Sunday, September 21, 2008

Endless Romance Contest Rules and Information

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Eligibility

*Excerpts must be a “love scene” or “sex scene” only, not to exceed 1,000 words in length.
*Excerpt may be from any e-book or print book published between October 14, 2007
and October 13, 2008 (contest entry deadline).
*Self-published as well as traditional published entries shall be accepted.
*Excerpt must be the original work of Author(s) and entered into contest by the Author(s) only. javascript:void(0)
*All excerpts must be published in English.
*There is NO CHARGE for entering this contest.
*No entry shall be accepted before Midnight EST September 22, 2008 or after Midnight EST October 13, 2008.
*Midnight Seductions Authors, Employees of Talking Two Lips, or Topaz Promotions (paid or volunteer) may not enter.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Formatting Your Entry


*Entry forms, rules and information documents, judges scoring sheets, etc. may be saved to your computer from this site or downloaded from the file section of The Midnight Seductions Authors Yahoo Group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MidnightSeductions
*Email excerpt, entry form, and cover art to: endlessromancecontest@gmail.com In the subject line place the word ENTRY.
*Word doc. or rtf file only
*Attach entry form separately to your email.
* Excerpt should be formatted with 12pt. font. Times New Roman, Courier New, Georgia, or Book Antiqua accepted. No colored text. Only black ink, please.
Double spacing, one inch margins, with appropriate paragraph indentation.
*Attach excerpt separately to your email (do not send entire book) and rename file as YourPenName_excerpt.doc (ex. janedoe_excerpt.doc)
*Attach cover art separately to your email. Rename cover file as YourPenName_cover.jpg (ex. janedoe_cover.jpg)Cover art will only download as a jpg
image. Simply rename the file.
*In the body of your email list your pen name only and title of book (nothing else is necessary).
______________________________________________________________________________
General Rules and Information

*No more than 75 entries shall be accepted for consideration.
*One entry per author(s) only. Excerpts by two or more authors will be accepted, but must be listed on one entry form and shall be considered as one entry. Entries are not
exclusive to “single title” books and may be from an anthology, collection, or volume.
*Midnight Seductions Authors, Employees of Talking Two Lips Reviews and Topaz Promotions (paid or volunteer) are excluded from entering.
*Love Scene/Sex Scene excerpts only. Any level of sex (heat level) accepted. Any genre accepted, and may include: m/f, m/m, f/f, m/f/m, f/m/f, quads, etc.
*We will not accept excerpts containing: forced sex, beastiality, pedophilia, sex involving minors, incest, necrophilia, golden showers or defecation. At the contest coordinator’s discretion any excerpt deemed inappropriate may be removed from consideration.
*Email entries only.
*Before emailing your entry check for the following: Attachments of entry form,
properly formatted 1,000 words or less excerpt, cover art. In the body of the email include your pen name and book title only. In the subject line of email insert the
word ENTRY.
*Excerpt must the original work of Author(s).
*Judges shall score entries based solely on the criteria listed on scoring sheet.
*Upon entry, all excerpts shall be assigned a number prior to judging. No judge
shall know the identity of any Author(s) prior to posting for the Reader’s
Choice portion of contest.
*The judging portion of the contest shall begin on October 15, 2008 and end on November 10th, 2008.
*Judges shall include individuals chosen by Talking Two Lips Reviews and Midnight Seductions Authors.
*The Reader’s Choice portion of the contest shall begin on November 17th and
End on December 8th, 2008 at Midnight EST.
*For the purpose of Reader’s Choice, each entry shall be posted to the Endless Romance Reader’s Choice Blogsite along with cover art and one author link. By entering this contest, author gives permission to Midnight Seductions Authors, Talking Two Lips Reviews, and Topaz Promotions to post excerpt to the blogsite(s) and website(s), promote as needed, allow excerpt to be displayed on site(s) as long as deemed necessary by contest officials as well as to use author(s) name/excerpt for promotional purposes the following contest year.
*Permalinks for each entry shall be emailed to the author prior to the opening of the Reader’s Choice portion of the contest.
*Authors are encouraged to promote their excerpts for voting purposes.
*Thirty percent (30%) of the votes received for each excerpt during the Reader’s Choice portion of the contest shall be added to the judge’s scores to ascertain the
three winning selections.
*Winning Places shall be determined by the order of the three top scoring excerpts.
*At the contest coordinator’s discretion honorable mentions may be listed as well.
*All questions concerning contest entries/rules should be emailed to Tess MacKall
at endlessromancecontest@gmail.com
____________________________________________________________________________
Winning Announcement

