Hey, wonderful
writerly people!

It’s time for Phenomenal First Pages, our monthly critique contest. So, if you need a bit of help with your first page, today’s the day to enter for a chance to win professional feedback! (We’ve had past winners tell us they’ve found their dream editors through this contest, and even ended up with offers of representation!)

This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar).

Two winners will receive feedback on their first 10 pages!

Entering is easy. All you need to do is leave your contact information on this entry form (or click the graphic below). If you are a winner, we’ll notify you and explain how to send us your first page.

Contest Details

• This is a 24-hour contest, so enter ASAP.
• Make sure your contact information on the entry form is correct.
• Two winners will be drawn. We will email you if you win and let you know how to submit your first 10 pages.
• Please have your pages ready in case your name is selected. Format with 1-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12pt Times New Roman font. 
• You’ll need to supply a synopsis (a rough one is fine) so Stuart has context for his feedback.

The editor you’ll be working with:

Stuart Wakefield

With 26 years of experience in theatre, broadcast media, and coaching, I’ve developed a deep love of character and what drives them. My coaching style is warm, thoughtful, and practical—I believe writing a book can be hard sometimes, but more often than not, it should be fun.

As an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, I specialize in story development, with a particular focus on character backstory and emotional depth. I’ve helped writers develop powerful, satisfying stories that hold up to editorial scrutiny—and two of my clients have books coming out this year.

I hold an MA in Professional Writing, and my most recent novel, Behind the Seams, reached the semifinals of the BookLife Fiction Prize Contest, scoring 10/10 in every category. I’ve also been commissioned to write a play, and my first TV show—based around celebrity characters—is available to stream online.

Grab my free ebook on emotional resilience for writers and learn more about my services at: https://www.thebookcoach.co/

I’m also the host of the podcast Master Fiction Writing, where I explore the craft of storytelling with writers, editors, and creatives from all walks of life.

Sign Up for Notifications!

If you’d like to be notified about our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, subscribe to blog notifications in this sidebar. 

Good luck, everyone. We can’t wait to see who wins!

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.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Angela, Becca and I hope you’re having an amazing holiday season full of family, friends, good food and special memories. We are so grateful for your visits, kind words of support, and trust in us. We love serving the writing community through this blog, One Stop for Writers, books, and teaching.

We’re tucking Writers Helping Writers in for a well-earned rest until 2025. But we want to make sure you have plenty to read during our break…so we’ll leave you with delicious recipes to try and helpful posts to browse.

Did You Get Your Stocking Stuffers?

*Polishing a manuscript
*Story stakes tracker

Thank you for making 2024 extra-special!

We can’t thank each of you enough for visiting, commenting, entering our contests, and being a special part of the Writers Helping Writers Family.

Huge thanks to our amazing Resident Writing Coaches, guest editors for contests, and guest posters. With your help, we’ve been able to share a huge variety of topics and some incredible prizes. We can’t wait to see what 2025 will bring for everyone.

Into Some Bite-Sized Learning Over the Holidays? Try These:

Writing Tools
Checklists and Tip Sheets
First Page Resources
Characters
Plot and Structure
Worldbuilding and Setting
Show-Don’t-Tell
Other Story Elements (including theme and symbolism, point of view, voice, pacing, dialogue, etc.)
Revisions and Editing
Creativity & Mindset
Business of Writing
Resident Writing Coach posts

We’re Each Gifting a
Favorite Recipe to You

We can’t wait to find out what you think of some of our favorite recipes! You’re welcome to share some of your own, too. It’s always fun to test out new recipes.

Angela’s Recipe

Becca’s Recipe

Mindy’s Recipe

This came out amazing! Next time, I’ll make it with full candied cherries up top instead of the fruit mix.

Paying it Forward

One of my favorite things about Angela and Becca is how much they do to help others. They’ve always had a pay-it-forward mentality, which is why this site is loaded with free tools, downloads, and resources. But helping beyond the writing community is something they believe in as well. Each year they select a specific charity (or two) and donate a portion of their book revenue to it. For more information on this year’s recipient, see this blog post.

Here’s the 2024 Recipient

This is only possible through your generosity, so know when you buy books, subscribe to One Stop for Writers, or attend a workshop, you are an important link in the chain. Thank you for helping to make the world a better place!

Happy holidays!

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Happy Holidays – Some Gifts for You appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Hey, wonderful
writerly people!

It’s time for Phenomenal First Pages, our monthly critique contest. This is a special synopsis edition! So, if you need a bit of help with your synopsis, today’s the day to enter for a chance to win professional feedback! (We’ve had past winners tell us they’ve found their dream editors through this contest, and even ended up with offers of representation!)

This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar).

Entering is easy. All you need to do is leave your contact information on this entry form (or click the graphic below). If you are a winner, we’ll notify you and explain how to send us your synopsis.

