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The First Five Pages
Hi everyone! I think we all know how crucial those first five pages of your manuscript are. It needs to provide your hook, immerse the reader, and get your plotline moving QUICKLY! But sometimes its difficult to figure out just what to put in your first five pages. Here are a variety of articles to help!
The First Five Pages:
In just the first few pages, preferably in the first few paragraphs, you have to:
How to Make Your First Five Pages Grab an Agent or Editor:
You don't want to start off with your character doing ordinary, boring everyday things like waking up, having breakfast and getting dressed, etc. Yet a lot of newbies do. This will get your work tossed out before the first page. Unless something important to the story or something amazing is about to happen in these instances, do not start your story with them. You'll only bore the reader. Start with the beginning of the story.
[More]
Create a Relatable Character:
The character does not necessarily have to be “sympathetic” or likable, but a writer wants the reader to at least relate to the character on some level (“empathetic”) and want to continue reading the story.
[More]
Show Current Action, Not Past Action:
You show it as it happens, moment by moment, in strict chronological order.
[More]
A Manuscript's Opening Tone:
The first line should hook the reader instantly. Typically the ‘hook’ is accomplished by composing a question to the reader, often indirectly.
Feel free to post more tips/articles in the comments and I will add them in :)
The First Five Pages:
In just the first few pages, preferably in the first few paragraphs, you have to:
- Place a hook.
- Introduce the protagonist.
- Introduce the protagonist's main story problem.
- Establish the story's setting and genre.
- Establish the tone of the story.
How to Make Your First Five Pages Grab an Agent or Editor:
You don't want to start off with your character doing ordinary, boring everyday things like waking up, having breakfast and getting dressed, etc. Yet a lot of newbies do. This will get your work tossed out before the first page. Unless something important to the story or something amazing is about to happen in these instances, do not start your story with them. You'll only bore the reader. Start with the beginning of the story.
[More]
Create a Relatable Character:
The character does not necessarily have to be “sympathetic” or likable, but a writer wants the reader to at least relate to the character on some level (“empathetic”) and want to continue reading the story.
[More]
Show Current Action, Not Past Action:
You show it as it happens, moment by moment, in strict chronological order.
[More]
A Manuscript's Opening Tone:
The first line should hook the reader instantly. Typically the ‘hook’ is accomplished by composing a question to the reader, often indirectly.
[More]
Feel free to post more tips/articles in the comments and I will add them in :)
Replies to This Discussion
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StaffPermalink Reply by Sheri Larsen on -
I really like this, Nikki. Action is so important. Sometimes I've found myself tossing the initial beginning and starting a tad later on in the storyline.
Ditching Chapter One & Starting With Chapter Two:
That really works sometimes. We can then go back, reworking chapter one either into the story later on or mingling some of it with chapter two. I've seen both work. I know I have an article about that somewhere. I'll look for it. -
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Permalink Reply by Aimee Bussard on -
There is some great advice in this group. I am glad I found it!
Here is an article I read about opening with a big "shocking" scene because we have all heard the advice to "start with action", but the article talks about finding the right action.
http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/2010/03/11/TheBiggestBadAdvic... -
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