In the world of literature, few things are as crucial as the opening paragraph. It’s the gateway to your narrative universe, the hook that snares your readers, and the promise of the journey to come. A stellar first paragraph can mean the difference between a bestseller and a forgotten manuscript.
Are you ready to showcase your literary prowess? We’re thrilled to announce our “The Ultimate First Paragraph $100 Challenge,” where your words could win you cash, exposure, and literary acclaim!
The Challenge: Submit an irresistible opening paragraph for a novel, novella, or short story that leaves readers craving more. We’re looking for that perfect blend of intrigue, voice, and promise that compels us to keep reading. You can use a paragraph from your WIP or previous work. Just the first paragraph please!ย
The Rules:
- Must be the opening paragraph of a novel, novella, or short story
- You CAN use opening paragraphs from published works
- Any genre welcome
- Must be original work by you
- Submit by midnight, December 31st, 2024
- Enter as many times as you like
- Post your entry in the comments below
The Prizes:
- 1st Place:
- $100 cash prize
- One month of free advertising on EveryWriter
- Featured in our email blast to 50,000+ subscribers
- Your paragraph published in our New Year’s Special Issue
- 2nd Place:
- One month of free advertising on EveryWriter
- Featured in our email blast to 50,000+ subscribers
Judging Criteria:
- Hook: How effectively does it grab attention?
- Voice: Is there a distinctive, engaging narrative voice?
- Intrigue: Does it raise compelling questions or create curiosity?
- Imagery/description: How vividly does it set the scene or introduce characters?
- Promise: Does it hint at an irresistible story to come?
We’re seeking paragraphs that don’t just start a story โ they launch readers into new worlds, complex emotions, or thrilling adventures. Show us how you command attention from word one!
Remember, your first paragraph is your story’s handshake with the reader. Make it firm, make it memorable, and make it impossible to ignore. Whether you’re unveiling a dystopian future, hinting at a chilling mystery, or setting the stage for an epic romance, we want to see the paragraph that sets your story in motion.
Remember to post the Title of your project or book, promos are welcome with the first paragraph! We are happy to promote the title and author name! You are welcome to leave your Twitter, Instagram or FB @ as well. Unfortunately, we cannot allow live links in the comments. Polish your prose, sharpen your hooks, and let your imagination soar. This is your chance to captivate our judges, win $100, and showcase your talent to the EveryWriter community. Winners will be announced in January 2025..
Are you ready to write the paragraph that launches a thousand readers? Show us your best, and may the most captivating paragraph win!
Leave your opening paragraph in the comments below. Enter as many times as you like!
Michael Edwards says
Physiognomy
By Michael Edwards
Smashwords Edition
Copyrighted By Michael Edwards
Large foot falls mark the presence of a giant of a man. He dragged the body of a woman of indeterminate age behind him. She was dead. The purple marks on her neck reveal the cause. The killer strolled into his cabin with a crazed grin on his face.
Rachel Holcomb says
Evie pulled up to the two half-overgrown stone pillars and put the car in park for a moment, peering down the long driveway that would take her to her new, albeit temporary, home. Though sun-dappled in the late July afternoon, it still looked somehow ominous. Not inviting so much as foreboding. Trees lined the drive on either side. The branches shifted in the light breeze, swaying and beckoning her forward, the light playing shadows on the dirt road. It ran straight for a long while, and then curved to the right so that she couldnโt see her destination. Evie drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. This moment felt important, like turning the wheel and heading down the tree-lined thoroughfare would signal the end of something and the beginning of something else. What yet, she didnโt know.
Rachel Holcomb says
I am 20 chapters into this–it will most likely become a horror novella. I do not have a title for it yet though.
I am Pagestealer on Twitter and AO3 and in addition to this, I have written over 100 fanfics.
Jaymark Masaoay says
๐๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ C๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ
You whisked me away into a realm of enchantment, where loveโs magic bloomed. In you, I found solace. You made me feel safe. I put my faith in it and worked hard to improve myself. You watched carefully when I showed you where I came from. Youโve heard all of my worst, aching stories. Youโve borne witness to my deepest scars, understanding the ghosts that once cast shadows on trusting in love.
Frank Mashina says
THE NIGHT I WILL NEVER FORGET
Ngrrrrrr… The phone hanging from one of the trees rang. “How is this possible?” Michael asked, voice trembling. “We’re in the middle of a forest, guys.” Heart racing, chills running down his spine, he hesitantly approached the phone. “Try to pick it up,” someone urged. With clammy hands, he lifted the receiver. “The countdown has started,” a voice whispered before the line went dead. “Guys, I think we should leavโ” Michael’s words were cut short. “Michael…,” they called in unison. “Michael?” Silence.
D.L William says
I was eighteen the first time I got to carry out an execution. It was the proudest moment of my life. I had been dreaming of it my entire childhood. Finally, my day had come.
D.L William says
For the good of Humanity
I was eighteen the first time I got to carry out an execution. It was the proudest moment of my life. I had been dreaming of it my entire childhood. Finally, my day had come.
SALLY BONN-OHIAERIAKU says
DISRUPTION BY SALLY BONN-OHIAERIAKU
published by themanifeststation.net
It was a warm and sunny day in December and the year was 1996, my family and I were eagerly preparing for our trip to Abba, our ancestral village in Imo state, Eastern Nigeria. As the Christmas period approached, there was an air of excitement and anticipation that filled the hearts of all Igbos and Easterners because they must all go back home to the village, and I, as a child, was no exception. It was a ritual for the Igbos. We set out on our journey with great enthusiasm, eager to experience the magic of Abba during the festive season. Amongst the various festive periods celebrated in the East, such as the New Yam festival or โIri ji,โ there was something truly magical about Christmas in Abba that we all cherished.
Frank Mashina says
NOTE: I haven’t published this book yet.
TITLE: KILL ME FIRST
By Frank Mashina
The basement was dark and suffocating, the air thick with the stench of decay. In the flickering shadows, he loomed over her, eyes wild and a grotesque grin on his face, admiring the body sprawled on the concrete floor. Blood pooled like dark rubies. “This is your fault,” he whispered, breath hot against her skin. Panic surged as he lifted the knife. โWho killed her?โ he demanded. Each slice of her flesh ignited pain and terror. โI donโt know!โ she screamed, but he just smiled, pressing the blade deeper. Her screams echoed, but the silence of his answer grew louder.