From the prominent New York Times Best Selling author to the newbie who’s just begun their writing career, one of the scariest things you can tell a writer is that someone is going to judge their work. Sometimes just telling a writer that their work is going to be read sends them into conniption fits.
However, writing contests should be considered in a completely different light. Writing contests are an excellent way to receive constructive feedback on your WIP and (in many instances) get your work in front of industry professionals without having to write a query!
When I finally could dedicate time to writing again, I noticed that I felt more insecure about my writing than I ever had before. I was scared to write the stories I wanted to write. I was scared to put any words on the paper, for fear that they would suck. I almost considered giving writing up as a whole. And then I read a blog post about the pros of entering writing contests. I began researching all the writing contests I could potentially enter. Ultimately, I ended up submitting two entries into the Fab Five Contest and it was one of the best decisions I made. I took the entire process as an opportunity to grow as a writer. I wanted to know what people thought of my work when they didn’t know it was mine. It was terrifying, but absolutely necessary.
Let me tell you why:
Each final judge reads all five finalist entries. They issue their own feedback form which includes a section for material requests. Essentially, you can get a partial or full request from an agent or an editor without having to write a query and wait months checking and rechecking your inbox. Now, am I saying that entering a contest should completely replace good old-fashioned querying? No. Not at all. Querying is an important process for a writer who wants to publish traditionally, but that’s a blog post for another time. I’m talking about entering contests, specifically the Fab Five contest opening on January 1st of 2019.
For all the benefits discussed, one may suspect that entry fees would break your budget. That is not the case. At $25 for WisRWA members and $30 for non-members, the Fab Five prices continue to be some of the most economical among similar contests. So, for a relatively small fee, you can get expert feedback from published authors and the chance to get your work seen (and maybe requested by) industry professionals. I can say from firsthand experience, entering the Fab Five Contest is worth the price and worth facing the fear of judgement. It just may change your life.
As an unpublished author with no critique partners, joining the Fabulous Five contest proved vital to my journey as a writer. In 2015 I took some time off of writing to completely change careers, go back to school, and get my master’s degree. During those years, I felt well…backed up. I wanted to write my own stories, but time and guilt restrained me. I had papers to write, tests to take, and a thesis to research. How could I take an hour or two to outline a romance novel, when I was barely even sleeping? I couldn’t. There was no time. As such, my mood plummeted, my anxiety spiked, and I was miserable.
My number one reason for entering the Fab Five contest was for the feedback, especially because I don’t really have critique partners. Most authors continue the same patterns from beginning to the end of the book and from WIP to WIP. Chances are the mistakes you’re making in chapter one, are the same ones you’re making in chapter twenty. The opportunity to get detailed and constructive feedback on the beginning of your WIP is invaluable. The Fab Five contest has some seriously qualified first round judges looking at all of the things a potential editor or agent would look for: a catchy opening, believable characters, a conflict driven plot, natural dialogue and active narrative, a sense rich setting, and a unique style. Say you are like me and don’t even realize that you have no dialogue in your WIP until about page five… Don’t worry, the judges will figure it out relatively quickly and tell you in their feedback. Perhaps you are a bit lacking in setting. The judges will let you know. Maybe your work is absolutely fantastic, but only requires some grammatical tweaks. The judges will let you know that too. The Fab Five first round judges try their very best to give detailed and useful feedback on every entry they read, but even then they don’t always agree. Every judge is different and so are their opinions, which is why the lowest score is always dropped when calculating placement in the category (unless there’s a tie) That info is available in the official rules here: 2019 Fab Five Rules Once scores are complied, five finalists are selected in each category and sent to an agent and an editor for final judging.
This leads me to the second reason for entering: the opportunity to get one’s work in front of industry professionals without having to query first. If you’re anything like me, just the thought of writing a query letter, that may or may not lead to a request, sends you into cold sweats. It’s extremely intimidating to think that a few paragraphs can determine whether or not someone decides how interesting and worthy the project (you spent years trying to perfect) is. Entering the Fab Five contest and being a finalist means that both an agent and an editor are going to read the first 2,500 words of your manuscript! There are no queries or even a synopsis needed to enter, so the judging comes directly from that small snippet of your work. I know that last sentence will freak some people out, but consider this: if an entry finals, it has gone through three other judges who considered it worthy of potentially winning. That means those first few pages are filled with some seriously good writing. That alone is a huge confidence boosting compliment.
by: Natalie Caña
WisRWA is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2018 Fabulous Five Contest.
Congratulations to all! The finalists are listed in Alphabetical order, and *** indicates a member of WisRWA. Winners will be announced the week of May 20, 2018.