Contest Details

• This is a 24-hour contest, so enter ASAP.
• Make sure your contact information on the entry form is correct.
• Five winners will be drawn. We will email you if you win and let you know how to submit your synopsis (up to 1500 words).
• Please have your synopsis ready in case your name is selected. Format it with 1-inch margins, 12pt Times New Roman font. 
• All genres are welcome.

The editor you’ll be working with:

Julie Artz

Julie Artz 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 the publishing spectrum from Big Five to small and university presses to indie and hybrid. She is an Author Accelerator-certified Founding Book Coach, a sought-after speaker and writing instructor, and a regular contributor to Jane Friedman and Writers Helping Writers, and a regular instructor for AuthorsPublish, IWWG, and more. Her work as a Pitch Wars and Teen Pit mentor, a former SCBWI Regional Advisor (WWA), and her memberships in The EFA, the WFWA, AWP, and the Authors Guild keep her industry knowledge sharp. A consummate social and environmental justice minded story geek, Julie lives in by an enchanted stream in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, two strong-willed teenagers (when they’re not off at university!), and two naughty furry familiars. She’s built a thriving book coaching business based on her values, her editing chops, and her knowledge of story. 

Julie’s stories have been published in Crow Toes Weekly, the Sirens Benefit Anthology Villains & Vengeance, and the speculative anthology Beyond the Latch and Lever. Subscribe to Julie’s weekly newsletter, Wyrd Words Weekly, or connect with her below:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Substack 

Sign Up for Notifications!

If you’d like to be notified about our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, subscribe to blog notifications in this sidebar. 

Good luck, everyone. We can’t wait to see who wins!

PS: To polish up your synopsis, check out this amazing post from Julie Artz.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Synopsis Edition appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Hey, wonderful
writerly people!

It’s time for Phenomenal First Pages, our monthly critique contest. So, if you need a bit of help with your first five pages, today’s the day to enter for a chance to win professional feedback! (We’ve had past winners tell us they’ve found their dream editors through this contest, and even ended up with offers of representation!)

This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar).

Entering is easy. All you need to do is leave your contact information on this entry form (or click the graphic below). If you are a winner, we’ll notify you and explain how to send us your first five pages.

Contest Details

• This is a 24-hour contest, so enter ASAP.
• Make sure your contact information on the entry form is correct.
• Seven winners will be drawn. We will email you if you win and let you know how to submit your first five pages.
• Please have your pages ready in case your name is selected. Format it with 1-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12pt Times New Roman font. 
• It would help to supply a synopsis up to 500 words (a rough one is fine) so Michelle has context for her feedback.

The editor you’ll be working with:

Michelle Barker

Michelle holds an MFA in creative writing from UBC and has been a senior editor at The Darling Axe since its inception. She has experience with both developmental and line editing and loves working closely with writers to hone their manuscripts and discuss the craft. Many of them have gone on to win publishing contracts and honors for their work. 

You can find Michelle on Twitter and GoodReads.

Sign Up for Notifications!

If you’d like to be notified about our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, subscribe to blog notifications in this sidebar. 

Good luck, everyone. We can’t wait to see who wins!

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.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

I love being the Writers Helping Writers Blog Wizard…and am honored to work closely with the Resident Writing Coaches. They’re all talented, generous authors who share their wisdom to help take your writing to the next level. I’ve learned so much from them, and have a feeling you have, too!

This is the 9^th year of our popular Resident Writing Coach program where we feature writing experts through a series of four blog posts scattered throughout the year. We bring in a mix of expertise, so you benefit from different voices and perspectives from all over the world.

Each year we have some new coaches and some returning, so let me first say goodbye to the wonderful Sue Coletta and September C. Fawkes. We hope you’ll both join us again in the future and greatly appreciate all you have shared with us.

I’m excited to welcome back an amazing Resident Writing Coach. Please give a warm welcome to…

Christina Delay is an award-winning author of psychological suspense, as well as mythological-based fantasy written under the pen name Kris Faryn. A wanderer by heart, Christina’s latest adventure has led her and her family to the southwest of France. When not planning their next quest, Christina can be found writing in her garden, hosting writing retreats, sneaking in a nap, or convincing her patooties to call her Empress. If you love books about complex characters who never know when to quit, with a good bit of will-they or won’t-they tension, check out her books.

You can find Christina on Facebook, Instagram, her Website, and Amazon.

You can find Christina’s posts here.

I’m also excited to introduce a new Resident Writing Coach with post topics I can’t wait to share with all of you. Please welcome…

Jenny Hansen provides brand storytelling, LinkedIn coaching, and copywriting for accountants and financial services firms by day. By night, she writes humor, memoir, women’s fiction, and short stories. After 20+ years as a corporate trainer, she’s delighted to sit down while she works. 

