14 AUG 2021 MINI-EVENT: Win a first chapter critique

Hey writers, welcome to our SECOND mini-event!

Have you polished your query letter or blurb until it shines? But what about those opening pages?

Let's face it, in this world full of distractions, no one has time to spare. No matter how AHmazing your book sounds, it still needs to hook agents and readers right from the very first page.

Do you have a killer opening line? Are readers immediately immersed in your world? Have you purged your prose of passive voice?

Find out how your opening paragraph stacks up by competing in #Slushpit on Saturday, 14 August 2021. The prize is a FREE critique of your first chapter (or 5,000 words) by our experienced beta readers.

Who is this competition for?

• Aspiring authors who are pursuing either traditional publishing or self-publishing pathways.

• Submissions are limited to Young Adult (YA), New Adult (NA), and Adult speculative fiction.

• We accept the following genres: fantasy, science fiction, space opera, thriller, mystery, contemporary, romance, urban fantasy, and horror.

When will the competition take place?

• Saturday 14 August from 11am to 4pm EDT.

What is the prize?

• A FREE in-depth critique of your first 5,000 words.

How do I participate?

• On the day of the competition, Tweet your pitch using #SlushPit AND an image with your opening paragraph (up to 100 words).

• Here's an example:

• You may only Tweet ONE entry per manuscript.

• You may enter as many complete, polished manuscripts as you wish.

• Retweets and comments of other writers' entries are encouraged, but please DO NOT “LIKE” any of the Tweets.

• Important: All the judges will have their usernames set to [name]: #SLUSHPIT JUDGE. If your Tweet is “liked” by someone without this title, you have not won.

• If your Tweet is “liked” by one of the judges, that means you have WON a free critique.

• Winners should send their query letter or blurb as a Word Document to slushpilemonster [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject line #SLUSHPIT WINNER + [name of the judge who “liked” the Tweet].

What's next?

After the pitch competition, we will have a game! It’s a great way to connect with other writers and blow off some steam.

SHOWCASE YOUR WRITING LIFE - Sunday 15 August

• Share a picture of your writing nook, your favourite beverage, or anything else your writing life needs.

• No rules, no prizes - just be respectful and have fun!

• Use #writinglife to join!

Also, don’t forget to join our mailing list so you never miss any of the games or competitions! We also share resources for writers. It's much more reliable than getting updated on Twitter, and we also have special mailing list-only content!