As an unpublished writer one of the best things you could ever do for your manuscript is to run it through a few contests before pitching it to literary agents and publisher.

Why?

Because, depending on how far your MS goes it will have been seen by a professional’s eyes and hopefully given feedback if it wasn’t good enough.

It is better to know now, if that novel isn’t quite ready before you send it to your dream agent or publisher.

If by chance you win, well that’s even better!

Some contests have publication as part of the prize but even if it doesn’t your novel will be seen by someone who is looking for that exact story.

Some other pluses for doing writing contests are:

• Getting over that hurdle of letting other people read your work
• Practicing following guidelines and submitting
• Prizes!
• Your book reaching readers you might not have reached on your own
• Learning how to handle the fear of waiting
• Learning how to handle rejection
• Bragging rights if you win

Ok, so what about conference, conventions and workshops?

Have you ever been in a room of like-minded individuals where you are all working toward a similar goal?

Imagine being surrounded by people who love to write just like you, who are working on their writing and want to take it serious.

There is nothing better to boost inspiration, to learn new techniques and to create lasting connections then by attending a writing conference, convention or workshop.

Listed below will be all the Romance related contests for unpublished works, conferences, conventions and workshops I could find for 2016. I’ve included the name of the event and the date. Click on each name to learn more about it.

∗Anything involving the RWA (Romance Writers of America) and their chapters are open to non-members. 

If you are interested in contests and conferences that are not for the Romance genre check out the following:

• Author E.M.S. Upcoming Conferences & Events 
• Complete List of 2016 Writers Conferences
• Freelance Writing Free Creative Writing Contests
• Funds For Writers List of Contests
• Stephanie Smith’s Contest Chart for Writers 
• The Write Life: Free Writing Contests

 

Contests

March

• The 2016 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense for Unpublished Writers. Deadline: March 15
• 2016 Fire & Ice Contest Deadline: March 18
• 2016 Royal Ascot Deadline: March 27
• The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award Deadline: March 30
• Romance Through The Ages Deadline: March 31

April

• 2016 Fool for Love Contest Deadline: April 1
• 2016 Rosemary Contest Deadline: April 1
• 2016 Touched By Love Award Deadline: April 1
• 2016 PITCH Contest Deadline: April 9
• 33^rd Annual Orange Rose Contest Deadline: April 15
• Passionate Plume Deadline: April 15
• The Sheila Contest 2016 Deadline: April 16
• The Great Break Short Story Contest Deadline: April 25
• Golden Rose Deadline April 30th
• Unpublished Maggie Award Deadline: April 30
•  The Killer Nashville Claymore Award  Deadline: April 30

May

• 2016 California Hooker Contest Deadline: May 1
• On The Far Side Deadline: May 15
• 2016 TARA Contest Deadline: May 25
• The Molly 2016 Deadline: May 31
• Emerald City Opener Deadline: May 31

June

• Ignite The Flame Deadline: June 30
• Linda Howard Award of Excellence Deadline: June 30

August

• Chatelaine Awards Deadline: August 31

 

Conferences & Workshops

March

• Hearts in the Sand Conference March 12
• BDSM Writers Conference March 31 – April 3

April

• Desert Dreams Writers Conference April 7 – 10
• Romantic Times Booklovers Convention April 12 – 17
• WisRWA Write Touch Conference April 24 – 26
• Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference April 29 – 30
• Retreat from Harsh Reality April 29 – May 1

May

• 19th Annual “Shining the Light on Romance” Editor/Agent Luncheon May 6
• Ottawa Romance Convention May 6 – 7
• 30 Years of Happily Ever Afters May 14
• Michael Hauge’s Story Mastery May 15
• 2016 Spring Fling Writers’ Conference May 20 – 21
• Before You Hit Send: Self-Editing Workshop May 21
• Cleveland Rocks Romance Conference May 21
• May Mini-con with Donald Maass: The Fire in Fiction May 21

June

• Romance Novel Convention June 1 – 5
• Romance Writer’s of America Annual Convention July 13 – 16

September

• Moonlight & Magnolias Conference September 29 – October 2
• RomCon September 30 – October 1