As a co-founder of Writers In the Storm, Jenny has been sharing loads of love and how-to with writers since 2010. WITS, as it is affectionately known, has been named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer’s Digest off and on since 2014. They post each week on writing craft, inspiration, and the up-and-down rollercoaster of this writing life.

Jenny is hard at work revising a memoir on her recent journey with cancer. Some have characterized her writing style as “get busy laughing, or get busy crying.”

You can find her online at Writers In the Storm, Facebook or Instagram.

In addition to our new coaches, we’re thrilled to have these returning masterminds…

Lucy V. Hay is a script editor, author and blogger who helps writers. She’s been the script editor and advisor on numerous UK features and shorts & has also been a script reader for 20 years, providing coverage for indie prodcos, investors, screen agencies, producers, directors and individual writers. She’s also an author, publishing as both LV Hay and Lizzie Fry.  Lizzie’s latest, a serial killer thriller titled The Good Mother is out now with Joffe Books, with her sixth thriller out in 2024. Lucy’s site at www.bang2write.com has appeared in Top 100 round-ups for Writer’s Digest & The Write Life, as well as a UK Blog Awards Finalist and Feedspot’s #1 Screenwriting blog in the UK (ninth in the world.). She is also the author of the bestselling non-fiction book, Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays: From TV Pilot To Feature Film (Creative Essentials), which she updated for the streaming age for its tenth anniversary in 2023. 

You can find Lucy’s posts here.

Marissa Graff has been a freelance editor and reader for literary agent Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary Agency for over five years. In conjunction with Angelella Editorial, she offers developmental editing, author coaching, and more. She specializes in middle-grade and young-adult fiction but also works with adult fiction.

Marissa feels if she’s done her job well, a client should probably never need her help again because she’s given them a crash-course MFA via deep editorial support and/or coaching. Connect with Marissa on her Website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can find Marissa’s posts here.

Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. Her newest novel, The Curse of King Midas, is forthcoming in 2024, and has already been recognized as a top-ten finalist for the Claymore Award. Her novel The Beached Ones came out in 2022 with CamCat Books, while Loreena’s Gift, was a Foreword Reviews’ INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner, among others.

Colleen has written three books to help writers succeed. Your Writing Matters is the most recent, and was a bronze medal winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards (2022). Writer Get Noticed! was a gold-medal winner in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards and a first-place winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards (2019). Overwhelmed Writer Rescue was named Book by Book Publicity’s Best Writing/Publishing Book in 2018. You can find free chapters of these books here.

Colleen offers personalized coaching plans tailored to meet your needs. If you’d like to work on-one-one with an experienced writing coach, check out her flexible and affordable options.

Colleen frequently serves as a workshop leader and motivational speaker, where she helps attendees remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers. Find her at Writing and Wellness, Author Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads, BookBub and Instagram.

You can find Colleen’s posts here.

Jami Gold, after muttering writing advice in tongues, decided to become a writer and put her talent for making up stuff to good use, such as by winning the 2015 National Readers’ Choice Award in Paranormal Romance for her novel Ironclad Devotion.

To help others reach their creative potential as well, she’s developed a massive collection of resources for writers. Explore her site to find worksheets—including the popular Romance Beat Sheet with 80,000+ downloads—workshops, and over 1000 posts on her blog about the craft, business, and life of writing. Her site has been named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer’s Digest.

Find Jami at her website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, and Instagram.

You can find Jami’s posts here.

Lisa Poisso works with new and emerging querying and self-publishing writers. A classically trained dancer, her approach to writing is likewise grounded in structure, form, and technique as doorways to freedom of movement on the page. She’s an energetic proponent of one-on-one feedback to accelerate the learning curve of writing fiction. Her Accelerator coaching fast-tracks authors through structure and technique while nurturing the potential of their early drafts.

Lisa is a degreed journalist and a veteran of decades of award-winning work in magazine editing and journalism, content writing, and corporate communications. Her coaching and editorial studio is staffed by an industrious team of #45mphcouchpotato greyhounds. Visit her Linktree for help with your early steps as a writer, join the Clarity for Writers community at Substack, and download a free Manuscript Prep guide. Connect with Lisa at LisaPoisso.com and on Instagram, Facebook, and X/Twitter.

You can find Lisa’s posts here.

Suzy Vadori is the award-winning author of The Fountain Series and is represented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary Agency. She is a certified Book Coach with Author Accelerator and the founder of the Wicked Good Fiction Bootcamp. Suzy breaks down concepts in writing into practical steps, so that writers with big dreams can get the story exploding in their minds onto their pages in a way that readers will LOVE.

In addition to her online courses, Suzy offers 1:1 Developmental Editing and Book Coaching services, and gives practical tips for writers at all stages on her vlog.

Find Suzy on her website, YouTube, Facebook, Free Inspired Writing Facebook Group, Instagram, and Tiktok.

You can find Suzy’s posts here.

