Pacemaker is delighted to sponsor Writes of November’s 2025 First Page Frenzy writing contest, a celebration of the stories in motion, the works still unfolding, and the writers brave enough to share the first page of their journey!
If you’ve dreamed of writing a novel, chances are you’ve written at least the first page. Writing an entire novel is a daunting task, and often takes years to finish. But what if you could just share that first page and get recognized for your work?
We’ve got great news!
The 2025 First Page Frenzy Writing Contest is now accepting submissions!
And all you need is ONE page!
Any writer can submit any genre of fiction, as long as it’s the first page of chapter one from your novel in progress. Works must be original, unpublished, and unrepresented at time of submission.
This contest is the perfect opportunity for new, unpublished writers to get their work out there and win some incredible prizes! The first place winner will receive $1000, second place $500, and third place $250. All winners will also receive IG social media shoutouts and an interview to be featured alongside their first page on the Writes of November website. Additionally, all winners will be gifted a free year-long subscription to Pacemaker Premium Pro. You can check out previous winning entries here!
Your work will be judged by a talented panel of judges from the literary world, including writer & bookstagrammer, November J. Brown, former Big-5 developmental editor, Caroline Acebo, writing coach, Meghann Harris, and writer & bookstagrammer, Summer Weaver. They’ll be looking for a first page that packs an emotional punch, instantly immerses them in its world, and makes them want to read more!
Plus, all writers who submit have an opportunity to receive guaranteed feedback for an additional fee. You’ll get ~200 words of personalized feedback from one of our esteemed judges on your first page, including the judge’s overall impression, perceived strengths, and suggestions for improvement. This is a great option for writers looking for feedback on their writing!
It’s time to get that imposter syndrome in check—it’s only ONE page! You’ve got this!
Early Bird Deadline ends November 12th at 11:59pm CST, and the Final Deadline is November 26th at 11:59pm. Click here to read the contest rules and submit your first page!
Writes of November is a supportive, online writing community created by November J. Brown (@writesofnovember), where procrastinating writers work together to finish their novels with confidence, creativity, and a dash of chaos. Through writing contests, challenges, and free resources, the Writes of November community helps writers stay motivated, improve their craft, and feel a little less alone on their journey to publishing their dream stories.