Pick up a copy of the February edition of Essentials magazine (available in South African supermarkets and garage shops nationwide) to read the winning story in their Voice of Africa contest. This contest was judged by editors from Harlequin Mills & Boon, and the editors had lots of lovely things to say about the winner, Suzanne Jefferies.
A huge congratulations to our two ROSA members who also finalled. Drue Carter was a runner-up, and Alissa Baxter made the Top 12 with her Regency romance. We are incredibly proud of you, ladies!
Contest season is far from over, though. Watch this blog for a special Valentine's Day announcement - we have a treat in store for you!
Showing posts with label Essentials magazine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Essentials magazine. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Essentials Magazine's Annual Romance Story Contest
The September edition of Essentials magazine is out in stores now, and happily contains the announcement of their third annual short story competition.
This year's contest is titled The Essential Voice. As with the previous two, they're looking for romances of up to 1,500 words, entrants must be resident in South Africa (or any country where Essentials is sold) and the entries will be judged by an editor from Mills & Boon.
This year's prizes include:
First Prize - a luxury weekend away in the Drakensberg, publication in Essentials, a critique from an editor at Mills & Boon, Struik's Creative Writing course, a Samsung netbook computer, flowers, and a hamper.
Top 3 Stories - Struik's Creative Writing course, a Samsung netbook computer, flowers, and a hamper.
Top 5 Stories - Struik's Creative Writing course, flowers, and a hamper.
There are some amazing prizes up for grabs this year - buy a copy of the magazine or click here for details.
The Essentials website also promotes the international New Voices contest, which this contest is running in conjunction with. The deadline for The Essential Voice is 10th November 2011.
To enter, you can submit online at www.essentials.co.za, you can email your submission to essentials@caxton.co.za, or post via snail mail to 368 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall Park, 2196. You should send your story with a cover letter that includes your name, address, daytime contact number and word count. Include "The essential Voice" in your subject line.
This year's contest is titled The Essential Voice. As with the previous two, they're looking for romances of up to 1,500 words, entrants must be resident in South Africa (or any country where Essentials is sold) and the entries will be judged by an editor from Mills & Boon.
This year's prizes include:
First Prize - a luxury weekend away in the Drakensberg, publication in Essentials, a critique from an editor at Mills & Boon, Struik's Creative Writing course, a Samsung netbook computer, flowers, and a hamper.
Top 3 Stories - Struik's Creative Writing course, a Samsung netbook computer, flowers, and a hamper.
Top 5 Stories - Struik's Creative Writing course, flowers, and a hamper.
There are some amazing prizes up for grabs this year - buy a copy of the magazine or click here for details.
The Essentials website also promotes the international New Voices contest, which this contest is running in conjunction with. The deadline for The Essential Voice is 10th November 2011.
To enter, you can submit online at www.essentials.co.za, you can email your submission to essentials@caxton.co.za, or post via snail mail to 368 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall Park, 2196. You should send your story with a cover letter that includes your name, address, daytime contact number and word count. Include "The essential Voice" in your subject line.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Essentials Voice of Africa Contest
For those readers who haven't yet checked out the latest copy of Essentials magazine, the winner announcement will be made in the August issue, available in stores at the end of July.
While we wait together, please feel free to de-lurk and let us know if you entered.
I entered two short stories this year, and I'm just as eager to see if I not only finalled but also which one of the two they might have preferred. It's hard to type with so many fingers crossed!
While we wait together, please feel free to de-lurk and let us know if you entered.
I entered two short stories this year, and I'm just as eager to see if I not only finalled but also which one of the two they might have preferred. It's hard to type with so many fingers crossed!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Last Day for Voice of Africa Entries!
Take note that today is the last day you can submit your entry for the Voice of Africa writing competition run by Essentials Magazine in conjunction with Mills and Boon!
If this is the first you've heard about it ... get all the info here! But hurry - you only have a few hours left before the deadline!
So how many of you have entered? I know I have! Let us know if you've entered - so we can all celebrate our courage together!
Fingers crossed for everyone!
If this is the first you've heard about it ... get all the info here! But hurry - you only have a few hours left before the deadline!
So how many of you have entered? I know I have! Let us know if you've entered - so we can all celebrate our courage together!
Fingers crossed for everyone!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Essentials Voice of Africa
For those (like me) who are a little slow on the uptake, please note that Essentials magazine has extended the deadline for the Voice of Africa competition to the end of March. So if you haven't yet entered, you still have a chance! They are looking for romantic short stories of 2,000 words. The competition is co-judged by editors from Mills & Boon, and this year's prizes are awesome, so give it a go.
More information here.
More information here.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Writing Contests
There are a few contests open at the moment for Romance writers, for those of you into entering contests.