Michelle Barker is an award-winning author, editor, and writing teacher who lives in Vancouver, BC. Her newest book, coauthored with David Griffin Brown, is Immersion and Emotion: The Two Pillars of Storytelling.  Her novel My Long List of Impossible Things, came out in 2020 with Annick Press. She is the author of The House of One Thousand Eyes, which was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year and won numerous awards including the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award. She’s also the author of the historical picture book, A Year of Borrowed Men, as well as the fantasy novel, The Beggar King, and a chapbook, Old Growth, Clear-Cut: Poems of Haida Gwaii. Her fiction, non-fiction and poetry have appeared in literary reviews around the world.

Michelle holds an MFA in creative writing from UBC and has been a senior editor at The Darling Axe since its inception. She loves working closely with writers to hone their manuscripts and discuss the craft. You can find Michelle on Twitter and GoodReads.

You can find Michelle’s posts here.

Tips

If you want to browse past Resident Writing Coach posts, click here.

Love a post? Click on the name up top to see all the posts from that person.

Check out all the Resident Writing Coach bios! You’ll find:

• Editing and coaching services
• Free support through online groups
• Helpful resources

Don’t forget to follow them on social media for even more tips and updates!

Here’s to another year of amazing posts. Please give a warm welcome our Resident Writing Coaches.

Pssst…when you comment on their posts, they reply to you! So please share your thoughts and ask questions throughout the year. Angela, Becca and I love working with the coaches. They’re an incredible asset to the Writers Helping Writers blog.

If there’s a topic you’d like help with, please add it in the comments so hopefully one of our Resident Writing Coaches will post about it.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Meet Our Resident Writing Coaches appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Hey, wonderful
writerly people!

It’s time for Phenomenal First Pages, our monthly critique contest. So, if you need help with the beginning of your novel, today’s the day to enter for a chance to win professional feedback.

This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar).

TEN winners will receive feedback on their first five pages!

Entering is easy. All you need to do is leave your contact information on this entry form (or click the graphic below). If you are a winner, we’ll notify you and explain how to send us your first page.

Contest Details

• This is a 24-hour contest, so enter ASAP.
• Make sure your contact information on the entry form is correct.
• Ten winners will be drawn. We will email you if you win and let you know how to submit.
• Please have your first five pages ready in case your name is selected. Format it with 1-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12pt Times New Roman font. 
• All genres are welcome except overtly religious books

The editor you’ll be working with:

Erica Converso

I’m Erica Converso, author of the Five Stones Pentalogy (affiliate link). I love chocolate, animals, anime, musicals, and lots and lots of books – though not necessarily in that order. In addition to my work as an author, I have been an intern at Marvel Comics, a college essay tutor, and a database and emerging technologies librarian. Between helping adult patrons in the reference section and mentoring teens in the evening reading programs, I was also the resident research expert for anyone requiring more in-depth information for a project.

As an editor, I aim to improve and polish your work to a professional level, while also teaching you to hone your craft and learn from previous mistakes. With every piece I edit, I see the author as both client and student. I believe that every manuscript presents an opportunity to grow as a writer, and a good editor should teach you about your strengths and weaknesses so that you can return to your writing more confident in your skills. Visit my website astrioncreative.com for more information on my books and editing and coaching services.

Sign Up for Notifications!

If you’d like to be notified about our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, subscribe to blog notifications in this sidebar. 

Good luck, everyone. We can’t wait to see who wins!

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.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Hey, wonderful
writerly people!

It’s time for Phenomenal First Pages, our monthly critique contest. So, if you need help with the beginning of your novel, today’s the day to enter for a chance to win professional feedback.

This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar).

Two winners will receive feedback on their first 20 pages!

Entering is easy. All you need to do is leave your contact information on this entry form (or click the graphic below). If you are a winner, we’ll notify you and explain how to send us your pages.

Contest Details

• This is a 24-hour contest, so enter ASAP.
• Make sure your contact information on the entry form is correct.
• Two winners will be drawn. We will email you if you win and let you know how to submit.
• Please have your first 20 pages ready in case your name is selected. Format it with 1-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12pt Times New Roman font.
•  You’ll need to supply a synopsis (a rough one is fine) so Stuart has context for his feedback.

The editor you’ll be working with:

Stuart Wakefield

With 26 years in theatre, broadcast media, and coaching under my belt, I have a visceral understanding of what makes stories work, and I’d like to share it with you because writing a novel doesn’t always have to be difficult and daunting, especially if it’s your first time. Understanding the process, getting started, and seeing it all come together can seem like an impossible mountain to climb.

As an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, I’m passionate about helping new writers craft stories with passion and purpose, momentum and meaning. I have an MA (Distinction) in Professional Writing, and my debut novel, Body of Water, was one of ten books long-listed for the Polari First Book Prize. My latest novel, Behind the Seams, was a 2021 BookLife Fiction Prize Contest semifinalist.