October

• India Romance Convention October 6 – 8
•  Fall in Love with New England Romance Reader October 14 – 15
• Emerald City Writer’s Conference October 14 – 16
• New Jersey Romance Writers Conference October 16 – 17

 

∗Bonus∗

Online Workshops

March

• Patch Plot Holes with Brainstorming March 6 – 19
• Writing YA/NA Historical Romance March 7 – 25
•  Hardwired for Hot  March 7 – 31
• Become a Better Editor: Top Editing Strategies for Writers March 7 – April 1
• Foolproof Synopsis and Query Letters March 7 – April 1
• Voice Training for Your Character March 7 – April 1
• Keeping It Hot: Social Media Strategies for Erotica Authors March 10 – 24
• From the Bedchamber to the Drawing Room: Georgian Interiors March 13 – 23
• The Perfect Pitch March 14 – 26
• Social Media Basics: Twitter and Facebook Page 101 March 14 – 27
• Speed Writing March 14 – April 10
• The Sweet 16 First Lines of Your Manuscript (webinar) March 16
• Whose Story is this Anyway? Whys and Hows of POV March 20 – April 3

April

• Creating a Writers Platform April 1 – 29
• Down the Marketing Author Rabbit Hole April 1 – 29
• Twitter Boot Camp For Writers April 1 – 29
• The Chunky Method: Productivity Skills for Writers April 1 – 30
• Crafting the Short Story  April 1 – 30
• Fight Scenes and Weapons Use: Tips and Tricks to Keep them Realistic April 1 – 30
• Save the Cat: Tips, Tricks & Beat Sheets from Screenwriting Pros April 1 – 30
• Storytelling  April 1 – 30
• Using Layering as an Editing Tool April 1 – 30
• Writing the Continuing Series and/or Trilogy April 1 – 30
• World Building from an Intelligence Point of View (CIA, US Special Forces, etc.) April 4 – 28
• Incorporating Humor Into Your Writing  April 4 – 29
• New Kid on the Block: A Guide to Writing New Adult April 4 – 29
• Fairies: The Old Gods April 4 – 30
• Creating an Author Website at WordPress.com in Four Easy Lessons April 11 – 24
• Inside the Psychic Character’s Mind April 11 – May 8

May

• Productivity and Muse Wrangling: Using the Chunky Method to Set and Reach Your Writing Goals May 1 – 21
• The Question of Queries May 2 – 13
• Synopsis Writing with the Plotting Wheel May 2 – 13
• Magic and the Wizards of Wyrd in Enchanted England May 2 – 16
• Writing the Romantic Novella May 2 – 20
• Tips and Techniques for more Effective Proofreading May 2 – 29
• Bigger Stories May 2 – 30
• Facebooking: It’s Not Just For Cat Videos 
• The Reading Writer—An English Teacher’s Guide to Better Writing through Reading May 2 – 30
• Developing an Active Voice for Emotional Impact May 2 – 31
• Infusing the Romance Novel with Emotional and Sexual Tension May 2 – 31
• WordPress Workshop May 2 – 31
• Writing Flashbacks May 2 – 31
• WriteSEX: Defining Erotica with Erotica May 2 – 31
• 3-2-1 Launch! May 5 – 19
• Become Your Own Publicist—Create A Step-By-Step PR Plan May 6 – 27
• Boosting Your Sales With Facebook  May 6 – 27
• You Are What You Say May 9 – 27
• Cash & Creativity: How Cleaning Up Your Finances Can Spark New Creative Success May 9 – 29
• Time Management Secrets for Authors May 9 – June 5
• Researching and Writing Historical Fiction May 16 – June 12

Wednesday @ 9am “2016 Romance Reader Events”

Friday @ 9am “@2016 Plus Size Body Positive Events”

• Do you know of a contest, conference, convention or workshop coming in 2016 that is not listed? If so leave the name, link and deadline date in the comment section below.
• Do you have experiences with contests, conferences, conventions and workshops? If so would you share it with us?
• What is your opinion? Do you think contests, conferences, conventions and workshops are worth the time and money?