The First Page Challenge
Your story may be strong, but if page one doesn’t connect, readers may never reach page two.
Submit your first page for a thoughtful critique.
Find out what’s working, where readers may hesitate, and how to make your opening stronger.
The First Page Challenge is for writers who want clear, constructive insight into the page that matters most: the first one. Selected submissions may be featured in a public video critique designed to help writers strengthen their openings and better connect with readers.
Submissions are free. Not all entries will be selected for critique or feature.
What the Challenge Is
Your first page has an important job: it needs to make the reader want the next one.
The First Page Challenge exists to help writers see, more clearly, whether their opening is doing that. Writers can submit the first page of a work in progress, a finished manuscript, or a published book. Selected pages may be featured in a public video critique that looks at what is drawing the reader in, what may be causing friction, and what could make the opening stronger.
The goal is not harshness or humiliation. The goal is honest, useful feedback that helps the work connect.
How It Works
Step 1
Submit your first page
Use the submission form to send your first page, title, and a few details about the work.
Step 2
Pages are reviewed for possible selection
Some submissions may be chosen for public critique as part of the video series.
Step 3
Learn what strengthens an opening
Watch real first pages being discussed so you can see what helps a page engage a reader and what may be holding it back.
What Writers Can Expect
A constructive tone
Sharing your writing takes courage. The feedback here is thoughtful, direct, and respectful.
Reader-focused observations
Critique centers on the reader’s experience: clarity, tension, grounding, momentum, and whether the page creates the desire to keep going.
Practical insight
The aim is not vague praise or empty criticism. The aim is to give writers something useful they can apply.
A chance to be featured
Selected pages may be included in the public challenge series and shared with the growing audience around it.
Who This Is For
A good fit for writers who:
- Want fresh eyes on the opening of their work
- Need to know whether page one is truly pulling readers in
- Are revising a manuscript and want to strengthen the beginning
- Learn well by seeing real pages critiqued in public
May not be the right fit if:
- You only want private feedback
- You are not comfortable granting permission for possible public critique
- You want guaranteed selection or guaranteed review
About the Critique Approach
The challenge is led by Christopher Hawke, author and long-time critique group leader, with decades of experience helping writers strengthen their work in a supportive environment.
Learn more about Christopher Hawke
The focus is simple: respect the courage it takes to share a page, tell the truth about what the page is doing, and offer feedback that helps the writing become stronger.
Ready to see whether your first page makes readers want more?
Submit your first page for consideration in The First Page Challenge.
Some pages may be selected for public critique as part of the video series. All submissions should be made with the understanding that selection is not guaranteed.
Submission is free. Public critique is by selection only.