THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED
It’s time for our monthly critique contest, and I’m excited to be able to introduce a new guest editor! Angela and I have known Marissa Graff for years; she has a TON of editing experience, she’s contributed guest posts to Writers Helping Writers in the past, and we’re super excited that she’ll be joining us as a Resident Writing Coach starting in October.
If you’re game to enter this month’s contest, here’s the amazing person you could be working with:

Marissa has been a freelance editor and reader for literary agent Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary Agency for five years. In conjunction with Angelella Editorial, she offers developmental editing, author coaching, and more. She specializes in middle-grade and young-adult fiction, but also works with adult fiction. Marissa feels if she’s done her job well, a client should probably never need her help again because she’s given them a crash-course MFA via deep editorial support and/or coaching.
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CONTEST GUIDELINES
This month’s contest will be a little different because Marissa is offering up a critique on the FIRST FIVE PAGES of TWO WINNERS‘ stories!
If you’re working on a story opening (anything except erotica, nonfiction, or picture books) 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, Marissa will be able to contact you if you win. Just please know that if she’s unable to get in touch with you through that address, you’ll have to forfeit your win.
Please be sure your story opening is ready to go so she 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 her right away, let me ask that you plan on entering the next contest once any necessary tweaking has been taken care of.
Two commenters’ names will be randomly drawn and posted here tomorrow. If you win, Marissa will be in contact to get your pages and offer her 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.
Ok! The two lucky winners this month are Amy Hillman and Vanesa Perillo. Marissa will be in touch soon with details about how to send your pages.
Thanks so much for entering, everyone! We’ll see you next month :).
Congrats, Vanesa and Amy! Thank you to everyone who so kindly entered. Huge thank you to Angela and Becca for having me!
Thank you so much!
What a fantastic opportunity! I would love to have my work in progress reviewed by a professional.
This is a fantastic opportunity! Thank you!
Thanks for the chance!
Wow! Thanks so much for.the opportunity!
Thank you for this great opportunity Marissa!
Tossing my hat in!
I’d love to have this opportunity!
This is such an incredible thing you’re doing for new authors. Fingers crossed!
I would also appreciate a chance at this opportunity. Thanks a bunch for offering this contest!
Cool opportunity. Thanks!!
This would be awesome. Thanks for offering this
I’d love to be considered! Thanks for the opportunity!
This would be an awesome opportunity! Thank you!
This is exciting! I would love a critique of the first 5 pages of my WIP. 😀
I’d love feedback from Marissa. Just finished the sixth edit of my opening. Please put me out of my misery! 😊
Thank you for such a great opportunity. I’d love professional feedback on my opening chapter.
Very cool contest! I’m working on my debut novel, an adult thriller, and would appreciate some objective feedback😊 Thank you for this opportunity!
Five pages would be great.
Please pick me!!! Thank you for the wonderful opportunity!
This sounds like a fantastic opportunity! My pages are polished and will start the query process in September!
Fantastic! Love this.
It would be wonderful to get feedback from Marissa on the first 5 pages of my WIP
I would like to be considered.
Professional feedback is always welcome.
Would love to have Marissa read my pages
This would be a tremendous help to me. I’ve been slogging away for 5 years on my WIP. Feedback would help get the last few thousand words done.
Count me in! Thanks for the opportunity.
Add me in!
Thanks so much for this offer of help. Stay safe everyone
Count me in! This is a great idea. Thanks!
I’m eager for an analysis of my 1st pg. for a woman’s fiction novel.
Thanks for this opportunity!
Awesomeness!
I’m in – just at the start of my second novel and would love to hear her comments.
I’d love good feedback!
The first five pages are always the hardest for me. I would LOVE a critique of the opening of my WIP, Witch Trial Legacy.
Edit your life before it happens.
Yes, please!
Thanks for the opportunity!