Contest
ITW Best First Sentence Contest 2027
International Thriller Writers (ThrillerFest)
DeadlineMar 15, 2027Opened July 7, 2026. The page gives 11:59 p.m. Pacific in one place and 23:59:59 Eastern in another, so submit by the Eastern time to be safe.
- Pay / prize
- 10-page critique from a 2027 Master Class instructor (the judges); winners read at the CraftFest Luncheon, April 28, 2027
- Entry fee
- No entry fee listed (ITW membership or ThrillerFest XXII registration required)
- Length
- One sentence (your opening line)
- Eligibility & notes
- ITW members (associate or full) in good standing and/or ThrillerFest XXII (2027) registrants. One entry. Your own original, non-AI first sentence from published or unpublished work you'd submit for the critique.
- Last checked
- 2026-10-21
Read the official guidelines →
Details can change. Always confirm on the official page before you submit or pay a fee. Something wrong here? Tell us.