Punkin House "Novice Novelist Contest"

Punkin House would like introduce, our first semi-annual "Novice Novelist Contest". We are searching for an unknown author who has a great story to tell. We will publish the best manuscript in 2011.

The contest is open to all authors ages 18 and up.

Deadline

The contest starts January 15, 2011.
Entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2011.

Entries:

Query for Fiction Novel-

50,000 + words

Excluded Genres:

Non-Fiction

Sci-Fi

Poetry

Childrens Picture Books

Chapbooks

Send Entries To:

NoviceNovelist@punkinhouse.com

Awards & Prizes

Grand Prize- $1000 plus Publishing Contract with Punkin House.

2^nd Place - $500 plus critique of the first 3 chapters of their novel.

3^rd Place - $100 plus critique of the first chapter of their novel.

Honorable Mention (5): A 30% discount coupon for Punkin Books and your name and piece title will be published on www.punkinhouse.com

Entry Fees

Non-Refundable Entry Fee of $35 USD

Winner Notification

Winners' certificates/awards will be mailed no later than May 31, 2011.

Winners List will be posted on www.PunkinHouse.com — around May 31, 2011.

General Guidelines

Entries must be unpublished.

Please send a query letter and the first 1,000 words of your manuscript.

Only 1,000 words per entry, do NOT submit the complete book.

Enter as many manuscripts as you would like. Entry fee and a separate Official Entry Form must accompany each entry.

Entries that do not meet contest guidelines will be disqualified; entry fees will not be returned.

We will only accept digital copies of the manuscript. Please do not ask to send a paper copy.

Please send as an attachment in an email to NoviceNovelist@punkinhouse.com.

Use a readable font such as Times Roman.

The entire manuscript must be completed. We will not accept an incomplete manuscript if you win.

Other Information

Grand Prize Winner: Will receive a book deal and $1,000. The winner has the right to deny publication and the Book Deal. Punkin House does not charge the author for publication, or any other hidden fees.

Judging Criteria

Presentation (format, follows rules, neatness, spelling, punctuation, grammar).

Strength (Lead/End) tightness, clarity, structure, transitions, impact, satisfactory close.

The first 1,000 words need to stand alone with elements of good writing included. Either the first or the last chapter will usually represent the whole book the best.

Fiction: Characterization, conflict, dialogue, plotting, beginning, ending, figures of speech.

Please copy and paste the entry form and send as an attachment to NoviceNovelist@PunkinHouse.com

------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM - 2011 Punkin’s Novice Novelist Contest

Postmark deadline 5/1/2011

A separate form must accompany each entry (and each poem);

1. Author's name ________________________________________________

Note how you want your name on Winners List/Certificate if different from above:

_____________________________________________________________

2. Author's mailing address ________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

3. Author's phone number (______) ________________

4. Author's E-mail: _______________________________________

5. TITLE of entry _________________________________________________

6. FIRST LINE of entry ____________________________________________

7. GENRE of entry______________________________________________

8. ENTRY FEE :

You can submit your entry fees via

(a verified PayPal user since 2009) - Be sure to note with your payment the title(s) and/or first line of your entry or entries. Then email your entry or entries along with entry form(s) – to NoviceNovelist@PunkinHouse.com

We will e-mail you confirmation when we have received and matched up your entry fees and entries.