Optional Contest Feedback

This will come in the form of an email with a few notes about what our screener thought, a score out of five, plus any relevant resources. Please note: this feedback will not be sent until after the contest closes and winners are announced.

Here's an example of what that might look like for an entry to our First Page Challenge contest:

Strengths

You've crafted an engaging scene with a strong sense of mystery right from the opening line. There's some delicious tension that builds as we follow Lara through the quiet streets. I especially like how you subtly introduce her internal struggle—her need to stay hidden and the stakes if she's found. The sparse dialogue between Lara and the shopkeeper adds to the atmosphere, and you leave just enough unsaid to create a compelling sense of intrigue. This is a great start!

Snags

The biggest snag I encountered was pacing. While the tension builds nicely, the scene feels a little rushed when Lara exits the shop and is immediately pursued. It might help to slow down this transition so that we have a stronger sense of the street, the people around her, and her heightened awareness of being followed. A few more sensory details—perhaps the echo of footsteps or the flickering streetlights—could amplify the suspense and immerse readers more fully in the moment.

Score: 4/5

This is how our screeners rank the submissions they review. You need 5/5 to make it onto the shortlist.

(Keep in mind that for agents, a relative score of 1/5 is often down to technical or targeting oversights, like they don't represent the genre you're pitching, you've addressed your query to the wrong agent, or you haven't followed their submissions guidelines.)