Calling All College Writers: Avon Impulse Launches College-Based Challenge to Discover Future Bestsellers

THIS CONTEST IS OVER

HarperCollins has announced a free contest that budding romance authors can enter. The romance market is huge, with over 30,000,000 dedicated readers. And publishers are just now realizing that money can be made from digital imprints, so they are opening their doors to writers. No agent required. And - have I said this? - it's FREE.

So, come, all you romantic New Adults, blow the dust off your keyboards and type!

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From the website:

Avon’s Digital-First Imprint Encourages Graduate and Undergraduate Writing Students to Submit Romance Manuscripts for Chance to Win One-on-One Editorial Consultation. All Submissions will be Considered for Publication by Avon Impulse!

September marks the end of summer and a return to academia—and for many university students, it’s also a return the equally grueling and rewarding routine of creative writing classes. Avon Books and Avon Impulse, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers, recognizes the raw talent and passion for the craft that many students bring to their work, and it is for this reason that they have chosen to work with HarperCollins’ Academic Marketing division to launch an initiative seeking emerging young stars of Romance.

Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to submit up to three chapters (or 50 pages), a detailed synopsis (no more than five pages) of the romance novel. Entrants should also include a brief paragraph on what their follow-up book would be to the Avon Impulse Editors.

What are Avon’s editors looking for? Amanda Bergeron,the lead editor for the Avon Impulse digital-first publishing imprint, says, “First and foremost, we always want a fresh voice and an ability to create real-to-life characters. Beyond that, we are looking for writers who have an understanding of what’s working in the current market. And if you can make us laugh, cry, or go absolutely weak-kneed, that certainly doesn’t hurt. Know your strengths when you write—and trust in a great editor to make your manuscript even stronger”

Avon is actively acquiring the following types of novels:

• New Adult romance
• Romantic suspense
• Super sexy contemporaries
• Trilogies—and beyond
• Serialized erotic romance

What types of submissions will get students noticed? Bergeron notes, “Fabulously sexy heroes who let nothing get in the way of getting what they want—the heroine of course—and giving her everything she needs,” are top-of-bell curve for Avon editorial. Emphasis is also on heroines who are unafraid to take chances in life … and in love. “World-building” is key—writers are asked to choose the setting, just make sure it’s utterly romantic! Readers should be able to immerse themselves in the wonderful world that an author creates. "Series Wanted!" Bergeron asserts that readers always cry out for more when authors give them characters to believe in … so, in outlines, aspiring authors are asked to give Avon’s editors an idea of more stories to come in the same vein. And finally—for anyone who has discovered the super-dramatic, addictive joy of New Adult, editors are looking for dark spectacles that explore the many twists and turns of true love.

Further guidelines can be found at www.avonimpulse.com—but the sky’s the limit, since there are no specific call outs for this opportunity; as long as it’s romance, it qualifies! This call for submissions is aimed directly at students.
Deadlines:

All submissions should be digitally sent by 5 pm on April 1, 2014, via email to avonromancecollege@gmail.com. All submissions must be submitted from a college email address. All submissions will be reviewed and considered for publication through Avon Impulse, the publisher’s digital-first arm—winners will be announced on May 15, 2014.

Please Click Here for Official Rules

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of NewsCorp (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NNC, NNCLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children's books, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, mystery, romance, reference, pop culture, design, health, wellness, and religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of history, HarperCollins has published some of the world's foremost authors, including winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal. HarperCollins is consistently at the forefront of innovation, using digital technology to create unique reading experiences and expand the reach of its authors. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers online at: http://www.harpercollins.com.