First Place: Salted Silence by Lauren Page
Lauren Page (@laurenpageauthor) is a Certified Veterinary Technician with a deep passion for reading and writing. When she isn't crafting stories, she enjoys baking, playing video games, and hanging out with friends and family. Her dream is to become a published author and share her stories with the world.
What the Judges said:
"To me, a great first page does three things: establishes character voice, tells us how to read the story, and hooks us. This page achieved all three, and more, unspooling information masterfully to the reader in just a few, horrifyingly captivating paragraphs."
"What an opening line! I was immediately pulled in and wanted to read the whole story. You clearly established the life-or-death stakes from the get-go, adding a delicious sense of tension, and though we only get a glimpse of the magic system, it was just enough to show the reader that it has depth and breadth. I came away with a solid (and creepy!) sense of place, and the visuals stayed with me long after I finished reading."
"Lauren, you captured my attention from the very first sentence, then managed to draw me in and surprise me even more with your gorgeous prose and careful reveal of information. I am so impressed by the gripping dialogue and the vivid descriptions, which stuck in my mind long after reading. You should feel so proud of the scene you’ve set in just a single page, and the way you’ve made all of us judges desperate to read more!"
"Right away, your story gripped me. My favorite first line of all that I read, but more than that I was so quickly brought into the dark atmosphere and underbelly of your necromantic world. Through your clear and intentional prose, you painted an alluring picture that left a lasting impression."
Tell us a little about your writing background. How long have you been writing? What inspired you to start?
My love for reading and writing sparked later on in my adult life, and when it did, I fell hard. I became completely absorbed in books, often living inside their pages more than the real world. That was when my mom suggested I try creating my own stories. Since then, my mind has been constantly filled with ideas I’ve been honing through experience and writing classes. I’m endlessly grateful for the reading and writing communities that became my second home.
Tell us more about the larger work where this first page is from.
I grew up surrounded by family in the medical field, which led me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine as a Certified Veterinary Technician. That background, paired with an unsettling fascination with bones and what might linger after death, inspired the initial idea for this story. I’m drawn to dark, dangerous worlds filled with morally gray figures and high stakes. From that curiosity, an idea grew into a world, and then into a cast of characters. This novel is still in its early stages, but I hope to see it on a bookshelf someday soon!
Where can readers find more of your work?
Currently, my only other published work called The Bone Collector, can be found on November J. Brown’s website on the Triple Threads Contests winners page. This short story also inspired me to create this novel! I hope to have more of my work published in the future!
What advice would you give writers on writing a great first chapter?
It’s very important to create a first page that immediately grabs the reader and pulls them into the story with a magnetic opening line. The first page should reflect the story’s catalyst, offering a glimpse of what’s to come without giving too much away. While the first page can be the most difficult write, you can’t let perfectionism take over. Trust yourself, trust your voice, and keep writing even when you think it isn’t perfect.
A Chat with the Author:
