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WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

Helping writers become bestselling authors

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

Published: March 16, 2023 by BECCA PUGLISI

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.

  ▪    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
BECCA PUGLISI

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.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. MINDY ALYSE WEISS says

    March 17, 2023 at 5:54 am

    Thank you all for visiting Writers Helping Writers and entering our contest. The three lucky winners are…

    KD Holmberg

    Kimberly Mooneyham

    Dawn Knox

    Huge congrats! I’ll send all three winners an e-mail with instructions. 🙂

  2. T. L. Sherwood says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:55 pm

    How awesome! Thank you for doing this!

  3. Eric Pagan says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:13 pm

    This is great, Always looking for feedback!

  4. Glenn Liddy says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:35 pm

    I am interested in having my page reviewed.

  5. Mary Pakusch says

    March 16, 2023 at 9:48 pm

    I would love to have feedback on my first page!

  6. Regis DeArza says

    March 16, 2023 at 9:32 pm

    What a fantastic opportunity

  7. Sam Muller says

    March 16, 2023 at 8:52 pm

    Thanks for this great help. Goot luck to everyone commenting including me.

  8. Alicia Winter says

    March 16, 2023 at 8:14 pm

    Sign me up for the contest!!

  9. Nicole Egan says

    March 16, 2023 at 8:09 pm

    I would welcome the opportunity!

  10. Cecilia Bamberg says

    March 16, 2023 at 6:50 pm

    Thanks for the opportunity!

  11. Angie Alban says

    March 16, 2023 at 6:14 pm

    I am thrilled by this opportunity to polish my novel’s first page. Thank you!

  12. Mary Murry says

    March 16, 2023 at 5:31 pm

    I would love your critique of my first page.

  13. Donna Royston says

    March 16, 2023 at 5:00 pm

    Sounds like fun!

  14. Nicole Dunlap says

    March 16, 2023 at 4:48 pm

    Would love this opportunity for the first page of my Christian Romantic Suspense novel. Thank you for the chance, Becca!

  15. KD Holmberg says

    March 16, 2023 at 4:42 pm

    Wow. This is fun. Love you girls!

  16. Jessica Swafford says

    March 16, 2023 at 4:16 pm

    Wow, so many comments! Still worth a try.

  17. Talia Goforth says

    March 16, 2023 at 4:09 pm

    Yay! I’d love a critique!

  18. Ducklady says

    March 16, 2023 at 3:46 pm

    This looks like fun. It’s definately one of the more creative contests I’ve ever seen. Because of it I just went back and took a gander at my first page. So glad I did because I rewrote the first paragraph–one of those “never quite write” things and am happy with it.
    Thanks for doing this. I’ve benefitted already.

    I am totally addicted to your emotion thesaurus.

    • ANGELA ACKERMAN says

      March 17, 2023 at 8:31 pm

      I am so glad the ET is a help!

  19. Alice Loweecey says

    March 16, 2023 at 3:43 pm

    I would really appreciate objective eyes on my first page. Thank you!

  20. Susan Ward says

    March 16, 2023 at 3:39 pm

    I’d love to receive a constructive critique of my first page.

  21. Erica Sheldon says

    March 16, 2023 at 3:22 pm

    I would love a critique of my first page. What a wonderful opportunity!!

  22. Karen B Janowsky says

    March 16, 2023 at 3:15 pm

    Count me in!! 🙂

  23. Jessica Carasquillo says

    March 16, 2023 at 2:29 pm

    Thanks for holding this contest!

  24. Alex Sousa says

    March 16, 2023 at 2:08 pm

    Thanks for doing this every month.

  25. Jessica Costello says

    March 16, 2023 at 1:50 pm

    Great to see you’re doing so much for the writing community!

    • Susan Sams Baggott says

      March 16, 2023 at 1:57 pm

      Looking forward to your input. Thanks.
      Susan

    • Marie Etzler says

      March 16, 2023 at 3:16 pm

      Thanks for the contest entry opportunity. I just joined the site a few months ago and love it.

