In association with the Crested Butte Writers Conference

The Sandy is a contest for unpublished writers to provide aspiring authors the opportunity to gain feedback from experienced writers, to give them the opportunity to get their work in front of industry professionals in their genre, and to provide them the opportunity for recognition for those who have honed their storytelling skills.
It was named after two wonderful Crested Butte women, Sandy Cortner and Sandy Fails, who have spent decades writing, promoting, and nurturing writers in the Crested Butte area.

Categories & Final Round Judges

Romance — Adam Wilson, Assistant Editor, MIRA

Mainstream Adult Fiction — Katherine Nintzel, Editor, William Morrow/Harper Collins

Suspense/Thriller — Alex Logan, Editor, Grand Central

Fantasy/Science Fiction — Cameron McClure, Agent, Donald Maass Agency

Children’s & YA — Kaylan Adair, Associate Editor, Candlewick


Eligibility:

This contest is open to all authors unpublished in novel length fiction.

Submissions must be in English.

Length of entire manuscript for adult categories is between 90,000-110,000 words, children’s 40-60,000 words. No picture books.

All entries must be the author’s original work and must not be contracted for publication prior to the entry deadline.

Manuscripts that have previously placed in this contest will no longer be eligible for entry in future contests.

For the purposes of this contest, online, e-books, and self-published works are considered unpublished and are eligible to enter this contest. In case of any ambiguity the contest coordinator will review eligibility on a case-by-case basis (Theresa Rizzo).

Entry Deadline & Fees:

The basic entry fee is $20 for Crested Butte (or Gunnison) Friends of Library members, fee for all others is $30. To become a member see the CB FOL website.

All entries must be received by midnight February 17, 2009. Any entries received after that date will be returned. Payments must be postmarked by February 17th.

Entry fees are nonrefundable.
***The Crested Butte Writers reserve the right to return all entries and fees if a minimum number of 8 entries for each category are not received. Entrants will be contacted and will have the option to place their entry in another category before entries are returned.

Judging:

This is a blind judged contest, meaning the judges will not know the identity of the author they’re critiquing.

First round: First round judges are experienced critiquers and published authors. Each entry will be evaluated by 2 judges, using a standardized score sheet that varies slightly from genre to genre. Judges decisions are final. If there is a discrepancy of more than 40 points between the 2 judges’ scores, we will bring in a discrepancy judge and drop the lowest of the 3 scores. The three entries with the highest scores in each category will advance to the final round. All finalist entries must have at least a combined score of 300/334. Finalists will have one week to edit their entries before they are submitted to the final judges.

Judges are encouraged to comment on the scoresheets.

Finalists will be notified by email or phone by April 13, 2009.

Acquiring editors and agents will serve as final judges. They will determine the order of the top three entries in each category.

Awards:

Winners will be announced at the 2008 Crested Butte Writers Conference June 19-21, 2009. The awards luncheon will be held Friday June 19, 2009.

The first place entries in each category will receive $50 and a certificate, second place will receive $25 and a certificate, and third place will receive a certificate.

Submission guidelines:

Entries will be accepted in electronic (email attachment) submissions only. Name of category and title must be listed in the subject line of e-mail entry. RTF (rich text format) format only and the entry should be formatted in standard manuscript format described below.
- You will receive confirmation of the arrival of your entry. If you do not receive confirmation of entry within 2 days of sending, please email coordinator.

Send 1 copy of the first 20 double-spaced pages of your novel and up to a 2 page double-spaced synopsis for a total page count of 22 pages, emailed in RTF format as an attachment to: thesandy@cbfriendsofthelibrary.org

Total entry must be in ONE FILE, synopsis should be placed at the end of an entry. The synopsis will be judged too. Do not send the entire manuscript! The contest coordinator will delete all electronic copies at the end of the contest.
- Download and print the 2009 Sandy Writing Contest Electronic Entry Form.

