The GUTSY GREAT NOVELIST PAGE ONE PRIZE entries are submitted to a blinded review process. The identity of the author is unknown to the judge while she is reviewing the entries.

Each entry is carefully reviewed by one judge, award-winning novelist and writing teacher, Joan Dempsey. 

Our judge reads submissions as they come in throughout the month when submissions are open, not only between July 14 (when submissions close) and August 15 (when winners are announced), so it's a busy time, and also manageable; each entry is carefully reviewed.

Each entry gets sorted into one of three categories: top tier (the page really stands out as exceptional); possible (the page is very good and deserves a second read); no (the page needs more work before it shines or does not match the stated submission guidelines). The entries in the possible category (usually between 50 and 60 entries) get read a second time and sorted into either the top tier or no categories. The top tier entries (usually between 20-25 entries) then get printed out, numbered, re-read several times, and winners are chosen from this group. A slate of honorable mentions and finalists are also chosen from this final batch.

Our judging criteria is quality of writing, originality, a sense of a story or bigger narrative emerging, and how much the writing hooked the judge. For more information about what makes a great first page, read this article. 

Our judging process adheres to the Code of Ethics as shown below.

The decisions of the judge are final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the judging process. If you'd like to take a more detailed look into the judging process, you can find that here.

All entrants will be contacted when the prize is announced.