The One Hope Nonfiction Winner is ...

I'm very excited to announce the winner of our One Hope Nonfiction contest, because I've "known" this writer's reputation for several years through Faithwriters - she is dedicated, hard-working, and one of the most positive writers I've ever encountered. (She's also warned me about her sense of humor, so it seems she'll be a great fit with the rest of us around here!) I look forward to working with her. 

The winner of our One Hope Nonfiction Contest for 2012 is:

Joanne Sher

for her manuscript

Ailing Body Nourished Soul

Joanne Sher is a Jew by birth, a Christian by rebirth, and a writer by gift. A native Southern Californian, she now lives happily in West Michigan with her husband and two school-aged children.

She is currently working on a biblical fiction set during King Saul's reign and centered around the handmaiden of Saul's youngest daughter Michal.

She is also a regular blogger, not only at her own site, but at the FaithWriters blog. She posts monthly at Jewels of Encouragement, The Barn Door, and Internet Cafe Devotions.

Find her elsewhere on the web:

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

We'll share more about Joanne's book later in the year.

Don't forget about the 2013 contests:

Books of Joy (win cash prize and publication of a three-book series)

One Joy (cash prize and publication)

Christmas Joy (cash prize and publication)

Check out all the details here.

One Hope Fiction Winner is ...

We're excited to announce the winner of the One Hope fiction contest. (The jury is still out on the nonfiction entries, so winners will be announced next week.)

Congratulations to

Sharyn Kopf

Her winning manuscript, Spinstered, will be published this fall.


Three Colorado Springs friends find themselves over 40 without a wedding or even the hint of a proposal. Can they each handle the struggles of being a single woman who has, in their opinion, passed her prime? Or will they crumble under the grief of broken hearts and lost dreams?

When a younger friend starts dating one of the few available men their age, they come face-to-face with their disappointment. As they question God’s plan for their lives and, specifically, for their singleness, each has to deal with her own particular regrets while embracing her hopes for the future.

More about Sharyn:


Sharyn Kopf knew she wanted to be a writer the moment she wrote her first poem at the age of five. She still considers it one of her best work.

After earning a bachelor’s in communications at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, she spent several years working as a newspaper reporter, almost a decade serving as an award-winning radio writer/producer for Focus on the Family, and even took a job for six months penning a television show for an Ohio-based mega-church. Then, for two and a half years, she was the senior writer for the marketing department at Cedarville University (OH).

Most recently, Sharyn has made her living as a freelance writer and editor. Her work has included co-authoring/editing Coping with Traumatic Brain Injury: One Woman’s Journey from Death to Life (published by BookJolt, 2012), writing and directing plays for an annual Cedarville University event, writing and editing numerous web articles, and editing a 400-page manuscript, which was published by Kregel in 2012. A short story she wrote that first introduced her to Spinstered character Catie Delaney will be included in the Western Ohio Writers Association’s 2013 inaugural anthology.

In her spare time, Sharyn plays the piano, makes the best fudge ever, rages against unnecessary uses of the Oxford comma, and watches too much HGTV. She lives in Jamestown, OH, but hopes to move to Bellefontaine soon to be closer to her family, especially her amazing nieces and nephew.


We look forward to sharing more of Sharyn's work with you in the coming months!

Today, Feb 28, is the deadline for the EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT for our 2013 Contests. Learn all the details on this post. And check back next week when we announce the winner of the nonfiction contest.


PS. Today's the last day Heart Bouquets will be 99 cents! Snag it today before the price goes up!

"One Hope" Contest Finalists Announced

Write Integrity Press is pleased to announce the following authors are finalists in our "One Hope" writing contest. Writers submitted entries that consisted of a short blurb, one-page synopsis, and the first chapter of their unpublished book.

Finalists must now submit a completed manuscript by December 31st for a chance at publication and cash prizes. One fiction and one nonfiction manuscript will be chosen as winners.

Finalists (in no particular order) are listed by category.

FICTION:

Heidi Blankenship
Jeanette Edgar
Bonnie Engstrom
Sharyn Kopf
Molly Noble Bull (withdrew 12/22/12)


NONFICTION:

Pat Ennis (withdrew 12/24/12)
Tina Hunt
Debbie Ryan
Anusha Atukorala
Joanne Sher

Congratulations to each of you. Get busy writing! We look forward to reading your entries!


Don't forget, the "Christmas Hope" Contest ends tomorrow! Get those Christmas manuscripts submitted asap!