Entry Format:
1. Font: Times New Roman or Courier New, 12 pt, black ink only.
2. 1-inch margins all around. Ragged right margins.
3. Double spaced.
4. 24-25 lines per page—with the exception of the last page of a chapter or the first page of each chapter, which MUST start one-third way down a new page.
5. Header: Title and category & subgenre on left, page number on right.

**Subgenre used simply to clarify story for judge.
Subgenre Examples:
1. Romance-- Traditional; Suspense; Paranormal; Historical; Regency; Time Travel: Fantasy; etc.
2. Mainstream Adult Fiction—Women’s Fiction; Action/Adventure; Chick Lit; Historical (Character-based); Coming of Age; Western; General Fiction, etc.
3. Suspense/Thriller—Legal Thriller; Medical Thriller, Biological/Technology Thriller; Spy Thriller; Action-Adventure Thriller; Police Thriller; Political Thriller, and Religious Thriller; name other type of Thriller.
4. Fantasy / Science Fiction--- Fantasy; Supernatural Thriller, etc.
5. Children/ YA—Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Coming of Age, etc.



***IMPORTANT: The author’s name appearing anywhere on the entry will disqualify the submission!

Check or money order made out to Crested Butte Friends of the Library for applicable entry fee(s) for each entry should be sent along with signed entry form and agreement to contest coordinator:

Theresa Rizzo
7071 Quiet Retreat Ct.
Longmont, CO 80503

Or use our PayPal option:
Non-Members - $30

CBFoL Members - $20

Your entry will not be processed until your entrance fee has been received.
Please note: Failure to follow the rules will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

Multiple Entries: Up to 2 entries in the same category will be accepted—as long as accompanied by separate entry forms and fees. Writers may also submit entries to more than one category—however only one entry title may be submitted to one category.
- For example, you cannot enter your book, Temple, to two different categories; you must pick the genre you feel it best fits under. But you can enter Temple as a thriller and your other manuscript, Walking in the Sun, as Mainstream Adult.

Failure to follow the rules and guidelines will disqualify the entry.

Questions?? Call or email contest coordinator, Theresa Rizzo (Theresa@theresarizzo.com or
303-652-2509)

The Sandy is a contest for unpublished writers of popular fiction. It provides aspiring authors the opportunity to gain feedback from experienced writers, gives them the chance to get their work in front of industry professionals in their genre, and promotes recognition of those who have honed their storytelling skills. Because of the detailed score sheets and judges known for providing detailed feedback, contest entrants can learn from experienced judges what it takes to captivate an audience and capture the attention of an editor or agent.

In 2008, final judges requested submissions from five different finalists based on their entries in The Sandy.

Sponsor: Crested Butte Friends of the Library in association with the Crested Butte Writers Conference.

Fee: $20 for Crested Butte (or Gunnison) Friends of Library members, fee for all others is $30.

Receipt date: February 17, 2009.

Eligibility: All authors unpublished in novel length fiction.

Enter: The first 20 pages and up to a 2 page synopsis, for a total page count of 22 pages.

Awards: Winners will be announced at the awards luncheon, held Friday June 19, 2009. 1st place will receive $50 and a certificate, 2nd place will receive $25 and a certificate, and third place will receive a certificate.

Categories & Final Round Judges

Romance — Adam Wilson, Assistant Editor, MIRA

Mainstream Adult Fiction — Katherine Nintzel, Editor, William Morrow/Harper Collins

Suspense/Thriller — Alex Logan, Editor, Grand Central

Fantasy/Science Fiction — Cameron McClure, Agent, Donald Maass Agency

Children’s YA — Kaylan Adair, Associate Editor, Candlewick

For more information:

Entry Form

Rules

Romance Sample Score Sheet

Mainstream Adult Fiction Sample Score Sheet

Suspense/Thriller Sample Score Sheet

Fantasy/Science Fiction Sample Score Sheet

Children’s/YA Sample Score Sheet

Please direct any questions to the contest coordinator, Theresa Rizzo.

Congratulations to our 2008 winners!