Maybe you won’t write the next great American (or British or Canadian) novel, but perhaps you can write the next great first line.
If so, you could win a cash prize from the unofficial National Novel Writing Month Contest. It’s for the estimated 200,000 aspiring writers around the world attempting to write a masterpiece of at least 50,000 words. The contest’s first prize is $100, second is $50, third $25, and seven honorable mentions get one of my books.
I set up the contest to highlight the importance of the first line. Most people browse by looking at the covers and then the first line. If that doesn’t grab their attention, they move on.
Why sponsor a contest? It’s just for fun. Most of the people participating in NaNoWriMo, as participants call it, won’t finish, but all of them should get the first line down and this gives them a chance to feel good about that. And, to be honest, if it helps spread the word about my "Your Writing Coach" book that also wouldn't be bad!
You can enter now at www.NaNoWriMoContest.com. The deadline is midnight December 4, and prizes will be awarded by December 15. There is no entry fee.
