First-page Critiques

You can send us the first page of your unpublished manuscript, and we’ll critique it. Here’s how it works:

  1. Send us the first page (400 words max) of your unpublished manuscript in an email or as a Word attachment, along with the title & genre, to the email address KillZoneBlog@gmail.com
  2. Reply to our “Submission Rules” acknowledgement & agreement email.
  3. The pages will be divvied up among the Zoners for review and we’ll post a list of past and upcoming critiques. Readers will be able to comment as well.

Note: Critiques are done anonymously–writers‘ names will not be posted, and reviewers will not know who authored their assigned pages.

In years past we have had great fun doing this exercise! We’re looking forward to reading some of your pages!

First-page critique schedule

A WOLF NEAR WOMAN HOWLING CREEK, May 17, 2022 
A STUDY IN SUFFERING, May 10, 2022
AN EASY FIX, March 29, 2022
SWEET SIXTEEN REDUX, March 22, 2022
THE SCRIBE’S BOY, February 1, 2022
DEATH OF A CHARITY DONOR, January 25, 2022
ENVY ROTS YOUR BONES, January 24, 2022
THE HOMING BIRD, November 30, 2021
DINNER WITH A CELEBRITY, November 9, 2021
CITY OF AVES, November 1, 2021
INNOCENT TO A FAULT, October 11, 2021
HOW TO EAT AN ARMADILLO, September 21, 2021
KANGAROO COURT, August 30, 2021
SIDE EFFECTS, August 22, 2021
A DELIMA WORTH MILLIONS, August 12, 2021
 A HIGH DIVE AND A HIKE TO SOMEWHERE, August 10, 2021
LITTLE LEAGUE; HUGE TROUBLE, June 22, 2021
LETHAL IMPULSE, June 21, 2021
WHAT IS THE KEY TO REBECCA? June 1, 2021
A JEALOUS GOD, May 11, 2021
THE MEANING OF LIFE, May 10, 2021
THEY CALL IT STREET JUSTICE, March 16, 2021
THE TROUBLE WITH VIVIAN, March 15, 2021
THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES OF LAUREL PALMER, March 11, 2021
THE MIRAGE, March 10, 2021
DARK THINGS, March 9, 2021
EXPENDABLE, March 8, 2021
JANE UNKNOWN, March 1, 2021
FATAL INFRACTION, February 9, 2021
SCATTERSHOT, Febuary 8, 2021
DIFFERENT WAY, January 18, 2021
RENE OUT ON A LIMB, January 5, 2021
THE LAZARUS OUTBREAK, December 15, 2020
OUTBREAK/BREAKOUT, December 7, 2020
BEGINNINGS, December 2, 2020
MURDER FOR THE SLEEP DEPRIVED, October 27, 2020
OH BY THE WAY, October 26, 2020
PREY FOR LOVE, October 20, 2020
THE SMOKE EATER, October 5, 2020
THE RECRUITER, September 29, 2020
CARRIES SECRET, September 8, 2020
DONNY MALONE, July 21, 2020
CASE RUNNER, July, 14, 2020
THE INVISIBLE, July 13, 2020
FALLING FREE, June 8, 2020
A LETHAL WALK IN LAKELAND, June 2, 2020
THE LIES OF MURDER, MAY 26, 2020
SHADOW OF XIOM-THOGG – May 24, 2020
MY BRIEF LIFE AND TRAGIC DEATH, April 28, 2020
MANUEL’S REVENGE, April 27, 2020
ABSENCE OF TRUTH, April 9, 2020
MONSTRUO CUBANO, April 6,2020
CLOSURE, March 17, 2020
CALL ME A TRANCE, March 10, 2020
LUCKY LYNX, March 9, 2020
ORGANIZATION K, March 5, 2020
THE OIL PATCH PROJECT, February 16, 2020
A THOUSAND CUTS, February 13, 2020
SONGBIRD, February 10, 2020
THE WILDFLOWER PATHOGEN, February 3, 2020
THE FALSE CURTAIN, January 28, 2020
THE BLOOD ZONE, December 12, 2019
HELL HATH NO FURY, December 10, 2019
THE GREAT GERMAN ESCAPE, December 9, 2019
THE YOUNG LIEUTENANTS DOG, December 5, 2019
NEANDER: A TIME TRAVELER, November 27, 2019
SUNNY DAYS AHEAD, November 21, 2019
THE ARRIVAL, November 19, 2019
ROOSTER STRUT, November 12, 2019O
MASTER’S INN, November 11, 2019
TRADERS MARKET, November 4, 2019
DANCE WITH DEATH, October 11, 2019
SCARLET LIES, September 24, 2019
