Best First Sentence Contest

The winners of the 2026 Best First Sentence Contest are listed below. Ten talented wordsmiths won a 10-page critique with the instructor that chose their sentence.

Congrats to all!

The form to submit for the 2027 Best First Sentence Contest will be made available here in late Summer 2026.

2026 BEST FIRST SENTENCE WINNERS

Samantha M. Bailey:

It really dulls the joy of pulling off four murders in one night when you forget to pack the olives for your celebratory martini.

—Laura Bensick

Don Bentley:

The hole still wasn't deep enough for Edgar to bury his wife.

—Michael J. McLaughlin

Allison Brennan:

I screamed when I saw the llama in our kitchen, dressed in a wrinkled Aloha shirt and jams, leaning against the glass door of Gran’s new fridge, swilling a can of her special root beer.

—Diana Hansen-Young

Karen Dionne:

I know what you’re thinking: Oh, geez, a prologue?

—Francesca Kelly

David Ellis:

If it were me attacking a houseplant with such rage, I’d spill my martini, but Rita’s violence is steady.

—Christina Irene

Steven James:

The first time I killed a man, he didn't deserve it, but the second time, he absolutely did.

—Kate Angelo

Donald Maass:

I was pickin' berries when they came.

—Brenda McQueen Neil

Wanda Morris:

The citrus almond cookies in my therapist’s office tasted exactly like the batch Mom baked the day I overheard she didn’t want me.

—Elif Okcugil

Hank Phillippi Ryan:

I was going to leave Sam alone until I read that story in the paper.

—Gale Jesse

Tessa Wegert:

Nothing wrecks a girl’s wedding day like the spray of brain matter all over her white dress.

—Pamela Crane

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