Just as when we meet someone new, we naturally want to be at our best. Who wouldn’t? In the publishing world, it’s just as important to demonstrate the strength of our writing when we approach a literary agent to ask for representation. And if we’re hoping to skip the agent route and deal directly with a publisher, we need our prose to impress those with the power to publish us.
Regardless of how long your story may be, it’s the opening pages of the manuscript that encourage (or discourage) an agent or acquiring editor to ask for the whole book. Fact is, industry professionals initially request only a brief sample of your work, always from the beginning. This sample may be as few as 10 pages, accompanied by a 1-page plot summary. Although this may seem unfair to us authors when we’ve slaved over a 300-page manuscript, agents need to take shortcuts to manage their massive work load. So, in way, those few pages are a test. The agent first needs to determine if your writing is of publishable quality. They also must feel strongly drawn to the concept of the story. If we pass these tests, they will ask to see more. Sometimes the next 50 or 100 pages. Maybe even the full manuscript.
Thus, as writers seeking publication, we need to get a literary foot in the door. And the way we do it is by making the initial pages virtually free of problems and as interesting possible. Furthermore, these opening pages become a model for the rest of the story, and a shout-out to readers that promises wonderful stuff to come. This is one reason why successfully published authors will tell you that their opening scenes are always the ones that they’ve written, re-written, and sweated more blood over than any other part of the manuscript. If there are obvious errors or weaknesses in these pages, the agent assumes that things can get no better. And they stop reading. Result? Rejection.
In today’s competitive publishing environment, even multi-published authors have taken to hiring a “pre-publication” editor for help developing their plots and troubleshooting their manuscripts. They see it as a smart investment in their careers. It goes without saying that newer authors, unfamiliar with the business end of the writing world, will benefit even more from the guidance of a good writing coach who has years of experience to share. I think this is why I’m so enamored of coaching when I’m not working on my own books. I get a vicarious kick from seeing my writers gain confidence and watching their writing blossom.
Consider upping your game by investing in your writing and skill level. A good coach can pinpoint your weaknesses and guide you toward solutions.
Here’s a brief quiz to help you determine how effective your opening pages are. Have fun with it! But take it seriously if you find flaws in your opening. It could make the difference between a contract, or another rejection…
A Quiz: How Effective is Your Story’s Opening?
Literary agents and publishing house editors have a mental wish-list when they start reading your submission. How many of these pluses can you spot in the first 5, 10 or 20 pages of your manuscript?
- Fantastic opening sentence/paragraph (the so-called “hook.”)
- Early introduction to a main character
- Controlled perspective (i.e., Point of View/POV)
- Revelation of the Central Conflict
- Starts at a critical instigating moment
- Clearly identifies the genre
- Brisk pacing
- Clutter-free prose (and no information dumps)
- Pleasing balance of action, dialogue and narration
- Few, if any mechanical errors (grammar, spelling, format, punctuation, etc.)
If your story lacks any of these elements (or you’re just not sure what they mean), ask me. (Kathryn@KathrynJohnsonLLC.com) I never charge for responding to an emailed question. I want your story to get the attention it deserves, and a fair read from a literary agent.