Contemporary
Joy Adare – Mr. Sexy Suit
Natalie Caña*** – Under a Summer Moon
Kate Courtright – It Can’t Be You
C. M. Kerwin – Tender Debt
Sandy Rhodes – Heartbeats of Home
Historical
Jeanine Englert – Queen of Hearts
Theresa Hennessey – A Matter of Manners
Kalinya Parker-Price – The Trouble With Love
Hannah Singerman – Appetites and Vices
Jane Yunker*** – The Healing Heart
Inspirational
Crystal Caudill – Counterfeit Love
Lorri Dudley – The Duke’s Refuge
Loretta Eidson – Fatal Assignment
Eilidh K. Lawrence – Returning With a Secret
C.L. Simon – The Forgiving Tree
Paranormal
Alicia Anthony – Inherent Lies
Carrie Christie – Severed Ties
Laralyn Doran – A Child of Eden
Fenley Grant – Warrior of Eden
Christine Welman*** – Legends
Romantic Suspense
Magda Cavin – Opposing Stock
Meredith Clark – Unconquered
Jeanine Englert – Against the Tide
Lisa Heartman – High Heels and Handguns
Lori Matthews – Break and Enter
Women’s Fiction
Susan Montz Adams – Alchemy of Spirit
Laura Dritlein*** – Possum Trot
Julie M. Mulligan – The Lost Sister
Maggie Smith – Not So Simple
Anne E. Terpstra – Beyond Any Experience
Young Adult/New Adult
Lani Forbes – Virtue and Valor
Eric Frederickson – Wedding Belles
Leonie Kelsall – Echoes Across Time
Wendy Lewis – What Would a Wonder Woman Do?
Jackie Rutherford – It’s all about Sam
With the Fab Five contest set to open in just a few days, it’s time to announce our final round judges. We’re also excited to announce that as an added bonus this year, entrants who opt-in on their entry fee will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE registration* to our one day workshop Unlock Your A Game featuring Heidi Cullinan on October 6, 2018. All entrants will be entered into a drawing to receive a detailed critique from a WisRWA published author. Number of critiques is TBD at this time.
Fab Five judges the first 2,500 words of the manuscript. The contest is open to unpublished writers. For more information about the Fab Five contest, please see our Fab Five contest page.
And now, without further ado, here’s our lineup of categories and judges for 2018:
Contemporary | Alycia Tornetta, Entangled Publishing Ann Leslie Tuttle, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret |
Historical | Norma Perez-Hernandez, Kensington Publishing Corp Nikki Terpilowski, Holloway Literary Agency |
Inspirational | Nicola Martinez, Pelican Book Group Julie Gwinn, Seymour Agency |
Paranormal/Fantasy/ Futuristic/Time Travel: |
Mackenzie Walton, Carina Press Samantha Wekstein, Writers House Literary Agency |
Romantic Suspense | Kristine Swartz, Penquin Random House Cori Deyoe, 3 Seas Literary Agency |
Women’s Fiction | Margaret Johnston, Sourcebooks Agent TBD |
Young Adult/ New Adult |
Ashley Hearn, Page Street Publishing Veronica Park, Corvisiero Literary Agency |
Wisconsin Romance Writers of America is delighted to announce the final rankings of both of our contests. We would also like to offer our congratulations to the winners. Winners were announced May 20, 2017 at the Awards Luncheon during the Write Touch Conference.
