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When reading for our recent PitchMadness, we noticed the entries that didn’t make it to the agent match was because the first words weren’t hooking us. There wasn’t a unique element to pull us in, the setting was right but the action was too familiar, or the story started in the wrong place. So we decided to do another workshop focusing solely on the opening page.
Shelley Watters, Erica Chapman, and the writers at YAtopia are joining me in critiquing your opening words on their sites this month.
Here how it’s going down…
If you want to join in sign up on the linky below. Remember your entry will be placed on our blogs and critiqued not only by us but also by your peers. We’re accepting up to 40 60 participants. We’ll be critiquing two each per day starting March 26. Depending on the success, we may open another round at a later date. After you sign up on the linky below email your first 250 words of your manuscript (finished or unfinished – any genre) to brendadrakecontests@gmail.com. Again, don’t wait. Email your entries right away.
Only the first 40 60 will make it into the workshop, so hurry and sign-up now!
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52 Comments
Stephanie · March 19, 2012 at 11:28 am
This sounds awesome! Thanks for the opportunity. 🙂
erica m. chapman · March 19, 2012 at 11:38 am
Looking forward to it!!
SueJay · March 19, 2012 at 11:49 am
After attending a writer’s conference this weekend, it’s become abundant;y clear my first line needs work. Thanks, guys!
Ryan · March 19, 2012 at 11:59 am
Thanks so much for doing this. Every little bit helps.
Becca · March 19, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Every bit of critique helps. This will be great.
Amber · March 19, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Sounds great! I have re-written my first paragragh a gazillion times. I feel like it’s never right. This will help!
Rachel Schieffelbein · March 19, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Can we enter if we were in Pitch Madness?
Brenda Drake · March 19, 2012 at 12:29 pm
You may enter if you were in the PitchMadness and feel you need more work on your opening page.
Anonymous · March 19, 2012 at 12:33 pm
So, I take it you cannot enter unless you have a website? Or am I missing something?
Amanda Foody · March 19, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Sounds awesome. I’ve heard that of my entire book, the beginning is the most confusing, so it’s definitely the part where I need the most critiquing. Thanks so much for the opportunity!
Brenda Drake · March 19, 2012 at 12:43 pm
You don’t have to have a website. Just enter “none” where it asks for one.
Brenda Drake · March 19, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Or make one up – like http://www.idonthaveone.com LOL
Kat Ellis · March 19, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Brilliant- love that this contest came up just as I have a new WIP to try out! Thanks Brenda, you are awesome 🙂
Rachel Schieffelbein · March 19, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Thanks, Brenda!
Angelica R. Jackson · March 19, 2012 at 12:53 pm
I lurked during the pitch madness and picked up a lot of good info, so this time I will offer up the first page of my WIP. Thanks to all of you for volunteering your time for critiques!
Susan Elizabeth · March 19, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Any specific formatting requirements? Single spaced, no indents, include title in Subject line, etc?
Eric Steinberg · March 19, 2012 at 1:00 pm
http://www.idonthaveone.com…hey that’s my website.
Thanks for doing this great workshop.
Ella Schwartz · March 19, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for yet another great workshop! You are sparkly awesome Brenda!
caitpeterson · March 19, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Nice! I have one on the back burner this would be perfect for… Thanks, Brenda!!
meradeth · March 19, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Awesome! I love your workshops! Thanks!
LateToTheParty · March 19, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Thank you! Not only do you give us another chance for growth, you put the “any genre” comment in parentheses for those of us challenged by this whole “reading” thingy. You’re a nice lady!
Rachel · March 19, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Sounds awesome. You always have the best chances Brenda. Keep it up. i love your site.
Lauren Harris · March 19, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Thanks! This will be great!
Brenda Drake · March 19, 2012 at 2:24 pm
I’m being really easy on this since it’s not a contest but a workshop. Normal formatting, title of work, and if the 1st 250 ends in the middle of a sentence just go to the end. We’ll format. The email messes it all up anyway. 😀
Jamie Corrigan · March 19, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Thanks for doing this B! You guys are the best! <3
Heather Marie · March 19, 2012 at 2:31 pm
This is an awesome opportunity!
Hope Roberson · March 19, 2012 at 2:38 pm
I’ve entered before and felt my first page and pitch improved. Thanks for another opportunity 🙂
1000th.monkey · March 19, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Awesome! Sounds fun 🙂
Jenny S. Morris · March 19, 2012 at 3:01 pm
I wasn’t a part of the madness but I watched from the sidelines. This workshop sounds awesome!
A.M. Swan · March 19, 2012 at 3:14 pm
I am not a YA writer, so I am assuming this is not open to me. But you are so awesome at posting these contests. To return the favor for all of you hard work I am tagging you in a Lucky 7 meme over at arielswan.blogspot.com. And thanks for opening so many opportunities to writers out there.
Leigh Caroline · March 19, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Ooh, thanks! Sounds like a blast!
Brenda Drake · March 19, 2012 at 3:29 pm
It is open to all genres MG/YA/Adult.
Anonymous · March 19, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Thanks Brenda for the URL info!
Sharon
Anonymous · March 19, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Missed the madness, but workshop sounds like a great idea.
-Mia.
Melanie Conklin · March 19, 2012 at 4:30 pm
I’m excited to hear your opinions! Good input leads to better output 🙂
Kelley · March 19, 2012 at 4:40 pm
This sounds great! Thanks!
ladonna watkins · March 19, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Thanks. What a great opportunity.
Ryann · March 19, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Thank you!!
lisathewordnerd · March 19, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Thanks so much! Looks like fun.
Ashley Maker · March 19, 2012 at 5:54 pm
This looks awesome!!
Angelica R. Jackson · March 19, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Oops, I didn’t put the title (Crow’s Rest) in my email–do you want me to resend or can you match it up?
Kimberly · March 19, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Thank you so much!
Julia K · March 19, 2012 at 7:34 pm
This is awesome…Thanks so much 🙂
Brenda Drake · March 19, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Angelica, I’ll match it up. Thanks!
Anya Harker · March 19, 2012 at 8:13 pm
*comment!*
Brenda Drake · March 19, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Anya, hahaha, it’s that linky that asked for the comments. I must update that. Thanks!
Angela Brown · March 19, 2012 at 9:09 pm
Looks like I am a little late for this party but that’s okay. I’ll make sure to check things out when the crits get shared, learn from the great writing of others and ways to improve upon it.
It’s really great you’re doing this 🙂
Brenda Drake · March 19, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Aww, so sorry, Angela. It really filled up fast, you didn’t have time to be late. LOL Get ready for TheWritersVoice in May! <3
Anya Harker · March 20, 2012 at 8:52 am
*facepalm* In my zeal to get in quickly, I fail in following directions. Thanks, hun. <3
Lisa Gail Green · March 20, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Wow those are a lot of first pages!!! You guys are awesome. Good luck to everyone.
MyTricksterGod · March 21, 2012 at 10:11 pm
*programs brain to get ready for the writer’s vocie in may*
Alright, I’m waiting for you to let her rip.
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