Winners shall be announced on December 15th at 9 pm EST on the
Midnight Seductions Authors Yahoo Group at their One Year Anniversary Celebration. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MidnightSeductions Authors do not have to be present to win. However, winning authors shall not be notified prior to this announcement. Thereafter, winners shall be posted on the Talking Two Lips site and on the Endless Romance Blogsite.
____________________________________________________________________________


Prizes
All Prizes Donated by Midnight Seductions Authors
and
Topaz Promotions


First Place:
*Three months one-book promotion (minimum of 2 promos per week) for either one single book, or up to three single books, one book per month. (retail value $105) Donated by Topaz Promotions.
*$30 Cash donated by authors Adriana Kraft and Tess Mackall
*$25 Borders G/C donated by author L A Day
*Handmade Midnight Seductions gift bag donated by author, Qwillia Rain.
*Gift Basket donated by author Wendi Darlin
*Signed Book Flat for “Bid for Love” donated by author Savannah Chase
*Truth or Dare Magnets donated by author Kissa Starling
*E-Book Download of “Jade” donated by author Mary Suzanne
*E-Book Download of “Summer Heat” donated by author Elizabeth Black
*E-Book Download of “Frozen” donated by author Morgan O’Reilly
*E-Book Download of “Going Deep” donated by author Dee Dawning
*E-Book Download-winner’s choice of title-donated by author Adriana Kraft
*E-Book Download of “His Only Treasure” donated by author Tess MacKall

Second Place:
*Two months one-book promotion (minimum of 2 promos per week) for one book or two books, one book per month. (retail value $70) Donated by Topaz Promotions.
*$20 Cash donated by authors Adriana Kraft and Tess MacKall
*$10 Extasy Books G/C donated by author AJ Llewellyn
*Handmade Midnight Seductions Gift Bag donated by author Qwillia Rain.
*Deck of 2008 Ellora’s Cave Playing Cards donated by author LA Day.
*Leather Journal donated by author Savannah Chase
*Cover Flat for “My Funny Valentine” donated by author Kissa Starling
*Alaskan Goodies donated by author Morgan O’Reilly
*Four Autographed Cover Flats donated by author Adriana Kraft
*E-Book Download of “My Pirate” donated by author Mary Suzanne
*E-Book Download of “A Spanking Good Time” donated by author Elizabeth Black
*E-Book Download of “Bananaz” donated by author Dee Dawning
*E-Book Download of “Gabriel’s Ride:Strip Down!” donated by author Tess MacKall


Third Place:

*One month one-book promotion (minimum of 2 promos per week) for one title. (retail value $35) Donated by Topaz Promotions.
*$15 Cash donated by authors Adriana Kraft and Tess MacKall
*Box of candy/goodies donated by author Ava Rose Johnson
*Handmade Midnight Seductions Gift Bag donated by author Qwillia Rain
*Handmade Beaded Book Thong donated by author Cassandra Gold
*Goodie Bag and Promo Items donated by author Savannah Chase
*Alaskan Goodies donated by author Morgan O’Reilly
*Refrigerator Magnets donated by author Adriana Kraft
*E-Book Download of “Caught” donated by author Elizabeth Black
*E-Book Download of “Tattoos” donated by author Dee Dawning

Honorable Mention:
*E-Book Downloads from Various Midnight Seductions Authors
Including Dee Dawning and Tess MacKall and Handmade Book
Thong donated by Cassandra Gold

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OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM

(Please save form to your computer and complete. FORM MAY ALSO BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE FILE SECTION OF THE MIDNIGHT SEDUCTIONS AUTHORS YAHOO GROUP. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MidnightSeductions Do not leave any blank spaces. If a question does not apply to you, please enter N/A—not applicable. Form must be attached separately in rtf or doc file to your entry email.) Contest entry period begins September 22, 2008 and ends Midnight EST October 13, 2008. Email entry form to:
endlessromancecontest@gmail.com

