48-Hour Mega-Contest on Now (21 Writing Prizes to Be Won!)

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Want to kickstart 2026 in the best possible way?

It’s time for our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, but with an amazing twist: SIX guest editors are offering 21 amazing prizes!

(This contest is open for only 48 hours, so act quickly.)

Entering is oh-so-easy. Choose the prizes you’d like on this entry form. If you win, we’ll be in touch to tell you how to claim your prize.

Want More Chances to Win?

Leave a comment with your biggest writing, revision, or publishing roadblocks after filling out the entry form. At least two editors will choose one (or more) winners based on who they believe they can help the most.

BONUS! This could help us discover new topics to cover in 2026 that will help you overcome your roadblocks. You’re welcome to chime in with helpful tips for each other, too.

Here’s What You Can Win: Prize #1: A 5-page critique of your YA or Middle Grade novel (3 winners!)

Working on a young adult or middle grade story? This prize is for you!

Marissa Graff is a freelance editor who read for literary agent Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary Agency for over five years. She offers developmental editing and author coaching through Angelella Editorial, specializing in MG, YA, and adult fiction, with a teaching-forward approach that helps writers grow more confident and independent. Connect with Marissa on her website.

Prize #2: A 3-page + story blurb critique (8 winners!)

Erica Converso will help you refine your story’s first pages, and blurb!

The author of the Five Stones Pentalogy (affiliate link) and past intern at Marvel Comics, Erica is a research expert, editor, and writing coach. As an editor, her goal is to improve and polish your work to a professional level, while also teaching how to evolve your craft and learn from mistakes. For more information about her books, editing, and coaching services, visit astrioncreative.com.

Prize #3: A 3-page critique (2 winners!)

Jill Boehme is ready to help you craft a powerful opening. She came to fame as Authoress, the anonymous hostess of Miss Snark’s First Victim, a much-loved and respected blog for writers. In addition to authoring Stormrise and The Stolen Kingdom, she’s a writing coach, freelance editor, and writing instructor. She’s passionate about encouraging writers and helping them strengthen their craft—Oxford comma included. Visit her website to find out more about her coaching, editing, and teaching services.

Prize #4: A one-hour story development consultation (1 winner!)

Stuart Wakefield can’t wait to help you build a story with a solid foundation. An Author Accelerator–certified book coach with 25+ years across theatre, TV, and fiction, he specializes in story development, character backstory, and emotional depth.

His collaborative, big-picture approach helps writers understand what’s working, fix what’s wobbly, and move forward with confidence. Find out more about Stuart and how he helps writers succeed on his website.

Prize #5: Live coaching & 1-page feedback via the Show-Don’t-Tell Podcast (5 winners!)

Author, Editor, and Book Coach Suzy Vadori will provide detailed feedback on up to 250 words of your story. She’ll read your page on the podcast, have a 30-minute coaching session, and brainstorm any blocks you may be experiencing with your book. (To get a glimpse of what Suzy offers, check out her podcast with previous Writers Helping Writers winners here, here and here.)

Tip: Don’t submit something you think is great. Send any page where you have a niggling feeling it’s telling too much, it’s boring, or just isn’t working.

A certified Book Coach with Author Accelerator and the Founder of Wicked Good Fiction Bootcamp, Suzy breaks down important writing concepts into practical steps, making it easy for newer writers to get up to speed. She offers both developmental editing and 1:1 book coaching, which you can find out more about here.

Prize #6: A query critique (2 winners!)

Get ready to polish your query so it grabs attention!

Julie Artz is an Author Accelerator-certified Founding Book Coach who has spent the past decade helping writers like you slay their doubt demons and get their novels and memoirs reader-ready. She’s worked with both award-winning and newer authors across traditional, indie, and hybrid publishing, contributes regularly to major writing platforms, and brings deep industry insight to every critique.

Subscribe to Julie’s weekly newsletter, Wyrd Words Weekly, and find out more about her writing resources, courses, retreats, and 1:1 coaching at her website. 

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Contest Details

• This is a 48-hour contest, so enter ASAP.
• Choose ONLY the prizes you’re interested in.
• Make sure your contact information on the entry form is correct.
• There will be at least 21 winners! If you win, I’ll email instructions for receiving your prize.
• Please have pages ready if you win a critique prize. Format with 1-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12pt Times New Roman font. 

Every month is a new chance to win feedback. Subscribe to our blog in the sidebar, and notifications about this contest and other helpful writing articles will come right to your inbox. 

Good luck, everyone. We can’t wait to see who wins! And thank you to all our generous guest editors & coaches!

PS: To amp up your first page, grab our  First Pages checklist from One Stop for Writers. For more help with story opening elements, visit this Mother Lode of First Page Resources.

The post 48-Hour Mega-Contest on Now (21 Writing Prizes to Be Won!) appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

The Bookshelf Muse is a hub for writers, educators and anyone with a love for the written word. Featuring Thesaurus Collections that encourage stronger descriptive skills, this award-winning blog will help writers hone their craft and take their writing to the next level.

Source: https://writershelpingwriters.net/2026/01/mega-contest-with-21-prizes/