My first TV show aired on the UK’s Channel 4 in 2023.

So, if you have a story in your heart, just waiting to be shared with the world, I’m here to offer you guidance and support from developing your story right through to pursuing publication. You can find my website, blog, and free self-editing cheat sheet right here: https://linktr.ee/thebookcoach

Sign Up for Notifications!

If you’d like to be notified about our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, subscribe to blog notifications in this sidebar. 

Good luck, everyone. We can’t wait to see who wins!

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.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Hey, wonderful
writerly people!

It’s time for Phenomenal First Pages, our monthly critique contest. So, if you need help with the beginning of your novel, today’s the day to enter for a chance to win professional feedback.

This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar).

Six winners will receive feedback on their first five pages!

Entering is easy. All you need to do is leave your contact information on this entry form (or click the graphic below). If you are a winner, we’ll notify you and explain how to send us your first page.

Contest Details

• This is a 24-hour contest, so enter ASAP.
• Make sure your contact information on the entry form is correct.
• Six winners will be drawn. We will email you if you win and let you know how to submit.
• Please have your first five pages ready in case your name is selected. Format it with 1-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12pt Times New Roman font. 
• All genres are welcome except overtly religious books

The editor you’ll be working with:

Erica Converso

I’m Erica Converso, author of the Five Stones Pentalogy (affiliate link). I love chocolate, animals, anime, musicals, and lots and lots of books – though not necessarily in that order. In addition to my work as an author, I have been an intern at Marvel Comics, a college essay tutor, and a database and emerging technologies librarian. Between helping adult patrons in the reference section and mentoring teens in the evening reading programs, I was also the resident research expert for anyone requiring more in-depth information for a project.

As an editor, I aim to improve and polish your work to a professional level, while also teaching you to hone your craft and learn from previous mistakes. With every piece I edit, I see the author as both client and student. I believe that every manuscript presents an opportunity to grow as a writer, and a good editor should teach you about your strengths and weaknesses so that you can return to your writing more confident in your skills. Visit my website astrioncreative.com for more information on my books and editing and coaching services.

Sign Up for Notifications!

If you’d like to be notified about our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, subscribe to blog notifications in this sidebar. 

Good luck, everyone. We can’t wait to see who wins!

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.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Angela, Becca and I hope you’re having an amazing holiday season full of family, friends, good food and special memories. We are so grateful for your visits, kind words of support, and trust in us. We love serving the writing community through this blog, One Stop for Writers, books, and teaching.

We’re tucking Writers Helping Writers in for a well-earned rest until 2024. But we want to make sure you have plenty to read during our break…so we’ll leave you with delicious recipes to try and lots of helpful posts to browse.

Did You Get Your Stocking Stuffers?

Stocking Stuffer #1 ties into character emotion
Stocking Stuffer #2 is all about resolving story conflict
Stocking Stuffer #3 will help you build stronger antagonists
Stocking Stuffer #4 will help you brainstorm ways to generate mood in your scenes

Download all 4 Stocking Stuffers here.

Plus, The Character Trait Boxed Set Is On Sale!

Angela and Becca combined the bestselling Negative Trait and Positive Trait Thesaurus guides and embedded hyperlinks in each entry so you can move between connected flaws and attributes.

This means it’s easier to build memorable characters and write their actions, behaviors, and attitudes as you can access over 200 personality traits without having to swap out ebooks. Grab this $7.99 boxed set through to the end of 2023.

Into Some Bite-Sized Learning Over the Holidays? Try These:

Writing Tools
Checklists and Tip Sheets
First Page Resources
Characters
Plot and Structure
Worldbuilding and Setting
Show-Don’t-Tell
Other Story Elements (including theme and symbolism, point of view, voice, pacing, dialogue, etc.)
Revisions and Editing
Creativity & Mindset
Business of Writing
Resident Writing Coach posts

We’re Each Gifting a
Favorite Recipe to You

We can’t wait to find out what you think of some of our favorite recipes! You’re welcome to share some of your own, too. It’s always fun to test out new recipes.

Angela’s Recipe

Becca’s Recipe

Mindy’s Recipe

My daughters had fun decorating these! We created them for everyone, but now we often let guests decorate with their favorite toppings.

Paying it Forward

One of my favorite things about Angela and Becca is how much they do to help others. They’ve always had a pay-it-forward mentality, which is why this site is loaded with free tools, downloads, and resources. But helping beyond the writing community is something they believe in as well. Each year they select a specific charity (or two) and donate a portion of their book revenue to it. Since there’s so much economic uncertainty right now, they’re donating $500 to their food banks.

Here’s the 2023 Recipients

This is only possible through your generosity, so know when you buy books, subscribe to One Stop for Writers, or attend a workshop, you are an important link in the chain. Thank you for helping to make the world a better place!

Happy holidays!

