Can't Lose Novel & Memoir Contest

Want to bring your writing up to the next level? Enter our Can't Lose Novel and Memoir Contest. Not only will you have the chance to win a prize package that will polish your prose and strengthen your writing skills, every entry receives a detailed critique of the submission package, a comprehensive edit of the first 500 words, and an electronic copy of the Inspiration for Writers Tips and Techniques Workbook. Now is the time to invest in your writing--and yourself.

First prize: Gift package worth over $500, including a professional edit and critique of up to 15,000 words (value $450) of a single document; books on the craft of writing, including a bound copy of the Inspiration for Writers Tips and Techniques Workbook complete with reproducible worksheets ($25.00), The Little Brown Compact Handbook by Jane E. Aaron (fifth edition, $62.40), Marc McCutcheon's The Writer's Digest Sourcebook for Building Believable Characters ($14.99), The Writer's Digest Writing Clinic ($21.99); a magnetic copy of The Writer's Prayer ($3.00); set of ten Writer's Prayer note cards ($15.00); and 2 Inspiration for Writers pens ($2.00).

Second prize: A certificate for 20% off any one service.

Third prize: A certificate for 20% off any one service.

Entry fee: $40. ALL ENTRIES receive a detailed critique of the submission package (approximate value of $75), a complimentary edit of the first 500 words ($15 value*), and an electronic copy of the Inspiration for Writers Tips and Techniques Workbook ($10 value). Payment may be made by paypal or by personal check or money order drawn on US funds and sent to: Inspiration for Writers Contest, 1527 18th Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101 USA.

Click on the icon below to pay by paypal. IMPORTANT: When you receive your payment confirmation screen, be sure to click on the little box on the bottom of the screen that says, "Return to Merchant." This will take you to the screen to download your workbook. If you do not click on this box, you will need to email Sandy to get the download. Once your payment has been sent, you may email your submission package to the contest administrator as detailed below.

Entry Deadline: January 15, 2009. Entries will be considered received when both the manuscript package (as described below) is received and the payment of the $40 entry fee is received. A confirmation email will be sent to you within 1 business day. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please send a query to contest@InspirationForWriters.com or phone Sandy at 304-428-1218.

Inspiration for Writers will announce the winners on or before March 31, 2009. Inspiration for Writers is not responsible for entries or payments not received. We WILL send confirmation emails.

Submit: A one-page synopsis and the first three chapters of a completed, unpublished novel or book-length memoir. A manuscript will be considered published if 1000 or more copies have been printed.

Submission package: It is preferred that submissions be made electronically, sent by email to contest@InspirationForWriters.com. Email subject should be "Novel Contest." Email text should state the author's full name and the statement, "Please enter my attached manuscript in your Inspiration for Writers Novel Contest." We will not open attachments without this statement. (It's fine to include additional text within the body of the email.)

Manuscripts should be formatted as detailed below and saved in Microsoft Office Word (any version with .doc or .docx extensions) or Rich Text Format (.rtf extension). The submission package should be sent as a single document. The cover page should contain the author's name, address, email address, and telephone number in the upper left corner. The center of the page should contain the name of the manuscript, the genre (memoir, romance, mainstream, etc.), and the word count of the completed manuscript (not just what is being sent). The next page should be the synopsis. The first three chapters should follow.

The manuscript should be formatted as follows:

All pages should be in Times New Roman 12-point font.
The author's name should appear on the cover page only.
The heading should include the title of the manuscript on the left and the page number on the right.

All pages should be left adjusted with a ragged right margin.
Paragraphs should be indented ¼ to ½ inch; a line should not be skipped between paragraphs.
The synopsis should be single-spaced.
Chapters should be double-spaced.

The fine print:

All entries must be in English only.

All entries must be the original work of the submitter.

This competition is open to writers of any age, from anywhere in the world (unless prohibited by local regulations). Employees and contractors of Inspiration for Writers and immediate family members of Inspiration for Writers employees and contractors are prohibited from entering.
Entries will be judged based upon literary merit, adherence to guidelines, quality of writing, and clarity of prose.

Should any viruses be detected within the email or the submission package, the manuscript will be disqualified.

Chances of winning depend upon the number of entries received.

Inspiration for Writers is not responsible for any delay in receiving your manuscript.

Once judging begins, correspondence concerning the submission package is prohibited.

If the first place winner resides outside the United States, he or she must pay for actual shipping costs of prizes. If submitted electronically, there are no shipping fees for the professional edit and critique, and there are no shipping fees for winners residing within the United States. Other than the $40 submission fee and the shipping fee for winners outside the United States, there are no other fees associated with submitting, winning, or claiming prizes.

If not now, when?

* Note: $15 value is based upon word count, not the $45 minimum charge per submission.

Questions? Email Contest@InspirationForWriters.com