Hey, wonderful writerly people! It’s time for our monthly critique contest. This month, we have a HUGE prize.
3 winners will receive feedback on 20 pages from a professional editor. So exciting!
3 winners will receive feedback on 20 pages 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).
How to enter:
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 are 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:
Stuart Wakefield
With 26 years in theatre, broadcast media, and coaching under my belt, I have a visceral understanding of what makes stories work, and I’d like to share it with you because writing a novel doesn’t always have to be difficult and daunting, especially if it’s your first time. Understanding the process, getting started, and seeing it all come together can seem like an impossible mountain to climb.
As an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, I’m passionate about helping new writers craft stories with passion and purpose, momentum and meaning. I have an MA (Distinction) in Professional Writing, and my debut novel, Body of Water, was one of ten books long-listed for the Polari First Book Prize. My latest novel, Behind the Seams, was a 2021 BookLife Fiction Prize Contest semifinalist.
My first TV show is airing on the UK’s Channel 4 in 2023.
So, if you have a story in your heart, just waiting to be shared with the world, I’m here to offer you guidance and support from developing your story right through to pursuing publication. You can find my website, blog, and free self-editing cheat sheet right here: https://linktr.ee/thebookcoach
Contest Guidelines
- Please be sure your first 20 pages are ready to go so Stuart can critique them before next month’s contest rolls around. 1-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12pt Times New Roman font. Feedback will consist of in-line comments concerning what’s not working and what is.
- You’ll need to have a synopsis ready (a rough one is fine) so Stuart can make sure his feedback is in context.
- 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, 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.
Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.
As an older yet budding writer, it would be wonderful to have someone of your caliber read my first few pages.
Congratulations to all the chosen! Yay.
Thank you all for entering to win a critique of your first twenty pages from Stuart Wakefield. The three lucky winners are:
Lavanya Anand
Jan Sikes
Cindy.V.F
Congratulations! I’ll e-mail the winners with instructions and Stuart will be in touch. Thanks, everyone!
Thanks for this service
I’d love to be considered! always a great competition
What an amazing opportunity for the winners! Thanks for doing this contest.
I’d love to have Start take a look at my first 20 pages.
What an opportune moment…hoping fate kicks in! Thank you, Angela, Becca and Stuart. Thank you, Mindy, for letting us know about this!!
Wow. What a sweet thing to do.
What a generous offer! Thank you for taking the time to do this.
Thank you for offering this mentorship to writers. I would love to have my WIP considered.
Here’s Hoping! Thank you!
First ten pages last month, first twenty this month. Wow!
What a wonderful prize! Fingers crossed.
This is an exciting opportunity! Thanks so much, Stuart!!
Thank you!!!
Amazing opportunity once again! Thanks Stuart!
What a terrific opportunity! Keeping my fingers crossed.
Thank you also for all the wonderful articles with helpful advice.
Thanks for this amazing opportunity! Cheers!
Twenty pages is hugely generous. Thanks for the opportunity. Good luck, everyone!
Thanks for the opportunity!
20 Pages! How exciting and very generous of Stuart! Good luck everyone!
Awesome! Thank you.
Great contest. Thank you for the opportunity.
What a generous prize! Hope I win.
Terrific! I have a sequel to Love Follows Murder I would love to have you read. It starts with a drug cartel assassination at the table next to where my hero is introducing his love to his bigoted family. She is half-Taos Indian.
Thank you for your fresh eyes and input! I have rewritten my opening pages… hmmm… I’ve stopped counting! Let the contest begin!
What a fantastic opportunity! Thanks!
Thank you!!!
I would love to have my first pages critiqued. I’ve only had one full request in a number of queries.
Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity.
I’ve been a fan of Angela and Becca since before One Stop existed! They are THE BEST, and I couldn’t write without them anymore. Thanks for this amazing opportunity.
This is a cool thing you do for other writers! I’ve seen this before but never entered. Thank you for such an opportunity!
Awesome. I love that Stuart has a background in theatre. When I mentor, I always tell fiction writers to take acting classes, as they really help you gain perspective on how to build a character. Seems like a great match for my work. Thanks!
