The First Page Challenge is now live!
A writing contest for novelists
Our judge, Michelle Barker, will be asking herself one question:
how likely am I to turn this page and keep reading?
First place: $700 CAD
Second place: $200 CAD
Third place: $100 CAD
All three finalists win publication on the Chopping Blog
and receive complimentary access to one of our self-paced courses.
The Finer Points
• Entry is $5 CAD• One page: double-spaced, 12-point font
• Original, unpublished, unrepresented work only
• Once you've paid, send your docx/pdf to contest@darlingaxe.com
• Submission deadline: September 30
Check out the 2019 winner here.
And the 2020 winner here.
A note on sincerity: some so-called editing websites host writing contests as a ruse to then up-sell contestants into paying to have their submissions edited. A shifty trick indeed! We attest that this is a legitimate annual writing contest, and if winning entries ever need some editing, we will gladly assist without charge.
About the Darling Axe
Our editors are industry professionals and award-winning writers. We offer narrative development, editing, and coaching for every stage of your manuscript's journey to publication.
Related Posts
Story Skeleton—The Big Sleep
Chandler drew heavily from Arthurian legend. One of his early fictional detectives was even named “Mallory,” a direct no
Read More
The Noir Detective’s Journey: An Adventure in Disguise
In noir, the detective is hired to do a job—usually to find someone or uncover some buried truth—but the story unfolds m
Read More
Character Before Clues: The Noir Detective's Code
At the heart of noir is a central tension: the world is corrupt, maybe even irredeemable—but the protagonist refuses to
Read More