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Jericho First 500, 2024
Did anyone catch this tonight? It’s such an important event in the Jericho calendar, I’m surprised there hasn’t been any discussion about it on the forum, unless I’ve been looking in completely the wrong place for it. But firstly, congratulations to all the finalists. Top job.
In my opinion, Samantha Torrance’s Spooky Bitch was the real standout. She got my vote and I’m so glad she won. It had a real hook and a lovely, almost deadpan voice. China Doll by Richard Martin was great, too. A couple I thought were quite underwhelming, but of every dozen books I pick off the shelves to test the waters, only one or two ever come home with me.
Was there a standout finalist for you? Did you enter? Did you short list? Long list? Have you learnt anything? Are you crying into your Horlicks? I’ve just ripped up my first 500 and I’m going back to the drawing board. It’s quite liberating.
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30 Replies
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Morning Steve
I just popped into here this morning to leave a note to say thank you to everyone who came along last night to the First 500 finalists night and participated by voting and leaving such encouraging comments. I saw your post and thought I’ll add to the discussion.
I loved the diversity of the finalist, Spooky Bitch was my favourite and if I wasn’t going to win I was delighted (well, maybe not delighted) to lose to that novel.
What I loved most about the night is that there was something for everyone, few novels are universally adored, fantasy and sci-fi for example are just genres I can’t get into.
I write novels that have strong working-class voices covering subjects that are not for everyone. My writing tends to be like Marmite, those that love, really love it and those that don’t, never will. And that’s good – that’s healthy and part of the joy of reading.
It takes a lot of luck to reach the last 8. I have a dozen different versions of the opening of my novel and I was very lucky to have chosen the right one for the luck to be with me to reach the finals last night. It is in the end a lottery, you have to have the right words but the right people to read them – the stars truly need to align to do well.
I’d encourage every Jericho Writer member to enter the next time this competition comes up. It’s a great exercise to hone and edit a version of your novel opening to appeal to those who decide how far it goes in the process.
And if you are lucky enough, as I was, to make it to the final 8, then, that will be part of your query letter when it goes out to the agents that you choose rather than those who are present on the night of the finals.
Good luck all with your writing, write and rewrite and experiment with those opening pages and have different versions available to chose from. I look forward to seeing the final 8 next year and you never know Steve, it could be you!
And if ever there was a novel I could see being published, it is Spooky Bitch, I’m already looking forward to buying my copy from my local independent bookshop.
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Hi Mike. A big well done for making the final. You absolutely nailed your reading. It was undoubtedly the most immersive of the night, and if that was where the prize was going to land, I think you’d have walked away with it. I hope the whole experience has been useful to you. It has been for me. One of the things I’ve taken away from last night is that voice is absolutely crucial. This is what I’m going to be hammering into shape. Again, very well done, and good luck for whatever plans you have for your written work in 2025.
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Thanks Steve. It helps that I am very experienced in public speaking.
The one tip I’d give – not that anyone has asked – is address the camera, not the side of the screen or wherever you have your reading. Set things up so you stare down the lense, people then feel you are speaking directly to them. A simple trick but it works and then speak up…
I look forward to seeing you in the final 8 next year Steve and giving it your all as you read.
Good luck
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Hi Mike – Just a quick note to say well done in the competition. I remember reading your stuff before when you have posted on Feedback Friday & was glad to see you made the final. I really enjoyed your piece and I think it has a very strong voice. Well done and keep going, it’s something I would definitely pick up in a book shop.
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Thank you cds cds – I too look forward to the day I can pick up a copy in a bookshop!
Good luck with your writing.
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Huge congrats, Mike!
I didn’t manage to watch the final, but I recognised your name from the FF forum & was cheering you on from rainy Lancashire.
Best of luck with your novel. Looking forward to reading it when it’s published.
Emma
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Emma – your vote could have made all the difference. Oh, I’m in despair.
Sorry – couldn’t resist.
Thank you for your cheering me on and support… picking up a copy in a bookshop, isn’t that a dream we all share.
Good luck with your writing.
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Well done on last night Mike, I really enjoyed your reading! You had me at “Trainspotting from the drug-dealers POV” to be honest! Immediately gripped. Best of luck with getting The Cocklemen out there. I look forward to buying a copy one day!
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Stephanie and you had me as soon as I recognized an Aberdonian tone to your work. My two daughters are quines, although we moved away since then. I had a very happy decade in the Granite City and have an Irvine Welsh night out story to share from there … on another time.
I won Book Edit Prize this year and see your success there last year. I sure that Spooky Bitch will break through for you… such a voice and such a set up – it has to.
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Oh I didn’t realise we had an honorary Aberdonian in our midst on Thursday! Fit like?
Congratulations on the Book Edit prize! I’m still in touch with the people I read with last year, and everyone seems to be making good progress. I hope your reading went well. Have you had your mentoring with Legend Press yet? I found my meeting with them to be very helpful and informative.
It was the same novel I read on Thursday that I won with last year, but the opening was a little different and the book had a different name.
I was very fortunate and won a scholarship to the Faber Academy in January so I’ve been spending nine months on a course with them learning how to tighten up my draft. I learned so much, and I’m so fortunate that I got that free tuition. I think they have new scholarships open for next year, so I would definitely think about applying to that if you haven’t already (and if that’s something you think would be helpful to you!)
