anywhere from within the group. I had to search for my own name on the gather home page to find it. Is there somewhere that all these submissions are lumped together so that we can scroll through, pick, and read what we want? How is someone who happens to come acorss our post supposed to know that it's part of a competition and that they can vote on it?

Hi Kat~
Please see my message above for Sarah with regards to other genre-specific competitions. Thanks!

Brandy~
When voting begins on August 27, we will allow all submissions to be visible within the First Chapters Romance Group, and we will publish an article linking to all the submissions. Thanks!

Where are the entries? I can't find them.

Cathy

Kim and Linda~
Unfortunately, authors that have been published through PublishAmerica.com are ineligible for this competition. I hope you will still participate in the voting, however, which begins on August 27th. Thank you for your questions.

Kristen- Thanks for answering people's questions (even though I didn't have any questions). You are a great moderator. Here's a pat on the back. *pat, pat, pat

Kristen, where do we potential reviewers find the chapters?

Cathy

Kristen - if the person who wins this competition gets published, does that me he/she may not write in any further competitions thereafter?

Thanks, Jamie!

Cathy~
The reading and voting period begins on August 27 - on that day, we will "release" all the submissions into the First Chapters Romance group, and also publish an article with a link to all the chapters. Thanks for your question!

Hi Shaina~
The winner of the First Chapters Romance Writing Competition will be ineligible to compete in any other First Chapters competitions that we may offer on Gather in the future, because he or she will be a published author. Thanks!

Sorry, Judi. You're right. You're a talented writer. Wish you well.

Thank you, Paul!

Romance is a billion dollar a year industry. Statistics from the national organization, RWA, Romance Writers of America, are available here:

Romance Statistics

(a) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Competition shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and (b) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with participating in this Competition but in no event attorneys' fees; and (c) under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain awards for and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. By submitting a manuscript, entrants acknowledge that they understand and agree that the Designated Entities' use of Material containing features and elements similar to or identical with those contained in their manuscript do not entitle entrant to any compensation. By entering, entrant waives any right of action against the Designated Entities or their successors and assigns in connection with the Designated Entities' use of the Material (or any part thereof) whether or not the Material contains features or elements similar or identical to those contained in entrant's Submission. From reading this I fully understand that even if you're not selected as the grand prize winner, or even the runner up, you don't get your manuscript back, and if you happen to see your manuscript printed exactly how you wrote it, or even anything resembling your manuscript don't expect to get paid. Because you read the rules and regulations before you sent your manuscript and it said that you were signing away your life's work in hopes that yours will be picked out of thousands. Basically, it's a lottery your gambling with your dreams to become a published author. And it's says loud and clear in rule 11, that you can take legal action but only in the state of Massachusetts, and you'll only be getting paid for out of pocket cost, which means you only get paid for the amount of money you put into the competition which is nothing because it's free. Pleas read theses rules carefully and make sure that this competition is really worth, what your giving up. If this competition is worth the gamble, then I wish you all the best, Good Luck.

Here's a tad of romance, sprinkled with humor.

www.ronnierayjenkins.com

I have a one 3/4 done and I like it better than my first I wrote.
I can not wait to see others and their books.
Happy writing!

I am interested to see everyone's entries, and what setting and characters they produce. I would like to read something new and different in the romance genre. I don't have the time to write, put I will put in the time to read, and to give my perspectives on the entries.

Hi, I'm wondering if a sort of romance could be accepted? My novel that I'm writing is more supernatural with romance involved. But it really doesn't show up until the second chapter (the first chapter is short).

Very interesting. Dominique! I hope everyone reads your post, if not the actual rules of entry into this competition.

Thanks!

Marti~ It's really up to you. Please see our FAQs or our Official Rules for a definition of the romance genre:

FAQs: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977053485
Official Rules: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977053478

Thanks!

Dominique~
Thanks for your comment. This section of our official rules simply protects the publisher, Simon & Schuster, should they ever publish a book that resembles one that a First Chapters contestant submitted. This is standard language in any type of competition that involves publication, from poetry to screenwriting.

As you can see from the rules, the publisher is only reading the manuscripts of the 5 finalists, and as we learned from the last First Chapters competition, Simon & Schuster has no problem publishing multiple winners if the quality is there. The goal of this competition is to uncover amazing, unpublished talent, not to take advantage of Gather members.

If you have any other concerns regarding the rules of this competition, please don't hesitate to comment or send me a message. Thank you!!

IMO, this is a terrific opportunity to not only get your work before publishing professionals, but also to network with fellow writers and learn/grow. I entered a similar contest years ago and came away a stronger writer, with several new online friends...and a much thicker skin :)

Good luck to everyone who is courageous enough to enter.

Kristen, Hello.

I have never heard of PublishAmerica, but I have three books with iUniverse, a self-publisher. From the Official Rules:

"Entries must be original, previously unpublished (excluding self-published and vanity press), completed book-length manuscripts in the Romance genre from authors who have not previously published a full-length book."

The phrase "excluding self-published and vanity press" sure sounds as if I would be eligible to enter regardless of having self-published, as long as I don't try to submit the self-published manuscript itself.

Please advise. Thanks!

M. Margaret~
Yes, if you have self-published, you are still eligible to enter. Thanks!

<<br>Cathy~
The reading and voting period begins on August 27 - on that day, we will "release" all the submissions into the First Chapters Romance group, and also publish an article with a link to all the chapters. Thanks for your question! >>>>

Kristen...If I interpret you correctly, after Aug. 27th people who come to vote will NOT be allowed to go directly to our page and vote (?) ... They will have to find the competition, then look for a link and search for the chapter by Title OR by our GATHER NAME??? I tried to tell my sister how to vote and she said my instructions were clear as mud...IS there a anytime of specific directional we can give to new people who come to gather for the first time to vote???
Much thanks!
-Bon

Bonnie- I'll answer your question. YOUR article will still be visible on your page (as well as in the group), but if your invitees (or yourself) would like to read and vote on the other entries (I hope you will!), the easiest place to find them all together would be the First Chapters Romance group. This should make more sense after the 27th when you can actually navigate the entries on the group page.

If I said something wrong, feel free to correct me, Kristen.

You're right, Jamie! Thanks for responding. Plus, any votes made before August 27 are going to be removed, so Bonnie, tell your sister to sit tight!!

Okay, Kristen, as frequently happens when I try to use my head for something other than a convenient place to keep my hat, I am confused. A short while back, I received an e-mail telling me that my submission to the Romance Writers First Chapters competition was "declined". Then, today, I received yet another e-mail suggesting the contrary. So I don't know if I'm in or out... What gives? Explain?

Kristen. I see where several times you've said the votes would be erased. What about the comments made on the entries prior to the offical voting period. Will those be erased as well. Thank you.

Hi Reese~
We are sending you an email to discuss this further. Sorry for any confusion!

Hi Stacy~ Comments will not be erased. Thanks!

I hate that I just saw this competition. I have my first chapter, but the rest of the manuscript is not even done. Wow! This would have been my chance to get published.

Lakeisha

Hi Kristen,

Can we, ourselves vote for someone elses first chapter? I would love to read the entries and also vote if I can. I have looked at some great chapters already but want to make sure first if this is alright and won't get me disquailified since I also have a chapter entered in the contest.
Thanks,
Josephine

Hi Josephine~
Yes, you can vote for other chapters if you would like! Thank you!

Awesome and thank you Kristen:)

Josephine