The Contest is open!

New Categories Added

In addition to last year’s date changes, we also added new categories. We will continue with those category additions this year. In doing a little research, we discovered that professional writers who write short-form were being slighted. There isn’t a national contest associated with a Christian writers conference that recognizes excellence for professional articles, essays, devotions, or short stories.

We’ve chosen to embrace these outstanding writers and have established categories for them to enter. If you are a writer of short-form published works, we want to recognize your hard work. The details are below and on our updated contest page.

Please read the guidelines below for all our contests before submitting.

The Selah Awards
(For Published works)

BRMCWC Directors’ Choice Awards
(For Published works from current or former attendees)

BRMCWC Foundation Awards
(For UNPUBLISHED works and those who will be IN ATTENDANCE for the 2022 event)

The 2022 contests will open October 1, 2021

The contests and the dessert extravaganza are one of the highlights of BRMCWC. Every year gets better than previous years and we know this year will be no exception.

Below are our guidelines for this year’s contest. Be sure to read them carefully as there have been a few changes.

Also, please note that most of the fees collected for the contest go to our Scholarship Fund. This enables talented writers with extensive financial needs to attend the conference at a reduced price. When you enter the contest, you are sowing seeds you may never see harvested … but God knows. You are a part of a winning team just by entering!

Ready? Set? Amaze us!

Eva Marie Everson
BRMCWC Contests Director

2022 CONTESTS RULES AND GUIDELINES

Welcome to our BRMCWC contests. A few rules have changed, so be sure to read the following carefully.

We have three contests:

1) The Selahs (Closes January 15, 2022)

2) Directors’ Choice (Closes March 1, 2022)

3) Foundation Awards (Closes April 1, 2022)

THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS SELAH AWARDS

Rules, Guidelines & Fees:

The Selah Awards are open to all published authors whose books were published between December 16, 2020 and December 15, 2021 with either traditional or nontraditional publishers.

PLEASE NOTE, the eligibility dates are different for the Selah Awards than the other two contests.

If the book is co-authored, both authors must sign the entry form. Books that have been re-released by a publishing house different from the first may not be entered.

Two books per title with entry fee must be received by January 15, 2022. Contest will open October 1, 2021.

Entry fees of $45 per entry must be paid via money order or check (no cash) made payable to Writing Conferences. Books with entry fees made payable to any other entity will not be considered.

Send fee & books:

c/o Eva Marie Everson
504 Spoonbill Court
Winter Springs, FL 32708

Do not send cash.

There are no refunds. Books will not be returned.

The author or author’s agent or publisher shall select the appropriate category for the work.

One category per title (with the exception of First Novel, which may also be entered into the genre category and Audio Book).

Entries in “First Novel” are limited to authors who have not previously published a fiction title.

There is no limit to the number of eligible titles an author may enter in each category.

All scores are final once returned from the judges and entered into the database. Scores are accessed by individual judges who score according to an established and upgraded guideline/score sheet. Scores and comments are not shared with the author(s).

Please note the addition of short works in the categories

Categories are:

• Audiobooks (NEW!): We would like to acknowledge excellence in the audio versions of your work. Please mail two copies of your audiobook (or email the downloadable code to BlueRidgeCWC@aol.com with “Audiobook Entry” in the subject line). Please include the narrator’s name on your form (you can write this in the “editors” section of the Selah Award form).
• Anthologies. Entire books of short stories or works of short nonfiction.
• Articles Published Online (Christian or Secular). Send a copy of the article or the article’s link to BlueRidgeCWC@aol.com with Selah/Articles Online in the subject line.
• Articles Published in Print (Christian or Secular). Send one copy of the article along with a copy of the magazine or newspaper cover to the address provided above.
• Devotion in an individual book or online post: NOTE: the $45 fee covers three individual devotions which will be judged separately. If the devotion(s) entered are part of a published book, the ENTIRE book must be mailed. The only part of the book judged will be the devotion indicated.
• Bible Studies
• Children’s Picture Books
• Children’s Literature (works beyond Picture Books to Middle Grade)
• Christian Life
• Devotionals
• Essays (NEW!): a work of nonfiction between 1,000 – 7,500 words of a true story that focuses on a central theme (example: works submitted to Chicken Soup for the Soulbooks).
• Fiction
  • Contemporary Romance: a subgenre of romance novels generally set during contemporary times.
  • Contemporary Women’s: fiction that appeals to women set from the Vietnam War forward.
  • First Novel*: a novelist’s first work of published fiction
  • General Fiction (NEW!): a subgenre of fiction sometimes referred to as contemporary fiction, which focuses on the everyday experiences and conflicts of a protagonist, usually an adult male or female, with detailed characterization and background. Typically written for mature audiences with mature themes.
  • Historical or Biblical: a broad category fiction in which the plot takes place in a setting from the Vietnam War back.
  • Historical Romance: a subgenre of romance novels set.
  • Mystery/Suspense: a work of fiction in which the main character is occupied in tracking down the truth about an event, usually a murder. If the protagonist is in any danger, it is usually moderate and becomes a problem only as the detective approaches the truth, or in which the main character may become aware of danger only gradually. In a mystery, the reader is exposed to the same information as the detective, but in a suspense story, the reader is aware of things unknown to the protagonist.
  • Novella: novels with a word count of between 17,000 – 50,000 words.
  • Romantic Suspense: a subgenre of romance novels that involves an intrigue or mystery for the protagonists to solve.
  • Short Stories in Print (NEW!): a work of fiction between 1,000 – 7,500 words. Ashort story usually focuses on one plot, one main character (with a few additional minor characters), and one central theme. Send entire book with your work marked by bookmark, Post-it Note, etc.
  • Short Stories Online (NEW!): a work of fiction between 1,000 – 7,500 words. A short story usually focuses on one plot, one main character (with a few additional minor characters), and one central theme. Send link to the article to BlueRidgeCWC@aol.com with SELAH/Short Stories Online in the subject line
  • Speculative: a genre of fiction that encompasses works in which the setting is other than the real world, involving supernatural, futuristic, or other imagined elements.Western: a genre of fiction primarily set in the American Old West between the late eighteenth century and late nineteenth century and tell the stories of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws exploring the western frontier and taming the Wild West.

