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).
Eight winners will receive a critique of their first five 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. 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 send feedback if you win.
- Please be sure your first five 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!
Eight 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.
Want to give your writing a boost?
Join Resident Writing Coach Suzy Vadori for a 3 day virtual Writer’s Retreat this fall to get unstuck in your writing process, get inspired, and ask all the questions you’ve ever had about writing a book. See you there!
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.
Jessica Walters says
would love this opportunity!
MINDY ALYSE WEISS says
Thank you for hopping over to Writers Helping Writers and entering our monthly contest. The eight lucky winners are:
Darlene Elder
AC Hoekwater
Kathleen Mayes
Jeanne M. Dickson
Kamilla
Tracey Buchanan
Carolyn Crow
Anna
Huge congrats! I’ll e-mail you with instructions for sending your five pages to me.
Alasdair Alexander Mac Arthur says
I’ve just started writing a book. I’d love some feedback. Yes please.
Julie Gallagher says
Thanks for doing this! It’s a great opportunity for whomever wins.
Darlene Elder says
So excited to submit to this contest!
AC Hoekwater says
I’m excited about this opportunity.
Diane Rinella says
Thanks for always having these great giveaways! Hope you all are doing well.
Judy Palermo says
I would love this!
Iola says
Thank you for the opportunity 🙂
Natasha says
Thanks for the opportunity! Great contest! Keep on writing!
Diayll Sales says
I just found this site! Thank you for the opportunity!
Becky says
I would love this!!
Pam Manley says
Yay, I remembered to comment this time! I’ve forgotten so many times.
Cynthia says
Excited for this opportunity!
Carla Young says
Crossing my fingers!
Deborah says
Getting feedback is so valuable; thank you for the opportunity.
Niki says
I agree about feedback.
Rebecca Campbell says
Yes please!
Niki J. Mitchell says
I would love an edit.
Amelia says
Thanks for the opportunity!
Judy Broad says
I struggle so much with the first pages. I would love a critique. Thanks for the opportunity
Mark Robinson-Horejsi says
I’d love some feedback, please and thank you!
Barb DeLong says
This sounds like just what I need! Please enter my name in the contest!
Susan Sams Baggott says
Would love feedback. Thanks.
Kayla Lamb says
I would love feedback and thank you for the opportunity.
Kim A. Larson says
Thanks for this opportunity!
Delia A Keymel says
Thank you for all you do to help. Love this opportunity.
Delia A Keymel says
Thank you for all you do to help us.
Kathleen Mayes says
Thanks for the awesome opportunity!
Tonya Preece says
Here’s hoping!
Denise Colby says
Thank you for this opportunity! I have my 5 pages ready 🙂
Louise Byrne says
I’ve got five pages ready to go! Thank you so much!
Donna Reed says
First five ready. Thank you for the opportunity.
Jeanne M. Dickson says
Thanks! Would love this!
Mary Farrell says
Thanks so much! Perfect timing for me to get feedback as I’m preparing to submit to agents.
Crystal says
This is such a great opportunity!
Joan Kessler says
Thank you!
Lisa Valli says
I’m not sure if this is the email that you have registered to me.
Glenn Liddy says
Thanks for the help!
Melissa says
Thank you for the opportunity!
Marie Powell says
What a great opportunity! Thanks for doing these contests. Count me in.
Heather says
I have five pages that could use this expertise! Thank you for your consideration.
Aimee Aumock says
What an amazing opportunity!
Julie Ryan McGue says
I would love feedback on my first pages.
Shelby L says
This contest is so much fun. 🙂 I hope I get picked.
Katie Fitzgerald says
As always, thanks for running the contest!
Glenda says
How exciting! I would love to be chosen for a critique of my first five pages. Crossing my fingers.
Patricia Bradley says
I love these opportunities and wish sometimes you would feature the critiques themselves on the blog–with the author’s approval, of course.
Krista Stockett says
Thank you for the opportunity!
SUSAN BURDORF says
Hello. Thank you for the opportunity to win. I am always ready to improve!
Emily says
I started the querying journey with my manuscripts over two years ago so here’s my comment!
Catherine Misener says
As my timeline to begin querying is within two months, it would be great to receive feedback on some pages. Best of luck to all who enter!
Jacquolyn McMurray says
Thank you for offering this opportunity. I’d love to win!
Gayleen Rabakukk says
Grateful you provide this opportunity each month! Very handy as I prepare to enter the query trenches.
Kamilla says
What a great opportunity! I would love this.
Kim Duran says
Always looking for a good critique.
Shelley O’Rourke says
Fingers crossed! Thanks for the opportunity!
Bob Miller says
Thanks for the opportunity!
D. C. says
Thank you for the opportunity!
CHERI CAMERON NEWELL says
Looking forward to hearing from you!
SD Cook says
Yay! I hope I am “one of five”.
Greta Gize says
Thank you for this opportunity!
Laurie L Treacy says
What an amazing opportunity!
Jenny says
What a fantastic opportunity from a group I highly trust.
Jackie Pick says
How great is this? Throwing my hat in!
donalee Moulton says
What a great opportunity. Fingers crossed!
Catherine Claar Crawford says
Phenomenal first pages invite you on a journey…HELP!😊
DIANE SHOTTON says
I am so ready for this opportunity!
Pam says
Thanks for the opportunity!
Virginia Suckling says
What a great opportunity. Thank you in advance.
Tracey Buchanan says
What a wonderful opportunity! Thanks!
Jessica Kaye says
I’m never not going to leave a comment for this 🙂 …..unless my first pages aren’t ready, or course…..
Josh says
An excellent opportunity! And great timing *fingers crossed*
Anita Banks says
How exciting!
Diane Spigonardo says
Great opportunity, count me in.
Mary S Luce says
This would be so helpful!
Jeanie Flierl says
I’d love to have my first five pages critiqued!
Lynne Clark says
Yes please! I’d love to be included.
Bonnie Bonaduce says
Hello wonderful peeps! Please sign me up! I’d love feedback my first pages.
Paul says
I never win anything. Well, I did once, but I cheated.
V.M. Sang says
Wonderful opportunity. Thank you. Fingers crossed here, too.
Deanna says
I’d love to get some feedback on my current manuscript. Thanks for the opportunity!
Kaitlin Felix says
Thanks for running this! What a great opportunity! Keeping my fingers crossed!
Jen Elliott says
Wonderful. Fingers crossed here. 😊
Dawn Knox says
I’d love a chance to win!
Lucy Silver says
Thank you!
Alexandra Stancu-Fratu says
This sounds like an amazing opportunity. Thank you!
Carolyn Crow says
This is such a fabulous opportunity!
Caroline Lavoie says
Thank you for such a wonderful opportunity!
Yvette Leija says
Count me in
Talia Goforth says
Yay! I missed last month’s contest, so excited to enter this one!
Anna says
I would love to be considered for editorial help.