To celebrate our first year in the industry, we are searching for the next rising star in romance. Do you have a story that makes hearts race? This is your chance to step onto the international stage!

The Challenge

We are inviting writers worldwide to submit their best romance manuscripts. We embrace a wide variety of voices, settings, and tropes.

Accepted Subgenres:

• Contemporary Romance
• Sports Romance
• Historical Romance
• Paranormal Romance (PNR)
• Fantasy Romance (Romantasy)
• Erotic Romance
• Dark Romance
• LGBTQ+ Romance
• Cowboy Romance
• Small Town Romance

Submission Requirements:
To be considered, your entry must meet the following criteria:

• Language: English or Dutch
• Age Requirement: All authors must be 21 years of age or older. W. Griffin Publishing reserves the right to request official identification for verification purposes if there is any doubt regarding the author's age.
• Word Count: A maximum of 20,000 words of your manuscript (the work does not need to be completed).
• The Blurb: Include a short, compelling blurb (pitch/back-cover copy) of no more than 300 words.
• Human Creativity (No AI): The use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) for writing the prose or developing the plot is strictly prohibited. We are looking for human emotion and original voices. Any entries found to be AI-generated will be immediately disqualified.
• Formatting: Please submit as a .doc or .docx file, using Arial or Times New Roman, 11pt font, and 1.5 line spacing.

The Judging Panel
Your work will be carefully reviewed by our panel of experts:

• Corena van Leuveren
• Lucy Saints
• Kelly Michiels
• W. Griffin

Prizes & Selection:
The judges will select a Top 3 list of finalists. Once the Top 3 finalists are chosen, their blurbs will be shared on our social media platforms. Our community will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite in the comments. These votes will be taken into serious consideration by the judges when picking the final winner.

The Grand Prize: From the Top 3, one overall winner will be chosen to receive a publishing contract offer with W. Griffin Publishing, with the winning book scheduled to be published in 2027.

Important Information

• Deadline: All entries must be submitted by July 1st.
• Eligibility: Open to writers worldwide (International).
• How to Enter: Email your manuscript and blurb to contest@wgriffinpublishing.com with the subject line: Anniversary Contest Submission – [Your Name].

Bring your characters to life and surprise us with your unique vision of romance. We can't wait to publish the winner in 2027!