Yeah, so, wow.
We’ve already blown well past 1,000 entries, and… I am unfazed! Bring it! Bravado!
Please do continue to spread the word about the contest, because after all: the only thing more fun than winning a contest is winning a contest that has very strong competition. And then bragging about it.
A few updates and requests from your contest organizer:
– E-mail subscribers: you must must must must must enter in the official contest thread. Please do not e-mail me your entries! If you need help leaving a comment, please consult this post.
– Please please check and double-check your paragraph before posting. If you spot an error after posting: please do not re-post. I go through the entries sequentially and the repeated deja vu repeated deja vu from reading the same entry only slightly different makes my head spin. But fortunately:
– I’m not worrying about typos. A certain winning entry had a typo last year and that turned out just fine.
– Several people have noted that quite a few of the entries are not actually paragraphs and are instead strings of dialogue, poetry, multiple paragraphs, and other non-paragraph concoctions. All I can say is: welcome to my world.
– I’m on Twitter! You can find me at @nathanbransford. I will be posting assorted updates as I’m reading the entries. Also probably complaining about the crazy rain we’re having in SF. Because that’s what Twitter is for.
Thanks again to everyone who entered! I can’t wait to read the paragraphs. And read and read and read and read……
Scott says
Again, to the anons who expressed concerns about the first paragraph not comprehensively representing the entire work: I agree. It's more the language, the sentence structure, and spark of voice that I'm responding to. Of course, if you can also whet the appetite with an interesting bit of narrative, that's even better.
In other words, your first paragraph may not indicate what's to come in terms of story, and that story may be very strong. But what I found so interesting was how, in this specific vacuum of entries, it didn't take long to discern which stood out.
I wouldn't despair if yours (or mine) isn't picked, of course. Chances are single paragraph novels won't be all the rage anytime soon. :^)
Jason says
I think Arik Dufree asks a great question…what are the criteria for selecting finalists? I'd bet Nathan has a simple formula, but I'd like to hear what it is too.
For me, a good first paragraph would do BOTH of the following:
1.) Tell me something about the novel as a whole. I'd want to know a lot of about the storyline after reading the first paragraph.
2.) Leave me wanting more.
Good writing is just a given and so I don't include it in the criteria.
A paragraph can be well written, but if I have no idea what's going on, you've probably lost me. But if I know what's going on AND I care about it, that would take the paragraph to a whole new level in my mind.
Eden Glenn says
Nathan, thanks for the peek into your world. I've read through quite a few of the contest entry posts. The one liners, short paragraphs, prose and (sigh) short stories.
Your world is a funny, scary, exciting place.
OMG It's like herding cats in your world! Does anyone follow directions?
Then I saw the big picture. Panning for gold. If you swirl the sluice through the water just right. . . the nuggets will appear. Then, you just have to pick them up, one by one.
Brilliant contest!
Jason says
Scott, I just read you latest entry…I think we're on the same page.
pjblair says
Nathan,
How about if you have allow people to comment on a shortlist of say, 20, once you whittle the submissions down?
anotheranon (again) says
I'm amused by the paragraphs that start with such flair, such detail and atmosphere that you think, wow, this is beautiful. Then you get to the end and you still don't know who the main character is (man, woman, boy, girl, dog?), what the setting is, or what in the bloody hell is happening.
I used to write "beautiful" like that. One day I realized it made no sense. Then I stopped. If only I had Nathan's First Paragraph contest back then, I'd have saved myself a world of hurt. Yay for progress! And THAT is what is great about this contest. Forget winning or losing, you get to pay attention and LEARN something!
Mira says
You know, I haven't even posted mine yet, but I do wish people wouldn't post critiques here.
There is a contest going on.
I would wish people would save the critiques for after the judging.
anotheranon says
Mira — (was your comment directed at me? i don't know) But my opinion was just an overall observation, not a critique of any one entry. You have to admit that the big bonus of reading lots of first paragraphs is that you are able to break some of them down into what you do or don't like. Then, you can use that as a barometer to retool your own paragraph or way of writing. Of course people should enter whatever type of first paragraph they want. I look forward to your entry.
Brad says
I just want to say how much i have enjoyed reading everyone's stories.
I never thought that people could be so varied and so brilliant.
Passionate too! Makes me want to be a writer.
Agent blogs don't usually do that to me.
Susan Quinn says
Nathan,
I do hope when you post your finalists (and of course the winner) that you will give some insight as to what your thinking was when you read them. I agree with several of the comments below about the difference between drawing in agents, and attracting readers.
