COTT Unveils New Literary Contest for Unpublished Writers
Get Ready to Spar!
Clash of the Titles Unveils a NEW annual literary contest,
THE OLYMPIA
and it’s strictly for unpublished writers!
Also, you will no longer
need to be a previous Clash Champion in order to compete for the
crown.
need to be a previous Clash Champion in order to compete for the
crown.
Submissions open September 14, 2012,
As always at COTT, the outcome of the contest is in the hands of readers,
not industry professionals.
You’ve written the book of your dreams, now what do readers
think? Enter the arena and find out.
think? Enter the arena and find out.
Olympia 2013 Submission Rules
The
OLYMPIA provides an opportunity for unpublished novelists to have the
first two chapters (or 3,500 words) of their work judged and critiqued
by readers that are well-versed in Christian fiction yet not a part of
the CBA industry.
OLYMPIA provides an opportunity for unpublished novelists to have the
first two chapters (or 3,500 words) of their work judged and critiqued
by readers that are well-versed in Christian fiction yet not a part of
the CBA industry.
ELIGIBILITY:
Any author whose novel-length work (30,000+ words) has not been
previously published in ANY format is eligible for entry. That includes
the manuscript being submitted as well as any other manuscript the
submitting author has written. One entry per author. Co-authored entries
accepted. The manuscript should not contain profanity, graphic sex, or
other objectionable material. Clash of the Titles staff reserves the
right to reject submissions not meeting this requirement.
Any author whose novel-length work (30,000+ words) has not been
previously published in ANY format is eligible for entry. That includes
the manuscript being submitted as well as any other manuscript the
submitting author has written. One entry per author. Co-authored entries
accepted. The manuscript should not contain profanity, graphic sex, or
other objectionable material. Clash of the Titles staff reserves the
right to reject submissions not meeting this requirement.
FEE: $10 payable via Paypal
Paypal account: contactcott@gmail.com
If Paypal is not an option for you, please contact senior editor, April Gardner at contactcott@gmail.com.
SUBMISSION
GUIDELINES: All entries must include a single-spaced one page
synopsis of the manuscript immediately followed by the first two
chapters of the novel. Word count limit is 3,500. Prologues are
accepted, so long as the word count limit is not exceeded.
GUIDELINES: All entries must include a single-spaced one page
synopsis of the manuscript immediately followed by the first two
chapters of the novel. Word count limit is 3,500. Prologues are
accepted, so long as the word count limit is not exceeded.
FORMAT:
Manuscripts must be in Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double-spaced with
pages numbered. One inch margins in Ms Doc (not Docx) or Rich Text
Format (RTF). Insert a header which includes the novel’s genre and
title, and nothing more. Judging is anonymous. Do NOT include your name
anywhere in the document or in the title the document is saved
under.
Manuscripts must be in Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double-spaced with
pages numbered. One inch margins in Ms Doc (not Docx) or Rich Text
Format (RTF). Insert a header which includes the novel’s genre and
title, and nothing more. Judging is anonymous. Do NOT include your name
anywhere in the document or in the title the document is saved
under.
Entries not
following the submission and formatting specifications will be returned.
Entries may be resubmitted prior to the deadline. Entry fees for
returned entries will not be refunded after the contest entry deadline
has passed.
following the submission and formatting specifications will be returned.
Entries may be resubmitted prior to the deadline. Entry fees for
returned entries will not be refunded after the contest entry deadline
has passed.
JUDGING:
Round One begins November 02, 2012. Entries will
first be judged by Clash of the Titles staff, which includes published
authors and writers experienced in judging. During this round, COTT
staff will be looking for those excerpts which do not meet content
standards listed in “Eligibility” above. Because COTT wishes to send
only the best quality of writing to its judges, in addition to content
eligibility, they will be reading for a higher level of experience in
the craft.
first be judged by Clash of the Titles staff, which includes published
authors and writers experienced in judging. During this round, COTT
staff will be looking for those excerpts which do not meet content
standards listed in “Eligibility” above. Because COTT wishes to send
only the best quality of writing to its judges, in addition to content
eligibility, they will be reading for a higher level of experience in
the craft.
Round
Two begins November 30, 2012. By this date all entrants will
have received an email notifying them whether or not their manuscript
has moved on to Round Two. Manuscripts making it to this round will be
read by a group of judges who are comprised of your average reader of
Christian fiction and that are in no way associated with the CBA
industry. This includes agents, writers, avid reviewers, publicists,
editors, etc. They are, in short, your audience.
Two begins November 30, 2012. By this date all entrants will
have received an email notifying them whether or not their manuscript
has moved on to Round Two. Manuscripts making it to this round will be
read by a group of judges who are comprised of your average reader of
Christian fiction and that are in no way associated with the CBA
industry. This includes agents, writers, avid reviewers, publicists,
editors, etc. They are, in short, your audience.
Round
Three begins January 21, 2013. By this date, all remaining
entrants will be notified of whether or not their manuscript will be
moving on. Only three manuscripts will be chosen for this round.
Finalist will be announced January 18. Judges pending.
Three begins January 21, 2013. By this date, all remaining
entrants will be notified of whether or not their manuscript will be
moving on. Only three manuscripts will be chosen for this round.
Finalist will be announced January 18. Judges pending.
Authors will
receive an anonymous digital copy of each of their judge’s scores and
comments. Under no circumstance should comments given by a judge be used
for publicity or promotional purposes without the express consent of
the judge.
receive an anonymous digital copy of each of their judge’s scores and
comments. Under no circumstance should comments given by a judge be used
for publicity or promotional purposes without the express consent of
the judge.
PRIZES:
One first-place winner will be chosen. He/she will receive a special
feature on Clash of the Titles’ blog. A tour through COTT’s Blog
Alliance. A dedicated page on COTT’s site for a full year. A podcast
interview with author and CAG board member, Cynthia L. Simmons. A
beautiful plaque. Additional prizes pending.
One first-place winner will be chosen. He/she will receive a special
feature on Clash of the Titles’ blog. A tour through COTT’s Blog
Alliance. A dedicated page on COTT’s site for a full year. A podcast
interview with author and CAG board member, Cynthia L. Simmons. A
beautiful plaque. Additional prizes pending.
DEADLINES:
Submissions will open Friday, September 14, 2012. All contest entries
and fees must be received no later than 8:00 PM EST Friday, November 02,
2012.
Submissions will open Friday, September 14, 2012. All contest entries
and fees must be received no later than 8:00 PM EST Friday, November 02,
2012.
All entries will
receive a confirmation e-mail. If this has not occurred by 8:00 PM EST
November 03, 2012, the entrant should e-mail COTT senior editor, April
Gardner at contactcott@gmail.com.
receive a confirmation e-mail. If this has not occurred by 8:00 PM EST
November 03, 2012, the entrant should e-mail COTT senior editor, April
Gardner at contactcott@gmail.com.
The winner will be announced Friday, March 01, 2013
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