The Freddie Award for Writing Excellence is open to traditionally published writers who currently don’t have an agent or a publishing contract, as will as aspiring writer.

This year, these writers can win a free early three-day registration for the 2019 SleuthFest in Boca Raton. The registration, a $400 value, is one of the prizes for the 2017 Freddie Award for Writing Excellence, sponsored by the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America (FMWA). SleuthFest is FMWA’s annual conference for mystery, suspense, and thriller writers, which draws attendees from all over the United States.

The Freddie Award has two categories, Mystery and Thriller. This contest is a rare opportunity for unpublished writers. All entrants will receive feedback on their unpublished Mystery or Thriller manuscript: the judges’ score sheet critiques of their writing.
Writers must enter the first 20 pages of their unpublished manuscript. This contest is for writers who do not have a publishing contract or an agent, as well as aspiring writers. The submitted work should be unpublished.

The Freddie Award defines a mystery novel as “one or more elements remain unknown or unexplained until the end of the story.” A thriller is “a novel intended to arouse feelings of excitement or suspense.”

The Freddie Award finalists will be announced at the Friday night banquet at SleuthFest 2018. SleuthFest will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Boca Raton, 661 NW 53rd St., Boca Raton, Florida, March 1-4, 2018 (SleuthFest.com).

The top five entrants in the Freddie Award Mystery and Thriller categories will be read by an acquiring agent or editor. All ten of these finalists will be introduced to the editors during a special ceremony at SleuthFest 2018 and the winners will be announced at the same ceremony. In addition to the three-day early registration, the top Mystery and Thriller winners will also receive a crystal plaque.

The contest fee is $25 for MWA members, $30 for nonmembers. You do NOT need to be an MWA member to enter.
For details go to http://mwaflorida.org/ and click on Contest for rules, entry forms and more.

[Read more…] about The Freddie Award: Deadline 11/15