2021 Rudy Contest Rules
Entry Fees:
CRW members- $20
All others- $25
Schedule:
March 15th, 2021 - Contest opens for submissions and judges
May 17th, 2021 – Contest closes (all entries and payments must be received before midnight on this date)
July 26th, 2021 – Finalists are announced
July 30th, 2021 – Scoresheets are returned to entrants who did not final
September 11th, 2021 – Winners are announced via Facebook Live Stream at the CRW’s Chapter Meeting (finalists are invited to attend in-person if quarantine restrictions are lifted. In-person attendance is not required.)
September 13th, 2021 – a full list of winners and finalists will be posted on the CRW website and on social media
September 27th, 2021 – scoresheets will be returned to winners and finalists
Rules:
There must be a romantic element.
There must be an HEA (Happily Ever After).
Entries must be unpublished and not under contract by the contest deadline.
Entries must be submitted electronically as a .doc or .docx file.
Entries are comprised of a blurb (back-cover copy) and no more than the first 20 pages of a manuscript. Both will be in the same document, with the blurb on the first page and the manuscript starting on the second page. (Please start page numbers with the first page of the manuscript. The blurb is not paginated.)
Please save entry files with the phrase “Rudy21” first, followed by the capitalized first four letters of your category, and the entry title. Example of an entry file name: Rudy21HISTSeducingtheDuke.docx .
Finalists will be required to supply a synopsis no longer than 2 pages to accompany their entry into the final round. The synopsis will not be judged, but will be needed for story arc. (Finalists will be notified and given one week to submit the synopsis).
The author’s name must not appear anywhere on the entry.
Authors may submit up to two entries to the contest. Only one entry may be submitted per category.
Each entry must be paid for separately.
A category must receive 5 entries to be viable. If a category does not receive enough entries, authors will be contacted with the option to have their entry moved to another category. If the author declines, he or she will be reimbursed.
Any entry that has won in a previous Rudy Contest may not be submitted in this or future Rudy contests.
Judges may not judge a category in which they are currently entered.
Entries containing rape, abuse, pedophilia, bestiality, or other illegal, non-consensual, or similarly objectionable content will be disqualified.
Refunds will not be given for entries disqualified for content.
Formatting:
1” margins
Double-spaced
12-point font, Times New Roman
Title and category in the left corner of header
Page number in the top right corner of header (Start page numbers with the first page of the 20-page entry. The blurb does not have a page number.)
It is up to the author whether they want to include a prologue in the 20-page entry.
Chapters start on a new page 1/3 of the way down the page
Categories:
HISTorical Romance
PARAnormal/SciFi/Fantasy/Speculative Fiction Romance
CONTemporary Romance
EROTic Romance
SUSPence/Thriller/Mystery
Please note:
Romances featuring characters of all races, creeds, ethnicities, genders, and sexualities or disabilities, or containing spiritual/religious elements are welcome to enter. Please enter the category that best suits your entry over all.
Prizes:
Top 3 finalists in each category will receive a certificate, and e-badge for social media
2nd and 3rd place winners will receive a commemorative Rudy pin, certificate, and e-badge for social media
1st Place winners will receive a $50 cash award, commemorative Rudy pin, certificate, e-badge for social media
Judging:
Entries will be reviewed in the 1st round by four judges chosen from a pool of published authors, librarians, and industry professionals. Each judge will be vigilant regarding bias of any kind. The lowest score will be dropped and the three remaining scores will be averaged to calculate the final score.
Entries receiving the three highest scores in each category will move on to the next round.
Each finalist’s entry will be reviewed by two industry professionals selected from a pool of vetted agents, publishing editors, professional reviewers, and romance bloggers. Both scores will be averaged to determine the final ranking.
CRW encourages judges to leave remarks on score sheets as well as inside the entry documents. Some may choose to provide line edit suggestions in Track Change mode. All commentary will be constructive and helpful.
Want to be a judge? Follow this link to sign up. All judges will be asked to read important information about implicit bias. All judges will agree to be vigilant about prejudice and favoritism. As a thank you from CRW, all judges will be entered into a raffle for a $25 Amazon gift card.
Registration:
Please pay first by clicking on the below PAYPAL link. Write down your transaction number and name of the account from which you are paying. Then return to this page and click on the REGISTRATION form below.
Thank you for your interest in the 2021 Rudy Contest! Good luck!
