Ok. I’m sure that some of you are a leetle confused to see a critique contest post going out. I mean, it’s SATURDAY, and Saturdays at Writers Helping Writers has always meant thesaurus day. And last week we let you know about a new thesaurus that would be rolling out this week.

But it’s funny how things work. Angela and I have both been feeling like there was something off about the template we had put together for our new project. A driving force behind what we do is wanting to provide you with content that is needed, practical, and easy for you to both understand and apply. And over the past week, we both realized that what we’d come up with just wasn’t clear enough for our liking. So while we really wanted to stick to our guns and roll out the new thesaurus today, we’ve decided to take a bit more time on it to make sure it’s as good as it can be.
Meanwhile, we didn’t want to leave you empty handed while our thesaurus idea is under construction. And since we haven’t run a critique contest yet this month, we figured it would be a good idea to do it now. Which means
It’s Critiques 4 U Time!
~CONTEST IS CLOSED~
If you’re working on a first page and would like some objective feedback, please leave a comment that includes:
1) your email address. Some of you have expressed concern about making your email address public; if you’re sure that the email address associated with your WordPress account is correct, you don’t have to include it here. But if you do win and I’m unable to contact you through that email address, I’ll have to choose an alternate winner.
2) your story’s genre (no erotica, please)
ONLY ENTRIES THAT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED
Because it’s the weekend and people aren’t online as much, this contest will run for two days instead of the typical 24 hours. Three commenters’ names will be randomly drawn and posted on Monday. If you win, you can email me your first page and I’ll offer my feedback. Best of luck!
Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.
Wow, what a great response! Maybe weekends aren’t so slow after all. Anyhoo, the winners for this round are
Andrina LeBlanc
Melanie Redler
Tamar Sloan
Thanks so much for entering, everyone. Best of luck next month! Winners, I’ll be in touch. 🙂
Sounds great. My story is a murder mystery.
david1pelletier@hotmail.com
Thanks for the opportunity!
New Adult / Paranormal Romance
Countess.degraff@gmail.com
Thank you!
My story is called GRAFFITI DOME.
My email is bookriders1 (at) gmail (dot) com
I forgot: It’s YA Dystopian.
Story name – A Tumble in Time
Genre – Time travel
Darkprincess4179@gmail.com
Romance
Make It Count – YA contemporary romance
sloantamar@gmail.com
Thank you ladies for this wonderful opportunity.
Super! My story is called Misinterpreted, and it’s a romance/adventure book written in journal entry form.
Abigail.falin@gmail.com
You guys are the BEST!
I write Women’s Fiction with Romantic elements
MG Historical Fiction . . . Thanks for the possible opportunity!?
Title: StarPlayers Universe
Sorthare: Enter Stage Right
Genre: YA Scifi Romantic Adventure Series
Length: 75,000 words
Author: Constance Key
Sorthare, at eighteen, committed treason by rescuing kidnapped women and finding them a home planet and jobs. Hiding in the StarPlayers acting troupe traveling the known universe for the QUO she discovers love and rescues the queen from assassination.
Thanks again for doing this! You two are wonderful!
Romance
bckii@outlook.com
Email: donna@donnamaloy.com
Genre: Historical fantasy for YA
Thank you for the opportunity! I have a contemporary romance.
Young adult I think? It’s about the life of a group of teens. They are dealing with the death of their mutual friend. Everyone deals with it differently. After two years one of the main characters still hasn’t found a way to cope with it. Most of the book is about her journey through the mourning process while also dealing with school, friends, family, puberty..name it. One of the characters who helps her through that journey is also a big part of the storyline. She has her own struggles: confrontation with an ex (can they be friends again?), wanting to live with her father instead of her mother (but she’ll have to leave her friends behind) etc.
The message I want to spread is mainly to be accepting of others. This doesn’t only refer to the lgbtq+ themes.
Thanks for the chance!!
Email: carolopal@gmail.com
Genre: Contemporary category (short 50-55k) romance
ACT-ually, my new novel is done and releases this month, but I’d love to see what you think! It’s Cissy, and it’s the third and final in my unsavory heritage series. The series is Women’s Fiction, and Cissy took an historical turn. (the bulk of this story is set immediately post Civil War)
my email is robin.mason59@yahoo.com
Thanks for the opportunity.
Women’s fiction
leta@letamccurry.com
Mbodasingh@yahoo.com
YA contemporary romance
Thanks
Thanks for doing this! I’m shanna.rogers@live.com
MG contemporary
Just started to write something new…
NA Contemporary Romance
Mredler@gmail.com
Generous of you to do this. Thank you!
Thank you for doing this!
Genre: YA gothic/fantasy
Email: sarechafin@outlook.com
I apologize if this is a duplicate. I’m having problems with my browser and comments.
Genre Romance
Thank you for this opportunity. My email is irenewittig@gmail.com
Genre – mainstream literary.
Email : bjbischof@gmail.com
Genre: cozy mystery
Thank you !
Glad you decided to run it for two days…this showed up only this am-Sunday!
Hi Becca. My email is maryvanever@comcast.net I definitely have a first page. Six in total. I’m not sure as to what Genre this Work could be classified. If I had a choice I think I’d like to be able to ask for clarification on the Genre I am writing.
Take care. Mary
Aiar shai at gmail dot com
Fantasy
jones . dylan @ yahoo . com
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy.
Ignore this comment.
jones . dylan @ yahoo . com (no spaces)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy.
I’m really glad I happened upon this site and all the tools, links, and information for writers. I have the Emotion Thesaurus and it’s a great reference. Thanks for the contest entry!
laurieire@hotmail.com
Contemporary Romance
Becca,
I’ve been having problems with my browser on your site lately. Would you mind a quick reply to confirm that you got my email address? Thanks!
The other message came through, so you should be good :).
Romantic Contemporary
All is forgiven… 😉
1- Email: included
2- Genre: sci-fi/fantasy/adventure
Thanks so much for doing critiques every month!!
Hi,
I am interested in this! I would like feedback on a novel I am writing. I can send the first chapters or so.
The story is called Cindercole, and it is an LGBT Teen-Romance novel, in which Cinderella is a boy going to school in Mississauga, ON, Canada.
Wow! This is so cool!! I would love to read this book–I hope you get it published soon!!
Melanie
military science fiction
A story about a combat patrol during the Monsoon Season of
South Vietnam
I very much enjoy your articles. They are informative and helpful.
email: icrusoe@live.se
genre: Paranormal/Romance
Still overly excited that you take the time to do this. Thank you so much. =)
Oh yay! Thanks for the opportunity! 🙂 🙂
Email address: mariahossain95@gmail.com
Genre: young adult realistic (set in the ’70s)