Press Release: Harlequin Partners with Wattpad on Annual Writing Competition "So You Think You Can Write"

Toronto, ON - July 6, 2015 - Wattpad, the world's largest community of readers and writers, and Harlequin, one of the world's most recognizable names in romance, have teamed up for the 2015 So You Think You Can Write (SYTYCW) contest. For the first time ever, the annual romance writing competition has launched on Wattpad, with writers around the world able to submit their manuscript on Wattpad for a chance to win a two-book publishing deal with Harlequin.

"Wattpadders love opportunities that recognize and reward their efforts," said Wattpad's Head of Publisher and Writer Partnerships Ashleigh Gardner. "We've seen exceptional engagement when we hosted the New-Adult category SYTYCW contest in the past. Now that 18 categories are open to the community, we expect to see a flood of amazing submissions."

The So You Think You Can Write romance writing competition is open to aspiring authors in the US, Canada (except Quebec), the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. To enter, writers must upload their manuscript on Wattpad and tag it with #SYTYCW2015 and one of the 18 categories they feel best represents their work. Writers must also submit a short pitch that outlines their story. Submissions are accepted until September 21. Top submissions will then be short-listed for additional rounds of voting and judging by a panel of experts. Winners will be announced later this year in November.

"So You Think You Can Write brings out so much talent every year -- and has made publishing dreams come true for many aspiring authors," said Loriana Sacilotto, Executive Vice President of Global Publishing and Strategy at Harlequin. "By joining with Wattpad we're taking the contest to an exciting new level of engagement with writers and readers as well."

This year's categories include: American Romance, Blaze, Desire, Heartwarming, Historical, Intrigue, Kimani Romance, Love inspired, Love Inspired Historical, Love, Inspired Suspense, Medicals, Nocturne, Presents, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Special Edition, Superromance and Carina Press romance. Full contest details as well as complete category descriptions can be found on Harlequin's official Wattpad profile: https://www.wattpad.com/HarlequinSYTYCW