Creative Writing Contest and Possible Publication

[sights unseen]

The author Kelley Armstrong is recommending this contest to all writers. Thought I'd pass it along.

http://shomifiction.com/contests.html

Several writers on Kelley's site are going to participate.

[Mickey Finn]

Looks interesting, and I might be able to get a novel out by then that fits, but:

A) All their clients are women. I wonder if being a guy would affect my chances, even if my protagonist is female.
B) This isn't a contest so much as an open submission, disguised as a contest, with a deadline. That's either good marketing, to get people riled up and working, or something to raise an eyebrow at. However, I like Kelly Armstrong. so her reference means something to me.

[sights unseen]

That question about female authors was brought up at the site. A guy there wondered if he should use a female pen name instead of his own (can't spell psydeunim  ).

It was suggested by others on the forum to use a pen name or initals for first name. It seems those there think using a male name to write a female herione wouldn't sell. But that's just the opinion of a few people on the board.

What do others here think about it? 

[sights unseen]

OT, but by the way, Leigh Greenwood is a member of my local chapter of the RWA.

Just saying, craft is craft. 

[Kiriath]

The books on there all have a bit of romance. That's something to keep in mind.

I'm often a little reluctant to read romance... but... those covers! Holy heck those covers look cool. I like anime, can you guess?

[Mickey Finn]

"It seems those there think using a male name to write a female herione wouldn't sell."

Oh, now I have a challenge.

[Tasmin21]

Conversely, does anyone see an issue with using a female name to write a male protagonist?

[Mickey Finn]

I don't, but it is the reason Pat Elrod used her initials when she started.

[Darla]

Because the name Pat is so gender-specific?

[Mickey Finn]

Well, she probably would have used Patricia.

Don't know, really. It just came up in a panel.

[sights unseen]

For anyone considering sending a manuscript to this, Kelley has suggested reading the three books currently out by this publisher. Since they are, to quote Kelley, "a form of category fiction" she urges writers to get a feel for how these books are written; i.e. if they follow a certain guidelines closely or if they lean towards romance or paranormal.

Just some fyi.

[sights unseen]

If anyone cares :p I've decided to give this a try and see if my manuscript isn't crap after all.

Anyone else going to try the contest? You've got until April 30, 2008.

[SunPhoenix]

Eh... I would like to submit a manuscript to something that it can potentially make it through a bit more than trying elsewhere, but I dunno how much romance the story I'm writing would have to contain since I'm try for a real human aspect to it which does contain a little romance (assuming I actually write that much if I can get past researching different things and doing outlines and such. Other than the 3 or so pages I have written so far).

[sights unseen]

Right now I'm reading Driven, one of the books published by Shomi. It has some element of romance, but it's in the background so far. I haven't gotten to the others yet, but I think one of the requirements is romance.

Come to think of it, my bookmark says, Shomi the future of Romance. I think most category fiction, that I know of, is romance driven and the plot (murder, suspense, etc) is secondary.

[sights unseen]

I think this review describes what the books are about. The italics are mine.

"“If Maverick’s fast-paced, genre-bounding novel is any indication, Dorchester’s new imprint, Shomi—which aims to hook a younger generation of readers—should catch an audience quickly. Maverick grabs readers from page one, throwing together romance, science fiction and cyberpunk. …It’s easy to get drawn into her world of twisting realities and shifting identities."

Alternate reality, a bit of sci-fi and cyberpunk. I can see it in the book Driven. No vampires or werewolves though. Futuristic stuff.

Now, if only I could write that kind of book.