#PassOrPages is Operation Awesome's query contest. Read the origin story here. Participating agents give brief feedback on a handful of entries, explaining why they're passing... or requesting pages! The queries and accompanying feedback are posted on our blog anonymously, which helps querying authors get a peek into agents' minds as they go through their slush piles.
Note: The Mystery Agent contest information has been archived here.
CONTEST RULES
For each round of Pass or Pages, we will only accept entries from one specific genre/category, announced in the weeks leading up to the contest. This ensures that all entries are from a genre/category that our participating agents represent.
WE HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT YOU POLISH YOUR QUERY AHEAD OF TIME. Please, no first drafts. The agents are expecting query-ready queries. But keep in mind that this contest is for people looking for feedback on their query letter and first page. It would be ideal for someone who has already workshopped their query and is about to start the query process or who has already begun but isn't getting requests for more pages.
When the submission window opens, you'll fill out a form here on the blog with all the pertinent information (contact info for us, query and first 250 words for the agents). Please stay under the 250-word limit for the first page--going over 250 words will cause your entry to be disqualified. Please don't "personalize" the query for the agents or include your bio paragraph, but other than that, treat it as you would a normal query letter. Include your manuscript's word count and title in your query. Comp titles are welcome if you were planning on using them in your regular query letter.
One entry per person each round. If you have more than one MS that fits the category, choose the one you think needs more feedback!
You are welcome to enter any other query contest whether or not you are chosen for our feedback panel.
A random selector tool will choose five entries to be given to the agents. Operation Awesome reserves the right to disqualify entries if they don't fall within the genre guidelines, or if they fail to follow any of the other rules. Entrants selected for agent feedback will be informed before the feedback reveal. There may also be feedback from an Operation Awesome team member for those who do not win agent feedback.
The winning entries with agent commentary will be posted on Operation Awesome. If you aren't comfortable with having your entry (which will be anonymous) shared on the blog, please don't enter Pass or Pages!
If you have any questions, please comment on the current POP posts, email us, or tweet @OpAwesome6.
PREVIOUS #PassOrPages CONTESTS
JANUARY 2016: Adult Mystery & Thriller
Agents:
- Caitie Flum (Liza Dawson Associates)
- Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media Group)
- Lisa Abellera (Kimberley Cameron & Associates)
- Dr. Uwe Stender (Triada US Literary Agency)
Entries
MARCH 2016: YA Contemporary
Agents:
- Whitley Abell (Inklings Literary Agency)
- Peter Knapp (New Leaf Literary & Media)
- Carrie Pestritto (Prospect Agency)
Entries
MAY 2016: MG Speculative
Agents:
- Moe Ferrara (BookEnds Literary Agency)
- Emily S. Keyes (Fuse Literary)
- Roseanne Wells (The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency)
Entries
JULY 2016: Women's Fiction
Agents:
-Andrea Somberg (Harvey Klinger Literary Agency)
-Melissa Jeglinski (The Knight Agency)
-Danielle Burby (Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency)
-Patricia Nelson (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency)
Entries
SEPTEMBER 2016: YA Speculative
Agents:
-Kurestin Armada (P.S. Literary Agency)
-Sarah Negovetich (Corvisiero Literary Agency)
-Renee Nyen (kt literary)
Entries
NOVEMBER 2016: MG Contemporary
Agents:
-Clelia Gore (Martin Literary Management)
-Rebecca Podos (Rees Literary Agency)
Entries
MARCH 2017: Adult Sci-fi/Fantasy
Agents:
-Lisa Abellera (Kimberley Cameron & Associates)
-Hannah Fergesen (kt literary)
-Kirsten Carleton (Prospect Agency)
Entries
MAY 2017: YA Contemporary
Agents:
-Whitley Abell (Inklings Literary Agency)
-Laura Crockett (TriadaUS Literary Agency)
-Lorin Oberweger (Adams Literary)
Entries
JULY 2017: Contemporary Romance
Agents:
-Tricia Skinner (Fuse Literary Agency)
-Rachel Brooks (BookEnds Literary Agency)
-Kelly Peterson (Corvisiero Literary Agency)
Entries
SEPTEMBER 2017: MG Sci-fi/Fantasy
Agents:
-Emily Keyes (Fuse Literary Agency)
-Ben Grange (L. Perkins Agency)
-Meg LaTorre-Snyder (Corvisiero Literary Agency)
Entries
MARCH 2018: YA Sci-fi/Fantasy
Agents:
-Kurestin Armada (P.S. Literary Agency)
-Moe Ferrara (BookEnds Literary Agency)
-Lindsay Mealing (Emerald City Literary Agency)
Entries
JULY 2018: Young Adult Contemporary
Agents:
-Whitley Abell (The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency)
-Jess Dallow (Brower Literary and Management)
-Andrea Somberg (Harvey Klinger Literary Agency)
Entries
SEPTEMBER 2018:Diverse Young Adult Fairy Tales, Folktales, or Myths
Agents:
-Kelly Peterson (Corvisiero Literary Agency)
-Saritza Hernandez (Corvisiero Literary Agency)
-Weronika Janczuk (D4EO Literary Agency)
Entries
MAY 2019:Adult Historical Fiction
Agents:
-Katelyn Uplinger (D4EO Literary Agency)
-Ann Leslie Tuttle (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)
Entries
JULY 2019:Young Adult Horror
Agents:
-Kelly Peterson (Rees Literary Agency)
-Cortney Radocaj (Corvisiero Literary Agency)
Entries
SEPTEMBER 2019:Middle Grade, any genre
Agents:
-Kelly Peterson (Rees Literary Agency)
Entries
MARCH 2020:Adult Suspense/Thriller
Agents:
-Stephanie Winter (P.S. Literary Agency)
-Amy Bishop (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)
-Samantha Fabien (Laura Dail Literary Agency)
Entries
JUNE 2020: Adult Rom-Com/Cozies
Agents:
- Rebecca Podos (Rees Literary)
- Tia Rose Mele (Talcott Notch Literary Services)
Entries
OCTOBER 2020: Young Adult (all)
Agents:
- Dr. Uwe Stender ~ Special Returning Agent who was with us for the first OA query contest (Triada US Literary Agency)
- Kelly Peterson ~ Popular Returning Agent who has agreed to do Pass Or Pages more than anyone else (Rees Literary)
- Shannon Snow (Creative Media Agency, Inc.)
- Jennifer Herrington (The Harvey Klinger Literary Agency)
- Torie Doherty Munro (Writers House)
Entries
MARCH 2021: LGBTQ+ Romance
Agents:
- Silvia Molteni
- Jess Dallow
- Lucy Irvine
Entries
JUNE 2021: ADULT FANTASY
Agents:
- Michaela Whatnall
- Rebecca Podos
- Elle Thompson
Entries
OCTOBER 2021: Diverse Voices
Agents:
- Kaitlyn Johnson
- Hilary Harwell
- Michelle Hauck
- Beth Marshea
- Carlisle Webber
- Cortney Radocaj
Entries
MARCH 2022: FRIENDS OR ENEMIES TO LOVERS ROMANCE!
Agents:
- Annalise Errico
- Rebecca Podos
Entries
JULY 2022: Family Dynamics/Family Saga fiction (any age)
Agents:
- Ann Leslie Tuttle
Entries
October 2022: Adult Fantasy
Agents:
- Michelle Hauck
- Ernie Chiara
Entries
Feb 2023: GENRE
Agents:
- NAME HERE
- NAME HERE
- NAME HERE
Entries
