RISING STAR Award

Frequently Asked Questions

My protag is under 18. Is that okay?

It depends. For the purposes of this contest, the protagonist must be an adult, over age 18, for the majority of the book. If this is historical fiction, and the character’s age would have been considered an adult at that time (example, a married 16 year old in the 1500s), then an exception can be made. 

My protag is sometimes under 18. Is that okay?

Maybe. If they are 17 for a majority of the book and turn 18 at the end, no, it is not eligible. If the protag is old and telling stories from their childhood, then it should qualify.

My protag is male or non-binary, or this is multi-POV and includes male POVs. Can I enter?

Yes. WFWA does not require the protagonist to be female for this contest.

I have an agent for my [other genre] book but not for my women’s fiction. Can I enter?
No. Sorry, you must be unagented entirely.

Even though I have a book coming out in a couple of months and already have the ARCs in my hands from my publisher, I can still enter because I’m technically not published yet, right?
No, as you will be published soon, that counts.

I’ve self-published my book. Can I still enter?

Self-published authors are published authors. Consider competing for the STAR Award, and please volunteer as a Rising Star judge!

If I’m published in science fiction, romance, poetry, a magazine, a blog, or another genre, I can enter?
No, if you are a published author of book-length fiction, regardless of genre, you are not eligible for this contest. Please consider volunteering as a judge. 

I've had several short stories published. Can I enter?

Yes, published authors of short stories are still eligible to enter. 

What if I sign with a literary agent for representation after entry but before finalists are announced? 

Congratulations. Please share your good news with [email protected] within seven days. You will still receive score sheets with the judges' feedback. If, however, your manuscript would have entered the final round, it will be disqualified to allow for the next highest-ranking entry (i.e., a manuscript still in need of representation).

What if my manuscript is contracted for publication after entry but before finalists are announced?

Congratulations. Please share your good news with [email protected] within seven days. You will still receive score sheets with the judges' feedback. If, however, your manuscript would have entered the final round, it will be disqualified to allow for the next highest-ranking entry (i.e., a manuscript still in need of a publishing contract.) 

What if I sign with a literary agent or a publisher after I qualify as a Rising Star finalist?

 Congratulations. If you are a finalist and you sign with a literary agent or publisher before the final round judging begins, you must contact [email protected] to withdraw your entry so the next highest rated unagented entrant can compete. If you are a finalist and you sign with an agent after Round 2 judging has begun, you are still eligible to compete and win.

May I submit the same manuscript that I submitted last year? 

Manuscript entries that were top five RISING STAR finalists in a previous year may not be submitted again for consideration. Entries that did not final or place are welcome to be resubmitted once in each of two consecutive years. In order to maximize the value of the RISING STAR Award to its entrants, WFWA encourages that repeat entries undergo substantial revision before they are re-submitted. No entry may be submitted more than two times or in two nonconsecutive years. This is to ensure that every entry is assigned to judges who have not heretofore judged the entry. For security reasons, our records are limited to two years of safekeeping.

May I enter more than one manuscript?

No. One entry per year per entrant.

How long should my pitch be? What should it include?

Include the title of your work and up to three sentences describing your story. Please do not include your name. Here are examples from a prior year's press release:

• [Title] is about a woman who, in lieu of a suicide note, leaves behind a freshly-baked pie and a journal. Police Constable Iris Weild must separate fact from fiction as she reads the story of the woman’s sacrifice for her husband’s eventual happiness, and of her love affair with a man no one in town has ever seen.
• [Title] is about the not-so-subtle sexist world of Silicon Valley. A venture capitalist faces her husband’s mistress across the negotiating table. She must learn to work with her or jeopardize both their careers.
• [Title] is about Kat Jamison who escapes to the rugged Blue Ridge Mountains to avoid her daughter, doctors, and difficult decisions regarding the reality of her grim cancer prognosis. When she and two children are trapped in a raging forest fire, instead of accepting her death, Kat must discover a fire inside herself—a burning will to survive.

How much feedback will I get on my entry?

Every entry will receive a detailed score sheet from a minimum of three qualified judges who are encouraged to make additional comments. WFWA cannot, however, guarantee the judges' compliance with this request.  

How will I be notified if I advance to the finals?

The five finalists will be notified via email. WFWA will post the official finalist list to its website.

If I am a finalist, how long will I have to revise my entry for the final round?

All finalists must submit their updated entries by July 30, 2026.

What is the prize for winning?

All finalists will receive a digital badge and certificate for display within their online presence. The winner will receive an engraved RISING STAR Award trophy.

Additional Questions? Contact the RISING STAR Award co-chairs at [email protected].