• General Nonfiction: Christian/church topic (from history to theology to biography, etc)
• Inspiration & Gift
• Middle Grade Novels
• Memoir
• YA Fiction
• YA Nonfiction
• * First Novels (can be entered here and in one of the fiction subcategories. there must be two books included per category to be considered for both, and payment must be sent for both.)

First, Second, and Third Places will be chosen from groups with five or more entries. Categories with less than five will only offer a first place or will be combined with a similar genre.

The Selah Book of the Year is chosen from all first-place winners based on score. This award is given to both a fiction and a nonfiction title.

Winners announced at the BRMCWC Awards Event, June 1, 2022.

Winners need not be present to win.

Selah Entry Forms

Click here to Download the PDF version of the Entry Form

Copy and Print:

Blue Ridge Mountains CWC 2021 Selah Award Entry Form

Deadline: Must be received by January 15, 2022

Requirements:

• Eligible books must have been published December 16, 2020 – December 15, 2021, with a corresponding copyright date.
• Entry must adhere to all guidelines explained in “Guidelines and Fees.”
• Entry must be accompanied by application payment.

Title:

Author’s Name:

ISBN:

Publisher:

Editor:

Agent (if applicable):

Category: (See list on contest page)

Genre (For Fiction):

Your Name:

Circle One:     Author             Agent              Publisher/Editor

Address:

E-mail Address:

Signature:

Date:

Questions: E-mail Eva Marie Everson: BlueRidgeCWC@aol.com

THE DIRECTORS’ CHOICE AWARDS

The Directors’ Choice Awards are given to published writers who are a past or current conferee (past faculty members who are not also past conferees are not eligible).

Rules, Guidelines & Fees:

• Any past or current conferee published within 2021, whether via traditional publishing or by independent publishing, is eligible.
• Eligibility is not limited to attendance from the previous year. Any past conferee may enter. (If a faculty member has also been a conferee, that person is eligible to enter. Those who have ONLY been faculty are NOT eligible to enter the Directors’ Choice Awards.) We will no longer accept re-released books for entry.
• Books entered must have been published between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021.
• Books may be either fiction or nonfiction.
• Each entry must include an entry fee of $45 via money order or check (no cash) made payable to Writing Conferences. Write: DC Award in the FOR line on the check, along with the title of the work and the genre entered. Example: DC Award, Great American Novel, Fiction. 

Mail a copy of the book along with the check to:

Edie Melson
604 South* Almond Drive
Simpsonville, SC 29681

*Note: all correspondence must have “South” in the address.

Contest is now open.

Deadline for entries is March 1, 2022

No works received after that date will be considered.

BRMCWC FOUNDATION AWARDS

Rules, Guidelines & Fees:

• The entrant must be registered for the entire conference in order to compete.
• There is a $35 entry fee for each submission. It is acceptable to make one payment for multiple entries.
• First entry is the one that will be judged. Any subsequent submissions/corrections will be ignored.
• When e-mailing the contest entry, please place in the subject line: BRMCWC FOUNDATION CONTEST ENTRY/ [CATEGORY HERE]
• When e-mailing your contest entry, if sending multiple entries, send them in separate e-mails. E-mails with multiple entries will be returned.

