August 1 marked the opening, again this year, of my local RWA chapter’s annual writing contest. “The Rudy” so named in honor of Judi McCoy, a best-selling romance author and one of our chapter’s founding members, and of Judi’s beloved bichon frise, named Rudy .
Still in the spirit of our original title, “Finish the Damn Book,” authors are required to submit a first and last chapter of their work, plus a synopsis (that will not be judged). This
Rudy Award
way the contest will be an added incentive for you to finish that manuscript that’s been sitting around for a while waiting for that push to complete it.
Let us be that push you need.
Details for the contest can be found on the Chesapeake Romance Writers website here.
We have seven categories this year: Contemporary, YA/NA, Historical, Paranormal, Mainstream with Romantic Elements, Erotic and announcing the new category of Novella.
Each entry will have two judges for the preliminary round and scoresheets will be returned after the contest closes in order for authors to get as much feedback as possible.
A new requirement this year is that entrants will be required to judge one work in a category other than the one they have entered.
There will be three Finalists for each category whose work will be forwarded to the Finals judges. All Finals judges are either agents or acquiring editors. Final judges are still being confirmed and will be disclosed in the next week or so.
Prizes for The Rudy are medallions: gold, silver, and bronze medals with “Rudy” embossed on them along with a certificate.
Entry fee is $15.00 for RWA members and $20.00 for non-RWA members.
Deadline for the contest is midnight, September 30, 2016. All entries must be submitted electronically in Rich Text Format, the total amount of pages not to exceed 40 pages, including a two page synopsis. In your email please designate the category in which you are entering your manuscript.
We are looking forward once more to seeing your book in the contest this year!
Judi McCoy
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
Sounds great! 🙂 40 pages – is that double spaced?
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Yes, Fiona. And as of now, the contest deadline has been extended until midnight, October 7, 2016. Hope to see your entry get in there!
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Thank you. I shared it with a group of authors!
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Thank you so much, Melissa! We really hope to get a large set of submissions like we did last year. The more people who see your work and give you feedback the better your writing gets, as you know. 🙂
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40 pages??? Lol – don’t think I can write anything that short.
Tweeted.
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Lol! 40k is the minimum your completed book can be. The sky’s the limit as far as how long. But your total pages of the first and last chapters is 40 pages.
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