Hey all, what's in the first line of a book? Promise? Intrigue? Allure? A hook?
Writers might add hope and prayers. Why? Because you have to grab the reader's attention before that first period. My question to you is, does your first line have what it takes?
Chersti Nieveen is having an awesome first line contest to find out, and the prizes are fabulous. Check it out:
First Prize:
A query critique by agent Mary Kole (Andrea Brown Literary Agency)
Yes, you read that right. You may be excused to grab a paper bag to hyperventilate in. Just come back to finish reading about the rest of the first prize.
You also get a $30 Gift Certificate* toward Writing and Illustrating for Young Reader’s Conference, held June 13-17th, 2011 at the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah.
You can use the bag again if you need to. Just saying.
Second Prize:
A 5-page critique by author Martine Leavitt + 1 page of notes.
Use the bag now because I've had Martine critique pages for me before and the woman is brilliant. Really.
AND you get $20 gift certificate* toward Writing and Illustrating for Young Reader’s Conference, held June 13-17th, 2011 at the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah.
Even the runner ups get awesome stuff. Check this out:
Runner Ups can win one of the following books:
MATCHED by Ally Condie signed copy
FRESHMAN FOR PRESIDENT by Ally Condie signed copy
WHITE CAT by Holly Black signed copy
THE WHEAT DOLL by Alison Randall signed copy
WORLDSHAKER by Richard Harland (Simon & Schuster)
MONSTERS OF MEN by Patrick Ness (Candlewick Press)
FIRELIGHT by Sophie Jordan (Harper)
DEMONGLASS by Rachel Hawkins (Hyperion)
REMOTE CONTROL by Jack Heath (Scholastic)
THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM: LORD SUNDAY by Garth Nix (hardcover)
THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM / MISTER MONDAY by Garth Nix (paperback)
A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD by Lisa Ann Sandell (hardcover)
MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD by Francisco X. Stork (hardcover)
THE LITTLE GIANT OF ABERDEEN COUNTY by Tiffany Baker (hardcover)
DAWN by Kevin Brooks (ARC)
See? Fabulous! What do you have to do to enter? First you have to go to Chersti's blog (http://cherstinieveen.wordpress.com) and check out the rules. Then you have to enter. Then you should sign up for WIFYR because it's even more awesome than this contest. Really.
Now, go forth and do.
Really.
6 comments:
wow - awesome contest. Wish I was going to WIFYR this year. I need to finish my book, polish it up and next year I plan to enter all kinds of contests and attend conference pitch sessions. I'll be going full throttle.
Oo, sounds fun! All I have to do is start my pirate book and come up with a killer first line . . .
Thanks for the tip!
Mary,
I wish you were going, too. That would be awesome. Good luck in your writing. :)
Jonene, pirates and hooks go together so you should be set. Get it written and enter the contest!
Sounds like a killer contest! Alas, I'm not going to WIFYR this year. =[
Do you think those bags really help?
L.T., I wish you were going. :( Alas indeed.
Cherie, bags are great. You can breathe into them then use them for a sack lunch. See? Multipurpose.
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