I’ve read thousands of “page ones.” Very often I don’t read page two.
Sometimes all I read is that first page and I make judgements based on what I see there. As an agent and a reader my practice is that if I’m not connecting with the material I move on–and quickly.
I wish I had time to give writers (and their books) more of a chance but I can tell a lot by one page: sense of dialogue, setting, pace, character, voice, and writing talent–yes, usually all from one page. Five at the most.
So how are you supposed to get us past one page?
6 Tips To Hook A Reader on Page One
1. Learn how to balance what readers need to know vs. what you, as the writer, want to tell us. I can sense a writer who is trying to show off very quickly. It really only takes one paragraph to see that. A command of language is knowing how to write for your audience, not showing off how you can set a scene with a vocabulary that your reader can’t connect with. Showing off isn’t going to win readers over. It’s going to make the decision to walk away very easy. All the reader needs to know is who has a secret (see more at point 3). This tip is all about going back and editing your first page over and over again. Polished, but not so shiny that we think we’re reading a magazine ad.
2. Learn what “start with action” really means. We’re not asking every writer to start their book with a car crash. In fact, most shouldn’t! What we’re asking is to make sure that your book starts in a place where plot is happening, not merely an introduction to the scene or characters. The longer you take to drop some hints the more confused we are and that encourages people to put down the book. Action means movement of some kind: start of a conflict, effects of a previous conflict, or dialogue about new/existing conflict.
3. Let us know who has secrets; keep the reader curious. Every character must have a secret. It is linked to their stakes and why they must achieve their goal. Don’t underestimate the power of a secret. It could be something as small as what they were embarrassed by last week or something as big as a major mistake at work. And read this PubCrawlBlog post to learn more. Remember that characters need to feel like they had a life before we entered their world via the book, and that they’ll have an interesting life afterwards too.
4. Be wary of information dumps. The number one killer of a page one: more didactic text and backstory then we could possibly need. Instead of information dumping on us (remember we’re joining you at this exact moment–so what do we need to know to enjoy this moment as it stands?) try things like dialogue instead. Dialogue is a great way to get plot moving while introducing us to your world. If you’re tempted to give us more backstory or facts than we need (I don’t need to know where your character is from, their hair colour, or their sibling order) remember that there is a reason you started your book in this place and it should relate to the fact that their life changes in this instant. No facts are needed if you start in the right place.
5. Introduce characters on a need-to-know basis. There’s nothing more confusing than reading more than 3 or 4 names on page 1. Not only is it hard to keep straight the names themselves, I’m also thoroughly confused about which name matches which voice especially in dialogue. Be careful to only mention characters we need to know at that time. That will prevent the reader from putting down your book before we’ve even begun because they feel they can’t keep up.
6. Never assume a reader is going to finish your first page, first chapter, or whole book. Free time is a luxury these days. When a reader picks up a book that’s a huge statement about how they spend their free time. Dedicating 8-10 hours to your writing should never be assumed. So if you keep that in mind as you write and edit you’ll be in great shape to keep the pace moving and stakes high.
Reblogged this on Shirley McLain.
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Thanks, Carly. That’s why my first chapter has changed, again. Take care, Beth Havey
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Carly, this is one of the most brilliant posts I’ve read on this subject and timely in my case, as I am just touching on this very subject in the memoir writing workshops I run. Permission to share with my participants please and thanks so much for posting this.
http://www.memoirabilia.ca
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Carly
Would you grant me permission to repost this in entirety on my website at http://www.memoirabilia.ca with full credits and links back to your site, of course. It’s too good not to share with my followers and members. Thanks.
Viga
>
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That’s okay with me, but please wait 1 week to repost.
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Hi Carly. Have you ever considered doing a monthly blog feature where you do 1st page critiques? It would be amazing to see how this advice applies to real examples. Just a thought. Thanks for putting out such helpful posts! Just bought your book. Can’t wait to read it. :)
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I do Writer’s Digest webinars where I provide private critiques, so doing it for free isn’t something I want to add to my plate! But I can see how that could be helpful.
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LOL fair enough :) Do you have a link for the Writer’s Digest webinars? I’m a poor girl writing, but maybe I can save up.
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Here’s my next one: http://bit.ly/1G3a7MO
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Thank you!
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Read and be informed 👍😃
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Perfect timing for those of us muddling through NaNoWriMo! Great checklist. Thanks, Carly.
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Reblogged this on Perth Words… exploring possibilities. and commented:
Very Handy Hints…
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Great stuff as always. I love the challenge of writing a killer first page, and these are wonderful tips!
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Reblogged this on Pearlz Dreaming.
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Reblogged this on Monique Mulligan, Author and commented:
Some great tips from a literary agent here. The definition of “action” is most helpful.
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Reblogged at http://www.moniquemulligan.com
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Reblogged this on Writing Fiction Now.com and commented:
Thanks for this Ms. Watters. Some terrific insight here for us on how to hook our readers from page one! Much appreciated!
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I went back to my first pages and used these bullets as a checklist against what I had written. Very helpful and assured me that I was in the right direction! Thanks Carly!!
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This is just what I needed. I was rereading my page one as I read your post thanks so much. You want me to wait one week before reblog gong?
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If you’re going to do it through wordpress go ahead, but if you’re going to copy and paste then wait a week. Thanks for visiting!
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Reblgging on WordPress. Thanks
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
This is vital information from an agent who knows what’s needed.
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Reblogged this on Nutsrok and commented:
This is a very helpful post
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Reblogged this on Pearls Before Swine and commented:
This is really good advice. I’m going to print these bullet points out and check off a list :)
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This is an incredible post! I love reading tips like this. I am definitely going to be following you from now on.
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Reblogged this on .
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A brilliant piece, thanks for posting.
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Reblogged this on and commented:
Here are some good ideas for getting and keeping a reader.
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Reblogged this on On The Write Path and commented:
As I approach the fateful moment, I always come back to review my first chapter with an increasingly critical eye. I love the insight given in your post and thank you for sharing a bit of our world from the other side of the page.
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Reblogged this on STEPS TO EXCELLENCE IN YOUR LIFE..
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Thank you for revealing the tips that teach us striving writers how to get you to read the second page of our book. I rewrote my first page for the umpteenth time this week and now I plan to try, try again.
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“We’re not asking every writer to start their book with a car crash.”
I already knew this, that’s why my historical romances always begin with a UFO smacking into an airplane ;)
Insightful post.
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Thanks for the guidance, Carly. I write eco-thrillers and was wondering what are your views about having an opening chapter which tells of an event which happened way back in the past, such as an earthquake-induced mining disaster, but which ultimately relates to events which occur later in the book – such as another earthquake-induced disaster. Do you think a prologue would be better?
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I don’t rep that genre so I’m not the best person to ask!
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Many thanks for your advice. After I finish reading a novel, I sometimes go back to the first page and re-read the first few pages, and I’ve been impressed by how some authors packed their novels’ main thrust into a handful of paragraphs.
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Fab article – keep up the good work
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No wonder I’m put off by so many works. Keeping in mind the perspective of a reader/agent is a must, the writer has to give him a good reason to keep reading.
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Reblogged this on Marcus Dunn.
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Reblogged this on When Angels Fly.
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