Contests

Thanks so much to everyone who entered the Amusingly Humorous Book Title Finalists! There were many good entries, but only a few could be finalists. And here they are! In order to vote for the winner, please leave a vote in the comments section of this post. You will have until Thursday, 7pm ET to vote. Do not […]

It’s publication week for my new guide How to Publish a Book and I thought I’d celebrate with a contest! It’s chilly outside in most of the northern hemisphere, so let’s warm up by getting those creative juices flowing. Can you think of the most amusing, the most chuckle-worthy, the most grin-inducing book title of […]

Annnnd the winner of the 6th Not-as-annual-as-it-used-to-be Stupendously Ultimate First Paragraph Challenge is…….. At the bottom of this post. In the meantime, reading over a hundred first paragraphs in a row can really help clarify what works and what doesn’t in a first paragraph. I had four main takeaways on common threads. Death and the […]

There are now over 50 paragraphs entered in the 6th Stupendously Ultimate First Paragraph Challenge! I have much respect for all the brave souls who have entered thus far. If you haven’t entered yet: um why not? Go for it! You have a chance to win a query critique and a $100 gift certificate to […]

The first paragraph challenge is back! There are prizes! Are you ready? In order to celebrate the publication of the second edition of How to Write a Novel (preorder now, available tomorrow!!), I’m bringing back the grandaddy of them all, the big kahuna, the one, the only… SIXTH Stupendously Ultimate First Paragraph Challenge! Is your […]