***The 2012 Emerald Award is now closed to entries. Please check back in October 2012 for the 2013 Emerald Award***

This award is the only one of its kind in Australia, designed to mirror the submission process. Initially, you enter 18 pages to be judged by romance readers. If your entry makes it to the second round, you will be asked to submit the full novel. There are two sections for this award: category and single title. Three finalists in each category will go to the final judge for placings.

The Emerald Award has two major points of difference from the other RWA contests.

Firstly, it is judged by keen romance readers, not writers. This gives an indication of the marketability of your story but won’t necessarily provide the sort of feedback that helps improve your writing technique.

Secondly, you must have a completed manuscript should your story make it to round 2. The turnaround time between rounds 1 and 2 is one week (5 working days) so there is no time to finish your book then.

Opens: 28 October 2011
Closes: 25 November 2011

Enter: the first 18 pages (maximum) in ARC format of your unpublished romance or romantic elements manuscript aimed at a category or single title publisher. (This equates to approx. 50 standard pages). See entry conditions and sample for formatting requirements. Entries are by post, not email. Submit 3 copies of each entry.

Entry fee: $38.50 incl GST per entry.

Final judges
Category:  Lucy Gilmour, Editor, HM&B
Single title: Erika Tsang, Executive Editor, Avon Books

Prizes: 1st prize in each section - $500, 2nd - $250 3rd prize -$150.

As part of the Emerald, best-selling author Anna Campbell has generously donated $200 as an encouragement prize to the historical romance manuscript that receives the highest placing in either the single title or category section of the Emerald Award. Anna also offers to critique the first three chapters and synopsis from the winning manuscript.

Entry criteria: unpublished RWA members only

Conditions of entry and entry form here
Click here for a sample of the ARC entry format

Enquiries
Category: EmeraldCategory2012@gmail.com
Single title: RWAEmeraldST2012@gmail.com

Sample score sheets:
First round (category - single title)
Second round (category - single title)