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Happy Holidays – Some Gifts for You appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates! Today is the perfect time to share what we’re grateful for…even if you aren’t celebrating Thanksgiving.

I’m incredibly grateful for the supportive writing community, my agent, everyone associated with Writers Helping Writers (Angela, Becca, our Resident Writing Coaches…and all of you)! I’m also thankful for my family, rescue dog, friends, good health, and much more.

Here’s what Becca and Angela are grateful for.

Becca Puglisi: As my children grow up and I can see a new stage in life moving steadily closer, I become more and more thankful for my family. I’m also incredibly grateful to God for, well, everything, but specifically for bringing Angela and me together. In my early years, I never envisioned this second career and couldn’t have forecast our success, and so much of it is because of our partnership. Honorable mentions in the gratitude department go to lifelong friends, good books, cookies, Starbucks’ pink drinks, cooler weather, Christmas trees, 80s music, and every single person who has purchased one of our books or told their writer friends about it.

Angela Ackerman: My gratitude goes toward the writing community: a vast wonderful ecosystem of talented individuals that I get to work with, help, and learn from! I feel so blessed to do what I do, and am honored by the trust people place in me, and their constant encouragement and support. Writers are the best!

Here’s what several of our Resident Writing Coaches are grateful for.

Lucy V. Hay: I’m British, so we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving BUT I always think it’s important to practice gratitude throughout the year, so why not now? I find myself truly grateful for the abundance of love and support from my family and friends. The beauty of nature and its ability to bring calm and inspiration to my soul fills me with gratitude. As a cancer survivor, I also express sincere thankfulness for good health, as it enables me to embrace life to the fullest and pursue my passions. 

Lisa Poisso: I’m grateful for writers who trust me to lead them into the liminal spaces behind and between their pages. Midwifing a story is truly a privilege and an honor—thank you!

Suzy Vadori: I am eternally grateful for all the Inspired Writers that share their writing journeys with me, and for experiencing their joy when they get their stories out into the world. Readers need every writer’s stories, and in the coming year, I’m recommitting to helping as many writers as possible get their messages into the hands of readers.

Sue Coletta: I’m thankful for my amazing readers who never fail to overwhelm me with their heartfelt letters of gratitude for writing books that touched their lives. Many bring me to tears. I’m so blessed. I am also thankful for the countless writer friends, who inspire me daily, and for my family who (almost) never complains about my long hours spent behind the keyboard. 

September C. Fawkes: I’m thankful for health, freedom, creativity, and loved ones. I’m grateful for the two little dogs that give me puppy kisses every day, the autumn leaves I get to crunch on the walking trail by the river, and that feeling you get when you’ve just finished writing the perfect scene . . . Well, perfect until your editor looks at it. 

Michelle Barker: I suffered a mild concussion this summer that turned into a prolonged ordeal until a close friend pressed Sarah Polley’s memoir, Run Towards the Danger, into my hands and told me to read the last chapter. Books can be life-changing—this one was. I’m thankful for that, and for being completely better.

Colleen M. Story: My family is healthy and well, as am I, and that’s huge. I’m grateful for my writing coaching clients, the network of writers who support Writing and Wellness, and everyone at Writers Helping Writers for their amazing dedication to the writing community. Outside of the writing world, I’m grateful to my music students and colleagues, my dog Storm and cat Rikki, and for being able to live in and enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Here’s wishing everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday. 

What are you grateful for?

We often take a lot for granted. Think of good things in your life (both large and small) and celebrate them. You can share them with us below, jot them in a journal or put them on sticky notes by your writing place.

This is the start of the holiday season…and we hope it will be a wonderful one for you.

Pssst: I’m also grateful for amazing Black Friday sales! Here’s a post full of great writing related discounts…including 40% off One Stop for Writers.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post We Are Grateful appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Hey, wonderful writerly people! It’s time for our monthly critique contest. This month, we have a unique contest: 10 winners will receive feedback on their book blurb from a professional editor!

This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar).

Here’s a post with helpful tips for crafting a blurb…which is the copy on the back cover of a book or the sales webpage, explaining what the book is about. It’s usually two to three paragraphs in length.

Winners may send the kind of back cover book blurb described in the post linked above…or you may share the book blurb you’d like to include in a query or cover letter to an agent or editor. If you’re a winner and intend the blurb to be inside a query or cover letter, please let Erica know.

PLEASE NOTE: We’ve recently changed our process for entering this contest.

If you’d like a chance to win feedback, use this link or click the graphic below to reach our ENTRY FORM:

When you enter by form, double check that your email is correct so I’ll be able to contact you if I draw your name. (If I can’t reach you, you’ll have to forfeit your win.)

The editor you’ll be working with:

Erica Converso

I’m Erica Converso, author of the Five Stones Pentalogy (affiliate link). I love chocolate, animals, anime, musicals, and lots and lots of books – though not necessarily in that order. In addition to my work as an author, I have been an intern at Marvel Comics, a college essay tutor, and a database and emerging technologies librarian. Between helping adult patrons in the reference section and mentoring teens in the evening reading programs, I was also the resident research expert for anyone requiring more in-depth information for a project.

