WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

Helping writers become bestselling authors

Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition

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Hey, wonderful writerly people! It’s time for our monthly critique contest! This month, winners will receive feedback from a professional editor. So exciting! 🙂

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).

Five winners will receive a critique of their first six pages.

If you’re working on a manuscript 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 you’re 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.

Here’s the editor you’ll be working with:

Erica Converso

I’m Erica Converso, author of the Five Stones Pentalogy (affiliate link). I love chocolate, animals, anime, musicals, and lots and lots of books – though not necessarily in that order. In addition to my work as an author, I have been an intern at Marvel Comics, a college essay tutor, and a database and emerging technologies librarian. Between helping adult patrons in the reference section and mentoring teens in the evening reading programs, I was also the resident research expert for anyone requiring more in-depth information for a project.

As an editor, I aim to improve and polish your work to a professional level, while also teaching you to hone your craft and learn from previous mistakes. With every piece I edit, I see the author as both client and student. I believe that every manuscript presents an opportunity to grow as a writer, and a good editor should teach you about your strengths and weaknesses so that you can return to your writing more confident in your skills. Visit my website astrioncreative.com for more information on my books and editing and coaching services.

Contest Guidelines

  • This month’s contest will work the same as it usually does…except our amazing guest editor will be the one sending feedback if you win.

  • Please be sure your first six pages (double-spaced in 12-point font) are ready to go so our guest editor 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, please 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!

Five commenters’ names will be randomly drawn and posted tomorrow morning. If you win, I’ll contact you with information about sending it to me. Then, I’ll forward it to our amazing editor for 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). 

Good luck! I can’t wait to see who the winners will be. 🙂

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.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brenda Davies says

    Thank you, just heard I’ve won! Fabulous, can’t wait to hear from you Erica.

  2. MINDY ALYSE WEISS says

    Thank you all for entering to win a critique of your first six pages from editor Erica Converso.

    The five lucky winners are:

    Sara Etgen-Baker

    Laurie Smollett Kutscera

    Brenda Davies

    Deena Graves

    Doug Fricke

    Huge congrats! I’ll e-mail the winners with instructions. Erica can’t wait to read your opening pages.

    • Doug Fricke says

      Thanks a bunch to WHW for running the contest. What a great way to bring writers together.

      And congratulations to the other winners, Sara, Laurie, Brenda, and Deena.

      • MINDY ALYSE WEISS says

        You’re welcome, Doug. Congrats again! I hope Erica’s feedback helps take your manuscript to the next level.

      • MINDY ALYSE WEISS says

        Thanks again for being our guest editor, Erica! I can’t wait for the five lucky winners to receive feedback from you. 🙂

  10. Judy Palermo says

    Mindy—when do you sleep? I would love to win this opportunity and I’m ready to go!!!

  11. Deborah Holman says

    I’ve completed the first draft of my novel, “Nothing Really Bad Will Happen,” a holocaust story of loss and legacy based on my family’s experience. I’m currently reworking the manuscript for flow and clarity and would love another perspective.

  13. Gloria J Preston says

    At my age, 77 years of age, I would love to be selected to have the first six pages of my first novel manuscript reviewed!

  14. Carolyn Crow says

    I’m working on the final book in a four book series and this one is challenging me as the characters are younger at the start of the book than any prior. So hooking my readers into their journey from the start is extra important. I’m loving using my subscription to think about their wounds, fears, flaws, goals and motivations, and I’d love to make the characters shine from the start. So an opportunity like this would be amazing. Such a generous offer ❤️

  15. Sara Etgen-Baker says

    I’m working on revising my first draft and could certainly use some professional feedback. I appreciate the opportunity.

  18. Joanne says

    Hello, I would love to work with Erica. My manuscript is ready for a critique and I thank you for this opportunity.

  23. Christine Cameron says

    I’m a first time author writing a memoir and would appreciate your valuable input.

  24. Kathleen Saunders says

    What a terrific opportunity to get my first six pages scrutinized by Erica. I’d love to be chosen.

  29. Michelle says

    I’m getting to the point in my romance novella where I need to connect with an editor. Thank you for this opportunity.

  38. Amanda says

    Yay! The contest is back! It’s not like I was checking my email daily to ensure I didn’t miss it again. 😅
    Good luck to everyone!

  44. Sharon Richmond says

    This is a great opportunity for me. I love your site. I was looking in quite a few places to get the information that you’ve created right here for writing more thoughtfully and professionally. I hope I am contacted.🙏

  53. Bruce Christopher Rule says

    I love Marvel comics! They were the reason I’ve always wanted to be a reader. I was telling someone the other day I even remember the first three I ever owned: Daredevil 81, Avengers 80 and Amazing Spider-Man 101. I would have loved to have been an intern in the bullpen.
    This is a wonderful gesture on your part and I hope we get a chance to work together.

  54. Paula Brierley says

    Totally awesome chance for some really helpful advice. Thanks for the opportunity.

  57. Kate says

    Always appreciative of your emails and opportunities like this! My 6 pages are ready to go! Fingers crossed to us all!!

  70. Tracey Thiessen says

    Hi Erica, I’m a big Marvel Comic fan too. Been reading them since the seventies when I was a young child. Would love to have the opportunity to work with you and have my first six pages reviewed. Thank you so very much.

  75. Ruth Khan says

    I’m thinking of entering a competition at the moment so this would help enormously! Thanks for your kind offer 🙂

  78. DIANE SHOTTON says

    In my 2nd draft, I’m ready to learn how my first page will influence the remainder of my story. Good luck to everyone!

  85. Sherry Y. says

    This contest is so cool. It’s creative and practical, something I look forward to. I get the regular newsletters but sometimes I don’t have time to go to the site. The contest gets me here and “Whilst I’m here… I may as well look around.” I find something interesting every time. Today I’m downloading the First Pages checklist.

    Thanks!

  86. Jeanne M. Dickson says

    Erica sounds like a terrific editor! Thanks so much for a chance to work with her.