Are you up for the challenge?
The key is getting started and sharing your story. First things first: a great opening line leading into a captivating opening page. How will you get the editor to take notice, put down her coffee and clear her appointments for the rest of the day? What are your characters saying to you? Don't ask me, write it down. 🙂
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Don't get bogged down in eloquence. Just start writing your story. You can finesse your words later.
- Make sure your romance starts in an exciting place. Don't have the heroine thinking about her entire life, where she was born, her first job out of college, how it went, why her first boyfriend left, and her second. The characters should be moving somehow, even if they're actively grappling with a dilemma.
- While your opening page is fabulous, grabbing us in from the start, don't forget to describe the physical elements of your setting and characters. Immerse us in the story.
- Remember that this opening page is a way to hook your reader. Show us what you've got! Great opening lines can live forever and this is your chance to show off.
- 5. Characterization is essential in a romance novel. Since your reader has to live with these characters for hundreds of pages, you should show the hero or heroine through action, dialogue, point of view—or all of the above. Make us have to take their journey with them.
What do you do now? Fine tune your opening page and submit it to us at ucanwrite@harlequin.ca by 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday, September 15, 2014. In the subject heading, be sure to write: SYTYCW First Page Challenge. A group of expert editors will randomly select six entries to critique. They will then, sleepily, post the critiques online by Tuesday, September 16, 2013 by 10:00 a.m.(EST). Material will be shared on the website. Remember that our selections will be random. So without further ado, your job is to get in that chair and start writing!
Oh, and before you get started, here are a few things to remember:
- One entry per person, and please only from people who haven't been published by Harlequin Enterprises before.
- And just keep in mind that by sending this in, you're giving permission for the material to appear on our website.
- Good luck!
31 replies on “Monday’s Challenge: The First Page”
Do you want our first page as an attachment or cut and paste within the message of the email. Preferred font type & size? I know, I’m sweating the small stuff here ….
How many words, approximately? Normally my opening page start’s a third of the way down, but I’m guessing you don’t want that for this particular purpose? And double spaced? Or single spaced?
I can’t wanit to read all of the first pages!
Hi, Everyone! I’ll answer your questions here:
How many words: approximately 250-300.
Font size: at least 12 pt.
Double spaced please!
Attachment or in email is fine.
Let the games begin! 🙂
So excited for the contest this year!
Deep breath in…and send. 🙂
Sent mine in. crossing my fingers now.
Just sent mine in! 🙂 Good luck every one.
What if it is 313 words?
Sent. (biting fingernails hoping it gets picked)
Just sent mine!
Oh boy, just sent mine!
Hi, and for those of us that subbed before the guidelines were put up…? ;o) will you take the first 300? Or should we sub again? Ta x
Sent mine in! 😉
Is a cover page with identification re our name, title, address, category, etc., necessary, or do you take our name and contact info from the email?
Thanks for this opportunity. Wouldn’t it be great if we all would be winners?
Just sent mine off! Time to bite a nail or two.
Just sent my entry too 🙂
Thank you for the opportunity!
Should you receive an auto response when you send it in?
Just sent mine. Best of luck to us all!
After debating for a long time about whether or not I should enter, I decided to be brave and just finishing hitting SEND. If you are reading this, what are YOU waiting for? Send in YOUR first page, too! 😀
Oops. I sent mine in before the guidelines were up an assumed it was 500 words like the ones on the sold blog 🙁
Scary to send this in. Good luck to everyone!
I did it. I pushed SEND. Eeek! Good luck to all of us! 🙂
This was fun. I thought my first page was good, but then I tweaked it!
I am just now hearing about this competition due to someone posting it 30 minutes ago on Facebook. Is it too late for me to do the 5,000 words to enter?
Sent mine
I just found out about contest, it is Sept. 16 can I still enter and also do I skip front page and go to next step(Todays)?
Anyone know where the chapters are posted? I’m excited to read them all!
Where are the winning entries posted? Can’t wait to dig in and read them! 🙂
Winners? Can’t find them!
Comments ( 7 )
I spent the entire shutdown working. Had no time to wind down. I didn’t see my son much when school shutdown. My one co worker was told to stay home for 3 weeks so I picked up her hours. This year has been really crappy.
Ugh, Janell. Here’s hoping the rest of your summer is better.
Thanks for the info, Carol! Everyone is different in how they deal with the shutdown! I stay at home all the time since I don’t work so I haven’t been too effected but my shopping and errands sure have been effected!
Valri, I’ve been doing most of my shopping online. My local Target is still low on some items – mostly cleaning supplies. Grocery store is pretty much back to normal. Most of the dining in our town is outdoor. I can’t imagine have school-age kids!
Wow–getting your creative process on track must have been daunting–especially with “extra-large dog” glad to have you home. You don’t like coffee–I love coffee and have enjoyed my fortifying 2 cups in the morning even more than usual! How as COVID affected your story lines and characterizations? Best Wishes for all releases!
Interesting question, Virginia. You’ll have to tell me if the tone of my “COVID” books changed any! LOL
Life has changed so much! My dad passed Feb 2. The assisted living facility my folks were at went into hardcore lockdown the beginning of March. Mom couldn’t leave her apartment for 4 months! She was on the third floor, Will be 89 in two months & doesn’t use the phone. My husband and I remodeled the lower level completely and moved her in with us July 1. What a life change and difficult transition for the 3 of us! But we’re working thru it!