Follow Magnificent Hope's Journey on the Hope Tour:

• Week 9: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Contest
• Celebrate Recovery Offers Safe Place to Share Struggles
• Magnificent Hope Shares Hope with Homeless Shelter
• What Can You Do to Offer Hope?
• Grandparenting Challenge Contest
• "Here I Am - Use Me - Use My Story" ~ Sheryl Holmes
• A Few of Her Favorite Things ~ Author Vicki Tiede
• When Life Grows Difficult
• Sheryl Holmes Shares Magnificent Hope
• Week 8: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? CONTEST
• Magnificent Hope Attends the Golden Scroll Banquet
• Seven Authors Offer Hope to Concord Victims
• What's So Important About Hope?
• Week 7: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? CONTEST
• Magnificent Hope Visits Kentucky Conference
• Week 6: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? CONTEST
• Sheryl Holmes Shares Her Story with Magnificent Hope's Assistance
• Book Signings Aren't Just for Selling Books
• Books of Hope Contest Finalists Announced
• Tips to Help You Win Writing Contests
• Christmas Book Writing Contest
• Two New Writing Contests Announced
• Future Writers: Passing the Mantel
• Week 5: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? CONTEST
• Dreams Can Come True by Ruth O'Neil
• Week 4: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? CONTEST
• A Special Treat from Jennifer Fromke (and a huge hint for the Week 2 photo!)
• Week 3: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Pays Respect
• Magnificent Hope Encounters Dianne E. Butts at the CCWC
• Week 2: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Contest
• Magnificent Hope Arrives at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference with Elsi Dodge
• Magnificent Hope visits a Recording Studio with Zillah Williams
• Week 1: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Contest
• Books of Hope Manuscript Contest Announced
• Rides motorcycles with Dianne E. Butts

• The Shrimp Festival with Annie Keys

• The Power of a Book at the Healing Hands Youth Ranch with Tim and Tracy Ruckman

Tips to Help You Win Writing Contests

At the in-between stage of ending one writing contest and starting two others, I decided it might be a good idea to share a few thoughts about entering contests, and provide a few tips on making the most use of your time, talents, and money. Competition is good for everyone, but by following these tips, your chances of success increase dramatically.

Contests offer writers an opportunity to hone their skills: skills of the actual craft of writing, of course, but also on your skills as a professional writer. I'll divide my tips into these two categories.

Writing Craft Tips to Help You Win Contests

• Read your entire contest entry aloud to someone - anyone, even if it's the dog, hamster, parakeet, or blank wall. Reading it aloud gives you an opportunity to insert missing words, correct verb tenses, or complete sentences that you left hanging. Be sure to read your cover letter, synopsis, sample chapters, bio, blurbs - whatever elements are required read them all, then read them again.

• Read books on the craft of writing. Some books I highly recommend for fiction writers include Jill Elizabeth Nelson's Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King, Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, and any/all of James Scott Bell's writing books. For nonfiction writers, On Writing Well by William Zinsser and On Writing by Stephen King. There are several others that I include on a list that I'll be sending to all participants of the Books of Hope contest and participants of our future contests, too.

Professional Writing Tips to Help You Win Contests

• Follow the contest directions. It truly surprises me how many writers shoot themselves in the foot by not following directions. The competition is fierce and when some writers follow directions precisely and others do not, it makes me wonder what part they didn't understand, or even bother to read. Yes, some folks submit without even reading the rules. Judges notice and disqualify those who don't follow directions, to keep it fair for the ones who did.

• Ask questions if you don't understand, but check the FAQs first.

• Study the publisher's guidelines. You'll usually get an idea of what kinds of stories they want to publish, and maybe even what they don't want to publish. Sending us a  paranormal vampire werewolf princess erotica story would be a waste of your entry fee - we don't publish those kinds of stories, contest or not.

• Follow the contest directions. Yes, it bears repeating a few times, because it costs people a chance to get their work read. Someone told me our contest had too many instructions - yet daily, I answered e-mails asking for more. Winning a writing contest is not done by random drawing. Most writers work tirelessly to polish their entries and most appreciate having specific instructions. 

• Show passion and enthusiasm for your story. Some of the most delightful entries in the Books of Hope contest were submitted by writers who were passionate about their submission and it rang through loud and clear from the first word of their cover letter. Publishers like writers who believe in their own work.

• Unless the directions state otherwise, put all elements of your entry into one document. The Books of Hope contest asked for four elements - the cover letter, synopsis, blurbs, and first chapter. Sending those as four separate files didn't disqualify anyone - because we didn't specify in our rules - but it sure makes sharing the entries with judges more cumbersome.

• I hesitate to state this next tip, because it could label me as being harsh. But after receiving more than one entry that left me shaking my head, I must share this one final tip. Please use common sense when entering contests. Seriously. For example, even though our guidelines state that final manuscripts will be a certain word length, I had one writer ask if she could submit a 2,000 word essay, and another writer actually submitted a 250,000 word finished manuscript. Other folks thought the publisher might be the one person who could teach them the mechanics of Word. I'm not kidding.