As an editor, I aim to improve and polish your work to a professional level, while also teaching you to hone your craft and learn from previous mistakes. With every piece I edit, I see the author as both client and student. I believe that every manuscript presents an opportunity to grow as a writer, and a good editor should teach you about your strengths and weaknesses so that you can return to your writing more confident in your skills. Visit my website astrioncreative.com for more information on my books and editing and coaching services.

Contest Guidelines

• Comments will NOT enter you in this contest. To enter, fill out this contest form. (One entry per person.)

• Have your blurb ready to go. 

• This contest only runs for 24 hours, so enter by form ASAP.

We use Random.org to draw winners, and will post the names in the comments tomorrow morning. If you win, I’ll be in touch!

If you’d like to be notified about our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, consider subscribing to our blog (see the right-hand sidebar). 

A huge thank you to Erica, and good luck to all! I can’t wait to see who the winners will be.

PS: Here’s a blog post with tips for writing a top notch blurb by Erica Converso.

Here’s an incredible worksheet that will help you build an eye-catching blurb! Ready Chapter 1 is celebrating the launch of their free Peer Critique forum and shared this to prepare people for their blurb contests (where you can win agent feedback). They generously allowed me to share this resource with you.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Book Blurb Edition appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

I love being the Writers Helping Writers Blog Wizard…and am honored to work closely with the Resident Writing Coaches. They’re all talented, generous authors who share their wisdom to help take your writing to the next level. I’ve learned so much from them, and have a feeling you have, too!

This is the 8^th year of our popular Resident Writing Coach program where we feature writing experts through a series of four blog posts scattered throughout the year. We bring in a mix of expertise, so you benefit from different voices and perspectives from all over the world.

Each year we have some new coaches and some returning, so let me first say goodbye to the wonderful Christina Delay. We greatly appreciate all you have shared with us, Christina.

I’m excited to welcome back a wonderful Resident Writing Coach who is returning after a year off! Please give a warm welcome to…

September C. Fawkes is a freelance editor, writing instructor, and award-winning writing tip blogger. She has edited for both award-winning and best-selling authors as well as beginning writers. Previously, she worked as an assistant to a New York Times bestselling author.

She is best known for her blog, which won the Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers Award and Query Letter’s Top Writing Blog Award, and has over 500 writing tips. She also offers a live online writing course, “The Triarchy Method,” where she personally guides 10 students through developing their best books by focusing on the “bones” of story.

To learn more about her course, read her tips, or inquire about her editing services, visit SeptemberCFawkes.com. Grab her AMAZING free guide on Crafting Powerful Protagonists while there. You can also find her on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Tumblr.

You can find September’s posts here.

In addition to our new coach, we’re thrilled to have these returning masterminds…

Lucy V. Hay is a script editor, author and blogger who helps writers. She’s been the script editor and advisor on numerous UK features and shorts & has also been a script reader for 20 years, providing coverage for indie prodcos, investors, screen agencies, producers, directors and individual writers. She’s also an author, publishing as both LV Hay and Lizzie Fry.  Lizzie’s latest, a serial killer thriller titled The Good Mother is out now with Joffe Books, with her sixth thriller out in 2024. Lucy’s site at www.bang2write.com has appeared in Top 100 round-ups for Writer’s Digest & The Write Life, as well as a UK Blog Awards Finalist and Feedspot’s #1 Screenwriting blog in the UK (ninth in the world.). She is also the author of the bestselling non-fiction book, Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays: From TV Pilot To Feature Film (Creative Essentials), which she updated for the streaming age for its tenth anniversary in 2023. 

You can find Lucy’s posts here.

Marissa Graff has been a freelance editor and reader for literary agent Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary Agency for over five years. In conjunction with Angelella Editorial, she offers developmental editing, author coaching, and more. She specializes in middle-grade and young-adult fiction but also works with adult fiction.

Marissa feels if she’s done her job well, a client should probably never need her help again because she’s given them a crash-course MFA via deep editorial support and/or coaching. Connect with Marissa on her Website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can find Marissa’s posts here.

Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. Her newest novel, The Curse of King Midas, is forthcoming in 2024, and has already been recognized as a top-ten finalist for the Claymore Award. Her novel The Beached Ones came out in 2022 with CamCat Books, while Loreena’s Gift, was a Foreword Reviews’ INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner, among others.

Colleen has written three books to help writers succeed. Your Writing Matters is the most recent, and was a bronze medal winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards (2022). Writer Get Noticed! was a gold-medal winner in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards and a first-place winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards (2019). Overwhelmed Writer Rescue was named Book by Book Publicity’s Best Writing/Publishing Book in 2018. You can find free chapters of these books here.

