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2013 Genesis Contest

Genesis

Click here for the list of semi-finalists in the 2013 Genesis Contest.

2013 ACFW GENESIS CONTEST RULES

The Genesis Contest is the ACFW contest for unpublished Christian fiction writers. Genesis has a number of categories/genres to enter, the opportunity for unbiased feedback on writers' work by published authors and experienced judges, and the chance for the category finalists to have their work read by Christian publishing house editors and literary agents. ACFW has been pleased to see many previous category winners and finalists move further in their writing careers to become published authors.

The Genesis Contest opens January 2, 2013 8:00 a.m. CST.

Eligibility: The 2013 ACFW Genesis Contest is open to ACFW members and non-members whose work has not been published in Christian fiction (in ANY print or online form) since September 1, 2006 is eligible, with no limit to the number of entries that may be submitted, however, a manuscript may not be entered into multiple categories. If you are entering with multiple manuscripts, please wait 20 minutes between entries to allow our system time to process. Each entry must be its own file.

Your entry must be from a completed manuscript to be entered.

Any author contracted for publication before March 15, 2013 is not eligible to enter the Genesis Contest. After that date, if an entrant receives a contract on a manuscript entered in the contest, the manuscript may remain in the contest.

Self-published authors are eligible, however you may not enter a manuscript that is in print or that was/is available for purchase at any time between September 1, 2006 and September 1, 2013.

Previously entered manuscripts may be entered again, but previous Genesis category winning manuscripts may not be entered again. Manuscripts that have been Genesis finalists, not category winners, may be entered again. Winners from the ACFW First Impressions contest may be entered.

The manuscript should not contain profanity, graphic sex, or other objectionable material, and must otherwise conform to generally accepted standards of the CBA, as determined by ACFW. Judges may request submissions not meeting this requirement be disqualified.

Prizes: Each category will have a first place winner. The first place entry in each category will receive a winner's plaque and a gold Genesis lapel pin. The winners will be announced at the 2013 ACFW Annual Conference. The finalists in each category will receive a certificate and silver Genesis lapel pin. Semi-finalists will be announced by May 5, 2013. Finalists will be announced by June 17, 2013.

Fees: The ACFW member entry fee is $35. Non-ACFW member fee is $95. You may choose to join ACFW at the time of entrance in order to receive the member entry fee rate. Multiple entries will require multiple entry fees.

Any break in membership during the course of the contest will result in withdrawal of the entry and forfeiture of the entry fee.

If an entrant must withdraw from the contest for any reason they forfeit their entry fee.

Timeline: The contest will open on January 2, 2013 at 8:00 AM CENTRAL. All contest entries and contest fees must be received by 4:00 PM CENTRAL on March 15, 2013. No exceptions.

All entries will receive a confirmation e-mail of receipt of their entry. If an entrant does not receive a confirmation e-mail by MIDNIGHT March 16, 2013, the entrant should e-mail the head coordinator at genesis@acfw.com immediately.

Judging: Under no circumstances should comments given by a judge be used for publicity purposes without the express consent of the judge.

FIRST ROUND: During the first round, three judges (published authors or experienced writers trained in judging the Genesis) will score each entry, up to a maximum of 100 points per entry. All three scores will be averaged. Discrepancy judges will NOT be used due to the logistics of the contest. The highest 10 scores in each category will be determined to be Genesis semi-finalists.

SEMI-FINAL ROUND: The top 10 entries from each category will then move on to the semi-final round. The semi-final judges will be published authors who will read and rank the entries.

FINAL ROUND: The top three semi-final round entries in each category--category finalists--will continue to the final round. In the event of a tie for third place, the first round scores of the tied last place entries will be used to break the tie. Finalists will be allowed TWO DAYS ONLY to polish and resubmit their entries before the entries are sent to the final round judges.

