Get Your FIRST PAGE Seen!
Welcome to The Storyteller’s 1st PAGE Writing Contest!
Let us help you make 2025 the year you see your publishing goals come true!
Get your query in front of top-tier publishing professionals and take a major step toward getting your manuscript into the hands of agents and editors. The Storyteller’s Query Contest offers you the opportunity to receive expert feedback and industry insights that will refine your pitch and boost your chances of success!
In this contest, you’ll …
🏆 Get Your Query in Front of Top-Tier Industry Professionals:
Your query will be reviewed by New York Times bestselling authors and experienced freelance editors. Finalists will have their queries reviewed by literary agents from Root Literary and Word One Literary—an incredible opportunity for exposure in the competitive publishing world!
📢 Receive Constructive Feedback with Actionable Insights:
Every participant receives a detailed score sheet, with feedback broken down into specific categories, allowing you to see what’s working in your query and where to make improvements. This structured critique helps you hone your pitch and increase your chances of success in future submissions!
✒️ Confidence in Your Query:
The feedback you receive will help you gain confidence in your pitch, providing clarity and direction on how to craft a more compelling query for future agent submissions (or giving you assurance that you’re already on the right track)!
🚀 Additional Feedback for Semi-finalists and Finalists: Those who score into the semi-finalist and finalists rounds will receive score sheets from those rounds as well!
🏆 Grand Prize: You could win an unparalleled opportunity! The Grand Prize includes:
An Exclusive Publishing Consultation:
A 30-minute one-on-one virtual consultation with Kurestin Armada, literary agent with Root Literary, where you'll receive personalized advice on your career path!
Query Letter & Manuscript Feedback:
Receive detailed, professional feedback on your query letter and the first three chapters of your manuscript from a professional editor.
A One Year Membership in the Red Herrings Society:
Giving you access to networking opportunities, monthly masterclasses, mentorship, and industry resources!
Social Media Promotion Package:
A tailored social media marketing package from LemonPOP Social, including a content calendar and custom graphics for a month, designed to build your author brand.
🥇🥈 Second and Third Place Prizes:
Editing Services: Professional editing services to polish your query letter and two page synopsis.
Bookstore Gift Card: A $50 gift card from Barnes & Noble.
All Contestants:
ALL contestants will receive feedback on their entries
💰 Entry Fee: $25 per entry (each person can submit up to 5 individual entries)
“I am a first time author who is horrible with criticism, but decided to enter a contest from The Writer’s Sanctuary. The encouraging and constructive comments I received gave me confidence and made this an unforgettable experience.” ~Ashley
Contest Structure:
Our Top Tier Industry Judges:
First Round: Judged by freelance editors and bestselling, published authors.
Semi-Final Round: The top 25 semi-finalists will be reviewed by New York Times bestselling authors Marissa Meyer and Jodi Meadows.
Final Round: The top 10 finalists will be evaluated by literary agents Samantha Fabien (Root Literary) and Barbara Poelle (Word One Literary), providing direct access to industry professionals.
Submission Details:
Pay the Low Contest Fee to enter.
Submit Your Proofread Query Entry (300 words or less) via our easy-to-use submission form.
NOTE: All Submissions must be in by September 30th at 11:59pm PT.
Semi-Finalists Announced: The top 25 semi-finalists will be announced on October 16.
Finalists Announced: The top 10 finalists will be revealed on October 30.
Receive Feedback: All first-round and semi-finalist feedback will be returned to participants by October 31.
Winners Announced: The grand prize winner, as well as second and third place, will be announced on November 11.
Final Feedback: All participants will receive their detailed feedback no later than November 20.
About the hosts:
The contest is hosted by The Writer’s Sanctuary, LLC, a writing community founded in 2014. Led by NYT bestselling author C.J. Redwine and multi-award-winning author Mary Weber, the community offers educational and networking opportunities for writers at all stages. C.J. and Mary’s latest book, The Storyteller’s Weekly Journal, releases on October 29, 2024, through Union Square & Co., in conjunction with Barnes & Noble.
Don’t miss this chance to take your writing career to the next level! Polish up your query, submit your entry, and get valuable feedback from industry professionals. Whether you’re looking to refine your pitch or land your dream agent, this contest is the perfect opportunity to showcase your hard work and take a step closer to publication.
Enter today and make 2024 the year you go after your publication dreams!
For a complete list of contest rules, see https://www.the-writers-sanctuary.com/contest-rules
Meet Our Finalist Judges!
PRESIDENT & CEO
Barbara Poelle opened the doors of Word One Literary in 2023 after 16 years with the Irene Goodman Agency. She has found success placing literary and upmarket fiction, suspense, horror and thrillers, and is actively seeking her next great client in those genres, but is passionate about anything with a unique voice. Barbara is also the author of Funny You Should Ask: Mostly Serious Answers to Mostly Serious Questions About the Publishing Industry where she demystifies the mysteries of this career for authors at every stage.
Sarah Gerton is an Associate Literary Agent at New Leaf Literary & Media. She is seeking fiction and select narrative nonfiction for middle grade, young adult, and crossover adult readers. She’s eager to read YA and MG fiction of all genres; on the adult side, she is primarily interested in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Across the board, she gravitates toward unforgettable characters and striking prose. Before joining New Leaf, she worked at Curtis Brown, Ltd., and graduated from Wesleyan University and the Columbia Publishing Course. Originally from small-town Minnesota, she’s now based in Queens and enjoys exploring the city’s restaurants and bookstores.
Monica Rodriguez is a literary agent and the Director of Brand Management at Context Literary Agency. Her mission as an agent is to help uplift underrepresented voices in publishing, specifically within the Latinx community. She’s mentored authors at The Writing Barn and is a faculty member at The Manuscript Academy. In children’s literature, she is actively looking for MG, YA & Graphic Novels. She also represents illustrators and comic artists. In adult fiction, she’s looking for contemporary romance, speculative, sci-fi, and book club fiction.
Monica is also a first-gen, Mexican-American author. Her love for books can be traced back to elementary school, where the best days were spent attending book fairs and author readings. She enjoys writing about self-love and identity, family dynamics, and red flags in attempted relationships. Her writing online covers similar themes in movies & tv shows and her words have been published in HipLatina and LatinaMediaCo. She runs a self-love journey podcast called Find A Lovely Life.
CONTEST RULES:
Void where prohibited
Up to 5 separate entries per person (at $25 per entry)
Query submission must be on 1 page, up to 300 words TOTAL - including your opening and signature, 12-point Times New Roman. Your query letter can simply be addressed to "Dear Agent."
All feedback forms from judges are final within the contest (questions and resubmitting queries for additional evaluation will not be accepted)
All submissions are final (revised submissions will not be accepted), so proofread carefully before submitting!
Entries must be submitted on time. No queries will be accepted after the deadline, and no reimbursements will be given for entries that were not submitted or were submitted late.
The Contest hosted by The Writer’s Sanctuary, LLC is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Meta, X, TikTok, Squarespace, or any other social media company
Entrants must be 16 years or older
Entries must fully meet all Contest requirements, as specified in the Official Rules
For a complete list of contest rules, visit The-Writers-Sanctuary.com/contest-rules