Entering a writing contest is a little like speed dating with your manuscript. You’ve only got a few moments to impress before a judge swipes left and reaches for their next hopeful suitor. That’s why a strong logline, a punchy synopsis, and killer first pages are essential. Let’s break it down — with a touch of humour to keep the nerves at bay.
Hook, Line and Page-Turner: Winning Loglines, Synopsis Secrets, and What Your First 10 Pages Must Deliver
Discover writing contest advice on crafting irresistible loglines, synopsis secrets, and what pages 1, 5, and 10 must deliver to win judges over.
Writing a Logline: Your Story’s Chat-Up Line
Think of your logline as the witty one-liner that makes someone lean in closer. It’s not a summary, it’s a lure. In a writing contest judges read dozens (sometimes hundreds) of entries. A snappy logline can be the difference between “next!” and “tell me more.”
- Keep it short (one to two sentences).
- Highlight the protagonist, their goal, and the obstacle.
- Hint at the emotional punch.
Bad logline: A man goes on a journey.
Better logline: A washed-up sailor must cross shark-infested waters to save the only woman who ever believed in him.
See? Suddenly you’re intrigued — and possibly humming the Jaws theme tune.
Synopsis Advice for a Writing Contest: Spoilers Welcome
If a logline is the flirt, the synopsis is the serious chat over coffee. Judges need to know your story has a backbone. Unlike readers, contest judges don’t mind spoilers. In fact, they demand them.
Stick to one or two pages.
- Cover the key turning points, the climax, and the resolution.
- Write in present tense, regardless of your book’s voice.
Think of your synopsis as the judge’s safety net. It reassures them you’re not going to unravel in chapter twelve with a sudden alien invasion (unless, of course, it’s sci-fi — then by all means, unleash the aliens).
Page 1: The Handshake
Your page 1 is where you shake hands with the judge. Limp, sweaty handshakes won’t cut it. You need:
- A compelling hook (ditch the weather report opening).
- A hint of character voice.
- A question or tension that makes us want to read page 2.
Remember: a judge is not your mum. They won’t read on out of obligation.
Page 5: The Lean-In
By page 5, the reader is deciding whether they’re invested. Are your characters vivid? Is there movement? Do we get a sense of the world?
Page 5 is where waffle goes to die. Kill the unnecessary backstory and give us action, dialogue, or conflict. In short: if it reads like your diary from Year 9, delete.
Page 10: The Commitment
By the time a judge hits page 10, they’re either yours for the long haul or mentally drafting your rejection. Page 10 should deliver:
- Rising stakes.
- A taste of your core conflict.
- A sense of what kind of story this will be.
In other words, by page 10, your manuscript should feel like a committed relationship. Not marriage yet — but definitely beyond awkward first date small talk.
Entering a Writing Contest with Confidence
Here’s the truth: contests are brutal. But they’re also brilliant practice for real-world publishing. Mastering your logline, synopsis, page 1, page 5, and page 10 isn’t just about winning; it’s about proving to yourself that your story is contest-ready, agent-ready, and reader-ready.
So polish your logline until it gleams, let your synopsis strut with confidence, and make your early pages irresistible. And remember: even if you don’t win, you’ll have the literary equivalent of a strong dating profile — and one day, the right match will swipe right.
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