**Note: For the purposes of the Frasier Contest, the first Scene is defined as: One Point-Of-View opening scene (if you submit the prologue, this will be counted as your first scene. We do NOT recommend submitting a prologue). This does not mean that there is only one person in the scene, but rather, there is no “head-hopping” – the scene is written through the eyes of one POV character. If you switch POVs, even if it is a continuation of the same situation, that is counted as a second scene and will not be judged. No exception. In addition, a SCENE can include a change of SETTING as long as it stays in the same POV. If you have further questions, submit them to frasier@mybooktherapy.com.
1. Can I enter more than one manuscript?
Yes. However, you must pay a separate $40 entry fee for each entry.
2. Can I enter a short story?
No.
3. Can I enter a novella?
Yes
4. How many manuscripts can I enter in the Frasier?
You may enter up to three manuscripts in the Frasier Contest.
5. Can I have two or more of my manuscripts final at the same time?
Yes, you may have all three manuscripts among the Finalists
The Frasier Contest does its best to ensure that all judging is done without knowledge of the author, so no favoritism is involved.
6. Do I pay one entry fee for all my entries, or a separate fee for each entry?
You must pay a separate $40 entry fee for EACH entry into the contest. (But you can pay all at once, through our shopping cart)
7. If my manuscript was a finalist in a previous contest, may I enter it again?
If your manuscript didn’t win First place in a contest or category, then yes, you can enter it again.
8. Can I enter an unfinished manuscript?
Yes. However, since the final round will be judged by a literary agent and an editor who may want to see the full, all entrants are encouraged to be actively working on finishing their manuscripts.My Book Therapy and the Frasier Contest do NOT guarantee an entrant’s manuscript will be requested or published.
9. If I get a publishing contract on my entry after the Frasier deadline, do I have to withdraw?
Yes. If you are contracted on the manuscript that you entered in the Frasier at any time after March 31st, you must withdraw that entry. You will forfeit your entry fee for that particular manuscript.
10. If I get a publishing contract for a different entry than the one I entered in the Frasier, do I have to withdraw?
No. If the manuscript(s) you have entered in the Frasier have not been contracted, you may keep your entry(s) in the contest. However, if you entered the manuscript that you were contracted on, you must withdraw that particular manuscript. You will forfeit your entry fee for that particular manuscript. You may, however, submit to an agent or editor this same manuscript during the life of the contest, with the understanding that the manuscript will be withdrawn (forfieting the entry fee) if you should land a publishing contract during that time.
11. If the manuscript I entered in the Frasier is under consideration with a publishing house (they have the proposal or the full manuscript) but is not yet contracted, do I have to withdraw from the Frasier?
No.
12. Can I enter Young Adult or Tween fiction?
Yes.
13. Can I enter Children’s fiction?
No. You may not enter any children’s fiction manuscript, whether published or unpublished.
14. I was published only in Non-fiction. Can I enter the Frasier?
Yes.
15. How will you keep this anonymous? Can’t a judge look in the Properties section to find out who wrote the manuscript?
After MBT receives your entry, The Frasier coordinators will be going into every file to make sure no identity information is retained on your submission. HOWEVER, please do NOT put any identifying information (beside the Title) on the submission. This includes the header and footer. The Frasier coordinators will do everything to ensure absolute anonymity.
16. For my entry, what if my scene is less than 1500 words?
That’s fine. Many entrants send less than 1500 words because they want to end the entry at the end of a scene or a chapter for maximum emotional effect.Don’t exceed 1500 words, however. If your scene does exceed the given length, your entry will be disqualified and your fee forfeited.
17. For my entry, what if my last page ends in the middle of a sentence?
We’d like you to send the complete first scene, so if your scene is over 1500 words, cut it to end at the end of that word count.
18. Do I need to send a synopsis?
Yes 500 words max.
19. Do I send the synopsis in a separate file?
No, include the synopsis with your manuscript in the same file, synopsis on top.
20. What’s the format for a synopsis?
It should follow the same as the manuscript, except that the synopsis is single-spaced instead of double-spaced, and it is 500 words total.
21. I sent in my entry, but I haven’t received any e-mail or info from the contest coordinators. What should I do?
All entries should receive a confirmation e-mail of receipt of their entry electronically. If an entrant does not receive a confirmation within 24 hours of submission, the entrant should e-mail the contest coordinator, frasier@mybooktherapy.com.
22. Who are the judges?
For the First and Second Rounds, all the judges are either published authors or experienced and trained My Book Therapy writers. For the Final Rounds, the judges will be Susan May Warren, Becky Philpott, Acquisitions Editor at Zondervan and Amanda Luedeke, with MacGregor Literary Agency.
Under no circumstances should comments given by a judge be used for publicity purposes without the express consent of the judge.
23. How many rounds are there?
Three. First Round determines the top 20.
Second round determines the 5 Finalists and Bronze medal winners.
Final Round determines the Fraiser Winner.
However, the winner will not be announced until the MBT Pizza Party at the 2014 ACFW Conference in September.
24. What will be the scoring criteria?
The Frasier will be judged on the elements of a great story, as taught over the last three years at My Book Therapy.
First Round Judging will look at: The First Chapter Elements: Stakes, Hero and Heroine Identification, Storyworld, use of Backstory, Inciting Incident and Story Problem
Second Round Judging will look at Advanced Writing Craft: Dialogue, Emotional layering in a scene, and Voice
Third Round Judging will be readability and overall storytelling. This is subjective, of course, but so are all books. It’s a taste of real world.
25. How are the scores calculated?
All entries are judged by three judges in the First Round. All three judges’ scores are averaged to determine your entry’s standing.
The judging scale ranges from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) for each scoring element, with increments for each.
26. Doesn’t this method of scoring make it unfair if I get a low-scoring judge?
The Frasier contest is designed to be a general storytelling contest – utilizing the elements of a great book regardless of genre preferences. Thus, if a judge is not hooked by your story, then that is an element of the judging. Just like the rating system on book review sites, the Frasier is a taste of the “real” world after your book is published.
In entering the Frasier, you are agreeing to comply with the scores given by the judges, no matter what they are. If you do not like this method of scoring, then please consider not entering the Frasier contest.
27. When, where, and how are the Finalists announced?
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Finalists will be notified on June 1st. An announcement will be made on the MBT Voices Forum and posted on the MBT Blogsite.
Finalists will be called, so ensure that the phone number you put in your entry email is current.
28. Do the Final round judges use the Frasier scoresheet?
The Final round judges will judge the story only on storytelling – how well the story connected with them. They’ll be asked simply to rate them, and the combined top score will win.
29. Is another entry moved up if a Finalist withdraws or is disqualified?
Yes.
30. How are the winners determined?
In the Final Round, three judges will score the finalists. For each entry, the scores will be averaged to determine the entry’s standing. The Final Round judges’ scores will determine the Winner.
31. I can’t attend the MBT Pizza Party at the ACFW Conference. Can I still enter the Frasier?
Certainly! The Finalists are announced before the conference. If you cannot attend the conference and you are one of the winners, your trophy will be mailed to you. MBT will also post the winner on the blog after the conference.
32. Do the winners get a publishing contract?
No. MBT and the Frasier Contest does NOT guarantee that anyone will receive a publishing contract.
34. If I withdraw from the contest for any reason, can I get my entry fee refunded?
No.