Friday, December 7, 2012

2013 Golden Heart Contest

I took the plunge again this year and entered the 2013 Golden Heart Contest sponsored by Romance Writers of America. I've submitted a manuscript previously entered and one I'm entering for the first time.

The contest is much different for this go around. For the first time, the entries are submitted electronically. Kudos to RWA for the appreciated change. I'm so glad there was no need to print up multiple copies of the partial manuscripts and synopses and burn CDs with the full manuscripts, pack them up, and then lug them to the post office for mailing. And I'm very happy to save the postage expense.

The other major change this year is in scoring. Instead of using a single overall score with 9 being the top score, the new scoring model requires a judge to rate a manuscript separately on the romance, the plot/story, the writing, and the characters with the romance having a greater weight. The total possible score is 50.

I'm eager to see how my manuscripts do with the new scoring method.

Are you entering the Golden Heart this year? How do you feel about the new scoring method?

~Dawn Marie
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9 comments:

  1. Ana MorganDecember 7, 2012 at 9:37 AM

    I am not ready to enter this year, but hope to submit an entry in 2014, I'm watching the results of the changes, but they sure sound like improvements.
    Good luck with your entries!

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  2. Dawn Marie HamilronDecember 7, 2012 at 9:49 AM

    Thanks, Ana. Good luck in 2014. I'm really curious about the effect of the new scoring.

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  3. Rolynn AndersonDecember 8, 2012 at 10:26 AM

    I'm thrilled RWA has gone electronic. I haven't entered a contest in years because of the work it took to enter and the strange ways each group judged work (like expecting the 'meet' to happen in the first chapter, etc). I think it's hard to know what contests 'matter,' and truly effect sales. Seems like RWA is the biggee. Good luck, Dawn Marie!

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  4. JosieDecember 9, 2012 at 9:25 AM

    This is the first year in many years that I'm not entering the Golden Heart. I'm thrilled to hear the contest is going electronic, though. Best wishes and good luck!

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  5. Jacqueline HopperDecember 9, 2012 at 6:14 PM

    Seeking Patience is doing fantastic on Amazon. Congrats, Josie. Wishing you many successful sales!

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  6. Vonnie Davis ~ Romance AuthorDecember 9, 2012 at 9:58 PM

    I think the contest changes sound positive. Anything that saves us money is a good thing. Good luck in the contest. Keeping my fingers crossed.

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  7. Pat McDermottDecember 10, 2012 at 5:36 AM

    Fingers crossed for you, Dawn. And good luck to everyone who enters!

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  8. Dawn Marie HamilronDecember 10, 2012 at 9:39 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. Dawn Marie HamilronDecember 10, 2012 at 9:40 AM

    Thanks Rolynn, Josie, Vonnie & Pat! I appreciate your support.

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