SINGULARITY SYNDROME, September 23, 2019
THE GOD GLASSES, September 19, 2019
BLUE MENACE, September 18, 2019
OCEAN EFFECT: NO LAND, NO LAW, August 20, 2019
UNTITLED, August 18, 2019
SLEEP NO MORE, August 13, 2019
THE PURPLE DOOR, August 7, 2019
NO TOMORROWS, August 5, 2019
RELUCTANT, July 11, 2019
COUNTING MOUNTAINS, July 9, 2019
A GOAN HOLIDAY, July 8, 2019
THE LIST, June 28, 2019
CARTEL QUEEN VERONICA VALDEZ, June 18, 2019
ESCALATION, June 6, 2019
GO, May 28, 2019
SHADOWS OF LEONARDO, May 27, 2019
RELENTLESS, May 16, 2019
THEY’RE GONE, May 1, 2019
BROKEN THRONES, April 30, 2019
GHOST WIND, April 29, 2019
THE REAPERS SCYTHE, April 28, 2019
COYOTES, April 17, 2019
UNEARTHED, April 15. 2019
THE SECRET OF THIEVES, April 11, 2019
ABSENCE OF LIGHT, April 9, 2019
WATCH ALL NIGHT, April 8, 2019
ALEXA, MARCH 20, 2019
FREETS, March 19, 2019
LOVE KILLS, March 12, 2019
NATURE OF THINGS, March 7, 2019
WHATEVER TOMORROW BRINGS, February 21, 2019
HOUR OF FATALITY, February 20, 2019
SAMUEL’S MINE, February 19, 2019
THE DEVILS NOOSE, February 14, 2019
FOX BLOOD AND FAMILY ANCHORS, February 12, 2019
DEATH IN LONDON, February 4, 2019
THE DANGEROUS DAME, January 17, 2019
THE HALYCON VENGENCE, January 16, 2019
QUANDOR, December 13, 2018
THE ARTHANI PRINCE, December 3, 2018
SEVEN AT ODDS, November 27, 2018
ZIP & MILLIE – SIBERIAN ADVENTURE, November 26, 2018
THE GOOD NEIGHBOR, November 15, 2018
TITAN’S FALL, November 12, 2018
MUSICAL HAIRS, November 7, 2018
TITAN, November 6, 2018
A PLAN OF CHANGE, October 15, 2018
DEAREST EXECUTIONER, October 10, 2018
WINSTON CHURCHILL’S RENEGADE SPY, October 9, 2018
ISKOLA, October 4, 2018
THE FIFTH FLOOR, October 2, 2018
STARS, September 28, 2018
SKELETON, September 22, 2108
NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, September 20, 2018
HEIL SAFARI, September 18, 2018
HEIR OF DEATH, September 17, 2018
JOLTED, September 13, 2018
DARKNESS, September 11, 2018
PRIVATE VICES, September 5, 2018
TO CATCH A THIEF, July 31, 2018
DIVINITY COMPLEX, THE, July 28,2018
SOFIA, July 26, 2018
UNTITLED – DAVINA, July 15, 2018
NEPHILIM OF FLAME, July 3, 2018
DEATH KNELL, June 30, 2018
HEALING WOUNDS, June 21, 2018
UNTITLED CH, June 18, 2018
NO SUCH THING AS ENOUGH, June 13, 2018
TENOR TROUBLE, June 11, 2018
HAVILAH, WHERE THERE IS GOLD, June 8, 2018
OCTOBER’S FIRE, June 6, 2018
ICE HAMMER, June 5, 2018
WHEN SHIFT DOES NOT HAPPEN, June 3, 2018
SHE SAID NO, May 21, 2018
REMINISCENCE, May 19, 2018
IN VITRO, May 17, 2018
THE NEW ONE, May 10, 2018
WHEN THE DEMONS CAME TO TEA, May 9, 2018
JOE BLATZ, May 8, 2018
THE GUARDIAN, April 29, 2018
TO THE CORE, April 25, 2018
MANNAHATTA, April 21, 2018
URGE, April 19, 2018
THE BATTLE AT HOME, April 10, 2018
GIDEON, April 9, 2018
GYM BODY, April 2, 2018
LIES ON THE SEINE, April 1,2018
SHADOWS FOLLOW, March 30, 2018
ENDLESS TOMORROW, March 28, 2018
TATRICE, March 24, 2018
TOFFER AND LUCY, March 20, 2018
DANCING WITH THE WELL-BRED DEVIL, March 15, 2018
THE ARTIST AND THE MODEL, March 13, 2018
THE HEIGHTS OF VALOR, March 12, 2018
PINPRICK, March 5, 2018
NELF, March 1, 2018
CHERRY BOMB, February 22, 2018
I WISH I HAD HER JOB, February 21, 2018
AMERICAN DREAM, February 12, 2018
SEQUENCED HUMANITY, February 8, 2018
MURDER AUDIT, February 5, 2018
THE BOY, THE GIRL AND DARK MOTHER, February 3, 2018 
RABYA, February 1, 2018
DAYS OF MEAN, January 30, 2018
1940, January 29, 2018
JOES STORY, January 28, 2018
HOUSE ON HORACE STREET, January 27,2018

