Congratulations, Melody! Your prize will be in the mail on October 1st! Please feel free to enter again.
This week’s prize: Free consultation of your novel's first chapter.
I’ve had so many people email me asking my opinion on their stories that I decided to create a special page on my site, as part of its new and expanded look, that will allow me to contribute more time to helping you with this. The result is First Chapter Story Consultation, which will focus on one of the most important parts of your novel: your first chapter. Are you hooking readers? Is your story idea unique and gripping? Is your writing ready to submit to an agent? Find out!
What You Get
My confidential consultation on the first chapter of your novel or your short story (up to 7,500 words) will include answers to the following questions:
- How strong is your hook?
- Is your main character interesting and/or sympathetic enough to hold a reader’s attention?
- Does the story open at the right time?
- Is your inciting event gripping?
- Is your conflict appropriately balanced?
- Does everything make sense?
- Is your setting clearly defined?
- Is the narrator’s voice unique and definitive?
- What expectations will the opening chapter lead the reader to have for the rest of the book?
Submission Guidelines
- E-mail submissions only.
- Format your manuscript in 12-point Times New Roman and double-spaced paragraphs.
- Remove graphics.
- Once you have received your confirmation email, notifying you of your prize, hit reply and attach your manuscript as a .doc or .rtf file.
- In your email, please provide your name, writing history, the genre of your story, and a short summary.
Do you edit both fiction and nonfiction?
At this time, I only offer consultations for works of fiction.
Can I contact writers who have previously worked with you?
Absolutely. Email your request, and I will arrange for contact with people for whom I’ve previously edited.
Can you guarantee that my edited manuscript will be accepted by an agent or publisher?
Unfortunately, no. There are few guarantees in publishing. But I can guarantee an objective and professional opinion of your opening chapter.
Will you edit my entire manuscript?
No. In order to retain the time to continue offering other services on this site, I review only opening chapters.
Rules of the contest are as follows:
- Each Friday, a new prize will be announced.
- To enter, leave a comment on the post. The deadline for each contest with be Thursday, 6:00 p.m. MST.
- One name will be selected randomly from among the comments and announced the following Friday.
- Feel free to enter every week!
Story by K.M. Weiland
Tags: Conquering Writer's Block and Summoning Inspiration , First Chapter Story Consultation , Winning Friday
This is such a generous thing you're doing...thank you for deciding to share your expertise.
Now that I know about it, I shall enter again and again :)
This is an amazing opportunity and prize...
Thank you for being so generous with your time.
-Kim
Hi KM
I liked your video on evil characters. I agree that we can sometimes get carried away with thinking we need to have the "basest" form of evil in our characters like serial killers and such. Yes, many novelists and movie-makers have done well from such creations, however, quite often it's the antagonist that is in fact quite human and brings out the bad guy/gal that lies just below the surface of all of us that is just as compelling. The Dickens examples you cite are good ones. Ted Dekker has good bag guys, yes, some are over-the-top serial killers but others are also those individuals who are just the everyday person who has chosen to let evil reside in their heart.
Thanks once again KM...Ian
Well, today is Friday. Can I enter the drawing for next week? Please? Hmmmm? (You are so wonderful to offer to do this for anyone, let alone for some wannabe like me every week!)
What a great prize. Thanks!
WOW!!!!!!!!!! I'm in!!!!!!!!
~ Mirriam
ooh... i'd love to know how my writing stacks up! great contest idea.
I'd like to enter too! (I'm SciFiGal777 over at CW)
I'd love to enter. What a great prize.
This is a wonderful and generous offer, and your feedback would be extremely valuable! Count me in. :)
ooh....( begins drooling) neat. I actually have a WiP that could benefit from this...
Wow. That's a great prize! I'd love to get your feedback.
This sounds great!!
Good morning, KM,
I'm new to your website so the contest was a good way to connect me. Many have read my first chapter and each has offered comments that improved it. So yours, should I win the consultation, will be the final judge. Good luck to us all!
Bernice
I know I'm repeating others, but thank you for this generous offer!
This has got to be the best prize ever :) I'm always looking for feedback on the first chapter!
I'm entering again.:)
Awesome prize! :D
Wow. Thanks.
Thanks for such a great opportunity!
I follow your blog as a favorite on my blog, so I can see when you post a new bit of advice. Your insight is a great learning tool for me as a new writer. Thank you!
Thanks for entering, everyone. I wish I could award you all the prize!
@Ian: I just finished reading George Eliot's classic Middlemarch, which included the character Rosamond Vincy, who wasn't "evil" by anyone's standard, but who managed to wreak untold damage on other characters and make herself utterly despicable as a result. She's another great example of an excellent antagonist.
@groovyoldlady: Afraid you'll have to wait and enter next week's contest week! Next week will be the last Winning Friday for a while, so stayed tuned for the grand prize.
I'm definitely interested! I'm pretty sure my writing needs help... ^_^
Thanks for hosting this great contest, Miss K.M.
<3,
TL
I would love to be entered--some good feedback would be wonderful!
that is an awesome prize. How did I miss entering! I think you should make that the standard award... although that might increase your workload~
you rule, KM! :o)
Boy howdy! This is just what I need. I'm tearing apart the first third of my novel and I definitely need someone with fresh eyes to take a look.
Thanks for being so generous with your time!
This sound very interesting and useful.
Please enter me!
Congrats to Melody!
This is an awesome contest with an even awesomer (pretend that's a word) prize!
What they all said! I'll be crossing my fingers all week.
Wow, that IS a terrific prize. Very generous! Thanks.
I'll give it a try.
I would love to be entered! Thank you.
Throw my name in.
FABULOUS prize...
Oh wow, this would be AMAZING.
What a wonderful prize! Thanks for running this contest.
I love feedback. Count me in!
This is a great idea: I'm in.
You are so generous to run a contest like this while still trying to write your own work.
I want to thank you for doing this for the readers of your Blog and works.
Hope I am one of the lucky ones.
Thanks K.M.
Oh, please put me in the running. Have had this stashed away for over two years now, too scared to go back. Thanks, Bern
So many people, oh, well, put my name on the list, thanks, Bob.
Can I enter? I would be so excited to win!
That's a mighty fine prize you have there, I'll certainly go for it =]
A generous prize - so just in case....thanks in advance. =)
Lisa
Incredible idea. More professionals should follow suit!
What a great prize! Thanks for the oppurtunity!
This is an excellent prize. Thanks!
Wonderful idea. I'd definitely appreciate your opinion!
WOW, I can't believe this prize offering (thought I could write more but I'm blown away).
Thank you for your contest. I will be so happy to win this!
I hope I'm not too late but I think it's great you are even giving out an opportunity like this!
Wow, this is great! Guess I will leave my comment! :-D