Title of Book: ________________________________________________________________

Author(s) Name: _____________________________________________________________

Author Email Address (list one only) ___________________________________________

Genre(s): ____________________________________________________________________

Publisher Name: _____________________________________________________________

Date Published: ______________________________________________________________

Is this the original work of author(s) __________________________________________

Heat Level (as listed by your publisher) ________________________________________

If excerpt is of a sexual nature, please briefly describe content in the event some judges may be uncomfortable with certain material (ex. excessive violence, alternative sexuality, explicit sexual content) so we may direct your excerpt appropriately. _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Author(s) has read, understands, and agrees to abide by all the rules of The Midnight Seductions Endless Romance Contest. Author(s) understands that during the course of this contest, the need may arise for contest officials to make decisions not specifically listed in the rules or information provided and agrees to abide by those decisions without prior notification or input. Author(s) further understands that judging is subjective and agrees to accept and abide by the decision of the judges and contest officials.

Author(s) shall not receive specific scores/scoring sheets, or any feedback from judges. Furthermore, Author(s) agrees to hold blameless The Midnight Seductions Authors, Talking Two Lips Reviews, Topaz Promotions, contest coordinators or officials, and all judges from any dispute that may arise from rules, decisions, and the awarding of prizes.

By signing this entry form, author(s) certifies the excerpt entered is the original work of the author(s). Electronic signature and pen name(s) of author(s) is acceptable for the purposes of entering this contest.

Signature(s)__________________________________________________________________
Date_______________________
(All questions concerning contest rules/entries should be emailed to: Tess MacKall at
endlessromancecontest@gmail.com)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sample Judges Scoring Sheet

Entry No. ___ Judge No. ___ Score ___/100 points
Scoring: 5 pts=Outstanding 4 pts=Very Good, but needs tweaking
3 pts=Good, but has problems 2 pts=Has Potential, needs work
1 pt=needs major revision

1. Possible 5 points.
Does the scene have a beginning, middle, and end?
(Choose one of the following for scoring purposes.)
___ The scene has all of the elements: beginning, middle, and end and transitions well with no awkward starts and stoops.
___ The scene has two of the necessary elements- the other is not developed.
___ The scene has only one of the necessary elements- the other two are not fully developed.
___ The scene does not have any of the necessary elements, a beginning, middle, or end.
___ Total Score
2. Possible 25 points.
Is there a good sense of time and place or setting/mood?
(Score each blank.)
___ Descriptive details are necessary and enhance the scene.
___ The setting matches the story and the characters.
___ The language and mannerisms are appropriate for the scene and characters.
___ Is there a sense of time as in day or night? Afternoon or morning?
___ Is the setting believable?
___ Total Score
3. Possible 45 points.
Does the scene show good technical knowledge of the writing craft?
(Score each blank.)
___ Unique voice or strong writing style.
___ Shows the scene rather than tells. (At least 80% show)
___ Point of view easily understood and not distracting.
___ Good balance between dialog, narration, and introspection.
___ Overall pacing moves for maximum efficiency
___ Grammar, punctuation, spelling (don’t deduct points for minor errors)
___ Do descriptive details enhance the scene or distract?
___ Has the author avoided the use of –ly or other repetitive words?
___ Is the scene consistent? Do the characters have the same hair color
throughout? Same eye color, mannerisms, speech pattern, etc.
___ Total Score
4. Possible 25 points.
How is characterization portrayed?
(Score each blank.)
___ Can you feel the sexual tension or spark between the main protagonists?
___ Are the actions/motivations believable within the framework of the scene?
___ Do words/phrases fit within the scene and enhance rather than distract?
___ Are elements of the protagonist’s personalities/character traits recognizable? (May only be present for one character due to point of view, do not deduct points if personality/character traits are only recognizable for one character.)
___ Is there an obvious conflict for the characters to overcome?
(Do not deduct points for not having a conflict present. Award at least one one point.)
___ Total Score

Total Possible Points 100 / Total Points Accumulated ____

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