Fixing the First Page Giveaway #11

Photo credit: insEyedout on Flickr
Can you believe we're nearing the end of May? Which means even though there are two giveaways still running today (with one closing today!) it's time for ANOTHER giveaway! Yay! 

I hope you guys love getting free critiques because they're raining from Writability. 

For those who’ve missed it in the past, the Fixing the First Page features is a public first 250 word critique. 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.

For an example of what this critique will look like, here's the last Fixing the First Page post.

Rules!

  • 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'm 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 tenth public critique on Writability, do the thing with the rafflecopter widget below.  Since the end of April kind of snuck up on me, the entry window is short this time around—you have until Friday, May 22 at 11:59 EST to enter!

Also, in case you missed it, there's still another giveaway running on Writability right now in which you can win a pack of Trish Doller books! It's closing soon and the odds are pretty good and also I really want that ARC. (But alas, I can't enter. But you can!) 

Happy entering! :)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

27 comments:

Jessica said...

As always, this is a great thing you do, Ava. I'd probably throw up the first page on the MS I'm querying. Get a sense of why it's not gaining traction.

Patchi said...

YA fantasy, not sure if the one I'm querying or the sequel WIP.

Alyssa said...

Yay, another one of these amazing critique giveaways! I really love these opportunities. I just revised my first page based on another critique, so I'm trying to figure out if I've fixed some of the problems ... fingers crossed, and thanks again!

Ava Jae said...

Thanks, Jessica! I enjoy doing the critiques and will continue as long as people seem to enjoy reading them. :)


And that sounds like a great idea. Good luck!

Ava Jae said...

Nice! Good luck, Patchi!

Ava Jae said...

So glad to see you excited, Alyssa! You're welcome and good luck! :)

VictoriaGrace Howell said...

Really great vlog, Ava! I never thought of my main character have the most at stake, but I think that's why I had to switch protagonists for one of my books and I'm so happy I did! These are some really good tips! Thanks for sharing!

storitorigrace.blogspot.com

MK said...

You're spoiling us! I'd love a critique of my first attempted novel, "Always Gold". Though I'd also love a critique of the second one... maybe I'll win more than one :)

MK said...

This is amazing! I experience the writing community mostly online, though I'd love some more in-person writer friends. It can get lonely with just me and my laptop. Thank God for the internet!

B Baird said...

Such a wonderful help to writers to get your eyes on our work. Thanks for this!

Juniper Nichols said...

Cool! This is perfect timing since reworking on my first chapter for a workshop application. It's a YA Fantasy with the working title Moonchild. Does kissing count as erotic content?

Julie Artz said...

I love reading these posts, so I sure would love to get your feedback on my first page!

Ava Jae said...

Ha ha I know! Good luck on both! :)

Ava Jae said...

You're so welcome! Good luck!

Ava Jae said...

Kissing is totally fine. Anything beyond second base treads into dangerous waters (for these purposes) but kissing is not erotic. :)


Good luck!

Ava Jae said...

Awesome! Good luck, Julie!

Ava Jae said...

I also experience the writing community mostly online, but when I was able to go to RT14 it was amazing. Definitely recommend going to a conference in person sometime when you're able to. :)


But in the meantime—yay internet!

Ava Jae said...

You're so welcome, Victoria Grace! Very happy to hear you found the vlog helpful. :)

MK said...

Did you go alone? I really don't enjoy large groups of people and the idea of going to a conference or something knowing absolutely no one completely terrifies me... though perhaps with so much in common with other people (books & writing) it wouldn't be so bad. I live in NYC so I'm sure I could find one to attend...

Juniper Nichols said...

Thank you! <3

Ava Jae said...

Sure thing! :)

JazzFeathers said...

I've worked so hard on my opening chapter and still I always feel it isn't as good as it can be.
I hope to have the possibility to have your critique on it :-)

Katy Pool said...

Perfect timing! I'm about to go a-querying and would love a second set of trusted eyes!

Jessica Vasko said...

I'd use the critique on my YA WIP.

Ava Jae said...

Opening chapters can definitely be tricky. I wish you all the best!

Ava Jae said...

Awesome! Good luck!

Ava Jae said...

Sweet! Good luck!

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