Budding Student Writers:

Next Great Crime Writer Wanted

A “multi-media alliance” between Court TV, Borders Books, and Gather.com is the inspiration for a new contest aimed at ferreting out the Next Great Crime Writer. Students, if you’re passionate about this genre you stand to win a publishing contract, plus $5,000 in advance royalties when you submit chapters from the most promising new crime novel—yours.

Eligibility Rules:

• Participants are required to register as members of Gather.com (free membership).
• You must also sign up for membership as a user on the Court TV Next Great Crime Writer contest group site.
• You must be prepared to post online two chapters of a manuscript: the first on November 15, 2007 and the second on December 13, 2007.
• Chapters must be 2,000 to 10,000 words in length to qualify.
• Online group members are invited to post comments to writers’ chapters and rate writing.

Writers are rated on originality, marketability of story, and reader engagement.

Visit the Next Great Crime Writer website for detailed submission criteria. Final winner will be chosen and announced in February 2008.