E-mail address for entries: BlueRidgeCWC@aol.com.

Send entry fee via money order or check (no cash) made payable to Writing Conferences to:

Edie Melson
604 South* Almond Drive
Simpsonville, SC 29681

*All correspondence must have “South” in the address.

Write “BRMCWC Foundations Contest” in the subject line of the check along with the genre you are entering.

If a writer has been published in any publication category—or is currently under contract or receives a contract during the entry time-frame—then the writer is ineligible for this contest in that category. (For example, if a writer has had a devotion published, then the writer may not enter the contest in the devotion category, but the writer may enter in a different category.)

If the entry won first place in a previous years’ contest it is ineligible.

Writers may enter in more than one category, but we accept only one entry per category.

Contest is now open.

Deadline for entries is April 1, 2022

Formatting: All entries must be attached to the email as a Microsoft Word document. NO PDFs accepted. With the exception of poetry, children’s picture books, and scripts, submissions should be double-spaced, presented in a 12-pt. serif font (such as Times New Roman) and have one-inch margins. Scripts and plays should be submitted in standard film or A/V format. Please do not include pictures or illustrations.

Entries not formatted correctly may be disqualified.

Critiques will not be given on contest entries.

Contest entries will not be returned.

Categories and their details:

1. Articles (For Print or Web) —nonfiction, including how to, or information in nature. This is NOT the category for essays such as may be found in popular compilation books. Word count for this category is 700 – 2000 words.
2. Essays—true events or experiences. (These are similar to “Chicken Soup for the Soul” pieces.) Word count for this category is no more than 1000 words.
3. Devotions—limit of 3, no longer than two pages each, double-spaced. (the $35 entry fee covers up to 3 devotions)
4. Nonfiction Books—True life stories, inspirational guidelines, motivational, encouragement, etc. Submit a two- to three-page outline and the first 15 pages, which may include the introduction. Double space all pages.
5. Novellas—Fiction ranging from 20,000 to 44,999 words. Submit a one-page, single-spaced synopsis and first pages, not to exceed 10 double-spaced pages (if prologue is submitted, it is part of the 10 pages).
6. Novels—fiction ranging from 45,000 to 100,000 words. Submit a one-page, single-spaced synopsis and first pages, not to exceed 15 pages (if prologue submitted, it is a part of the 15 pages). Double space all pages. Please state the genre on the coversheet. Genres include:

• Romance/Historical
• Romance/Contemporary
• Romance/Suspense
• Contemporary Women’s
• Historical/Biblical
• Suspense
• Speculative
• Western

1. Poetry—three poems or three pages equals one entry.
2. Short Stories—approximately 1000-3000 words.
3. Bible Studies (book length)—submit a two-to-three- page outline and first 15 pages, double-spaced.
4. YA (Young Adult) Novels—See Novels (above)
5. YA (Young Adult) Nonfiction—See Nonfiction (above)
6. Flash Fiction—Fiction (a complete story) of no more than 1000 words.
7. Children’s Chapter Book—Submit short summary (no more than one page, single-spaced) and first 10 pages.
8. Children’s Picture Book—Submit entire work. No pictures or illustrations.
9. Middle Grade Novels—Submit a one-page, single-spaced synopsis and first 10 pages.
10. Blogs—Submit your blog address and your blog’s focus. Your blog must have been in existence at least four weeks prior to submission and must be an active blog that is updated at least once a week.
11. Film and Teleplay Script—Submit summary and first 15 pages of script in script format.

NOTE: Any of these categories may be combined depending on the number of entries per category. It may also be necessary to refund a contest entry fee if there are not enough submissions in a category group.

Checklist:

E-mail contest entry to Eva Marie Everson: BlueRidgeCWC@aol.com.

Put BRMCWC FOUNDATIONS CONTEST ENTRY/GENRE in the subject line. (Sample: BRMCWC Contest Entry/Novels/Romance) Submissions that do not follow this rule will not be accepted.

Include a cover page labeled BRMCWC FOUNDATIONS ENTRY and include:

Cover Pages: Cover pages should include the title of your work, your name, address, and email address and be a part of the body of your email. Do NOT send cover pages separately or within the text of the submission.

While your title should be a part of the submission, your name should not be anywhere on the document.

• Name
• Address
• Category with subgenre if applicable
• Title of Entry
• Do not attach more than one entry per e-mail.
• Mail check for $35 per entry made payable to:

Writing Conferences
Edie Melson, Editorial
604 South* Almond Drive
Simpsonville, SC 29681

*All correspondence to Edie must have “South” in the address.

• Use the memo line at the bottom of the check to denote which contest the entry fee covers

Thank you.

Eva Marie Everson
Contest Director