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  Contemporary – Single Title    Paranormal Romance
  Historical Romance    Erotic Romance

The sparkling dazzle of a roman candle, the white-hot brilliance of summer lightning, the slow smolder of a winter fire, or the breath-taking inferno of a wildfire--Whatever sort of heat you're building between your hero and heroine, it all begins with the spark of their first meeting. The Ignite the Flame Contest is designed to help you polish that critical scene so that it crackles with romantic energy!

Entry Fee: $20 COFW members, $25 all others. Make check or money order payable to “Central Ohio Fiction Writers.” If a check is returned for insufficient funds, and a valid replacement is not received by May 20, the entry will be disqualified. All funds are in U.S. dollars. To pay by PayPal, click here.

Qualifications: Contest open to all writers of romance fiction unpublished in book-length fiction. COFW recognizes e-books and print-on-demand books as publications.

Download Entry Form

Download 2008 ITF Score Sheet

Submission:

  • Submit three copies of your hero and heroine's first meeting (up to 15 pages). You may also submit three copies of an optional, non-judged one-page set-up providing necessary background for the first-meeting scene (Online Entries must be in rich text format (rtf))
  • Write the name of the category you are entering in the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, and send to Aleta Dodson, 4220 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221. Or email to: aletawrites@hotmail.com (Subject line: COFW ITF Entry)
  • U.S. residents must include a self-addressed, stamped priority mail envelope with the proper postage for return of your manuscripts and score sheets. The envelopes are available free of charge at your local post office. Return envelopes must be stamped, not metered, and must include sufficient postage for return of all manuscript pages submitted.
  • Canadian residents should add five (5) U.S. dollars to their entry fee to cover return postage for their entry; other international residents should add ten (10) U.S. dollars to their entry fee to cover return postage for their entry.
  • Entrants may submit more than one entry in a category, but a separate entry fee and return envelope must accompany each entry.
  • If fewer than seven entries are received in the entry's category, it will be reassigned to an alternate category (see entry form).
  • If an entry is disqualified for any reason (clearly not romance fiction, improper format, etc.), the entry and entry fee will be returned to the contestant.

Format:

  • Manuscripts should be typed, double-spaced, with one-inch margins all around and unjustified right margins. The optional set-up sheet may be single-spaced
  • Please use readable font (12-point Times New Roman or Courier New recommended). As long as the font is clear and readable, there is no deduction for failure to use a specific font.
  • Every page, including the set-up, should have the title of the manuscript and the category in the upper left-hand corner and the page number in the upper right-hand corner. Start the first page of the entry (not the set-up sheet) with page number one, even if this excerpt is not the beginning of your manuscript.
  • Each copy of the entry--excerpt and optional set-up--should be bound with a binder clip or paper clip.
  • The author's name must not appear anywhere on the entry.

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by May 10, 2008 (online entries are due May 10) and received by May 17, 2008. Every effort will be made to notify winners on or around August 5, 2008. Submissions can be sent after March 1, 2008.

Judging: Each entry will be evaluated by two judges, at least one being a published author.
All unpublished judges have RWA PRO status. Entries submitted by COFW members will be judged by non-COFW members.

Total scores will be averaged to determine winners. If a 20-point variance occurs and one of the scores is 80 or higher, a third judge will score the entry and the two closest scores will be averaged to determine the final score.

Winners: The top three manuscripts in each category, with a minimum average score of 80, will be reviewed by an editor in the romance publishing industry*:

  Erotic Romance: Susan Swinwood, Spice
  Romantic Comedy: Amy S. Pierpont, Grand Central Forever (Formerly Warner)
  Category-Length Contemporary: Wanda Ottewell, Harlequin Superromance
  Single Title Contemporary: Erika Tsang, Avon
  Paranormal Romance: Heather Osborn, TOR/Forge
  Historical Romance: Cindy Hwang, Berkley
  Romantic Suspense: Hillary Sares, Kensington

Central Ohio Fiction Writers thanks you for entrusting us with the fruits of you labor. We hope the Ignite the Flame Contest is a rewarding experience for you. Best of luck and happy writing!

For more information:

Aleta Dodson
4220 Dublin Road
Columbus, Ohio 43221

Download Entry Form

*In the event that a listed editor becomes unavailable, COFW reserves the right to secure a different editor to review the winners of each category.

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Ignite the Flame Contest Entry (COFW members only)

 Ignite the Flame Contest Entry (non-members)
 

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