I think my plan now is to do a redraft myself, and then send it to Jericho for this manuscript assessment I was lucky enough to win. And then I’ll need to redraft some more before it’s anywhere near ready to query. Baby steps!
Stephanie x
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Aye aye fit like
If it wasn’t for the bitter wind and Baltic cold, Torry headland reminds me of Devon. Aberdeen beach is something to behold along with the view of supply ships and rigs.
You are to be commended, you’re putting the work in, steadily building profile and a head of steam.
I’m behind you, trying to do the same. I won a place on the stinging fly summer school this year and continually look for opportunities to develop and learn more. Limited funding, like many others, but I’m lucky to sometimes win small competitions which give me mentoring or short extract reviews.
I’ll keep an eye out on social media to cheer on your ongoing success and progress.
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Congratulations Mike! I tuned in just as you were reading and very much enjoyed! Wishing you all the best for future publication and 6-figure deals! 🎉
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Lol Carolyn I’d be happy to be paid a single pound to see it on the bookshelves.
Good luck with your writing.
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Agree about fantasy/horror (and YA), not my thing, but each to his own. Enjoyed yours very much. Interesting to see that historical fiction seemed to be the biggest genre for submissions. Also some discussion on other threads about whether or not the protagonist’s character needs to really sing out in the first 500 words. I am more of a plot guy myself, but one agent at the end almost implied that plot is of little consequence if the character is strong. I have read a few novels recently with good character and, pah..nothing happens!
Plot sells, plot gets you Netflix deals, but character brings you niche literary fame…but if you are Harry Potter..!! 🙂
I made the long list and am happy with that.
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Hi Iain. Very well done on the long list placing. Short list, next year, right?
What you say about character is interesting. I’m currently reading Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst. Beautiful writing. Well-murtured main character. 200 hundred pages in and bugger all’s happened.
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Congratulations on the long listing, Iain!
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Congratulations Iain – a longlist place is only a slice of luck difference between being in the final 8 or not.
Next year… and yes, plot is important, but so too is tone, voice, pace, subject matter and appeal.
As the American agent said about mine, drop the first page and start with the second, different people including agents want different things… and you know what you just can’t please them all so don’t bother trying.
Good luck with your writing.
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Hi. well done everyone for taking part and especially those that made the final. Mike, great insights. Does anyone happen to know if the long list will be announced? Or if there will be a recording? I missed last night’s event, unfortunately but was an entrant.
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Hi Robin, I screenshot the LL which was announced during the session – here you go: (Author of the last one is Lindsay Scott)
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Great, thanks!
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Hi everyone. I joined a few weeks ago. So far I haven’t managed to catch anything or anyone. My issues, hoping I’d have a book to launch on Amazon but as usual everything else taking priority. Spooky Bitch is a tantalising title.
I look forward to reading more of your experiences re writing and submitting. If I can log on!
Brenda
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This reply was modified 2 months, 3 weeks ago by Brenda Woodford.
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This reply was modified 2 months, 3 weeks ago by
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I was at an event last night, so unable catch the First 500 live. Is somebody please able to tell me where I can see the longlist? I can’t seem to find it.
Thanks
Don
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Hi Don, I posted a screenshot of it above, to Robin
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Hi Steve,
Just popping in to say thank you for your kind words, they were lovely to read this morning!
I loved hearing all of the finalists read their openings. I was obviously delighted that my work resonated so much with the audience last night, but I was also chuffed to see such a varied group showcased.
To echo Mike, I think there’s a lot of luck involved in these things. It depends on who is reading your work on the day/what their biases are. And to put it into perspective, I woke up to a rejection for the exact same piece this morning so you can never tell how it’s going to go!
Like Mike, I am also writing from a strongly working-class space and my writing doesn’t resonate with everyone. It can be quite polarising to people at times. Also 500 words is never going to be indicative of a full novel. My work is very Scottish and very queer and that’s just not going to appeal to everyone, and that’s okay!
I would definitely encourage everyone to apply to these things when they come up, they are totally worth a shot and it’s a great motivator to keep going.
Thanks again,
Stephanie
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Stephanie – many congratulations on your win. Your excerpt was super. I hope to read the whole book one day. Good luck 🙂
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Congratulations Stephanie! I missed last night’s final but I’m looking forward to watching the recording.
I absolutely love the title! Can’t wait to buy it when it’s published.
Best of luck with it!
Emma
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Hi Stephanie, Absolutely loved your opening, and congratulations on the win! 🎉
Very Scottish and very queer rings my bells, so I can’t wait to see it out in the world.
Wishing you all the best for a great agent and terrific publishing deal!
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There simply isn’t enough working class voices telling working class stories published today.
More power to you.
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As a new member here, this was my first event. It was interesting and fun to hear the variety of stories read in such engaging ways. As an ex pat I love hearing all the accents 🙂 Congrats to the finalists and to Stephanie for winning. I loved the first line of your story. I hope to come up with something as engaging for my first sentence. I am editing my manuscript and one thing I gained from listening yesterday was how important the first few lines/paragraphs are to the reader.
Thanks everyone who read to us.
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Ah, I look forward Alison to be a listener next year as you make it to being one of the finalist.
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