I've signed up to a Writer's Digest weekend writing course on "The First Ten Pages", not least because I need to know whether there are any objections to what I've written for submission.
Anyway, agent Paula Munier provides a presentation with this, and I thought I'd help fellow chronners out by making a note of some of the highlights she raises (Note - I've paraphrased some of these):
1. You have between 140 characters and 250 words to capture an agent/editor/publisher's attention. That means you have between a single line and a paragraph on which a decision will be made to reject you outright - or read further.
2. Publishing adage: "The first page sells the book - the last page sells the next book."
This does not simply apply to selling the book to a publishing company, but also that publishing company selling that book to bookstores.
This also applies to the consumer - if they are attracted by the cover they will read the blurb/backcover. If you still have their attention, their sales decision will be made by reading the first page.
3. Agents are swamped with queries, on top of having to deal with a high volume of emails in managing clients and contracts. However, most queries do not come across as professional. A good query will usually stand out because of this.
4. Agents now function as first readers for publishing companies, to filter out unwanted material.
5. Although agents will routinely ask for a synopsis, some accept that even great writers will struggle to write one - so will go straight to the sample chapters.
6. Sample chapters must demonstrate that a writer understands their craft. Plotting problems are easier to fix than an inability to write to the required standard. Lack of craft can be obvious in even the opening line.
7. 10 reasons to stop reading:
1) Nothing happens
2) Seen it before
3) Weak voice
4) Boring
5) No character connection
6) Cannot tell what sort of story is being told
7) Doesn't care what happens next
8) Unbelievable plot or cliches
9) Poor dialogue
10) Typos and/or grammatical errors
8. All good stories are mysteries where the reader wants to know what happens next
9. 10 reasons to keep reading:
1) Something happens!
2) Strong voice
3) High level of craft
4) Empathic characters
5) Writing instills confidence
6) Strong pace
7) Uniqueness
8) Setting and genre are clear
9) Works with existing markets
10) Prose is clean, clear, and concise
10. Understand how your novel is the same - but different - to existing books in your genre. What especially makes your story unique?
11. If the writing is strong, you must fully hook within 50 pages
12. Dialogue should reveal character, or propel the story forward
13. Structure is half the battle - it supports the narrative. Without proper structure, a novel has plenty of opportunity to meander and become lost.
14. Theme - What is the story about, and what is the writer trying to say? The more you understand this the more you can work to its strengths.
15. Avoiding opening the story with the weather - unless it's directly entwined with driving character or plot
16. If you must use a prologue, don't call it a prologue. Find a compelling alternative title.
17. Don't start with a dream...
18. Don't start with a character alone and thinking - action defines character better
19. Start with:
- Voice
- Setting
- Character
- Action
- Conflict
- Dialogue
- Theme
20. A well-written opening scene:
- Moves the plot forward
- Establishes setting
- Highlights voice
- Describes setting
- Reveal character
- Sets tone
- Reveals theme
21. Scene 1 checklist:
- What actually happens?
- Why should we care about the character?
- What feelings have you evoked in the reader?
- Have you included setting, character, theme, etc?
- Is this the right choice of POV and character?
- Is the dialogue strong?
- Do you raise enough story questions to make the reader turn the page?
- Is it clear what sort of story you're writing?
- How is your story unique
- Is it well-written and edited?
22. Try to leave those parts the readers tend to skip!
23. Polish, polish, polish.
24. When in doubt, delete
25. Better to show through action than tell through exposition
26. Avoid saidisms - but sometimes the best dialogue tag in an action
27. Ensure you understand POV use and how to technically apply it
28. Avoid repetition.
29. Invest in a good editor if you can
30. Play nice - act like a pro, and you'll be treated like one
Anyway, agent Paula Munier provides a presentation with this, and I thought I'd help fellow chronners out by making a note of some of the highlights she raises (Note - I've paraphrased some of these):
1. You have between 140 characters and 250 words to capture an agent/editor/publisher's attention. That means you have between a single line and a paragraph on which a decision will be made to reject you outright - or read further.
2. Publishing adage: "The first page sells the book - the last page sells the next book."
This does not simply apply to selling the book to a publishing company, but also that publishing company selling that book to bookstores.
This also applies to the consumer - if they are attracted by the cover they will read the blurb/backcover. If you still have their attention, their sales decision will be made by reading the first page.
3. Agents are swamped with queries, on top of having to deal with a high volume of emails in managing clients and contracts. However, most queries do not come across as professional. A good query will usually stand out because of this.
4. Agents now function as first readers for publishing companies, to filter out unwanted material.
5. Although agents will routinely ask for a synopsis, some accept that even great writers will struggle to write one - so will go straight to the sample chapters.
6. Sample chapters must demonstrate that a writer understands their craft. Plotting problems are easier to fix than an inability to write to the required standard. Lack of craft can be obvious in even the opening line.
7. 10 reasons to stop reading:
1) Nothing happens
2) Seen it before
3) Weak voice
4) Boring
5) No character connection
6) Cannot tell what sort of story is being told
7) Doesn't care what happens next
8) Unbelievable plot or cliches
9) Poor dialogue
10) Typos and/or grammatical errors
8. All good stories are mysteries where the reader wants to know what happens next
9. 10 reasons to keep reading:
1) Something happens!
2) Strong voice
3) High level of craft
4) Empathic characters
5) Writing instills confidence
6) Strong pace
7) Uniqueness
8) Setting and genre are clear
9) Works with existing markets
10) Prose is clean, clear, and concise
10. Understand how your novel is the same - but different - to existing books in your genre. What especially makes your story unique?
11. If the writing is strong, you must fully hook within 50 pages
12. Dialogue should reveal character, or propel the story forward
13. Structure is half the battle - it supports the narrative. Without proper structure, a novel has plenty of opportunity to meander and become lost.
14. Theme - What is the story about, and what is the writer trying to say? The more you understand this the more you can work to its strengths.
15. Avoiding opening the story with the weather - unless it's directly entwined with driving character or plot
16. If you must use a prologue, don't call it a prologue. Find a compelling alternative title.
17. Don't start with a dream...
18. Don't start with a character alone and thinking - action defines character better
19. Start with:
- Voice
- Setting
- Character
- Action
- Conflict
- Dialogue
- Theme
20. A well-written opening scene:
- Moves the plot forward
- Establishes setting
- Highlights voice
- Describes setting
- Reveal character
- Sets tone
- Reveals theme
21. Scene 1 checklist:
- What actually happens?
- Why should we care about the character?
- What feelings have you evoked in the reader?
- Have you included setting, character, theme, etc?
- Is this the right choice of POV and character?
- Is the dialogue strong?
- Do you raise enough story questions to make the reader turn the page?
- Is it clear what sort of story you're writing?
- How is your story unique
- Is it well-written and edited?
22. Try to leave those parts the readers tend to skip!
23. Polish, polish, polish.
24. When in doubt, delete
25. Better to show through action than tell through exposition
26. Avoid saidisms - but sometimes the best dialogue tag in an action
27. Ensure you understand POV use and how to technically apply it
28. Avoid repetition.
29. Invest in a good editor if you can
30. Play nice - act like a pro, and you'll be treated like one
