Tweener Time Chapter Book Competition

We’re looking for fiction that’s fast-paced, action-packed, value-promoting adventures without gore, violence, profanity, or romance.  Remember your target audience is kids in elementary and middle schools and it must appeal to both boys and girls. (Hint: girls like action too.)   What should you write?    1.  It should be 10-15 chapters with a minimum of 20,000 words and not more than 30,000.    2.  It should emphasize positive values and must not be counter to Christ-centered values.    3.  It should have a believable story-line even it is a fantasy..    4.  It may have a religious theme, but it must not be preachy.    5.  It should be an adventure.   We’re looking for fiction that’s fast-paced, action-packed, value-promoting adventures without gore, violence, profanity, or romance.  Remember your target audience is kids in elementary and middle schools and it must appeal to both boys and girls. (Hint: girls like action too.)   ACADEMIC AWARDS for STUDENTS:           First Place Winner:                     Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana, a $20,000 scholarship                                (*$5,000 each year for four years)                     Gaither Charitable Foundation                                 $1,000 Cash award                     Baker Trittin Press                                  Contract to publish the winning manuscript FYI: The author of the winning manuscript will receive from Baker Trittin Press a standard author’s contract. The contract states that they will publish your book, distribute it through their normal distribution channels, and pay you a royalty on all books sold. You do not receive a royalty payment on books they give away for promotional purposes.             Second and Third Place Winners:                     Bethel College, a $10,000 scholarship                               (*$2,500 each year for four years)                     Baker Trittin Press                                 Contract to publish the winning manuscripts             Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Place Winners:                     Bethel College, a $6,000 scholarship                               (*$1,500 each year for four years)                     Baker Trittin Press                                 Contract to publish the winning manuscripts   OTHER AWARDS for STUDENTS:           A copy of the book that wins first place           An "I wrote a book for the Tweener Chapter Book Competition 200_" t-shirt.           Baker Trittin reserves the right to contract with additional entrants for publishing rights. TEACHER AWARD: Joshua Expeditions, a seven day educational tour to Paris for the teacher of the first place winning author. The tour is directed by Dr. Phil Johnson.   JUDGING: There will be three rounds of judging. Round One: the judges are teachers, librarians, and administrators. Round Two: the judges are published authors and college professors. Round Three: the judges are editors of Christian books and publications.               Manuscripts sent to the judges have NO indication of name, age, gender, or place of residence.     The Tweener Time Chapter Book Competition is sponsored by Tweener Ministries, Inc. and co-sponsored by the following:                             Anderson University: www.anderson.edu   Baker Trittin Press: www.bakertrittinpress.com  Bethel College: www.bethelcollege.edu Gaither Charitable Foundation: Gaither Family Resources: www.gaitherfamilyresources.net Joshua Expedition: www.joshuaexpeditions.org    *Scholarship requirements must be maintained. ·         Students must participate in the Tweener Ministries Chapter Book Writing and/or Cover Design annual contest in accordance with Tweener Ministries Chapter Book Writing guidelines. ·         Award winners will be determined based upon the official results from the director of the Tweener Ministries Chapter Book Writing competition recognized annually. ·         Recipients must keep the award certificate and present it to student financial services upon enrollment at Bethel College to qualify. o        If the award certificate is lost, the scholarship will not be awarded. ·         Recipients must apply, be accepted and enroll as a full-time student at Bethel College to receive the award. ·         The award will be credited toward the recipient’s Bethel College tuition, is not transferable, and is bound by the Bethel College award policies in place at the time of enrollment. ·         The award is renewable based upon the GPA established by the college to determine satisfactory academic progress.   Things to remember:      1.  Spelling and grammar errors indicate lack of seriousness.      2.  Your target audience is from 8-13. Don't talk down to them or 'over their heads.'      3.  Your characters need to grow and develop throughout the story.      4.  Verbs are stronger than adverbs.      5.  Active is stronger than passive.      6.  Let your characters tell the story. That requires strong dialogue.      7.  Action, conflict, and resolution hold the reader's interest.       8.  Don't rush the ending.      9.  Include all the senses.    10.  Alright is alwrong. All right is correct.   Cover Art Competition Songwriting Competition