Because I like classifying things, I've seen three types of opening paragraphs (not in the entries, but in the books that I like to read):
1) The Slow open – where we are setting mood, world building or otherwise placing the reader in the context of the story, but no overt mention of the real plot.
2) The BAM! open – where we're thrown into the plot conflict immediately – dead body on the floor, turmoil raging all around, etc.
3) The Existential open – where we are told, often in the protaganists voice, the essential theme of the story, or perhaps the conflict. My favorite one of these comes from Haddix's Shadow Children series: "Sometimes he whispered his real name in the dark, in the middle of the night."
Last year's winner, the delightful Ms. Whipple and Relax, I'm a Ninja , seems like an Existential open.
So, I'm wondering if agents (or let's just say YOU) have a preference for (or against) a type of open?
Brad says
I know everyone says that reading the slush pile is sooo crazy bad.
But i secretly really would love to be a slush pile reader.
Love it
Love it
Love it
like in a Indiana Jones kinda way.
Paul Neuhardt says
Nathan,
I know the odds are against me for a win, and for two good reasons which both earn you my thanks.
First, there are so many entries that the numbers are against me. Lucky for me, I get to see so many other writer's work that I am learning a great deal as I read.
Second, it is clear that there are many paragraphs better than mine. Again, lucky me gets to learn from those paragraphs to make mine even better.
Thanks not only for the contest but for the educational opportunity. It's going to make me a better writer.
Mira says
Let me take something out there…
otheranon – well, it was alittle directed toward you, since I have a chatty MC (always, that's my voice) and plan to post that paragraph – well, when I've finished it.
So, I had a moment of "gasp", oh no, now Nathan won't like my paragraph because it's chatty.
But it's not just you – I think it's almost irresitible to start commenting, and I know that Nathan can make up his own mind, but – you know, there is a contest going on. Can't we just wait until Friday for critique?
Maybe I'm wrong about that, but that's how I feel….
Anonymous says
Hate to be such a naysayer, but this strikes me as a rather pointless exercise.
So long as the para numero uno isn't terrible (and few that I have sampled here are) then who cares how stupendous it is? I can't recall being blown away by any first paras of any great books I've read. All it needs to be is good, simple as that.
Saying that this one particular one is "The Best" out of 2000 or so entries is completely, I dunno, I hate to say, but well, wrong. No such thing exists. Some may be objectively poor, others maybe better than others, others may stand out, but to say one or some few are "the best" is just pointless and silly.
Its just one person's opinion anyway, which seems to hint at the real purpose, which is to drive traffic to this blog and elevate this one's ego to a pedestal whilst basking in all the superlative gushing nonsense about how "insanely awesome" etc this one person is.
Because he can read and has an opinion?
sex scenes at starbucks says
We should have a pool on how many entries there'll be.
I'm going for 2500.
Let's say about 100 words per.
Nathan gets to read two sizeble books worth of entries! It's doable, if you're SuperAgent!! 🙂
Anonymous says
Anon 7:39 —
But he IS insanely awesome! Ha!
I've been repped by an agent that wouldn't even answer my own emails, about my own ms that she was supposedly trying to sell. What other agent out there pays attention to his own clients AND does fun stuff like this for others that he doesn't rep?
And I still think people are missing the point. Your odds of winning are 1900 to 1. The point is you get to read a bunch of paragraphs, pick your favorites, enter one if you want, and have fun.
Scott says
Anon at 7:39, you make some interesting points. I suppose in the end, just like in publishing, all things being equal (and we need to get them that way to start) decisions are made with more than a little subjectivity. But a well-written opening paragraph––one with something special––can still be singled out. Several to review will no doubt lift us in the same way a few good tunes on the radio do.
I disagree about being unable to learn something. I learn a great deal by another's written expressions by comparing them to mine, i.e. Would I have chosen this word, or arranged this sentence in this way. These little editorial decisions go through my mind at rapid speed. What I like, I like. What Nathan likes, he likes. How close our lists are will teach me something, as well. You can always learn something. Always.
Jason, I hear ya.
AR Travis says
I'm trying not to read these at work. I'm trying not to read these at work. I'm trying not to read these at work…aw darnnit…
Josh says
Very confused. I've posted a paragraph in the contest comments twice now (and looked to confirm it was there), and each time I've gone back to check, my entry is nowhere to be found. Is it being deleted for some reason? Or is there some technical error on my end?
