Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Contests

The Selahs

BRMCWC Director’s Choice

BRMCWC Foundation Contest

We are happy to announce that our 2017 contests are now open

The contests and the contest banquet 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 who are financially strapped 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

2017 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1) Foundation Awards (formerly the “Unpublished” contest) (Closes April 10, 2017)

2) Director’s Choice (Closes April 1, 2017)

3) The Selah Awards (Closes April 1, 2017)

THE DIRECTOR’S CHOICE AWARD

The Director’s Choice Award is given to a published writer who is a past or current conferee (this doesn’t include past faculty members). 

Rules, Guidelines & Fees:

Any past or current conferee published within 2016, whether via traditional publishing or by independent publishing, is eligible.

Eligibility is not limited to attendance from the previous year. Any past conferee (if a faculty member has also been a conferee, that person is eligible to enter) may enter.

Books entered must have been published between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.

Books may be either fiction or nonfiction.

Each entry must include an entry fee of $35 made payable to Edie Melson. Write: DC Award in the FOR line on the check, along with the title of the work and the genre entered. Example: DC Award, Wounds, 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.)

Deadline for entries is April 10, 2017

No works received after that date will be considered.

THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS SELAH AWARD

Rules, Guidelines & Fees:

The Selah Awards are open to all published authors whose books were published between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 with either traditional or nontraditional publishers.

If the book is co-authored, both authors must sign the entry form.

Two books per title with entry fee must be received before April 1, 2017. Contest opens January 1, 2017.

Deadline for entries is April 10, 2017

Entry fees of $40 per entry must be paid via money order or check made payable to Edie Melson.

Send fee:

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.

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 (two per book) who score according to an established and upgraded guideline/score sheet.

Categories are:

• Bible Studies
• Children’s Picture Book
• Children’s (anything between picture book and middle grade books)
• Christian Life
• Fiction
  • Contemporary Romance
  • Historical Romance
  • Historical/Biblical
  • Contemporary Women’s
  • Mystery/Suspense
  • Speculative
  • Western
  • Novella
  • First Novel*
• General: Christian/church topic (from history to theology to biography, etc)
• Inspiration & Gift
• Middle Grade Novels
• Memoir
• YA Fiction
• YA Nonfiction

* First Novel (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.

The Selah Book of the Year is chosen from all first-place winners based on score.

Winners announced at the BRMCWC Awards Banquet, May 24, 2017. Winner 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 2017 Selah Award Entry Form

Deadline: April 1, 2017

Requirements:

• Eligible books must have a 2016 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

BRMCWC FOUNDATION AWARDS

 (This award category is the previously-known “unpublished” 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.

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 by check or money order (please, no cash) made payable to:

Edie Melson

604 South Almond Drive

Simpsonville, SC 29681

Write “BRMCWC Foundations Contest” in the subject line of the check along with genre you are entering. (Note: all correspondence must have “South” in the address.)

If a writer has been paid for writing in any publication category, then the writer is ineligible for this contest in that category. (For example, if a publication paid  for a devotion, then the writer may not enter the contest in the devotion category, but the writer may enter in a different category.)

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

Deadline for entries is April 10, 2017.

Formatting: 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.

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:

A. 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 complilation books. Word count for this category is 700 – 2000 words.

B. 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.

C. Devotions—limit of 3, no longer than two pages each, double-spaced. (the $35 entry fee is good for up to 3 devotions)

D. 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.

E. Novellas—Fiction ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 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).

F. 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

G. Poetry—three poems or three pages equals one entry.

H. Short Stories—approximately 1000-3000 words.

I. Bible Studies (book length)—submit a two-to-three- page outline and first 15 pages, double-spaced.

J. YA (Young Adult) Novels—See Novels (above)

K. YA (Young Adult) Nonfiction—See Nonfiction (above)

L. Flash Fiction—Fiction (a complete story) of no more than 1000 words.

M. Children’s Chapter Book—Submit short summary (no more than one page, single-spaced) and first 10 pages.

N. Children’s Picture Book—Submit entire work.

O. Middle Grade Novels—Submit a one-page, single-spaced synopsis and first 10 pages.

P. 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.

Q. 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:

• 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:

Edie Melson

604 South Almond Drive

Simpsonville, SC 29681

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

• State which contest the check is for in the FOR space at the bottom of the check.

Thank you.

Eva Marie Everson, Contest Director