Hi guys!
I LOVE Line by Line contests. I entered one way back in the day and it changed how I write my first pages. I also think it’s why Secret Girlfriend got me an agent in a week of submitting. Those opening pages were ready to go as I applied everything I learned to the rest.
So, what is a LbL?
We start with the entries (and, yes, I’ll be limiting them to the first 50 bc last time was 100 before the cut off time and it was IN-SANE). Everyone who is entered goes by their Title/Genre, so we don’t know who wrote which entry!
Then the votes start. Depending on how many weeks I decide on, a certain number at the bottom get cut.
But, you’re not getting cut blind. There’s a LOT of comments giving great feedback typically. You might see that people beating you out in your genre had short, snappy sentences. Something to think about…stuff like that. Good stuff 😉
ETA for clarity: We’re talking sentences. One at at time, starting with the very first one. ONLY post the first one on day one. Please look at the link at the bottom of the page if you haven’t already for the schedule AND a copy of the form so you know what will happen Tuesday when it opens.
Who Can Enter?
Any author, published or unpublished. No previously shared work (pub’d or shared on a public forum.)
No, this isn’t limited to Romance or even Adult 😉
Who Can Judge?
In the first rounds: ANYONE. Reader, writers, bloggers…even the entrants. But, when we hit a certain level, entrants can no longer vote.
What’s the Heat Level?
Sorry people who write hot on the first pages. The heat level is PG13.
What Are the Rules?
Oh, the rules — yeah. Follow them. I have zero issue bumping people who had been voted out. Any of these things will get you DQd.
- Deadlines are hard deadlines. 10am = 10am
- You can not change your entry after you hit send
- You can’t change the sentences the following weeks
- You can not share what entry is yours
- Pimping is necessary
- I can keep it PG13 on sexy times
- @#$ out the 7 Deadly Words
- Feedback – you can take it
- You understand that the last round is not a public vote, but a vote of several published authors
Great – let’s do this!
Entries open on a new post on… TUESDAY AT 10am EST.
Don’t forget: the first 50 entries only.
So, get ready! Start looking at your open now to know you can make several lines in a row bring the power!
10am, Tuesday – Grab a spot before they’re filled.
What does the winner get?
Besides bragging rights?
An e-copy of Finding Your Writer’s Voice by me and Jeannie Lin
A 5-page crit from me
A 5-page crit by Developmental Editor, Keri Ford (editor info HERE)
A 5-page crit by Developmental Editor, Gwen Hayes (editor info HERE)
….and an e-copy of her book, Romancing the Beat (about beat writing for story arcs).
Small print: the 5-page crits are all your the first five pages of the book you entered.
And the final few will get to share their name and links, so if you win over those readers, you can grab them now!
The schedule and a copy of the form for the contest HERE.
So, are you thinking about it 😉
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