This Week In The Blogverse

            Before I get started on this week’s blogging gem, I would just like to mention that I am open to suggestions on which blogs are spotlighted. As it stands right now I have a fairly long list of blogs I plan to cover, but there is plenty that I’m missing. Or perhaps I haven’t quite figured out how awesome one is like some of you may have. Feel free to drop me a line or even make a comment. 

            In addition to having a snazzy looking blog, Julie Coulter Bellon offers a feature that she calls First Page Friday. This feature caught my eye several months ago and much to my disappointment I have so far failed to participate. Julie has arranged for a national editor to take a look at the first page of a novel.

             What a great opportunity this is for an unpublished author. If you have finished a novel and want to see if you are ready to start the query process either Ms. Shreditor, or Angela Eschler, will look it over and provide you with that valuable feedback. Or maybe you just want to know if you’re off to a good start. I’m sure her comments could be valuable in that light as well.
            The most awesome thing about this feature is that you don’t have to travel to a writing conference and sign up for a pitch session with a publisher to gain access to this sort of information. All you have to do is submit your first page to Julie.
            Contacts are essential in your journey to become a published author. And Julie, in essence, has offered to share a couple of hers with all of us. Thanks Julie!
            This feature provides a wonderful chance to expose yourself. (Not like that.) When your first page goes up it is going to be read by a minimum of one editor, some authors, and a large number of readers. If it’s good you may pick up some new fans.         
            Aside from the benefit of getting your first page critiqued this also gives you an opportunity to study what others have written and check your observations with those of a professional. Do this enough and you can develop a much stronger sense of what works and what doesn’t in a first page. Keep in mind how important that first page is to attracting an agent, a publisher, and an audience.
        
            If you’re on the path to authordom, like me, then I recommend you checking out this blog every Friday.