Fixing the First Page Feature Giveaway!

Photo credit: cellar_door_films on Flickr
So way back when I wrote a post on first page clichés, one of you lovely readers asked if I’d consider starting a public first page critique thing. And I’ve considered it and decided it might be fun.

So! Depending on how popular this feature is, I’ll be doing a public first 250 word critique every once in a while. Using the lovely rafflecopter widget, anyone interested in winning a PUBLIC (as in, featured in a post on this blog) first page critique can enter. Some things to note:

  • ONLY the first 250 words will be critiqued (up to finishing the sentence). If you win and send me more, I will crop it myself. No exceptions.

  • ONLY the first page. I don’t want 250 random words from your manuscript, or from chapter 3. If you win the critique and send me anything other than the first 250 words of your manuscript, I will choose someone else.

  • I will actually critique it. Here. On the blog. I will say things as nicely as I can, but I do tend to be a little blunt. If you’re not sure you can handle a public critique, then you may want to take some time to think about it before you enter.

  • Genre restrictions. I am most experienced with YA & NA, but I will still accept MG and Adult. HOWEVER. If your first page has any erotic content on it, I ask that you don’t enter. I want to be able to post the critique and the first 250 in its entirety without making anyone uncomfortable, and if you win and you enter a page with erotic content, I will choose someone else.

  • You must have your first page ready. Should you win, you need to be able to submit your first page within 48 hours of my contacting you to let you know you won. If 48 hours pass and I haven’t heard from you, again, I will choose someone else.

  • You’ll get the most out of this if it isn’t a first draft. Obviously, I have no way of knowing if you’re handing me a first draft (though I will probably suspect because it’s usually not that difficult to tell). I won’t refuse your page if it’s a first draft, but you should know that this critique will likely be of more use if you’ve already had your betas/CPs look over it. Why? Because if you don’t, the critique I give you will probably contain a lot of notes that your betas & CPs could have/would have told you.

  • There will not be a round 2 (unless you win again in a future contest). I hate to have to say this, but if you win a critique, it’s NOT an invitation to send me a bunch of your revisions. I wish I had the time available to be able to look at revisions, but sadly, I don’t. If you try to break this rule, I will nicely say no, and also remember to choose someone else should you win a second contest. Which would make me sad. :(

So that’s it! If you’re okay with all of the above and would like to enter to be the first ever public critique on Writability, do the thing with the rafflecopter widget below. You have until Saturday at midnight EST to enter!

Yay!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

33 comments:

  1. Great idea! Crits are so much fun.

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  2. As for the question, I'd submit my fantasy WIP, which I'm not sure if it is YA or NA.

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  3. Fantasy YA or NA! Awesome. I do love fantasy. :)

    Good luck!

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  4. What a wonderful idea! I would use my current WIP, of which I'm editing now, for this critique!

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  5. Awesome! Editing is my favorite part. Good luck! :)

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  6. FIngers crossed :) Have a finished, edited and beta read MS. Thanks.

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  7. Perfect! I wish you all the best! :)

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  8. I would use it for my YA fantasy novel that I'm revising at the moment.

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  9. Whoa, I just realized this was here.

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  10. Thank you, Ava :)

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  11. Sure thing! It was a good suggestion. :)

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  12. This is gonna be great.

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  13. Cool beans! I like this idea. Making a mental note to steal it at some point in the very far future.

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  14. If I won I'd use it on my YA historical fantasy. This is a fun giveaway-whether I win or not, definitely can't wait to check out the crit post!

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  15. More fantasy entries! This is making me excited. And thank you, Leandra! I look forward to posting. :)


    Good luck!

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  16. I'd use it from my YA sci-fi. Sounds like a great opportunity!

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  17. Oooo Sci-Fi! Awesome! I am definitely a YA Sci-Fi fan. :D


    Good luck!

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  18. If I won, I'd definitely use the critique for the novel I'm trying to finish editing! Had several beta readers go through it but more constructive criticism would be AWESOME.

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  19. Cool idea. Thanks for doing this Ava.

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  20. I'd use it for my historical romance. Thanks for putting this on!

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  21. Yay! I wish you all the best! :)

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  22. I thought it was a great idea, too. :) And you're totally welcome! Good luck!

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  23. Awesome! You're very welcome—I wish you all the best! :)

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  24. Ohhh yay! I'm quite proud of the intro to my fantasy story and it's been well-received by my beta readers but I'd love another opinion! Fingers crossed.

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  25. I just love this type of contests. Glad I found it in time.

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  26. I'm glad you found it, too! Good luck! :)

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  27. Such a great idea! Here's hoping I win. I've rewritten my opening too often.

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  28. Openings are tough to get right and often need quite a bit of tweaking. Good luck!

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