Colleen offers personalized coaching plans tailored to meet your needs. If you’d like to work on-one-one with an experienced writing coach, check out her flexible and affordable options.

Colleen frequently serves as a workshop leader and motivational speaker, where she helps attendees remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers. Find her at Writing and Wellness, Author Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads, BookBub and Instagram.

You can find Colleen’s posts here.

Jami Gold, after muttering writing advice in tongues, decided to become a writer and put her talent for making up stuff to good use, such as by winning the 2015 National Readers’ Choice Award in Paranormal Romance for her novel Ironclad Devotion.

To help others reach their creative potential as well, she’s developed a massive collection of resources for writers. Explore her site to find worksheets—including the popular Romance Beat Sheet with 80,000+ downloads—workshops, and over 1000 posts on her blog about the craft, business, and life of writing. Her site has been named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer’s Digest.

Find Jami at her website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, and Instagram.

You can find Jami’s posts here.

Lisa Poisso works with new and emerging querying and self-publishing writers. A classically trained dancer, her approach to writing is likewise grounded in structure, form, and technique as doorways to freedom of movement on the page. She’s an energetic proponent of one-on-one feedback to accelerate the learning curve of writing fiction. Her Accelerator coaching fast-tracks authors through structure and technique while nurturing the potential of their early drafts.

Lisa is a degreed journalist and a veteran of decades of award-winning work in magazine editing and journalism, content writing, and corporate communications. Her coaching and editorial studio is staffed by an industrious team of #45mphcouchpotato greyhounds. Visit her Linktree for help with your early steps as a writer, join the Clarity for Writers community at Substack, and download a free Manuscript Prep guide. Connect with Lisa at LisaPoisso.com and on Instagram, Facebook, and X/Twitter.

You can find Lisa’s posts here.

Sue Coletta is an award-winning crime writer and an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as “Best 100 Crime Blogs on the Net.” She also blogs at the Kill Zone (Writer’s Digest “101 Best Websites for Writers”) and Writers Helping Writers. Sue lives with her husband in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Her backlist includes psychological thrillers, the Mayhem Series (books 1-3) and Grafton County Series, and true crime/narrative nonfiction. Now, she exclusively writes eco-thrillers, Mayhem Series (books 4-7 and continuing). Sue’s appeared on the Emmy award-winning true crime series, Storm of Suspicion, and three episodes of A Time to Kill on Investigation Discovery. Learn more about Sue and her books at www.suecoletta.com.

Find Sue on her Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, and YouTube.

You can find Sue’s posts here.

Suzy Vadori is the award-winning author of The Fountain Series and is represented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary Agency. She is a certified Book Coach with Author Accelerator and the founder of the Wicked Good Fiction Bootcamp. Suzy breaks down concepts in writing into practical steps, so that writers with big dreams can get the story exploding in their minds onto their pages in a way that readers will LOVE.

In addition to her online courses, Suzy offers 1:1 Developmental Editing and Book Coaching services, and gives practical tips for writers at all stages on her vlog.

Find Suzy on her website, YouTube, Facebook, Free Inspired Writing Facebook Group, Instagram, and Tiktok.

You can find Suzy’s posts here.

Michelle Barker is an award-winning author, editor, and writing teacher who lives in Vancouver, BC. Her newest book, coauthored with David Griffin Brown, is Immersion and Emotion: The Two Pillars of Storytelling.  Her novel My Long List of Impossible Things, came out in 2020 with Annick Press. She is the author of The House of One Thousand Eyes, which was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year and won numerous awards including the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award. She’s also the author of the historical picture book, A Year of Borrowed Men, as well as the fantasy novel, The Beggar King, and a chapbook, Old Growth, Clear-Cut: Poems of Haida Gwaii. Her fiction, non-fiction and poetry have appeared in literary reviews around the world.

Michelle holds an MFA in creative writing from UBC and has been a senior editor at The Darling Axe since its inception. She loves working closely with writers to hone their manuscripts and discuss the craft. You can find Michelle on Twitter and GoodReads.

You can find Michelle’s posts here.

Tips

If you want to browse past Resident Writing Coach posts, click here.

Love a post? Click on the name up top to see all the posts from that person.

Check out all the Resident Writing Coach bios! You’ll find:

• Editing and coaching services
• Free support through online groups
• Helpful resources

Don’t forget to follow them on social media for even more tips and updates!

Here’s to another year of amazing posts. Please give a warm welcome our Resident Writing Coaches.

Pssst…when you comment on their posts, they reply to you! So please share your thoughts and ask questions throughout the year. Angela, Becca and I love working with the coaches. They’re an incredible asset to the Writers Helping Writers blog.

If there’s a topic you’d like help with, please add it in the comments so hopefully one of our Resident Writing Coaches will post about it.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Meet Our Resident Writing Coaches appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.