Partnering with HarperCollins's academic marketing division, Avon (which is a trade imprint at HC) is opening its editorial doors to submissions from undergraduate and graduate students. The imprint is calling for students to submit 50 pages of a romance novel--open categories are new adult, romantic suspense, super sexy contemporary, trilogies (and longer series), and serialized erotic romance–for a chance to earn a personal feedback session from an Avon editor.
The submission guidelines can be found here, and the deadline for entries is April 1, 2014, with winners announced on May 15, 2014.
Speaking to what Avon editors will be looking for in the submissions, Amanda Bergeron, at Avon Impulse, said: "First and foremost, we always want a fresh voice and an ability to create real-to-life characters. Beyond that, we are looking for writers who have an understanding of what’s working in the current market. And if you can make us laugh, cry, or go absolutely weak-kneed, that certainly doesn’t hurt. Know your strengths when you write – and trust in a great editor to make your manuscript even stronger!"
