Entry Guidelines

Romance Writers of Australia (RWA) launches the Inaugural 5 Day Intensive (5DI) Manuscript Development Workshop. The aim is to help members to polish their manuscripts and hone their writing craft.

The 5DI 2010 is a n intensive, 5 day, live-in workshop, where you, an aspiring author, will work closely with a mentor, who also lives-in. Your mentor will be an experienced writer, who has been published in your genre. The mentor will read your ms prior to the workshop and provide a constructive report on your ms at the workshop's commencement. Over the course of the 5 days you will do rewrites based on your mentor's continuing feedback provided during daily one-on-one sessions. You will be one of a small group, consisting of (approx) 7 aspiring writers in the same (or very close) genre and your mentor.

This program has been created by RWA to help members polish their manuscripts. Selection and attendance at this program does not guarantee publication.

Eligibility

Manuscripts submitted to this workshop must be the entrant's original work. The manuscripts can be in any romantic sub genre, including mainstream books with romantic elements.

This workshop is open to all members of RWA who are unpublished and over 18 years of age. (For the purposes of the 5DI, ‘unpublished' is deemed to be a writer who has not been published in novel length fiction (over 40,000 words), in the last 5 years).

Successful entrants must have completed their book by the 14 th of May, 2010 .

Successful entrants must be committed to attending the one week 5DI Workshop in July, 2010 in Brisbane. They must live-in at the selected accommodation and a lap top computer to work on during the week.

How to Enter

Entrants must email the first 20 pages of their manuscript with NO identifying name, only the title and genre and page number . (Their name will be on the entry form along with the book's title). Send as an RTF.

The 20 manuscript pages must be accompanied by an official entry form and an administration fee of $22 (GST inc) .

Entrants can enter more than one manuscript, but if they are selected they must work on only ONE manuscript. If they enter more than one manuscript, they must fill out and entry form and pay an entry fee for each manuscript .

Assessment Process

All entries will be assessed by readers who are industry professional s . The panel will select a short list and from this the successful entries . These entrants will be placed in a group of approximately 7 aspiring authors, under the mentorship of an experienced author who is published in their genre.

RWA reserves the right to decide how many genre groups to create, depending on the number of successful entries and available mentors.

The selected entrants must confirm acceptance of their place by the 14th of May, 2010, when they pay their deposit if $300 and the signed Terms and Condition form . If one or more entrants cannot attend, the next on the short list will be contacted and offered a place.

If an entrant's book is accepted for publication prior to the workshop, they can choose to withdraw, but they must inform RWA as soon as possible and no later than the May 14th deadline. (This gives us time to contact the long-list applicants)

Once the entrant has confirmed their place, they will be expected to send their manuscript (via email) within 72 hours, or via post within 5 days. They will be told which process the mentor prefers. The appointed mentor will read the manuscripts prior to the workshop and write a report.

There will be no feedback to unsuccessful entrants. No correspondence will be entered into over the selection process and choice of entrants.

Costs

The entry fee is $22 ( GST incl) .

This program has been subsidised by RWA. The selected entrants will be expected to pay $1,100 (GST inc); this covers their accommodation most food (all but two meals) and mentoring. The selected entrants will be expected to pay their own travel expenses.

Important Dates

Entries open: 1st January 2010.

Entries close: Midnight, 31st January, 2010.

Selected entrants notified: 8th March, 2010.

Deadline for Confirmation of place: May 14th 2010. Payment of deposit of $300 and return of signed Terms and Condition form.

Complete payment of workshop fee: May 31st.

5DI Workshop 2010 Arrive Saturday 10th - leave Friday 16th July, 2010.

How to Enter

Complete the entry form. Attach the entry form and 20 pages of the manuscript (no name, only title, genre and page numbers). Send to 5DI@romanceaustralia.com

Manuscripts should be laid out in standard ms layout, Courier 12 pt, 3cm margins, double spaced, numbered pages. Do not include your name or any identifying details on the manuscript. Send as an RTF for ease of reading.

Entry materials (ie entry form and manuscript pages) will not be return ed. Information such as genres and post codes, will be recorded for statistical information.

More Questions?

See FAQs. If you have further questions contact the Coordinator on 5DI@romanceaustralia.com

This workshop is an initiative of Romance Writers of Australia.