Operation Literacy presents

We’ve all heard of love at first sight but have you experienced “love at first sentence?"
You know the type. The kind of opening line that begs to be re-read the instant you finish it because it’s just that dang good. Allegra Hyde wrote that the best first lines deliver an “elegantly balanced dose of clarity and curiosity”. Simply put, “seductive first sentences ground a reader in a situation, while also prompting a question in the reader’s mind that propels them forward in the text”.
This contest is your chance to wow us. You’ve got one line to make us swoon, break our heart, or blow our mind. We dare you - with one sentence make people fall in love with your writing.
BASIC DETAILS
-
The cost to enter the contest is $5
-
You may enter as many entries as you’d like
-
All entries must be submitted by February 1st
-
The winner will be announced and honored with a trophy at the StoryCon award ceremony
Rules and Guidelines
PLEASE READ!
*If you do not follow these guidelines, your work will automatically be disqualified.
-
All work should be original and unpublished and must not be something you submitted for our First Line Contest in years past. Posting your work to a blog or website does not classify it as being published.
-
Entrants must be no younger than thirteen and no older than nineteen
-
No partner or team entries will be allowed.
-
Entries must be double-spaced with one inch margins in 12 pt. Times New Roman or Arial Font.
-
Entry is limited to ONE sentence. Entries longer than one sentence will disqualify you from the contest.
-
Entries must be in English.
-
Changes can’t be made to the entry after you have submitted it. Please proofread and double-check your work before submission.
-
Do not include your name or any other identifying information in or on any of the pages you submit.
-
As this is a contest for teens, no graphic violence, language, or sex scenes are allowed. Think of it like PG-13 movies. This is a PG or PG-13 contest.
-
Any entries received after the contest deadline will not be considered.
-
Family of any member of the Operation Literacy team is not eligible to participate.​
For questions or clarifications, email contests@operationliteracy.org.