

About
The Spring Cupid Awards
Opens: April 1st
Deadline: May 1st
The Fall Cupid Awards
Opens: September 1, 2022
Deadline: October 1, 2022.
The Cupid Awards is a contest sponsored by the Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild and is open to all Short (5000 words or less) UNPUBLISHED romantic works of fiction in digital form.
Who Can Enter
Any UNPUBLISHED short romance story no more than 5000 words that HAS NOT WON 1ST PLACE IN THIS CONTEST is eligible to enter.
Open to Authors Worldwide!
Note: All entries must be:
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Save entry as a document with category number & entry title, ex: cat1sensualnights.doc
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Microsoft Word .doc or .docx form
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Edited
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Title at top
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No names on the actual entry
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Size 12 Font
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Double spaced
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Times New Roman or Courier New Font.
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No minimum word count, no longer than 5000 words
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A complete romance story with beginning, middle, and HEA resolution that fits the heat level requirements for the category entered.
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September contest is Fall/Winter themed
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April Contest is Spring/Summer themed
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Contest Open to Submissions:
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Fall Contest: September 1st
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Spring Contest: April 1st
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Contest Deadline:
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Fall Contest: October 1st
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Spring Contest May 1st
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Entries go to Judges:
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Fall Contest: October 15th
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Spring Contest: May 10th
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Scores Back from Judges:
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Fall Contest: December 15th
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Spring Contest: July 10th
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Winners Announced Virtually:
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Fall Contest: January 1st
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Spring Contest: July 15
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6 Categories will each have
1 Winner
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Winners receive a crystal heart ornament(must pay shipping to receive)
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Winners receive a website winner badge & will be promoted across OKRWG social media (Facebook & Instagram).
Entry Fee: $10 for each entry, up to 2 entries per category
sent via PayPal to okrwgtreasurer@gmail.com
Questions? Contact the Contest VP HERE

Important Dates
Category Descriptions
All Unpublished Romantic Fiction in complete short story format no more than 5000 words. Must match Fall/Winter theme for September contest and Spring/Summer theme for April contest. Must meet category guidelines, and be unpublished work.
Category 1: Short Erotic Romance
Heat Level: 5 Flames
As opposed to straight erotica, which focuses primarily on the sex rather than on the plot or characterization, erotic romance is about the emotional journey lived through sexual experience. This sub-genre pushes boundaries, uses graphic language(including F-bomb), contains multiple sex scenes explicitly described…and because it’s romance, it has a happily ever after. Erotic romance can bring in BDSM, sex toys, anal sex, menages, and multiple partners. These are stories that cannot be told if you take sex out of the equation. UNLIMITED SEX SCENES.
Examples: EL James or Sylvia Day Novels
Category 2: Short Scorcher Romance
Heat Level: 4 Flames
The equivalent of NC-17 in the movie world. Sometimes described as one level shy of erotic romance. At this heat level, there’s explicit sex, indelicate language(including F-bomb), and graphic depictions of a sexual nature used to further the story. Scorcher might also include sex toys, mild BDSM, and other light forms of kink. UNLIMITED SEX SCENES.
Example: Nalini Singh or JR Ward novels
Category 3: Short Steamy Romance
Heat Level: 3 Flames
The equivalent of an R-rated movie. The majority of romance novels fall into this heat category. With steamy romance, you can expect action-packed love scenes where the reader goes along for the ride. There is graphic sex on the page, and what is happening between the couple is described with specific language, but emphasis is more on the emotional than physical. Swearing, but no F-bomb. Steamy romance doesn’t fade to black. Instead, it follows the participants right through the door and climbs into the bed along with them. NO MORE THAN 2 SEX SCENES
Example: Linda Howard or Linda Lael Miller novels
Category 4: Short Sensual Romance
Heat Level: 2 Flames
The equivalent of a PG13-rated movie. Kissing, touching, and intimate scenes are shared usually with focus on feelings and emotions rather than body parts. Sexual tension and love scenes might be included in the story, but most descriptions of physical intimacy still happen “behind closed doors.” NO EXPLICIT SEX SCENES
Ex. Nora Roberts novels
Category 5: Short Sweet Romance
Heat Level: 1 Flame
The equivalent of a PG-rated movie. There might be no contact at all except for some hand-holding or a chaste kiss at the end when the couple gets together. Mild sensuality might contain intimate scenes and sexual situations, but they’re not described in the story. You know it happens, but you don’t read about it because it happens off the page or fades to black. NO SEX SCENES.
Example: Hallmark Movies
Category 6: Short Young Adult Romance
Heat Level: 1 Flame
The equivalent of PG13-rated movie. The characters are in their teens, sometimes early twenties. Like a sensual romance, there may be kissing, touching, and intimate scenes, but the focus is on feelings and emotions rather than body parts. Sexual tension and love scenes might be included in the story, but most descriptions of physical intimacy still happen “behind closed doors.” NO EXPLICIT SEX SCENES
Examples: Rainbow Rowell and Stephenie Meyer
Category 7: Short Non-Romance with Strong Romantic Subplot
Heat Level: Any
This category is for any genre that contains a significant romantic subplot. The romantic subplot can contain any heat level, but it must be appropriate to the age level to which the books were written. I.E. No erotic scenes in a YA book, etc.
Examples: Brandon Sanderson and Sarah J. Maas