Wattpad and Harlequin have teamed up for a new romance writing contest. Writers from around the world can use Wattpad to upload the first chapter of their romance story aimed at a “New Adult” audience for consideration by a team of international judges. Four winning submissions will each be awarded a publishing contract from Harlequin.
The So You Think You Can Write competition offers aspiring writers in Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa the chance to win a publishing contract from Harlequin, one of the world’s leading publishers of romance and women’s fiction. Beginning September 23, writers can upload their first chapter on Wattpad using the hashtag #SYTYCW. Writers are also asked to submit a 100-word pitch that outlines their story, including plot, characters, conflict, and setting. The top 25 ranking chapters will be shortlisted by the team of editors who will then request the full stories from those writers. Winners will be announced on December 4.
“We’re excited to present this exclusive contest on Wattpad,” said Ashleigh Gardner, Head of Publishing Partnerships at Wattpad. “Millions of millennials use Wattpad for discovering and sharing stories. This contest gives writers an opportunity to share their ‘New Adult’ experiences and stories with the world – and maybe even score a publishing contract.”
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.