Local is lekker, so we'll start with two home-grown South African contests. First up is the second short story contest run by Essentials Magazine in conjunction with Mills & Boon. Deadline is 28th February and the details are available here. This year's prize is awesome so you really should give it a go!
Next is Penguin Books' Prize for African Writing. The deadline is 30th January and the contest criteria can be found here. This contest is for full-length adult contemporary novels out of Africa. Again, an awesome prize - but if you want to enter you'll either need a completed manuscript ready and waiting or be an awesomely fast writer.
Further afield, the Washington DC Romance Writers (a chapter of the RWA) is running its annual Marlene contest, open to entrants word-wide. The deadline is 15th January and you can find more information here. This contest does have an entry fee so I'd recommend it only if you want to get your work in front of these specific contest judges, all editors from top romance publishers.
Then there's the Chase the Dream contest. This annual contest for the opening 1,000 words of a novel, runs from 1st January to 3rd March. Details can be found here. It's great fun, easy to enter, completely free, and can also get your work in front of some top editors and agents.
If you know of any other contests for writers, and specifically for romance writers, open to South African residents, then please drop us a line in the comments section.
Local is lekker, so we'll start with two home-grown South African contests. First up is the second short story contest run by Essentials Magazine in conjunction with Mills & Boon. Deadline is 28th February and the details are available here. This year's prize is awesome so you really should give it a go!
Next is Penguin Books' Prize for African Writing. The deadline is 30th January and the contest criteria can be found here. This contest is for full-length adult contemporary novels out of Africa. Again, an awesome prize - but if you want to enter you'll either need a completed manuscript ready and waiting or be an awesomely fast writer.
Further afield, the Washington DC Romance Writers (a chapter of the RWA) is running its annual Marlene contest, open to entrants word-wide. The deadline is 15th January and you can find more information here. This contest does have an entry fee so I'd recommend it only if you want to get your work in front of these specific contest judges, all editors from top romance publishers.
Then there's the Chase the Dream contest. This annual contest for the opening 1,000 words of a novel, runs from 1st January to 3rd March. Details can be found here. It's great fun, easy to enter, completely free, and can also get your work in front of some top editors and agents.
If you know of any other contests for writers, and specifically for romance writers, open to South African residents, then please drop us a line in the comments section.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Writing Contests
There are a few contests currently open to aspiring romance writers in South Africa:
If you have a completed single title novel you might consider Penguin's contest for aspiring African authors. For more information, check out http://www.penguinbooks.co.za/african-winners/index.php.
For category romance writers, Harlequin is running another Presents contest (Modern & Modern Heat to us here in SA). All you need to enter is a synopsis and first chapter - but as Amanda Holly can attest, it's probably a good idea to have written a little more than that! Winners of the last two contests have already sold their completed manuscripts to Harlequin, but even if you aren't confident of winning, I highly recommend you enter. Every entrant is guaranteed feedback and I know several people who've had full manuscripts requested based on their entries. (Isn't it time you submitted yours, Mandy?) Details are available on http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/07/official-rules-for-the-harlequin-presents-writing-competition-2009/.
Finally, Essentials magazine is running another Voice of Africa short story contest in conjunction with Mills&Boon. Pick up the August issue of Essentials, or visit their website at http://www.essentials.co.za/index.php?p[IGcms_nodes][IGcms_nodesUID]=da425e83de610e013f2f16d3fdbfdca3. The prizes are absolutely awesome!
So get writing, and please leave a comment to let us know if you plan to enter any of these. Good luck to all entrants!
If you have a completed single title novel you might consider Penguin's contest for aspiring African authors. For more information, check out http://www.penguinbooks.co.za/african-winners/index.php.
For category romance writers, Harlequin is running another Presents contest (Modern & Modern Heat to us here in SA). All you need to enter is a synopsis and first chapter - but as Amanda Holly can attest, it's probably a good idea to have written a little more than that! Winners of the last two contests have already sold their completed manuscripts to Harlequin, but even if you aren't confident of winning, I highly recommend you enter. Every entrant is guaranteed feedback and I know several people who've had full manuscripts requested based on their entries. (Isn't it time you submitted yours, Mandy?) Details are available on http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/07/official-rules-for-the-harlequin-presents-writing-competition-2009/.
Finally, Essentials magazine is running another Voice of Africa short story contest in conjunction with Mills&Boon. Pick up the August issue of Essentials, or visit their website at http://www.essentials.co.za/index.php?p[IGcms_nodes][IGcms_nodesUID]=da425e83de610e013f2f16d3fdbfdca3. The prizes are absolutely awesome!
So get writing, and please leave a comment to let us know if you plan to enter any of these. Good luck to all entrants!
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