Submission Rules Unpublished
Unpublished Manuscripts
"Unhanged" submissions must be postmarked or courier-dated no later than October 15, 2012
Submission Rules: Unpublished Manuscript
Definition of a crime novel
"Crime novel" is defined as crime, detective, espionage, mystery, suspense, or thriller, and can be set in any time period and crime-related sub-genre.
Eligibility
The contest is open to all writers who fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
The contest is open to all writers who fulfill the following eligibility requirements:- You are a Canadian citizen, regardless of place of residence, or a writer, regardless of nationality, who has been granted Permanent Resident status in Canada.
- You have not had a novel, or novel-length work of fiction, of any kind published commercially, whether: in print or electronically (i.e., e-book or published on the Internet) or self-published in any genre, including literary fiction under your given name or a pseudonym, and/or written alone or jointly with another author
- A novel that has an ISBN or ASBN is considered to be published commercially. However, anyone published in the areas of nonfiction, short stories, poetry, or short plays/screenplays is eligible to submit to the Unhanged Arthur. In addition, if you currently have a contract from a publisher for your manuscript, you are ineligible to enter this contest.
You are welcome to submit the same manuscript in subsequent years, provided that you were not shortlisted for Unhanged Arthur Award and that criteria 1 to 3 are still met.
If you are uncertain whether your manuscript is eligible, contact us at:
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.
The decision of Crime Writers of Canada as to whether a manuscript is eligible for the Unhanged Arthur Award is binding.
Submission Procedure
Entrants should submit:
- Three (3) copies of the opening 5000 words of their completed crime novel
- Three (3) copies of a 500-word synopsis describing the novel's further development. The synopsis should be of the entire novel. It must be double-spaced. The synopsis is a crucial part of the submission; it is the only way the judges can see the plot development, so take time to write it.
- A completed entry form and $25 fee for each submission.
Manuscripts and synopses must be in English, typed double-spaced on 8.5" x 11" paper or A4 paper using 12-point Times New Roman or Courier, with 1 inch margins, and unbound.
Each page of the manuscript must have a header in the upper left-hand corner, containing the title of the manuscript. Do not include your name in the header because the judges will be judging blind. Make sure that each page is numbered. Do not include your name on the synopsis, just have the title of the book.
Each submission must be accompanied by a completed entry form and an entry fee of $25.00. Only cheques or postal money orders, in Canadian funds, made out to Crime Writers of Canada can be accepted. If you cannot provide Canadian funds, please contact
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for instructions. We do not be accept cheques or money orders in US. Writers may submit any number of entries provided that each is accompanied by an entry form plus the entry fee of $25.00.
Entries must be postmarked or courier dated by the closing date of October 15, 2012.
The judges will come up with a long list from the initial submissions. These authors will be notified by January 15, 2013, and asked to submit three (3) copies of their complete manuscript. The judging is still blind at this point, so please only put your name on the cover letter.
Do not advertise that you have made the long list, or publish excerpts from your manuscript, until the shortlist is announced. If you do, you may be disqualified.
The semi-finalists will also be asked to provide a 100-word book blurb, a 50-word bio and an author photo via email. If the author doesn't have email, these items can be sent with the manuscripts.
The Unhanged Arthur shortlist, along with the other Arthur Ellis Awards shortlists, will be announced in April at the Arthur Ellis Shortlist Events across Canada.
The winner will be announced at the CWC Arthur Ellis Awards Ceremony. All shortlisted authors will be sent details about both events.
The winner will receive a special Arthur Ellis Award as well as a cash prize from Dundurn. However, if there is no clear winner, none will be declared.
Dundurn will have first refusal on the work. There is no commitment on Dundurn’s part to publish the winning entry, nor is the winner obligated to accept Dundurn’s offer to publish. Copyright will remain at all times with the entrant, unless and until an offer is accepted.
Entries and manuscripts cannot be returned.
Entries should be sent to:
Crime Writers of Canada, Unhanged Arthur
4C-240 Westwood Road
Guelph, Ontario
N1H 7W9
Submissions must be postmarked or courier dated no later than October 15, 2012.
We regret that entries postmarked after this date cannot be considered.
If you are using a courier company, the phone number is 519-826-9693. You will be emailed (or phoned if you don't have email) when your packaged has been received. For your own peace of mind, please request a delivery receipt from your courier or post office.
For information about the contest, please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For information about Crime Writers of Canada, please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Copyright 2013 Crime Writers of Canada