Post by Talon Karrde on May 7, 2008 18:03:18 GMT -5
2008 First Chapter Contest Sponsored by the Writing Show with Paula B.
The Writing Show is one of the best professional development website and podcast for writers on the web. Anyone who enters this contest will definitely benefit from the writing critiques offered by the experienced judges of this contest.
We want to find the world's best first chapter of an unpublished novel. Above all, you must tell a compelling story. That means that you have to grab us so quickly, so completely, that we can't stop reading, even if the house is burning down.
Your writing will be judged on the following five criteria:
1. Story. Is it a compelling read with a great hook? Are we engaged?
2. Style. Is the writing smooth and tight, without awkward constructions, extraneous verbiage, and redundancies?
3. Dialog. Is the dialog natural and does it move the story along?
4. Character. Are the characters interesting? Do we care about them?
5. Mechanics. Are grammar, spelling, and punctuation correct?
We're not necessarily looking for great literature or fancy writing. We just want an absorbing story. The point is to write tightly and economically. Make every word count. And please, watch those extra commas, capricious capitalization, overuse of individual words, and 'it's' where you mean its and their where you mean there! You will be penalized for poor grammar and punctuation!
- Originally posted at www.ybfree.com/