Contest Info

Welcome to the Contest Information page! We offer two contests: the Blue Seal Awards for unpublished manuscripts and the Founders’ Choice Awards for published work. Please review the guidelines carefully and “happy entering”!

Blue Seal Awards

Sponsored by Almost An Author, the Blue Seal Awards are open to anyone who has not published a manuscript in the genre in which they choose to submit.

The Maxwell Awards

Sponsored by Serious Writer, Inc., the Maxwell Awards are open to anyone published from January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017, both traditionally and self-published.

Entry Fees

Contest fees are $15 per entry for both Blue Seal Awards and The Maxwell Awards. Entry fees are nonrefundable.

Entrants must pay via PayPal for both contests. (Click the word Paypal to make payment).

Deadlines

Payment and submissions must be received by March 3rd, at 11:59 PM Eastern.  All Founder’s Choice award entries must by postmarked by March 3, 2018 in order to qualify.

Eligibility

To hold to our beliefs and standards for promoting Christian and clean writing, no profanity, graphic sex, or “rated-R” content will be considered. Entries that contain these elements will be disqualified at the Conference Executives’ discretion. There will be no refunds for entries that are disqualified and you will not be notified.

All entries must be original works of the author or authors.

All entries must be submitted in English.

No author who has published in a category may enter an unpublished piece in that same category. For example, if you are published (traditional or self) in Romantic Suspense, you cannot enter the Blue Seal Awards in that category. Conversely, if you are published in Romantic Suspense, you are allowed to enter the Blue Seal Award for Speculative fiction.

Entries will not be returned, so sign the copy if you want!

Any category receiving less than the minimum submission requirement will be combined with the closest genre category. Judges reserve the right to cancel a category if the level of submissions is not up to industry publishing standards.

Contests may be entered even if you are not planning on attending the conference.

Categories

1. Inspirational
   Devotionals – up to 1,000 words
   Bible Study – up to 1,000 words
2. Non-fiction –Chapter breakdown/synopsis; Submit first chapter
   Self-Help
   Parenting
   Business/Leadership
   Religion
   Memoirs/Personal Essay
   Other
3. Short Nonfiction: Magazine Feature Article – under 1,500 words
4. Flash Fiction/Poetry – (under 1,000 words)
   Under 500 words
   Under 1000 words
5. Novels: General, contemporary, literary, etc. – Submit first three chapters or first 15 pages whichever is shorter.
6. Romance (western, historical, fantasy, etc. Please note: no erotica will be accepted.) – Submit first three chapters or first 15 pages whichever is shorter.
7. Thriller/Mystery/Suspense – Submit first three chapters or first 15 pages whichever is shorter.
8. Speculative (no horror) – Submit first three chapters or first 15 pages whichever is shorter.
9. Children’s and Youth
   Picture Books – Submit entire work.
   Easy Readers – Submit entire work.
   YA Fiction – Submit first three chapters.
   YA Non-fiction – Submit first three chapters.
   Middle Grade – Submit first three chapters.
   Chapter Books – Submit first three chapters.