***denotes WisRWA member
WisRWA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Fab Five Contest:
*** denotes WisRWA member
Contemporary
First Place
Monique Headley – Hard Lessons
Second Place
Christina Hovland – Things I Wish I’d Known
Third Place
Belinda Brooks – Home Again
Fourth Place
Kate Courtright – Time and Again
Honorable Mention
Kate Courtright – You are Love
Historical
First Place
Abigail Wilson – The Secrets Within the Tower
Second Place
Elizabeth Everett – The Rescue of Lord Grange
Third Place
Carol Potenza – Second Choice
Fourth Place
Avery Cove – Fragile Hearts
Honorable Mention
Elizabeth Everett – The Seduction of Mrs. Smith
Inspirational
First Place
Sharee Stover – Believable Lies
Second Place
Pattie Stockdale – The Measure of a Memory
Third Place
Kathryn Barker – Catch a Falling Angel
Fourth Place
Izzy James – The Shopkeeper’s Widow
Honorable Mention
Angela E. Arndt – The Beekeeper’s Daughter
Paranormal
First Place
Paige Helton – Witch’s Veil
Second Place
Chris Westwater – Wolfling
Third Place
Anne Reed – Dark Matter
Fourth Place
Kat Turner – Magical Thinking
Honorable Mention
Chel Chavez – The Heir of Erois (Book 1)
Romantic Suspense
First Place
Jeanine Englert – Lovely Digits
Second Place
Barbara Forlenza – Forbidden Paradise
Third Place
Barbara Forlenza – Beyond Paradise
Fourth Place
Lori Matthews- Hit & Run
Honorable Mention
Kelly Duff*** – Tame My Racing Heart
Women’s Fiction
First Place
Linda J. Truesdell – The Mending Time
Second Place
Debbie Archer – Pocket Change
Third Place
Wendi Dass – Liebling
Fourth Place
Kristi Rhodes – The Tropical Transformation of Joanie Weston
Honorable Mention
Vicki Volden – Both
Young Adult/New Adult
First Place
Riley Darkes – Serving Time
Second Place
Rachel Berens-VanHeest – A Gift of Crows
Third Place
Laura Cumbie – From Here to There
Fourth Place
Christine Gunderson – Covenant Park
Honorable Mention
Monica Headley – Off the Rails
Contemporary – Long
First Place
Melynda Price – Fighting For Control
Second Place
Dawn Tomasko – Tides of Hope
Third Place
Babette de Jongh – Angel Falls
Contemporary – Midlength
First Place
Sara Dahmen*** – Wine and Children
Second Place
Sierra Hill – Sweet Girl
Third Place
Valerie Clairizio*** – Family Forever
Contemporary – Short
First Place
Stacey Joy Netzel*** – Spring Dreams
Second Place
Joanne Dannon – Wanting Mr. Right
Third Place
Brenna Ash – Second Chances
Erotic Romance
First Place
Jade Chandler – Enough
Second Place
LaQuette – Lies You Tell
Third Place
Suzanne Eglington – She’s Got The Jack
Historical
First Place
Margaret Mallory – Claimed by a Highlander
Second Place
Vonda Sinclair – Highlander Unbroken
Third Place
Amy Sandas*** – Luck is no Lady
Inspirational
First Place
Laura Scott*** – Shielding His Christmas Witness
Second Place
Aubrey Wynne – Paper Love
Third Place
Mary Bentley-Lloyd – Pirate’s Treasure
Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance Theme
First Place
Robin Perini – Forgotten Secrets
Second Place
Kate Forest – Interior Design and Other Emotions
Third Place
Bev Pettersen – Millionaire’s Shot
Paranormal/Time Travel/Fantasy
First Place
Marissa Doyle- Skin Deep
Second Place
Marie Johnson – Birthright
Third Place
Marie Johnson – Ancient Ties
Romantic Suspense
First Place
Abbie Roads -Hunt the Dawn
Second Place
Tara Wyatt – Necessary Risk
Third Place
Vicki Tharp – In Her Defense
Young Adult
First Place
Tricia Cerrone – Glisten
Second Place
Katherine Fleet – The Secret of Letting Go
Third Place
j. leigh bailey – Guyliner
WisRWA is pleased to announce the finalists of both our contests: the Fabulous Five Contest and the Write Touch Readers Award. Congratulations to all!
Winners will be announced on May 20th at the WisRWA Write Touch Conference Awards Luncheon.
*** = WisRWA member
2017 FABULOUS FIVE FINALISTS
Contemporary
Belinda Brooks – Home Again
Kate Courtright – Time and Again
Kate Courtright – You are Love
Monique Headley – Hard Lessons
Christina Hovland – Things I Wish I’d Done
Historical
Avery Cove – Fragile Hearts
Elizabeth Everett – The Rescue of Lord Grange
Elizabeth Everett – The Seduction of Mrs. Smith
Carol Potenza – Second Choice
Abigail Wilson – The Secrets Within the Towers
Inspirational
Angela E. Arndt – The Beekeeper’s Daughter
Kathryn Barker – Catch a Falling Angel
Izzy James – The Shopkeeper’s Widow
Patti Stockdale – The Measure of a Memory
Sharee Stover – Believable Lies
Paranormal
Chel Chavez – The Heir of Erois (Book 1)
Paige Helton – Witch’s Veil
Anne Reed – Dark Matter
Kat Turner – Magical Thinking
Chris Westwater – Wolfling
Romantic Suspense
Kelly Duff*** – Tame My Racing Heart
Jeanine Englert – Lovely Digits
