2016 Indiana Golden OpportunityContest

2016 Indiana Golden OpportunityContest

Celebrating 26 years of helping romance writers!

·        Trained judges provide feedback with track changes throughout manuscript.

·        In-depth scoring-sheets to better educate writers.

·        TWO acquiring editors judge category finalists. 

·        ELEVEN entries in 2015 had request from editors to see full manuscripts.

·        TWO IGO entries won RWA^® Golden Heart in last two years!

o       2014 Romantic Suspense Category winner won in 2015

o       2013 YA Category winner won in 2014.

·        2014 YA category winner is a finalist in the 2016 Golden Heart

 

 

The Indiana Romance Writers of America’s IGO!!!

 

We welcome you to the 26^th annual Indiana’s Golden Opportunity (IGO), one of the premier chapter contests in RWA^®. The Indiana chapter of Romance Writers of America (IRWA) has a well-deserved reputation for offering detailed constructive comments to our entrants from published authors and trained judges. Designed to identify the fundamentals of storytelling and grammar, our four-page category-specific score sheets will assist entrants by defining the elements in their manuscript that require more attention. Our goal is to assist IGO entrants with constructive feedback to help them polish their manuscripts.

 

Many past winners have successfully gone on to catch an editor’s eye and/or final and win in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest.

 

«««BENEFITS OF ENTERING IRWA’S IGO FOR 2016«««

• In keeping with the ever-changing publishing industry, IGO will offertwo (2) acquiring editor judges for each category finalists -- one (1) traditional print and one (1) e-pub when possible.
• Updated rules, categories, and score sheets
• Twenty-seven finalists received requests from our fabulous editor judges to see their full manuscripts over the last three years!

CONTEST CATEGORIES:

Please review the category definitions carefully. Manuscripts entered in the wrong category may be disqualified.

 

Please note that categories may have varying heat levels. All entries should have an emotionally satisfying and optimistic resolution to the romance.

• Contemporary Romance – Romance manuscripts that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and have a contemporary setting.
• Erotic Romance – Romance manuscripts in which the sexual relationship plays an integral part of the romantic relationship and the sex scenes are explicit in both description and language.
• Historical Romance – Romance manuscripts set in any historical time period.
• Inspirational Romance – Romance manuscripts in which religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religious or spiritual belief system) are a major part of the romantic relationship.
• Paranormal Romance – Romance manuscripts in which the future, a fantasy world, time travel or paranormal elements are a key part of the plot.

• Romantic Suspense – Romance manuscripts in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.

• Young Adult Romance – Romance manuscripts geared toward young adult readers.

 

FINAL JUDGES FOR 2015:

Contemporary Romance                                                                                    

     Traditional Print Editor                   Megha Parekh                      Editor Grand Central Publishing

     E-Pub Editor                                     Heather Howland                 Editorial Director Entangled Publishing

Erotic Romance                                                                                   

     Traditional Print Editor                   Allison Janice                       Editorial AssistantBerkley Publishing

     E-Pub Editor                                     Michele Paulin                      Editorial Director Resplendence Publishing   

Historical Romance                                                                                             

     Traditional Print Editor                   Elle Keck                                Editorial Assistant AvonBook

     E-Pub Editor                                     Erin Molta                             Senior Editor Entangled Publishing

Inspirational Romance                                                                       

     Traditional Print Editor                   Shana Asaro                         Associate Editor Harlequin Love Inspired

     Traditional Print Editor                   Becky Philpott                      Acquisitions Editor HarperCollins Christian Publishing                           

Paranormal Romance                                                                                          

     Traditional Print Editor                   Tara Gavin                             Executive Editor Kensington Books

     E-Pub Editor                                     Angela James                       Editorial Director Carina Press / Harlequin

Romantic Suspense                                                                                            

     Traditional Print Editor                   Patience Bloom                     Senior Editor Harlequin Books

     E-Pub Editor                                     Deb Nemeth                          Developmental Editor Carina Press

 

Young Adult Romance                                                                      

     Traditional Print Editor                   Lauren Smulski                     Editorial Assistant Harlequin

     E-Pub Editor                                     Stephanie Taylor                  Owner & Editor in Chief Clean Reads

 

First place winners in each of the categories will continue to the Best-of-the-Best round.

Best of the Best                                    Katherine Pelz                       Assistant Editor Berkley Publishing Group    

 

 

OPEN FOR ENTRIES: May 1, 2016

 

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY: July 1, 2016

 

AWARDS: Category winners – First place entry will receive $50 and a certificate

                    Best of the Best – Winner will receive a special keepsake award

 

ELIGIBILITY:

The Indiana Golden Opportunity contest is open to any unpublished author in novel- or novella-length romance fiction. Published authors who have not been contracted for publication or self-published in the romance genre in the past three (3) years are also eligible to enter.  If any rights (print, digital, audio, foreign, etc.) have been contracted to a publisher or exercised through self-publishing in the past three (3) years (2013 to present), author is not eligible to enter. Failure to follow IGO rules will result in disqualification and entry fee will not be refunded.

 

Note: Previously entered manuscripts that have been revised may be entered again if they did NOT final or win in a prior IGO Contest.  Members of the Indiana Romance Writers of America are not eligible to enter.

 

For more information:  indianarwa.com

 

 

THANK YOU FOR ENTERING THE 26^TH ANNUAL

INDIANA GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY CONTEST!

GOOD LUCK!