Thought chick-lit was dead? Think again!

So we've all heard that chick lit is so not happening right now. But I'm here to disagree. Okay, it's true that the market got a wee bit saturated so publishers backed off. I get that. But, come on! There are lots of us who love the genre and want more. At the moment, it seems as if the general market still has plenty of chick lit to go around. But the Christian market? Not so much. I personally believe it will make a comeback, but may be labeled as something else.

Anyway, if you're like me and love chick lit (think Kristin Billerbeck, Judy Baer, Erynn Mangum), and even more, if you love writing it, I'm here to announce a fabulous contest just for you. I actually finaled in this contest a couple years ago, and now I have an agent trying to sell that manuscript. Back then, it was labeled "Mom Lit" but since any phrase containing the word "lit" is a no-no in publishing these days, it's now being dubbed as "Women's fiction with a touch of humor." Same dif, if you ask me. But no one's asking.

So you may have heard of this contest. It's called Get Your Stiletto in the Door and is put on by the Chick Lit Chapter of Romance Writers of America. What's cool is there are several different categories, including Inspirational. I believe Inspirational is the category that always seems to get the least amount of entries. Which is a good thing because -- hello -- that means you have a better chance of winning!

Here's the info:

Eligibility: Basically, the rule is you must be unpublished in book-length fiction.

Categories (see official contest page for descriptions of each category): Single title contemporary, Women's Fiction (mainstream), Thrill, Paranormal, Inspirational, Red Hot, and Young Adult.

Deadline: October 1, 2010

How to Submit: Electronically

What to Submit: Up to the first 5,000 words. Optional: a 500-word synopsis

Entry Fee: $15 for RWA members, $25 all others (by PayPal, check, or money order)

Judging Process: Two rounds of judging. Top 4 entries in first round will go on to the final round, consisting of professional editors and/or agents (to be announced)

Winners Announced: On or around December 20th, 2010

Website: GET YOUR STILETTO IN THE DOOR

I am thinking about entering a Young Adult (we'll see!). Let me know if you decide to enter. We can cheer each other on!

Good luck!