Southern Breeze sponsors two contests for its members: the Writing Contest (during June) and the Liz Conrad Illustrator Award (Accepts submissions in November and December). We love that we can offer this benefit because our contests provide a great opportunity for our members. But how do our contests benefit you? Here's a few reasons why you should enter:
1. Our contests are judged by professionals in the industry. For our writing contest, your work is first judged by two published authors of our region. The top 15 entrants go on to the next round. This year, our writing contest boasts three agents from some of the top literary agents for children's authors. Professional feedback is invaluable--and it's free!
2. You are guaranteed professional critique. Southern Breeze uses the Gold Standard for critique which means that every person who enters the contest gets the same level of feedback, and you will receive at least two critiques. If you're lucky enough to move forward, you'll receive three critiques. The more feedback you receive, the more you will grow as a writer. (And the stronger, more sellable your manuscript will be!)
3. Anyone can enter as long as you are a current member of SCBWI Southern Breeze. Whether you are just starting your creative journey or you are a multi-published member who's been around for twenty years, you have the exact same chance of winning. The manuscripts are blind-judged which means that nowhere along the line does a judge know the name on the manuscript. New members can and do win all the time!
4. You can try, try again. It's completely allowable to enter the same manuscript more than once. So take your past feedback, apply it to your manuscript, and try again. (The published authors who judge the first round of manuscripts change every year, so don't worry about entering the same-old, same-old. You will get fresh eyes on your work.)
5. Learn how to do your homework. Research the professional judges in the category you're submitting! If you have several different manuscripts, think positive and send the one that's the best fit for the pro judge. It will be good practice for you when you start pitching your manuscript out into the wide world of agents and editors.
Oh! Almost forgot to announce the pro judges for this year's writing contest:
For illustrated text (and this includes nonfiction and fiction), we have Christa Heschke. Heschke comes from McIntosh and Otis, Inc. and she has the blog called Neverending Stories that might give you a little insight into what she likes.
For Middle Grade, the pro judge is Alyssa Henkin from Trident Media Group. If you take a look at her information, you'll notice that she's interested in fiction and nonfiction for Middle Grade.
And finally, for Young Adult, we have Samantha Wekstein from Writer's House. You can find some interesting tidbits about Wekstein at Manuscript Wish List.
So now you know the judges; all that's left is the writing. Get those manuscripts ready for submission! Remember, manuscripts are due by midnight, June 30th.
And a special thank you to our Writing Contest Coordinator, Debbie D'Aurelio, who works so hard to bring this terrific contest to our members as well as the PAL judges who do such a great job. Our region is wonderful because we have so many wonderful volunteers. Let them know they're appreciated! And P.S. Good luck!
