In fiction, three is a magic number: Three-Act Structure, Beginning-Middle-End, Three Plot Points, and Goal-Conflict-Resolution. Three is everywhere and must be grappled with by authors at every turn.

Mystery Thriller Week celebrates this intriguing phenomenon of three and invites you to submit a 300-word hook that will showcase your flexed writing muscle. A hook is what grabs the reader and snares him into reading the rest of a book. While there are many hooks throughout a book, this contest will focus on what should be the first page of a novel.

We want to read your best Write Hook! Enter Below!

Prizes:

• 1^st place winner receives written professional feedback of their 300-word submission and their choice of a Writer’s Craft series e-book from Rayne Hall, and an eBook Cover Design and Kindle Formatting from Eeva Lancaster, owner of The Book Khaleesi, and publication of their Write Hook submission on the Mystery Thriller Week website;
• 2^nd place winner receives their choice of a Rayne Hall Writer’s Craft Series e-book and a Mystery Thriller Week 2017 limited edition T-shirt, and publication of their Write Hook submission on the Mystery Thriller Week website;
• 3^rd place winner receives their choice of a Rayne Hall Writer’s Craft Series e-book and a Mystery Thriller Week 2017 limited edition book bag, and publication of their Write Hook submission on the Mystery Thriller Week website.

The Write Hook Official Contest Rules

• Have FUN!
• Submission must be a Mystery or Thriller, including subgenres.
• Write Hook contest begins on December 17^th, 2016.
• Write Hook contest submission deadline is Midnight 11:59 p.m. EST (GMT-5) / (4:59 p.m. UTC) on Sunday, February 12, 2017.
• Entries should be a 300-word story/novel HOOK.
• Entries exceeding 300 words will be disqualified without notification. (Name and contact information are not included in the submitted 300-word count.)
• Entries must be original and submitted in English.
• Must be aged 18 and over to enter the Write Hook contest including: non-published writers, published authors, wish I were published, and I just like to read a good hook.
• The following are excluded from entry into the Write Hook contest: Immediate family members or persons who are participating as a Write Hook Judge, organizing team member of MTW (Benjamin, Sherrie, Vicki).
• Mystery Thriller Week (“MTW”) retains one-time nonexclusive publication rights to the First, Second, and Third place winning submissions to be published on MTW website.
• Entries must be unpublished and unproduced and not accepted by a publisher or producer at the time of submission.
• Submissions will be judged blind by a panel of Judges.
• Include your name and contact information on the submission form. All entries will be scrubbed of personal identification by the Write Hook committee. (Entries will be judged blind.)
• You agree to grant MTW temporary non-exclusive rights to publish the top three winners.
• Final Professional Judges are Rayne Hall and Eeva Lancaster.
• Committee Members are Andrew Christie, Linda Kane, Andrew Richardson, and Sherrie Spitz.
• Decisions by the Judges are final.
• By entering this contest, you agree to hold harmless all persons involved in the facilitation of this contest, including but not limited to Judges, Committee Members, and the organizers of Mystery Thriller Week.
• Winners will be released on www.MysteryThrillerWeek.com on Wednesday, February 22^nd, 2017 in connection with a published announcement on the MTW website.
• Cash alternatives to prizes offered in association with the Write Hook contest are not available.
• Participation in the Write Hook contest constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of MTW. Winning a prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements set forth herein.

If you would like to help us celebrate the power of three, give us your best Write Hook.

Sincerely,

The Mystery Thriller Week Team (There’s 3 of us!)

Release and Limitations of Liability

By participating in the Write Hook contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless all persons associated with Mystery Thriller Week from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Write Hook contest or receipt or use of the prize, including, but not limited to: (a) any technical errors associated with the Write Hook contest, including lost, interrupted or unavailable internet Service Provider (ISP), network, server, wireless service provider, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cellular tower or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (b) unauthorized human intervention in the Write Hook contest; (c) mechanical, network, electronic, computer, human, printing or typographical errors; (d) application downloads; (e) any other errors or problems in connection with the Write Hook contest, including, without limitation, errors that may occur in the administration of the Write Hook contest, the announcement of the winner, the cancellation or postponement of the event and/or the flyover, if applicable, the incorrect downloading of the application the processing of entries application downloads or in any Write Hook contest-related materials; or (f) injury, death, losses or damages of any kind, to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrants participation in the Write Hook contest or acceptance, receipt or misuse of the Write Hook prizes. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Write Hook contest. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.