  26. Kathryn says

    March 16, 2023 at 1:34 pm

    I’d love some feedback!

  27. Yoneta says

    March 16, 2023 at 1:22 pm

    Would love a critique of my first pages! <3

  28. Deborah Sword says

    March 16, 2023 at 1:05 pm

    Thank you for all you do for the wannabe writer.

  29. Jacquolyn McMurray says

    March 16, 2023 at 1:03 pm

    I’d love another set of eyes on my first page. Thanks for the opportunity.

  30. Eva Webster says

    March 16, 2023 at 12:39 pm

    Here it is. Thank you.

    • Niki says

      March 16, 2023 at 1:00 pm

      Thanks for offering this. Fingers crossed

  31. Nicole Holloway says

    March 16, 2023 at 12:21 pm

    Yes please!!

  32. Lauren says

    March 16, 2023 at 12:21 pm

    Thank you for offering such a wonderful opportunity!

  33. Teresa Lynn says

    March 16, 2023 at 12:14 pm

    Thanks for offering this so often. Love the new look!

  34. Gifford MacShane says

    March 16, 2023 at 12:13 pm

    I’d love a critique of the first page of my WIP.

  35. Katie says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:56 am

    I’d love feedback on my first page. Much thanks for the contest.

  36. Doug Fricke says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:43 am

    The first page of a true adventure story needs an honest critique.

  37. Donna Reed says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:42 am

    Yes, please!

  38. MZ says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:38 am

    Ooooh. Yes. Thanks!!

  39. Myka says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:37 am

    Yes please. Thank you

  40. Patricia Nesbitt says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:24 am

    Thank you for offering this opportunity. Appreciate all that you offer to writers to help us hone our craft.

  41. Beverley Burgess Bell says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:02 am

    Thank you for this opportunity.

  42. Dooley says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:01 am

    I’d love to have some feedback. Concerned the voice is too much and it starts a little slow. OK, I’m worried it starts a lot slow.

  43. Mary Incontro says

    March 16, 2023 at 11:00 am

    Would love fresh eyes on my opening!

  44. Katherine Warncke says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:53 am

    Always looking forward to this opportunity!

    Fingers crossed! I’d love fresh eyes on my opening.

  45. Jean says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:53 am

    Thank you and count me in!

  46. Natasha says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:50 am

    Wonderful contest! Thanks for the opportunity!

  47. DIANE SHOTTON says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:44 am

    Looking forward to this opportunity!

  48. Katherine Warncke says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:41 am

    Oooohhh, always looking forward to this contest! Fingers crossed this go-round.

  49. Deena Graves says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:32 am

    Thank you for keeping this opportunity going!!

    • Christie says

      March 16, 2023 at 11:11 am

      Hello, thank you for the opportunity! I’d love to enter.

  50. Heather McLeod says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:31 am

    Yes please! I’d love fresh eyes on this thing. Fingers are crossed.

  51. Diane Rinella says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:26 am

    Ugh, yeah. This could use new eyes. 😀 Thanks!

  52. Greta Gize Olbrich says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:25 am

    Thank you for the opportunity.

  53. Shelley O'Rourke says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:16 am

    Wonderful opportunity!!!

  54. Josh says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:07 am

    What a great opportunity!

  55. Marie Powell says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:00 am

    This is a great opportunity! Thanks!

  56. Paula Bryner says

    March 16, 2023 at 9:48 am

    This is exciting! Thanks so much for this and all your content.

  57. Aleska Buszta says

    March 16, 2023 at 9:40 am

    Hello.

    I’d love feedback on my first few pages. I’m torn on ikf my few first pages grab the reader and would love your feedback on it.

  58. Kimberly Mooneyham says

    March 16, 2023 at 9:39 am

    This is my first time entering this contest and I would love to have feedback on a short story I’ve almost completed. Thank you!

  59. Barb Ristine says

    March 16, 2023 at 9:30 am

    Thanks for this opportunity—your writing advice is invaluable!