Barbara Forlenza – Beyond Paradise
Barbara Forlenza – Forbidden Paradise
Lori Matthews – Hit & Run
Women’s Fiction
Debbie Archer – Pocket Change
Wendi Dass – Liebling
Kristi Rhodes – The Tropical Transformation of Joanie Weston
Linda J. Truesdell – The Mending Time
Vicki Volden – Both
Young Adult/New Adult
Rachel Berens-VanHeest – A Gift of Crows
Laura Cumbie – From There to Here
Riley Darkes – Serving Time
Christine Gunderson – Covenant Park
Monica Headley – Off the Rails
2017 WRITE TOUCH READERS AWARD FINALISTS
Contemporary – Long
Babette de Jongh – Angel Falls
Melynda Price*** – Fighting for Control
Dawn Tomasko – Tides of Hope, A Nantucket Romance Novel
Contemporary – Mid-length
Valerie J. Clarizio *** – Family Forever
Sara Dahmen *** – Wine and Children
Sierra Hill – Sweet Girl
Contemporary – Short
Brenna Ash – Second Chances
Joanne Dannon – Wanting Mr. Right
Stacey Joy Netzel *** – Spring Dreams
Historical
Margaret Mallory – Claimed by a Highlander (The Douglas Legacy)
Amy Sandas *** – Luck is no Lady
Vonda Sinclair – Highlander Unbroken
Inspirational
Mary Bentley-Lloyd – Pirate’s Treasure
Laura Scott *** – Shielding His Christmas Witness
Aubrey Wynne – Paper Love
Paranormal/Time Travel/Fantasy
Marissa Doyle – Skin Deep
Marie Johnston – Ancient Ties
Marie Johnston – Birthright
Erotic Romance
Jade Chandler – Enough
Suzanne Eglington – She’s Got the Jack: The Kate and Robert Chronicles
LaQuette – Lies You Tell
Romantic Suspense
Abbie Roads –Hunt the Dawn
Vicki Tharp – In Her Defense
Tara Wyatt – Necessary Risk
Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance Theme
Kate Forest – Interior Design and Other Emotions
Robin Perini – Forgotten Secrets
Bev Pettersen – Millionaire’s Shot
Young Adult
j. leigh bailey –Guyliner
Tricia Cerrone – Glisten
Katherine Fleet – The Secret To Letting Go
The 2016 WisRWA Write Touch Readers Award Winners are announced! This contest is for books published in 2015. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the contest was not completed in its usual time frame. We are delighted, however, to finally have the winners for this contest.
Without further ado, congratulations to the winners of the 2016 Write Touch Readers Award contest!
*** = WisRWA member
Contemporary, Long 84,000 words or more (includes series and single title)
A Winter Wedding
by: Brenda Novak
Contemporary, Mid-length 56,000-84,00 words (includes series and single title)
Power Privilege & Pleasure: Queens of Kings: Book 4
by: LaQuette
Fiction With Romantic Elements
Backstretch Baby
by: Bev Pettersen
Historical
The Gunslinger and the Heiress
by: Kathryn Albright ***
Paranormal
Spirit Bound
by: Tessa McFionn ***
Romantic Suspense
Saving Andi
by: Barb Raffin ***
WisRWA’s Fabulous Five Contest will be opening for entries in a few short months. As such, we are pleased to announce our final round judges for the 2017 contest.
Contemporary
Editor: Meghan Ferrell – Tule Publishing
Agent: Rachel Burkot – Holloway Literary Agency
Historical
Lexi Smail – Grand Central Publishing
Lisa Rodgers – JABberwocky Literary Agency
Inspirational
Shana Asaro – Harlequin Love Inspired
Jessica Kirkland – Blythe Daniels Agency
Paranormal
Theresa Cole – Entangled Publishing
Tricia Skinner – Fuse Literary Agency
Romantic Suspense
Tara Gavin – Kensington Publishing Corp
Jennifer March Soloway – Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Women’s Fiction
Caitlin Dareff – St. Martin’s Press
Sarah Phair – Trident Media Group
Young Adult/New Adult
Mekisha Telfer – Simon and Schuster
Shannon Powers – McIntosh and Otis
Coming in to its 26th year, this contest is open to unpublished and self-published writers so long as the entry has never been published before. Focusing on the first 2,500 words of a manuscript, first round judges evaluate the entry on the Opening, Characterization, Plot, Dialogue, Setting, and Style. All judges are encouraged to leave comments on both the scoresheet and in the entry itself. Our contest is known for giving good, thorough critiques no matter what level of the writing journey you are at. The top five finalists in each category move onto the final round where their work is ranked by one editor and one agent. Final rankings are averaged and the winner of each category receives a beautiful Silver Quill Award.
The contest opens on January 1, 2017 and will accept entries through March 1, 2017 at 11:59 PM CST. Categories need a minimum of 10 entries to continue and are capped 35 entries.
Information will be on the WisRWA website under the Contests tab by the end of November. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Contest Coordinator, Molly Maka, at fabfivecontest@gmail.com.