Manuscript First Page contest is
open from 8/9 to 8/24
(with an awesome prize for the winner)

Your first page is a make or break document!

The first page of your manuscript has one purpose: to entice the agent/editor/publisher to eagerly turn the page to see what happens next. They'll read the next page, and the next page, and . . .
  
 KEY POINTS to make your first page a compelling read:

•     set the scene
•     establish the character of your protagonist (main character)
  
•     show emotion
•     describe a time and place with language, action, or emotion
•     demonstrate a strong and compelling voice
•     generate interest in the story
  
•     evoke curiosity about what will happen next
•     compel the reader to turn the page using one or more of the above,
      and do it all in 170 words or less.
  

FIRST PLACE winner receives a 45-minute consultation for themselves and can include up to nine other fellow writers, via google hangouts or Microsoft Skype. (If you don't know about these "chat" video applications, google them.)

Or, if you're not interested in face-to-face, we can chat via phone.

Our time together can be spent totally on the winner's first page and/or manuscript challenges, or can include on-the-spot evaluations of first pages of others who are participating in the chat (time permitting, of course). Or, if you just want to invite writer friends friends to hangout and listen in, that's OK too. You win. You choose.

Plus, the winning first page will be posted on this website along with my revision comments. (Agents troll through teaching websites like this one, always hoping to find talented writers with fabulous stories.)

BTW: The first 15 entrants will receive personalized critique comments from me to help them revise and strengthen their first page.

Note: One entry per writer.

Cut and paste your manuscript first page (maximum of 170 words) into the contact box and send it along.

Thanks for participating. Have fun! Good luck!

Read "winning" first pages from prior contests. CLICK HERE. 

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What's in the workbook?

The information and writing exercises in this workbook will help you learn to write a sizzling query "sales pitch" first paragraph--often the only portion that is ever read.

BTW: Knowing how to write this sales pitch paragraph also helps you craft your manuscript first page that introduces your story in such a way that the reader will have to turn the first page to find out "what happens next."

My free workbook will help you learn how to reveal the "guts" of your story by introducing goal-obstacle-resolution in a dynamic manner.

Agents want/need to know:

• Who is the story about?
• What do they want?
• What stands in their way?
• What is the terrible "or else" that will happen if your protagonist (main character) doesn't get what they want?

When an agent reads a query that clearly and quickly reveals what they want/need to know, they'll jump up and down with excitement and order pizza.

Nothing makes an agent's day more joyous than the discovery of a talented writer who has presented themselves in a professional manner and offers a unique story with "best $eller" written all over it!