Hey, wonderful writerly people! It’s time for our monthly first-page critique contest 🙂
This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar).
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 (double-spaced in 12-point font) 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. Resources for common problems writers encounter in their opening pages can be found here.
▪ This contest only runs for 24 hours, start to finish, so get your comment in there!
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 right-hand sidebar).
Best of luck!
PS: If you want to amp up your first page, grab our helpful First Pages checklist from One Stop for Writers. And for more instruction on these important opening elements, see this Mother Lode of First Page Resources.
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.
Missed this one—I need to check my email more often! For the future, do first pages have to be new work, or can they be first pages from completed work? I don’t have a lot of writing time these days, but the contest sounds amazing!
I’m sorry you missed the contest this time, Leiana.
Winners can send a first page at any stage (from a newer work in progress to one you hope is ready to submit).
I hope you see the next contest in enough time to enter. 🙂
Thank you all for entering the contest!
The lucky winners of a first page critique from Becca are…
Anna
Muffy Walker
Gwen Gardner
Congrats! I’ll send you an e-mail with details soon. 🙂
I’d love the feedback!
I’d love to win.
Would love the feedback! (:
I’m ready to win!
I would love some feedback on my WIP! 🙂
I would love feedback on one of my short stories.
I’d welcome some feedback. Thank you for this opportunity and your vast amount of writing resources.
Sign me up!
I’d love a critique of my first page! Thanks for the opportunity.
‘Me, me, me. Choose me!’ she screeched from the back of the crowded room, as she flapped her arms like a wet duck who’d trodden on a live electric cable. She was never backwards in coming forward like that. Nevertheless, hidden as she was behind so many other talented writers who were ahead of her, her voice often went unheard. 😉
Your entry didn’t win, Dee…but it did make me smile. And gave me a much-needed giggle, too. 🙂
Your voice definitely didn’t go unheard.
How exciting!
Trying my luck again! Thank you for the opportunity.
I’d like to be put on the list of possible winners for this 1st page contest
I have just completed the 7th draft of my latest ms, BlackTail YellowStone, and would love to get your feedback on my first page! Thx for the opportunity! LAL
Sounds like a great idea. And your one-page summary of what to do/not is right on! Thanks for the opportunity. You’ll send an email indicating how to submit the page, right?
Hi Gordon,
I’m the Writers Helping Writers Resident Blog Wizard and send an e-mail with instructions to all the winners (after Random.org selects them).
You didn’t win this time, but keep trying. Hopefully, you’ll win a first page critique soon. 🙂
I have just started a new project that I would absolutely love feedback on!! The title is “A Beggar’s Bargain.” Crossing my fingers!
Thanks for the opportunity.
I would love the opportunity for my first page to be critiqued. Thanks for the chance!
I’d like to enter😊
I would like to enter your first pages contest
I’d love to win! 🙂
Thank you for the chance!
Wow, I love this contest. Thanks for doing it!
I’m in! My first pages need help <3
I’d love to enter too, but despite the directions, can’t figure out how to enter. Sorry for being so tech lame. Good luck to those who get in.
Hi Neil,
Don’t worry, leaving any comment enters you into the contest. Random.org didn’t choose you this time, but leave any comment during upcoming contests and hopefully you’ll win a critique. 🙂
Checking to see if my email address works. 🙂
Obadiah and Ahab jumping up and down, yelling, “Over here! Pick us!”
Missed last month’s without even realising I’d missed it! Must be my age 😉 As they say, if at first you don’t succeed… 😊
I’d love to do this!
Hi Becca! I would be so grateful for you to have a look at my first page. Can’t wait to hear from you.
I love 💕 these contests. Hopeful.