WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

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Critiques 4 U

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Happy almost-end-of-August, everyone! I spent the past month moving my family from New York to Florida, and I must say that it was kind of a crazy ride. I’m now convinced that the moving truck pulling up to your new house is one of the happiest sights ever—right up there with kittens and Christmas trees.

Luckily, we’re moved in now and things are starting to get back to normal. The house is unpacked. There is chocolate in my desk drawer. The garage has been organized enough that I no longer break into hives just thinking about it. And I’m finally able to focus 100% on work. That means I’m ready to get back into critiquing!

CRITIQUES 4 U!

If you’re working on a first page (in any genre except erotica) and would like some objective feedback, please leave a comment. Any comment :). As long as the email address associated with your WordPress account/comment profile is up-to-date, I’ll be able to contact you if your first page is chosen. Just please know that if I’m unable to get in touch with you through that address, you’ll have to forfeit your win.

Two caveats:

  ▪    Please be sure your first page is ready to go so I can critique it before next month’s contest rolls around. If it needs some work and you won’t be able to get it to me right away, let me ask that you plan on entering the next contest, once any necessary tweaking has been taken care of.

  ▪    I’d like to be able to use portions of winning submissions as illustrations in an upcoming presentation on first pages. By entering the Critiques 4 U contest, you’ll be granting permission for me to use small writing samples only (no author names or book titles).

Three commenters’ names will be randomly drawn and posted tomorrow morning. If you win, you can email me your first page and I’ll offer my feedback. 

We run this contest on a monthly basis, so if you’d like to be notified when the next opportunity comes around, consider subscribing to our blog (see the left-hand sidebar).

Best of luck!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beverley Burgess Bell says

    I was lucky enough to win the first page critique and received my feedback from Becca yesterday.

    Thank you so much Becca for your insightful and very positive comments. I had received two requests from agents at a recent conference here in Toronto for my pages and I’ve held back sending them because I wanted to hear your comments. You are absolutely bang on and I’m going to touch up the areas you honed in on. Then send and cross my fingers.

    Once again, thank you. This came along at exactly the time I needed it.

    I’m glad you were safe from Dorian. It’s high winds have buffeted the Maritime provinces but nothing to the devastation it caused in the south.

  4. BECCA PUGLISI says

    Thanks for entering and for all the well wishes, everyone! The winners for this round are:
    Jan Sikes
    D Owen Powell
    Beverley Burgess Bell

    Lucky folks, I’ll be messaging you shortly. Bless you all, and keep writing, everyone! I’ll see you next month.

    • BECCA PUGLISI says

      Hi, Robbi! For future reference, you just leave a message to enter. Then, if you win, I’ll send you information on how to get me your first page. Easy peasy.

  12. Jan Sikes says

    Hi, Becca! Congrats on the move! I am working on a Romance with paranormal aspects and would LOVE to be able to submit the first page for critique!!

  13. Alexis Cano says

    I am currently working on a non-fiction self-help/health and wellness book, and would love a critique! Thank you for providing this opportunity to us.

  14. Kathryn Thornton says

    I checked my desk drawer and there was no chocolate!! I had to settle for Fritos.
    Congratulations on your move. I hope you enjoy the new location and meet some great people.
    KAT

  15. Lynn Farnham says

    Hi Becca,
    I have a fantasy I’m working on. Not sure if it’s for adults or kids. I’d love feedback.

  16. Tracey Brown says

    Congrats on your move and glad you are settled in. I would love a first page critique. Thank you for the opportunity

  17. Todd Moody says

    I’m happy I refound your blog. Got my Feedly working again. It would certainly be nice to have a one page crit. I use your Emotional Thesaurus ALL THE TIME.

  21. Stephanie Wayman says

    I’m going to add Hawaiian beach to the best sights ever. I’d love a critique. That email in my inbox would definitely be a happy sight too.

  22. Thomas says

    Hi and congrats on your move — very exciting!

    I have a WIP that’s nearly ready for publication and I kinda love my first page, TBH 😀 Would love to be considered for your critique. It’s SF with a strong female MC. Here’s my super-condensed blurb:

    “They told her women can’t be warriors. But this young rebel will risk everything to make her dreams come true…”

    Cheers,
    Thomas

  23. Beverley Burgess Bell says

    Thanks for offering this and your other contests as well. Keeping my fingers crossed.

  25. Sedona Hutton says

    Hi Becca – I would love to be considered for the first page critique for my new manuscript. I just started the manuscript but the first page is ready for editing.

    I love all of your thesaurus…esp the new expanded Emotions thesaurus. Thanks for hosting this contest – Chris (w/a Sedona)

  27. Anne Greening says

    Hi, Bella, I’ve just worked out that I’ve moved house 20 times – and three of these moves were also from one country to another; so I empathize with your feelings!

  29. Susan Policoff says

    I would love my first page critiqued.As always, I applaud you for offering this contest.