March 2015 Contest Roundup

I can scarcely believe that it’s time once again for the Contest Roundup!  I’ve looked in all my usual places  and then some, but the contest pickings seem a little short here. There are some great contests listed, for sure, but I’m afraid I may have missed something else good out there! So if there is a contest I missed, please do add it in the comments or email me at subitclub@gmail.com to let me know and I’ll add it to the post.

Here’s this month’s Roundup:

February:

2/23: Savvy Pitches – A variety of agents and editors are taking pitches at Savvy Authors. Check out the roster, read the rules, and get ready to pitch. (You can always ask for critiques on your pitch in our Sub It Club group.)

2/27: Sub It Club 2 Year Anniversary – We have one more giveaway lined up! Come read our interview and enter to win a query letter critique from Molly Jaffa of Folio Literary.

March:

3/1: March Mystery Agent Contest Lottery – Enter your Twitter pitch plus the first 250 words of your manuscript. Open to YA, MG, SF/F, Romance, and Erotica. 25 entries will be selected. The Mystery Agent will take a look at them for a chance to win prizes. Entries will be posted on the blog for feedback.

3/11: #PitMad – Twitter Pitch Party open to all genres. 8am-8pm EDT.

3/16: Mini Contest – Michelle Hauck is setting up a mini contest on her blog. So far there aren’t many details except that the submission window should be March 16th. She tweeted that she has 6 agents participating so far. More info to come.

3/19: Carina Pitch – Pitch Carina Press on Twitter between 9am and 9pm EST using the #CarinaPitch hashtag. You can see the genres they accept in their Submission Guidelines. (Sorry, no children’s books.) Pitches can be up to two tweets long. Do not pitch the same book more than twice. Requested manuscripts must be sent within 3 days. All requested pitches will receive personalized feedback by May 8th. Do not pitch work that has already been passed on by Carina Press. See all the pitch details here.

3/31: April Mystery Agent Contest – Enter your completed YA or Adult Sci-fi or Fantasy. Winning entries chosen by lottery will considered by the agent. Open for entry on 3/17.

3/31: SCBWI Work in Progress Awards – Six categories: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Early Readers, Middle Grade, Young Adult Fiction, Nonfiction, Multi-Cultural Fiction or Nonfiction. One winner and up to five honorable mentions will be chosen in each category. Must be a member of the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators to enter. Winning entries and honorable mentions will be “presented to a hand-selected group of editors for their consideration.” Submission window opens 3/1.

3/31: Don Freeman Illustrator Grants – Must be a member of the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators to enter. Two grants of $1000.00 will be awarded. One to a published illustrator and one to a pre-published illustrator. See website for specific entry requirements.

April:

4/1: Nestpitch – Easter is coming so keep your eyes peeled for #Nestpitch. There’s a post about teams here with more info to come on 3/23 or 24.

4/1: Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest – Enter your humorous poem of any length. First Prize is $1,000 and there will be 10 honorable mentions awarded $100 each. The top 11 entries will be published online.

4/2: International Children’s Book Illustration Day Twitter Party – Pitch your illustrated work using the #ICBDKidLitArtPitch hashtag. Artwork pitches for picture book dummies, chapter book and middle grade illustration are welcome.

4/27 – 5/8: We Need Diverse Books Short Story Contest – Enter your short story for Middle Grade readers ages 8-12. Manuscript must be less than 5,000 words, and can be in an illustrated graphic novel format no longer than 10 pages. Entries must include a bio and headshot. Open to writers of all diverse backgrounds. Writers must not already be published in a “traditional fiction book format.” Winner will receive $1000.00 and have their piece published in the WNDB anthology to be released by Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books in January of 2017. Two Runners Up with receive $250.00 each.

Upcoming:

6/4: #PitMad – Twitter Pitch Party open to all genres. 8AM – 8PM EDT on Twitter. Use the #PitMad hashtag.

9/1: The Scholastic Asian Book Award – This contest is open to unpublished manuscripts “written by writers of Asian descent, living in Asia”. Must be a chapter book or novel of no less than 6,000 words.  See the Rules and Regulations for details. Top winner will receive a prize of SGD 10,000 and have their manuscript considered by Scholastic Asia for publication. Two runners up will be offered advice by Scholastic Asia on editing their manuscripts to submit for publication.

Best of luck on your entries!