CRW members- $20
All others- $25
Schedule:
March 15th, 2021 - Contest opens for submissions and judges
May 17th, 2021 – Contest closes (all entries and payments must be received before midnight on this date)
July 26th, 2021 – Finalists are announced
July 30th, 2021 – Scoresheets are returned to entrants who did not final
September 11th, 2021 – Winners are announced via Facebook Live Stream at the CRW’s Chapter Meeting (finalists are invited to attend in-person if quarantine restrictions are lifted. In-person attendance is not required.)
September 13th, 2021 – a full list of winners and finalists will be posted on the CRW website and on social media
September 27th, 2021 – scoresheets will be returned to winners and finalists
Rules:
There must be a romantic element.
There must be an HEA (Happily Ever After).
Entries must be unpublished and not under contract by the contest deadline.
Entries must be submitted electronically as a .doc or .docx file.
Entries are comprised of a blurb (back-cover copy) and no more than the first 20 pages of a manuscript. Both will be in the same document, with the blurb on the first page and the manuscript starting on the second page. (Please start page numbers with the first page of the manuscript. The blurb is not paginated.)
Please save entry files with the phrase “Rudy21” first, followed by the capitalized first four letters of your category, and the entry title. Example of an entry file name: Rudy21HISTSeducingtheDuke.docx .
Finalists will be required to supply a synopsis no longer than 2 pages to accompany their entry into the final round. The synopsis will not be judged, but will be needed for story arc. (Finalists will be notified and given one week to submit the synopsis).
The author’s name must not appear anywhere on the entry.
Authors may submit up to two entries to the contest. Only one entry may be submitted per category.
Each entry must be paid for separately.
A category must receive 5 entries to be viable. If a category does not receive enough entries, authors will be contacted with the option to have their entry moved to another category. If the author declines, he or she will be reimbursed.
Any entry that has won in a previous Rudy Contest may not be submitted in this or future Rudy contests.
Judges may not judge a category in which they are currently entered.
Entries containing rape, abuse, pedophilia, bestiality, or other illegal, non-consensual, or similarly objectionable content will be disqualified.
Refunds will not be given for entries disqualified for content.
Formatting:
1” margins
Double-spaced
12-point font, Times New Roman
Title and category in the left corner of header
Page number in the top right corner of header (Start page numbers with the first page of the 20-page entry. The blurb does not have a page number.)
It is up to the author whether they want to include a prologue in the 20-page entry.
Chapters start on a new page 1/3 of the way down the page
Categories:
HISTorical Romance
PARAnormal/SciFi/Fantasy/Speculative Fiction Romance
CONTemporary Romance
EROTic Romance
SUSPence/Thriller/Mystery
Please note:
Romances featuring characters of all races, creeds, ethnicities, genders, and sexualities or disabilities, or containing spiritual/religious elements are welcome to enter. Please enter the category that best suits your entry over all.
Prizes:
Top 3 finalists in each category will receive a certificate, and e-badge for social media
2nd and 3rd place winners will receive a commemorative Rudy pin, certificate, and e-badge for social media
1st Place winners will receive a $50 cash award, commemorative Rudy pin, certificate, e-badge for social media
Judging:
Entries will be reviewed in the 1st round by four judges chosen from a pool of published authors, librarians, and industry professionals. Each judge will be vigilant regarding bias of any kind. The lowest score will be dropped and the three remaining scores will be averaged to calculate the final score.
Entries receiving the three highest scores in each category will move on to the next round.
Each finalist’s entry will be reviewed by two industry professionals selected from a pool of vetted agents, publishing editors, professional reviewers, and romance bloggers. Both scores will be averaged to determine the final ranking.
CRW encourages judges to leave remarks on score sheets as well as inside the entry documents. Some may choose to provide line edit suggestions in Track Change mode. All commentary will be constructive and helpful.
Want to be a judge? Follow this link to sign up. All judges will be asked to read important information about implicit bias. All judges will agree to be vigilant about prejudice and favoritism. As a thank you from CRW, all judges will be entered into a raffle for a $25 Amazon gift card.
Registration:
Please pay first by clicking on the below PAYPAL link. Write down your transaction number and name of the account from which you are paying. Then return to this page and click on the REGISTRATION form below.
Thank you for your interest in the 2021 Rudy Contest! Good luck!