ACROSS THE ROAD, January 22, 2018
LOST SCROLLS OF ARCHIMEDES, January 19, 2018
SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS, January 15, 2018
LEGACY IN BLOOD, January 11, 2018
THE MASK, January 10, 2018
ADRIFT, January 6, 2018
UNDER ONE FLAG, January 2, 2018
DRESSED TO KILL, December 7, 2017
TO KEEP THE WORLD INTACT, December 3, 2017
LESSER EVILS, December 2, 2017
JAEGER’S DILEMMA, November 25, 2017 
GOODBYE DETECTIVE, November 21, 2017
KIMBERELY CREED, November 15, 2017
THE WICKEDEST GIRL, November 14, 2017
COMING HOME, November 13, 2017
UNTITLED, November 9, 2017
INDIANNER, November 8, 2017
IN THE MATTER OF LUCY, November 6, 2017
THE CORRUPTING OF GOOD COPS, October 28, 2017
THE ARCANISTS, October 21, 2017
THE EDGE, October 19, 2017
MY SPECIAL MESSENGER, October 16, 2017
THE CRICHLOW CHRONICLE, October 14, 2017
WE THE PEOPLE ARE GOOD TO EAT, October  9, 2017
THE FISH THIEVES, October 2, 2017
SKYLER, Septembe21, 2017r 27, 2017
INNOCENT VAMPIRE GIRLS, September 26, 2017
STEEL, September 20, 2017
DELIAH AND THE ONE PENNY BLUE, September 18, 2017
ANGRY VINES, September 13, 2017
LILLY’S TREE, September 11, 2017
HARM TO COME, September 7, 2017
UNDERTOW OF LOYALTY, September 5, 2017
DEATH AT THE ANGEBILT HOTEL, August 27, 2017
DESCENDING DARKNESS, August 12, 2017
STORM SEASON, August 3, 2017

OTTER ROCK, July 18, 2017
KEEP IT SAFE, July 18, 2017, a second look
A TURIN MERCENARY, July 17, 2017

DARKNESS AND BLOOD, July 16, 2017
CABAL IN CATALONIA, July 15, 2017
LEGEND OF THE WILD ONES, July 12, 2017
BEWARE OF GEEKS BEARING GRIFTS, July 6, 2017
FINN SLEW, June 19, 2017

SOME KIND OF DEAD, June 17, 2017
THE LAST WHITE ROSE, June 14, 2017

ENEMIES DOMESTIC, June 9, 2017

LIKE HELL, June 8, 2017
KEEP IT SAFE, June 6, 2017

BRINGER OF CHAOS: HARVEST OF BLOOD, May 20, 2017

CROSSING THE LINE, May 14, 2017

AVENUE M, May 9, 2017
STRANGLED BY A CLOUD. April 24, 2017
MERCY KILLER, April 22, 2017
PALM BEACH NASTY, April 20, 2017

BLUES IN THE NIGHT, April 17, 2017
NUTTER BODINE, April 12, 2017
UNTITLED, April 11, 2017
THE INSURRECTION, April 9, 2017
ANGIES RUIN, April 6, 2017
REBS REVENGE, March 11, 2017

