The Daphne du Maurier Award is sponsored by the Romance Writers of America's "Kiss of Death" chapter, the online chapter devoted to writers of romantic suspense. It is, however, open to writers of all genres. (If your book has no romance, you should enter it into the "mainstream" category.)
Basics:
• There are separate categories for published and unpublished authors (the "published" category is for those who have published book-length fiction).
• You'll need to have the first fifteen pages and a one page single-spaced synopsis (oy, just try condensing your entire opus into a page, it's harder than writing the thing!) by March 15. If you're a finalist, you'll need a five page (or shorter) double-spaced synopsis and the first 25 pages shortly thereafter.
• You do not need to be a member of RWA to enter the contest.
• Fee for entry: $15 KOD members, $25 non-members
Details:
• Available on the Kiss of Death website
One of the things that makes the DDM Award so interesting is its complete transparency. RWA/KOD posts score sheets (blank, not filled out!) on their website, so you can see exactly what the judges will be looking for and how you go about accumulating points.
I am planning on entering this contest, myself. Since I don't (can't) outline, I'm using the entry date as a spur to prompt me to write every day; if I don't, I won't know what happens in time to write a synopsis!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Daphne du Maurier Contest Announcement
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9 comments:
Though I have characters who with moments of near collision, my stuff isn't nearly romantic enough for this contest. However, I did look at the scoresheet, and it absolutely was interesting and useful to see the judging criteria.
Based on the one I looked at (the paranormal/futuristic/romantic mystery suspense), they had good general guidelines for opening scenes, also asking questions which specifically relate to this niche and how well it's working.
Thanks for the tip!
Clare - you'd be "mainstream," for which there is NO romance component at all.
I went back to look again, and I believe since there is any ooky-spooky in my MS (which there is, in spades), I'm under Paranormal Romantic Suspense.
In any category other than mainstream, at a minimum, romance is a secondary focus, but the plot still ought to follow gen'l romance guidelines and allude to the hero and heroine ending up in a happy, committed relationship. I don't think that fits this particular one I'm writing now, and my non-supernatural MS ends without a picket fence. In fact, the picket fence gets chopped down and set on fire.
Ah, I didn't realize how much woo-woo there was going to be. I thought it was mostly mystery, with just a bit of woo-woo, so I would have plunked it in mainstream and put the category as "paranormal mystery." It's all in how much of what, I suppose. Hehehehe.
I have entered this contest twice, never expecting to win, but looking for feedback based upon their very explicit judges' worksheets. It worked.
The multiple judges with worksheets is an asset not to be ignored. My protag Busty is not a mainstream kinda gal, but the judges' reactions to my submission proved valuable.
I also got a taste of the variations in expectations, despite their common worksheets. (Think of the judges as potential agents and figure out what's written between the lines.)
Another thing is the worksheet form itself - that gave me lots to consider throughout my manuscript.
I'm a loud advocate of the duMaurier contest. I think everyone should give it a try at least once!
Write On!
Good point, Nan. Glad to hear from a veteran that it's worthwhile.
The entry fee is pretty reasonable then when you consider getting multiple specific evaluations from industry professionals. Even buying someone lunch to chat over your MS could cost as much and offer less concrete value and without handy referral sheets for later.
This contest is one of my goals this year, so I'll be entering along with you. My ms is going in the mainstream category. It's a cozy. Since it's the first of the series, the romance will just be getting started at the end of the book. Will that be a problem?
Elaine -
I wouldn't consider that a problem, since the mainstream category doesn't require romance at all. Of course, I'm not a judge. If it were me, I think I'd leave any mention of the romance out of the one page synopsis and try to mention it somehow in the 5-page if the manuscript makes the finals.
Nan - when you entered Busty, did anyone comment about the lack of romantic aspect? (Or is there one?)
In re: romance in Busty (my last year's version offered up to the duMaurier contest - as I recall - I've done so many revisions!) had no hint of romance on Busty's part.
Busty's not an easy fit - one critic seemed to be holding a cross up to my pages as she read - but I got some good analysis on a couple key points.
Warning: Not all the judges are published mystery writers. Some of the less-experienced ones tend to quote chapter and verse of requisite formula(and tend to like cozies more than edgy stuff): dead body on page one, etc. - in the two times I've done duMaurier I've had one judge who seemed pretty green around the edges. The others made up for the one.
I'm thinking I might send my latest version in to them. Feeling a bit "spent" since the Christmas charge cards are rising like Scrooge to haunt me. Have to make sure I pay my dues to the Sisters first!
Write On!
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