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 1st page 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 1st Page Contest offers you the opportunity to receive expert feedback and industry insights that will refine your page and boost your chances of success!

Even better? Your manuscript does NOT need to be completed for you to enter, and you can enter up to 5 first pages as separate entries!

In this contest, you’ll …

🏆 Get Your 1st Page in Front of Top-Tier Industry Professionals:
Your 1st page will be reviewed by New York Times bestselling authors and experienced freelance editors. Finalists will have their pages reviewed by literary agents from New Leaf Literary, Donald Maass Literary, and Context 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 1st page and where to make improvements. This structured critique helps you hone your work and increase your chances of success in future submissions!

✒️ Gain Confidence in Your 1st Page:
The feedback you receive will help you gain confidence in your opening, providing clarity and direction on how to craft an even more compelling version for future agent submissions (or giving you assurance that you’re already on the right track)!

🚀 Get 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 Agent Introduction:

    • An introduction to an agent at Root Literary

  • A 1 Year Writing Mentorship:

    • An exclusive 12-month writing mentorship with C.J. Redwine and Mary Weber—New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors

  • Your Choice of a Custom-Built Author Website* OR 50 Social Media Graphics**

    • *A 5-page author website personally designed for you (domain & hosting fees apply)

    • **50 Custom-Designed Social Media Graphics

  • A complete developmental edit on an unpublished manuscript (up to 100k words)

  • A One Month Social Media Content Creation Package from LemonPOP Social

🥇🥈 Second and Third Place Prizes:

  • Coaching Call: The top two runners-up will receive a 2-call coaching package with Mary and C.J.

All Contestants:

  • ALL contestants will receive feedback on their entries

💰 Entry Fee: $25 per entry (each person can submit up to 5 individual entries) (this fee allows us to pay our judges and contest staff)

*As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

“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 & Semi-Final Rounds: Judged by freelance editors and bestselling, published authors.

  • Final Round: The top 10 finalists will be evaluated by agents Kiana Nguyen (Donald Maass Literary Agency), Monica Rodriguez (Context Literary Agency), and Sarah Gerton (New Leaf Literary Agency, providing direct access to industry professionals.

Submission Details:

  1. Pay the Low Contest Fee to enter.

  2. Submit Your Proofread 1st Page Entry via our easy-to-use submission form.

  3. NOTE: All Submissions must be in by March 21, 2025 at 11:59pm PT.

  4. Semi-Finalists Announced: The top 25 semi-finalists will be announced on April 18, 2025.

  5. Finalists Announced: The top 10 finalists will be revealed on May 5, 2025.

  6. Winners Announced: The grand prize winner, as well as second and third place, will be announced on May 19, 2025.

  7. Final Feedback: All participants will receive their detailed feedback no later than May 30, 2025.

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, is out now 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 1st page, submit your entry, and get valuable feedback from industry professionals. Whether you’re looking to refine your opening 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 2025 the year you go after your publication dreams!

For a complete list of contest rules, see https://www.the-writers-sanctuary.com/contest-rules

To Enter:

This Contest is now CLOSED (and entries are currently in the judging process).

Meet Our Finalist Judges!

Kiana Nguyen (Donald Maass Literary Agency): Kiana (Kiki) Nguyen started in publishing in 2015 with an internship with Wunderkind PR, independent book publishing PR company, working on campaigns with authors such as Ernest Cline. There, she discovered a practical industry for her codependent love of fiction. In 2016, Kiki went on to intern with DMLA where she soon joined the team full-time as an assistant literary agent. Kiki is currently building her client list within young adult and adult fiction across genres with a focus on queer and BIPOC authors. She has represented New York Times, USA Today, Sunday Times, and award winning titles.

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.

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.

Previous Finalist & Semi-Finalist Judges

  • Barbara Poelle

    Literary Agent & Owner of Word One Literary Agency

  • Marissa Meyer

    NYT & Internationally Bestselling Author

  • Samantha Fabien

    Literary Agent at Root Literary

  • Lauren MacLeod

    Senior Agent at Aevitas Creative Management and co-Vice President of the Association of American Literary Agents board of directors

  • Kristin Rens

    Exec editor of picture books, MG, & YA at HarperCollins Children's Books

  • Literary Agent & Owner of Root Literary

    Holly Root

    Literary Agent & Owner of Root Literary

  • Jodi Meadows

    NYT Bestselling Author - and Co-Author of My Lady Jane

Our 2024 Winners

  • Alessandra Spaulding

    Query Page Runner-Up, Fall 2024P

    PRIZE: Professional editing Query Letter & 2-Page Synopsis polishing. And a $50 gift card from Barnes & Noble.

  • Dana Black

    Query Page WINNER, Fall 2024

    PRIZE: A 30-minute 1-on-1 consultation with Root Literary agent Kurestin Armada. Professional feedback on your query letter and the first 3 chapters of your manuscript. A One Year Membership in the Red Herrings Society. And a Social Media Promotion Package from LemonPOP Social.

  • Jennifer Dyer

    1st Page Contest WINNER, Spring 2024

    PRIZE: A 12-month Iconic writing mentorship with C.J. Redwine and Mary Weber. An introduction to an agent at Root Literary. A custom-built 5-page author website. And a complete developmental edit on an unpublished manuscript (up to 100k words).

  • S.E. Babin

    1st Page Contest Runner-Up, Spring 2024

    PRIZE: 2-call coaching package with Mary and C.J.

  • Lana Pattinson

    Query Page Runner-Up, Fall 2024P

    PRIZE: Professional editing Query Letter & 2-Page Synopsis polishing. And a $50 gift card from Barnes & Noble.

  • Cassie & Megan Siechert

    1st Page Contest Runners-Up, Spring 2024

    PRIZE: 2-call coaching package with Mary and C.J.

CONTEST RULES:

  • Void wherever prohibited

  • Up to 5 separate entries per person (at $25 per entry)

  • 1st Page submission must be on 1 page, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman

  • All feedback forms from judges are final within the contest (questions and resubmitting pages 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 pages 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