So, there's an entry fee of £10, and if you win, you get a critique. If they pass you to an agent, and you get a publishing deal, they want 10% of your advance - a 'success' fee. I wonder how many entries they're anticipating? I'm a little concerned this seems like a money-making exercise for them, but I could be entirely wrong.
In the terms and conditions it says this:
Entry fee will be £10. Due to the success and volume of entries for the last WowFactor Competition we have had to introduce a fee to meet some of our admin and advertising costs.
So they're expecting a shed-load of entries and a few thousand ££ in the bag? When you look at their critique rates, there does seem to be quite a margin for profit here. Advertising costs? On Twitter and their website?
Essentially, if you don't get past the first stage, (and only 20 people will) you're paying £10 to have five pages read, along with a synopsis.
So what do you get for your £10?
Those who don’t reach the next level will not see their name on the longlist, which will be announced by email 30th April, 2013.
Each entrant will receive information on Cornerstones services and may be contacted in the future with author news.
So they don't even email you to say 'sorry, you didn't get any further' - they just email a list of the lucky 20? Am I wrong, or are the vast majority paying £10 to be sent details of Cornerstone's Services, and be inundated with emails about authors after that..?
Ah, cynical me... I do hope I'm wrong and good luck to anyone entering!