Ink says
Anon 7:39,
It is a contest. For fun. And even, occasionally, enjoyment. And maybe people can learn something from seeing all those first paragraphs. I'm pretty sure Nathan (and the rest of us) know this is subjective and that the choices do not actually determine some sort of universal talent ranking handed down from on high.
You know, just fun. People enter, have a good time, someone wins a free book and critique, everyone chats about what they liked and why and then they go home and mull over what they might have learned and how they might apply it to their own writing.
Just my take.
Bryan Russell
Nathan Bransford says
Lots of interesting discussion here! I'm withholding most of my thoughts as the contest is still going on, but let me just say that the purpose of this contest is certainly not to elevate the first paragraph, nor should it be taken as a sign that I ever make a decision about a manuscript off of just one paragraph. There are plenty of great books that have decidedly ho-hum first paragraphs and that doesn't make those books less great.
So yes – it's a first paragraph contest, but let's not treat first paragraphs as more important than they really are.
Mira says
Lol.
Well, since Nathan just opened the discussion for critique, otheranon, I think you can totally ignore me.
Never mind. 🙂
s.w. vaughn says
"Dear God," the literary agent mumbled, "it's a good thing they can't see my face while I'm typing this."
Ha! 1700 entries – is that the best you can do? Bring it, ya bunch of writers!
He shut his eyes tight. When he opened them again, none of the eleventy billion first paragraphs had managed to vanish into the ether.
What had he gotten himself into?
Eat your heart out, Miss Snark. I must be breaking some kind of record here. Boo-yah! Is there an award for this?
At least he'd never announced a deadline for determining a winner. He published today's blog post, shut the computer down and went to see if there was anything left to drink. All that night, a single thought taunted him from the dark corners of his mind.
Eenie meanie miney moe . . .
[Nathan, you are a brave man. Best of luck to you here. :-)]
Nathan Bransford says
anon@4:39-
There have been millions of books published over the years and people still compile "top 100" lists. Is that pointless too?
Relax, have some fun, enjoy the contest. It's not like I'm killing puppies or something. It's just a contest, and whoever said contests aren't subjective? Did the Booker judges have a formula that I don't know about?
Nathan Bransford says
Oops, that should have said anon@7:39
Mary Danielson says
Josh – I remembered seeing one by you in the comments this morning, so I checked again and it's there! (Somewhere on the the 1400-1600 page.) When you submitted them, did you then click over in the comments to the newest ones? If not, just the first 200 show up.
Anonymous says
I don't disagree with all aspects of the exercise, Nathan, certainly.
I guess I have always seen the western psyche's penchant for "ranking" everything as illogical whether it be top 10 books of all time, or the sexiest man in America, or the greatest rock song of all time, etc etc etc. It has always struck me as pointless. There are "greats", yes, but no singular "greatest" across all realms since the individual things can only be judged within their own context, not across decades, or in this case, across 2000 different works.
Its a western phenomenon, and more so an American one. It has to do with a cultural emphasis on the individual,competitiveness, and a need for a sense of hierarchy to make things more comfortably ordered in our simple finite minds. The American psyche just can't tolerate there not being a singular greatest anything.
There is certainly no problem with competitiveness except where we impose competition where there is none. Such an imposition is when the level of subjectivity is so great that the outcome becomes so individualized that its arbitrary, hence – pointless.
Ink says
It's not pointless… you win free stuff!
I'm totally for free stuff. I mean, you should see my bank acount. I'm all about the free.
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
Not sure I follow. Contests and sports are universal. Is it just Americans who figure out who the winner is? Does everyone else in the world just call it a tie?
Ink says
Though, for what it's worth, I do sort of agree that western culture is a little obsessed with winning and ranking… I just don't see it applying much to a fun contest which everyone knows is subjective.
Whatever finalists Nathan picks, everyone else will have their own favourites, their own list to champion. People will agree and disagree. That's part of the fun! Writing is subjective, and that's what makes the discussion interesting. If there were simply some formula, some objective measurement, then we would calculate and go "Oh, okay." And that would be it.
Just, um, more of my thoughts. Take 'em for what they're worth. I know, I know, the exchange rate is down, I'm sorry.
Anonymous says
Nathan, Reread: "There is certainly no problem with competitiveness except where we impose competition where there is none."
I'm not speaking of football games here obviously.
Football game = competition with stringent objective criteria with an irrefutable (99.99% of time) outcome = no problemo
"sexiest man in America" = a competition based on total subjective criteria with a completely arbitrary outcome = pointless competition where there is none.