I'm not sharing these tips because I'm heartless, cruel, or a perfectionist. I WANT writers to succeed - my goal in life is to help others achieve their dreams. But I can't help them without a little cooperation.

Read and follow the directions and you may end up a finalist in the next contest!

New Writing Contest Announcements

Writers, the Books of Hope Contest is now over, and judging will begin on Monday! We had a wide variety of entries in both the fiction and nonfiction categories, and we look forward to discovering the winning entries.

Some of the comments I received during the contest, from numerous folks, was that the idea of pitching a series, rather than a single book, was "too daunting" or "intimidating." We listened. We heard.

Today, we announce two NEW contests - and both are for single books! (If it's part of a series, you can still enter - just let us know when you submit.)

For the "One Hope" contest:

One Fiction winner will receive $250 and our standard publishing contract of his or her book.

One Nonfiction winner will receive $250 and our standard publishing contract for his or her book.


We are also announcing a special Christmas Hope Contest today, too, so be sure to check out that page if you have a Christmas manuscript ready to go!

Now for the details of the "One Hope" contest. Books for this contest may be fiction or nonfiction, any genre, but they must offer hope to the reader in some way.

There will be two rounds of judging.

For Round One:

1) Entries must include ALL of the following and be submitted by deadline of July 20, 2012. (These are just the basics - see the Nitty-Gritty details at the bottom of the post.)

• Submit a one-page synopsis for the book.
• Submit a 100-word blurb for the book.
• Submit the first chapter of the book.
• Entry fees: $25 Entry Fee. Fees must be paid through Paypal, using the links or e-mail address method below. Be sure to write down the PayPal Transaction ID# because the Paypal Transaction ID# must be placed on the Cover Page of your entry, along with your Name, Address, Phone, E-mail, Website, Contest Category, and Book Title.

2) Finalists will be selected from these entries and notified by August 31st. 


In Round Two:

• Finalists will be required to submit a completed manuscript by December 31st. Full manuscripts should not be submitted prior to your being notified as a finalist.
• Instructions for submitting final manuscript will be sent with finalist notification.

Final Winners will be notified in February 2013.

Now for the Nitty-Gritty details (and these have been deal-breakers in the past, so please follow the guidelines - they're here for a reason):

• Use Times New Roman font, size 12.
• Use double-line spacing, except for the synopsis and blurbs.
• Pages should have 1" margins all around.
• Use black ink.
• Include a header on each page (except the cover page) that includes your last name and page number in top right corner.
• In the subject line of the e-mail entry, please indicate - ONE HOPE: Fiction or ONE HOPE: Nonfiction, so the manuscripts are routed properly.
• Entries should be submitted in a Word document, attached to the e-mail (editor [at] writeintegrity [dot] com).
• The e-mail itself should serve as an introduction - tell us who you are and a little about you. Nothing formal, fancy, or lengthy - just let us get to know you a little.

Your attached entry should include:

• Cover page with Name, Address, Phone, E-mail, Website, Book Title and Category and Paypal Transaction  ID#.
• One page, single-spaced synopsis of the book. Give us the ending, don't leave us guessing.
• One 100-word description of the book.
• The first chapter (approximately 2500-5000 words in length, not precise - we'll give a leeway of 10% either way.) If your book has a prologue before Chapter One, please send it with the first chapter, but it will not be counted in the word count guidelines.

Final manuscripts should be in the 40,000-90,000 word range. We are trying to keep all of these books uniform in size, so please follow the word count guidelines.

• This contest is open to published and unpublished authors. 
• Previously published books are not considered. UPDATE 6/19/12: To clarify, this means books do not qualify if they have been published by or through any publisher - traditional, self-published, or hybrid.
• You may enter more than one manuscript into the contest (in either or both categories), but a separate entry and entry fee must be made for each book.
• Your book may be a stand-alone or it may be part of a series - you can let us know in the cover letter if it's part of a series.

Be sure to check our FAQ page for other questions, but if you can't find the answer, drop me an e-mail.




Submit your Entry Fee below.

Entry Fee$25.00 USD

PLEASE NOTE: We have learned that the Chrome browser does not play well with Paypal, so if you use Chrome and have problems submitting your entry free, you may want to either try another browser, or just send payment directly through Paypal, using editor [at] writeintegrity [dot] com as the recipient address. If you choose to do it that way, just make sure to put your Book Title and whether your submission is Fiction or Nonfiction in the "Notes" section when you send payment.

You will receive a confirmation of receipt within 24 hours of payment. (48 hours on weekends.)

Thanks!