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BRIDGET WHELAN

A blog for readers and writers

A blog about the stories we tell each other and how we tell them...

Sunday 2 January 2011

Write a Short Mystery for Young Adults

I've just come across this US competition via a post on Twitter. It's run by a publishing company and seems to be accepting international entries (but would an American kindle work elsewhere?? That's the first prize but maybe getting noticed would be the real achievement if the company are in the market for new work. Suggest you use American spelling in your story....adjust your spell check - mine seems permanently stuck on US English anyway.)
Here are the detail - see what you think. For more information click on the title of this post.

BUDHAPUSSINK are looking for new mystery short stories that are targeted for the YA audience.
Submission Guidelines:

  • Theme: Mystery – Your choice be it murder, cozy, paranormal, romance, soft-boiled, hard-boiled, police procedural, suspense, thriller, or amateur detective.
  • What is a mystery? In a mystery, the main character must track down the truth about an event, often a murder. If the protagonist is in any danger, it usually becomes a problem only as the detective/protagonist approaches the truth. That's your base, how it plays out is up to you!
  • No gratuitous sex or violence. Please remember your audience is 13 and up.
  • The competition is open to all writers in English except current or former employees of Buddhapuss Ink LLC or members of our judging Panels.
  • You must be 18 or older to enter unless you have written permission from your parent or guardian. 
  • Submissions will be accepted from October 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011.
  • No previously published work(s) or simultaneous submissions please.
  • Entries should be between 3000-7000 words in length.
  • Send your submissions via email to: Submissions@Buddhapussink.com with the subject line “Submission for MYSTERY TIMES TEN" from with your story as an attached file in .doc (Word) format PLEASE INCLUDE in the body of the email:
    • Your name and contact information
    • A brief author bio (2-5 sentences)
    • Entry should be single-spaced in at least a 12 pt. readable font. We suggest Times New Roman, Courier, or Arial.
    • Send emails to: Submissions@Buddhapussink.com
  • NOTE You will receive an email acknowledging our receipt of your entry within 24 hours. If you do not receive this email (check your junk/bulk/spam folder first!) Please re-submit your entry and change the subject line to: "RESUBMISSION for MYSTERY TIMES TEN".
  • Submissions that do not follow these guidelines will not be considered.
  • Notifications will be sent to finalists via email in April 2011
  • There is no limit on the number of entries you may submit. There is no fee to enter. 

Winning Selections:

  • The Ten (10) Winning entries will be published in the Spring 2011 Young Adult Showcase titled Mystery Times Ten to be published by Buddhapuss Ink LLC.
  • FIRST PLACE winner will receive a NEW Kindle, Featured placement in the book, and a Buddhapuss Ink tote filled with swag.
  • SECOND PLACE winner will receive a $100 Gift Card, Featured placement in the book, and a Buddhapuss Ink tote filled with swag.
  • THIRD PLACE winner will receive a $75 Gift Card, Featured placement in the book, and a Buddhapuss Ink tote filled with swag.
  • ALL TEN (10) WINNERS will receive: two (2) copies of the finished book and the opportunity to “fast track” their next Young Adult or Middle Grade manuscript with our Editorial staff. “Fast track” does not mean you will receive a publishing contract, but we will guarantee that your manuscript is given a priority reading and response.
  • Some winning entries will also be featured on our website, blog, and/or Facebook page.

JUDGES:

Buddhapuss Ink was founded with a mission to put our readers first and that’s just what we aim to do in Buddhapuss Ink’s first competition. All entries that meet submission guidelines will be read by and rated by judges from our YA Book Blogger Panel and our YA Teen Panel. The top twenty (20) entries—based on total points accrued—will then go on to our Editorial Review Panel.
Our YA Book Blogger Panel is made up of some of the best Book Bloggers on the web. These are people who are passionate about the YA market, who spend untold hours reading, reviewing and promoting books for this audience.
Our YA Teen Panel is exactly that—a group of teens aged 13-18 from across the USA who have been nominated by teachers, librarians, and book industry professionals. All of them are avid readers.
Our Editorial Review Panel is made up of  3 publishing professionals who have a combined total of over 50 years in the industry. The decisions of the Competition's judges will be final

  • No manuscripts will be returned.
  • Winners will be notified & announced in April 2011.
  • Publication is scheduled for May/June 2011. 
Send your best words our way! We publish newcomers and established writers alike.

1 comment:

The Book Team said...

Thanks for the link!

We are definitely looking for new talent, as well as, already published authors.

In answer to your question about the Kindle - if the First Prize winner resides in a country where Kindle is not yet available, we will give the winner the cash value a new Kindle in the form of a gift card.
Thanks!