Aspiring

Emerging

Established

An Aspiring Author is an author who is:

• developing/writing a romance/romantic elements manuscript; and
• developing their understanding of the craft; and
• thinking about or actively entering contests
• may not yet know what length or what genre they will focus on

An Emerging Author is an author who:

• has had a romantic/romantic elements work commercially available or under contract for fewer than three years; or
• is consistently making finals rounds in writing contests; and/or
• is submitting and receiving requests from publishers or agents or who has already secured an agent

An Established Author is author who:

• has a romantic/romantic elements work commercially available or under contract, and
• who has been consistently/actively publishing longer than three years