Thanks for providing this wonderful opportunity to a lucky winner!
What an amazing opportunity. Thank you for the chance.
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!
Thank you for volunteering your time.
My novel has come close a few times. Hope this might get me closer.
Good day Stuart! Be it luck or destiny, I would enjoy the collaboration of refining my first 20-pages. Cheers!
What a wonderful prize! Whoever wins will definitely benefit from Stuart’s expertise and experience. I know we’ll all be tuned in to find out who will be the lucky one.
Sounds like a great opportunity. Here’s hoping!
Thank you for continuing to run this contest! I would love to get Stuart’s input on my first 20 pages!
Thanks for the opportunity!
Thank you so much for the opportunity!!
Sounds terrific. Thanks
Love these opportunities for critiques almost as much as I love One Stop! Thanks again!
Thanks for the opportunity! Fingers crossed!
This is a fabulous opportunity.
Count me in!
What an amazing opportunity! Thanks!
Love the emotion thesaurus! Great contest
Thanks for the opportunity!
Thank you for this opportunity.
I’m excited about this opportunity!
What a wonderful gift. I’d like to be considered.
Thank you for the opportunity! I would love to have Stuart’s input on my manuscript! 🫶🏻
Always love to get another set of eyes on my work!
I would love this!!!!
It would be fantastic to have my first pages critiqued. Writing well is such a learning process.
THE FIRST PAGE MUST GRAB YOUR ATTENTION!… Did I grab your attention? 🙂
I would love to work with a pro like you. Thanks
Woop! Woop! What a treat!
Thanks for the opportunity!
Thank you for the opportunity.
Thanks so much for generously offering your time, Stuart!
I love contests!
Thank you for your generosity Stuart to share your expertise. And thank you, Angela, for offering this critique lottery! It’s fun!
The feedback I am getting from agents is that the story is fun and the characters are good. My problem is that the first pages don’t make the agents want to champion the book. Your feedback on how to change that would be great.
I would be more than honored to have Stuart critique my first pages! Thank you, as always, for your generous offering!
Amazing opportunity, thanks!
Thanks for the opportunity!
Awesome opportunity. My 20m pages are ready to go. Thanks.
Thanks for this awesome opportunity!
Love your contests. Great opportunity. Thanks!
The support is a huge encouragement. Grateful.
Great opportunity! Thanks!!
Exciting! Thanks for the opportunity!
Yay!
Fantastic opportunity for a very lucky someone! Best of luck to all!
What a wonderful opportunity. Thank you for offering it!
Great opportunity. Good luck everyone!
Sounds like a fabulous opportunity. Fingers crossed!
Me! Please pick me!
How exciting!
This would be so helpful!
This is a wonderful opportunity for some lucky writers. The first pages are so important I would love to have you suggest how I can strengthen mine. Good luck everyone.
This is a fantastic prize . I would love it sooooo much.
I’d love feedback on my first twenty pages!
WOULD BE THRILLED TO HAVE STUART LOOK AT MY WORK! CROSSING FINGERS.
Sounds like a great opportunity
Hi, I’d love it if you would give me feedback on my first twenty pages! Thanks!
As a first timer, I’d love to have a professional review pages of my WIP. Best of luck to all!
Hey, Stuart, you sound just the person I’d love to work with. Thanks for giving me the opportunity.
Good luck, Virginia!
I would love to win a critique. I couldn’t write without One Stop for Writers. The thesauri help me flesh out my characters. Thank you.
Just last evening I was wishing for a fairy Godmother/Godfather to pop up and transform the beginning of my book into something no agent can say no to. And Ta -dah…
Thanks for the opportunity, I’d love the chance to have my work critiqued.
Please. Please. Please help me! I have send 50 queries. Most say no (surprise surprise) but some say that they loved the synopsis but the first few pages didnt grab their attention. My MS was shortlisted for Pitch Wars and I think it has potential. Maybe I need professionally fresh eyes to tell em where I’m going wrong.
Have I said please help me enough times?
Great contest! I’ve been following the entries in the fear thesaurus and found them really interesting.