DEATH BY PROXY, Feb 11, 2017

LIFE-LINE TO A KILLER, January 31, 2017

REBORN, Jan 15, 2017

A STRANGER, January 12, 2017

INSIDE MOVES, January 7, 2017

THE UNKNOWN RIDER, Dec 15,2016
UNTITLED, Dec 3, 2016

A DEVOTION TO DADS, Dec 1,2016

MR. WHO AND THE CURIOUS CASE OF FATAL FLATULENCE, Nov 27, 2016

THE DRAGON WITHIN, Nov 22, 2016

STAYING ALIVE, Nov 17, 2016

THE EMPIRE, Nov 10, 2016

THE ELF PRINCE, Nov 5, 2016

A DISLOYAL ELEMENT, Nov 3, 2016
TREE OF HEAVEN, Oct 24,2016

ORIGINS: JOHN SPARTAN 1965, Oct 22, 2016
MISS BRYSON LOSES HER HAT, Oct 20, 2016
CARIBBEAN NIGHTS, Oct 18, 2016

SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS, Oct 15, 2016
A CHANGE OF HATE, Oct 13, 2016
THE TRUTH ABOUT MORALITY, Sept 1
, 2016
INSIDE MOVES, Aug 18, 2016
SANCTUARY, June 23, 2016
UNTITLED, June 14, 2016
MOONSTONE, June 2, 2016
CHECKS AND BALANCES, May 31, 2016
THE CASE OF THE MISSING PAINTING, May 26, 2016
REBORN, April 28, 2016
AMERICAN LIONS, April 19, 2016
THE PEACEMAKER, March 24, 2016
UNTITLED FANTASY, March 3, 2016
THE CASE OF THE MISSING YACHT, Feb 25, 2016
RENEGADES, Feb 18, 2016
ALREADY DEAD, Jan 28, 2016
FALLEN FROM GRACE, Nov 19, 2015
THE GHOST AT BEAVERHEAD ROCK, Oct 29, 2015
INSTRUMENT OF THE DEVIL, Oct 1, 2015
BIRD WITHOUT A SONG, Sept 24, 2015
THE LUNAR LIFESTYLE, Sept 23, 2015
THE BANK BAR, Sept 22, 2015
INDELIBLE, Sept 8, 2015
UNTITLED, Aug 27, 2015
WHERE I BELONG, July 28, 2015
THINGS UNSEEN, July 23, 2015
EL CUCO, June 25, 2015
TIMBER RIDGE, May 28, 2015
PROLOGUE, May 21, 2015
A MILLION CLOSED EYES, April 16, 2015
THINGS NOT FORGOTTEN, April 23, 2015
LAND SHARKS, March 26, 2015
BIRTHRIGHT, February 17, 2015
SECRETS OF THE HOME WOOD, February 5, 2015
FORBIDDEN, January 15, 2015
CRUEL SACRIFICES, December 4, 2014
THE SHATTERED KINGDOM, October 23, 2014
UNTITLED, September 25, 2014
DISCOVERING ABERRATION, August 28, 2014
NOT USELESS, August 21, 2014
BROOKLYN NIGHTS, July 24, 2014
WHISPER CREEK, April 17, 2014
ANGRY ENOUGH TO KILL, March 6, 2014
QUEST FOR HONOR, January 30, 2014
HAIR TRIGGER, November 27, 2013
BRUEGHEL THE ELDER, November 21, 2013
THE PINK MOTORCYCLE, October 24, 2013
UNTITLED x 2, October 16, 2013
A ROSE TO LOVE, October 14, 2013
PHV, October 9, 2014, October 9, 2014
A HARD MAN TO KILL, September 26, 2013
THE CIRCLE, September 10, 2013
BLADE OF HEARTS, September 4, 2013
DEALBREAKER, August 29, 2013
THE GOOD GUYS, August 22, 2013
DAVANTI, August 1, 2013
THE SCISSORGATE, July 25, 2013
INTERFACE, July 4, 2013
BASTION: THE LAST HOPE, June 6, 2013
D
ELIVERANCE, May 30, 2013
ARCTIC FIRE, May 23, 2013
HEART FAILURE, May 9, 2013
DANG EXCELLENT SUBMISSION April 21, 2012