This first para thing falls in between, but 90% closer to the "sexiest man" side of the spectrum
Ink says
Anon,
I struggle with that breakdown. I think this contest is very specific. He's offering a prize many of these people would love to have – Nathan's insight about their work. They're willing to compete for it. Nathan's willing to decide on a winner. Yes, his opinion is subjective, but an educated subjective. And that subjectiveness is clearly defined in the contest rules and all contestants are aware of it.
He's not universally determining the quality rankings for all people. And many of the people who enter or read will find something very useful from the experience.
Plus it's fun, which is a worthwhile end in its own right.
So I struggle with the whole pointless thing. 1800 writers have thought it worthwhile to participate. I think that says something.
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
If you think sports don't involve subjectivity I would like to point you Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers where the officials were watching a completely different game than the rest of the world.
Or any soccer game.
Just about every type of contest and sport is a mix of objectivity and subjectivity.
Nathan Bransford says
Oh – and I do understand what you're saying and agree there's a spectrum, I just think sports are much more than 0.1% subjective, and this contest is more than 0.1% objective.
Anonymous says
Nathan, once again, reread what I wrote, because I actually I this comp. is 90% totally subjective, not 0.1% objective.
(You are likely suffering from reading overload, which increases subjectivity ironically.)
And my football number is accurate as well. If you have 100 football games, the outcome of 99+ will not be disputed.
Nathan Bransford says
I meant to change that to 10%, but I'm multitasking, and yeah, overload!
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
Oh, and as for football, this is the last I'll say about it but the outcome is in doubt a lot more than .1% of the time. That would mean that only one out of one thousand football games are disputed by a bad call, and it happens far more regularly than that. Just ask Ed Hochuli. Not to mention all of the in-game calls that don't necessarily directly decide to the final outcome but are momentum killers and otherwise change the course of the game.
There's a reason that complaining about the refs is a national pastime.
Anonymous says
We're splitting hairs here a bit, who knows what the exact number is, but looking at ALL football games played, its 1 out of 1000, maybe 2, 3, or even 5, but still less than 1%.
In totality, that makes the likelihood of any given game overwhelming objective, not subjective.
Nathan Bransford says
Nothing has been deleted. Please enter in the contest thread. Only the first 200 comments will appear when you click on the contest post, you may need to click "newest" to view your entry.
Nathan Bransford says
Maggie, your post is here.
Maggie says
Thanks, and sorry for my mistake, Nathan. Duh.
Anonymous says
Anon 946 –
You're trying to win this debate and I bet you think you have, although that win is subjective. Continue by all means to try and win something that is not possible to win – but again, by all means, go for it. I like a good vigorous debate.
jenniferwilke says
Edwin flew toward the sun, his heart racing, his yell echoing against the shale cliffs of Mirror Lake. Starlings took wing. Maybe this time he would fly forever. His thrill of fear was the price of freedom, but at the rope's highest arc, the Earth made him let go. He plunged into drenching darkness. The only sound was the pounding of a heart. His arms and legs churned the deepening water until he was released and began to ascend. His lungs demanded life. He raced back toward the world that held its breath waiting for him.
Anonymous says
Jenniferwilkie –
I think you need to enter your paragraph on the other thread; Nathan might not catch this here.
Nathan Bransford says
anon is correct.
Susan Quinn says
Ink –
I love your attitude! Just one more thing to like about our neighbors to the North . . . they know just how serious to take things . . .
Ink says
Humour is far more warming than seriousness. I mean, what happened to October? It got hit on the head and woke up as November. Very discouraging. Blunt force trauma is no fun.
Mira says
Yeah, you're right, Ink. I'm feeling tense myself – which I usually don't during Nathan's contests. Usually, I just get into the fun, and root people on, and am not that invested in the results…….
I'm not sure why this feels more….weighty. Maybe it's just that it's been awhile since Nathan had a contest…or maybe I decided the stakes were high – like all the other people who won this got published or are his clients, etc., etc.
Well, this isn't the only way to be published. It's not do or die here. 🙂
So, thanks for the reminder – 🙂
florkincaid says
"If you spot an error after posting: please do not re-post. I go through the entries sequentially and the repeated deja vu repeated deja vu from reading the same entry only slightly different makes my head spin."
Sorry, Nathan! I was probably one of those people. I didn't realize you'd already begun reading the entries when I deleted and reposted.
The numbers daunt me. You are braver than I.
Carolyn B says
Thank you for doing this! I've been trying to drop in and read a few throughout the day. Makes me humble (or insecure?) to see how much competition there is out there.