During the final round, three final round judges will score each entry, and the three scores will be averaged. Discrepancy judges will NOT be used. In each category, the entry receiving the top final round score becomes the category winner. The final round scores alone determine the category winners. If any category winner is disqualified or withdraws for any reason, the next highest-scoring finalist will be moved up to become category winner.

For the final round, the final round judges (editors and agents) will not utilize the score sheet used in the first round of judging. Instead, final round judges will simply give a numerical score of up to 100 points for each final round entry. Final round judges have the option of giving comments on the final round entries but are not required to do so. All three scores will be averaged.

If any finalist is disqualified or withdraws for any reason after March 15, 2013, the next highest scoring, non-finaling entry will NOT be moved up to fill the vacant spot as a finalist.

For non-finaling entrants, score sheets and manuscripts will be e-mailed back to each entrant between May 15, 2013 and June 15, 2013. Entrants are asked to please be patient as coordinators return entries, due to the sheer volume of entries and emails. Questions can be emailed to genesis@acfw.com.

Final round judges:

  • Contemporary-Sandra Bishop (MacGregor Literary), Dave Long (Bethany House), Jacque Alberta (Zondervan)
  • Romance-Steve Laube (Steve Laube Agency), Raela Schoenherr (Baker Publishing), Tina James (Harlequin Love Inspired)
  • Historical (through Vietnam era)-Greg Johnson (WordServe Literary), Terry Burns (Hartline Literary), Rick Steele (AMG Publishers)
  • Historical Romance (through Vietnam era)-Kim Moore (Harvest House), Mary Sue Seymour (The Seymour Agency), Charlene Patterson (Bethany House)
  • Mystery/Suspense/Thriller-Les Stobbe (Les Stobbe Agency), Dawn Anderson (Kregel Publications), Jan Stob (Tyndale House Publishers)
  • Romantic Suspense-Natasha Kern (Natasha Kern Literary Agency), Tamela Hancock Murray (Steve Laube Agency), Becky Philpot (Thomas Nelson)
  • Speculative-Amanda Luedeke (MacGregor Literary), Ramona Richards (Abingdon), Julie Gwinn (B&H Publishing)
  • Novella (15K-45K)-Annette Irby (Pelican Book Group), Sarah Freese (WordServe Literary), Jessica Barnes (Guideposts Publishing)
  • Category (45K-70K)-Melissa Endlich (Harlequin Love Inspired), Ami McConnell (Thomas Nelson), Sue Brower (Zondervan)
  • Young Adult-Molly Hodgin (Thomas Nelson), Kim Childress (Zondervan), Nancy Lohr (JourneyForth Books)

Submission Instructions:

Please be aware that we are using a new automated system for this contest. Your entry MUST be completed in one session. You will not be able to start the process, save and come back. Look through the form to make sure you have all of the necessary pieces of information to help you complete the entry as smoothly as possible. Refer to the FAQ pages for any questions you may have concerning the entry process.

Each entrant must upload their entry as a Microsoft Word document when entering. The entries will be judged using Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature.

1. Use 12 point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins. The contest requires the use of Courier New or Times New Roman.

2. Include a header on each manuscript with the title, category/genre, entire manuscript word count, and page numbers. NO entrant's name or pseudonym should be in the header.

3. Send the first 15 pages of your manuscript, even if this is more than your first chapter. Prologues are acceptable. Start the first page of each chapter one-third to halfway down the page. DO NOT send more than 15 pages of your manuscript and a one page synopsis (16 pages maximum).

4. Send a one-page single-spaced synopsis, included in the file with your manuscript. Do NOT send a separate file for your synopsis. PLEASE put the synopsis first in the document, then the manuscript pages.

5. Fill out entry form, upload entry file, and pay contest fee.

Entries not fulfilling the above specifications will be disqualified. Entry fees will not be refunded.

For more information, see FAQ pages on the ACFW website. If you have any questions, please e-mail the contest coordinator at genesis@acfw.com.

Category coordinators:

When e-mailing coordinators, please put "Genesis" in the subject line.

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