Synopsis is not a four-letter word!

RULES

This contest is open to all members of RWA® unpublished in full-length fiction. First 100 entries are guaranteed admission. Additional entries will be accepted subject to judge availability.

(Entrants must indicate the romance category on the entry form or be disqualified.) Paranormal, erotica, time travels, inspirational, and other subgenres should enter in contemporary or historical, as appropriate, but please note subgenre on entry, for judging purposes.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE, HISTORICAL ROMANCE, ROMANTIC SUSPENSE, YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE, and OTHER, WITH STRONG ROMANCE ELEMENTS (Women’s Fiction, Chicklit, Erotica, for example)

Each entry will be judged by three judges in the preliminary round. The judges will be published or trained non-published members of RWA. All judging is confidential unless a judge elects to disclose his/her name. Five (5) entries with the highest average scores will be finalists. The top entry in each category will go to our final judge.

Entries will be scored 1-5 points on 15 items in the following categories: Romance Elements (or Relationship Development for the Other category), Conflict & Motivation, Characterization, Plot, and General Assessment.

Contestants sending SASE's will receive the score sheets for their entry. The first-place entry in each category will be judged by an acquiring editor or agent. The four highest scoring entries in each category and grand-prize winner will receive certificates and be announced in Romance Writer’s Report. MERWA reserves the right to select no finalist in a category if there are no scores deemed high enough by the contest committee.

1. Send 4 (four) copies of the synopsis (maximum 12 pages) each copy fastened with a paper clip; include word count and targeted publisher in header, use standard format; type contest category/title on top left and page number on top right of each page of entry. Do NOT include your name on any page of the entry.

2. Enclose an SASE with first class postage for the return of your entry. Entries without sufficient postage will not be returned and will be destroyed after the contest. (Allow extra postage for additional contest sheets.)

3. Fee: $20 for RWA members, $10 for MERWA members. MERWA accepts checks or money orders, payable to MERWA, or PayPal, addressed to RWAMaine@yahoo.com. For each entry, enclose a properly completed, signed entry form along with a check or indication of PayPal payment.

4. Entry must be postmarked or received by e-mail by September 1, 2007. Mail to: MERWA Synopsis Contest, PO Box 6478, Brunswick, ME 04011. Contact Susan Vaughan, Contest Coordinator, gullwood@midcoast.com.

Sponsored by The Maine Chapter, RWA®

Name:__________________________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________

City:_____________________________ State:_____________ Zip:________________

Phone: (daytime):______________________ (evening):__________________________

RWA Membership number:______________ e-mail____________________________

Title of Entry:___________________________________________________________

Category (one must be checked):

Signature:___________________________________Date:_____________________