Crossword puzzle clue "first step of a contest"

Remembrance word [CONTEST NOTE: My online crossword contest is ONE WEEK AWAY (Sept. 30). First prize, $2,500. For details visit www.alzfdn.org.]

Asset-freezing org. (CONTEST ALERT! My new all-skill, solve-at-home crossword contest benefiting the Alzheimer's Foundation of America is Sept. 30. First prize, $2,500. For details visit www.alzfdn.

Rocker Bonnie [CONTEST NOTE: My online all-skill crossword contest is Sept. 30. First prize is $2,500. For details visit www.alzfdn.org.]

First step of a contest

Bulwer-___ Fiction Contest (yearly contest involving deliberately awful opening sentences to novels)

Contest before the main contest

With ''down,'' a pre-contest contest

Step-by-step procedures