  60. Anita Banks says

    March 16, 2023 at 9:00 am

    Exciting oppertunity!

  61. Michael Dunne says

    March 16, 2023 at 9:00 am

    Good morning, Becca!

    Haven’t had a lot of “me” time for creative writing lately, but have several first pages to choose from. If I win, well, I’ll have to pick just one 😉

    Best to you and Angela!

    p.s. love the new site!

    • ANGELA ACKERMAN says

      March 17, 2023 at 8:32 pm

      Thanks Michael!

  62. Michael Ko says

    March 16, 2023 at 8:57 am

    My first page is ready for review. Thank you very much.

  63. Paula Cappa says

    March 16, 2023 at 8:51 am

    I’m in again. Your blog is always helpful. I just bought The Occupation Thesaurus. Love it! Helps especially when you need to create a quick one-liner description of a character.

    • ANGELA ACKERMAN says

      March 17, 2023 at 8:33 pm

      Aw, thank you. I hope you find that one really helpful, Paula!

  64. Margie says

    March 16, 2023 at 8:39 am

    Thank you for such a great opportunity!

  65. Karin says

    March 16, 2023 at 8:26 am

    This sounds amazing!

    I did try and comment before but can’t see my comment showing up! Hope I am not too late to enter.

  66. Amy says

    March 16, 2023 at 8:07 am

    Such a wonderful opportunity, thanks for the chance to receive feedback!
    Amy

  67. Kathleen says

    March 16, 2023 at 7:57 am

    Yes !

  68. Rochelle Gosling says

    March 16, 2023 at 7:47 am

    Hello Becca I’d love your thoughts on my first page! Rochelle

  69. Thornton Blease says

    March 16, 2023 at 7:40 am

    This sounds amazing. My first page is ready to go!

  70. Rebecca Fettig says

    March 16, 2023 at 7:31 am

    Truly a great opportunity! Thank you!

  71. Diane Spigonardo says

    March 16, 2023 at 7:30 am

    Thanks, Becca, for the opportunity/chance!

  72. Kelley Bowen says

    March 16, 2023 at 7:03 am

    Thank you and good luck to all. xoxo.

  73. Michael Ko says

    March 16, 2023 at 6:42 am

    My first page is ready to be critiqued. Thank you very much.

  74. Karen J Hughes says

    March 16, 2023 at 6:42 am

    Thanks for running this contest! A win would be fabulous.

  75. Nicole C. says

    March 16, 2023 at 6:24 am

    Thanks for this!!

  76. Jennie Dugan says

    March 16, 2023 at 5:45 am

    Good morning, Becca! My first page is ready to go. In fact, I think —I hope, I pray, and maybe, just maybe— the book is ready for objective editorial eyes. It’s a historical romance. The tricky place is where to start the story. Did I leave the reader confused, or did I give enough hints to the era? Is my writing wordy? Will my readers care about the character introduced? Most important, will they turn the page?
    Say the word, and the first page is on its way to you.
    Thank you for this.
    Kind regards,
    Jennie D

  77. Mary S Luce says

    March 16, 2023 at 5:43 am

    This would be so helpful.

  78. Rachael says

    March 16, 2023 at 5:23 am

    What an awesome opportunity! Always looking for feedback 🙂

  79. Dawn Knox says

    March 16, 2023 at 4:22 am

    What an amazing opportunity!

  80. Cynthia says

    March 16, 2023 at 3:22 am

    Thank you for holding this contest.

  81. Cindy says

    March 16, 2023 at 3:08 am

    What an amazing opportunity. The first page is crucial to hook the reader so to get feedback on it would be incredible

  82. Laura Kunigėlytė says

    March 16, 2023 at 2:57 am

    This sound amazing

  83. Carolyn Crow says

    March 16, 2023 at 1:10 am

    That’s such an exciting opportunity! First pages are hard as so much is riding on them. Would love to get feedback.

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