Does an eyesore really warrant death and mayhem?
As writers, we hear all the time that we’ve got to hook readers in just the first few pages or else. We’ve got to hook agents in the first few pages or else.
Whether you’re looking to get published or just hoping to hook your reader, first impressions are vital. Compelling opening scenes are the key to catching an agent or editor’s attention, and are crucial for keeping your reader engaged.
JEFF GERKE, THE FIRST FIFTY PAGES
This month I snagged from the New Release shelf:
I admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one. I knew it to be some sort of suspense thriller, but the blurb on my hardcover from the library says, “Still waters run deadly.” I was hoping for some sort of lake monster! Alas, I have no idea if such a monster awaits or not.
Day starts this book with two little, um, blocks of text. They’re not prologues per se; one is a newspaper excerpt about a dead body found near the lake, and one is about the lake waking up in spring, and danger lurks there. These two “mini-beginnings” before the actual beginning felt a bit awkward, but I gave the author a pass. They’re establishing a sense of menace and foreshadowing, right? Day wants to make sure the reader catches this important information so they don’t miss it in the regular storytelling. Fine.
Chapter 1 officially begins with protagonist Julia infuriated because her lifelong friend had the audacity to build a new lake house that obstructs the view of the lake from her lake house. There’s extra emphasis on how she and her husband are broke, yet they got a fancy new car and, well, have a lake house on top of wherever else they live. She cannot believe she’ll have to take a different kind of walk down to the lake. She cannot believe her friend installed art in the yard. She cannot believe some trees were cleared. And surely their other friend and fellow lake house owner will be just as mad.
I had to stop after three pages of this. Stories need characters readers can connect with. Yes, some stories can star assholes. Plenty of classics contain such characters. Heavens, I’ve written such characters. But there has to be an ability to connect SOMEWHERE, and listening to someone complain about how their friend built a new house and ruined their lake view got very tiring very fast. Sure, maybe this pettiness speaks to the protagonist’s character and possible character arc. But the first five pages need to compel readers to read on, at least to chapter 2. A writer shouldn’t assume that a brief news report of discovered skeletal remains will be enough to keep regular readers engaged while a protagonist complains nonstop about a privileged kind of problem.
Let’s see what next month’s find will teach us, shall we?
Coming up, we’ll talk about building monsters from other worlds. I’ve also got a neato blogging announcement, another author interview, and some music, too. Stay tuned!
Read on, share on, and write on, my friend!
Jean Lee's World 
This is a great example, Jean. I wouldn’t have continued to read any further either. One of the most compelling openings I’ve ever read was a James Wade book, Beasts Of The Earth! I was pulled in from the first page!
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And those are the winners! I know there’s something to be said for a slow burn, but there’s got to be SOMEthing that keeps a reader going.
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brilliant jean.
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Thank you so much!
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have a lovely day.
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There are so many books to choose from that we can afford to skip some. As an aside, Australians recently voted on their favourite 100 books from the last 25 years. Here’s a rundown. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/radionational/countdown/top100books
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Oooooh, thanks for sharing!
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superb.
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Oh, shame about that start of that novel, but I would agree. Unlikely to pick this one up. Still always nice to listen what you’re saying – thanks, Jean xxxxx
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And it’s always great to see you here, my friend! xxxxx
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I agree. Something has to make you want to read further than a few pages–a character, an event, etc. I recently made it three chapters into a book that I thought I would enjoy. And then I realized, I was “forcing” myself to read it. One should never feel that way when reading.
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Exactly! I shouldn’t have to be dragged against my own volition.
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It’s a good idea to submit a book with five first perefct pages (every page should be petfect), But don’t despair if your first five pages are not perfect. Hope for a discerning editor who wil see your talent without perfection. The first draft of Lord the Flies rurned in by the author was uncreadable but a wise editor stood up for it and ir was published and became the most successful book on the planet. Ernest Hemingway had difficulty getting published, but he said if youre a good writer you’ll get publsihed
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I think those first five pages can be rough at times, but even if they’re rough, they’ve got to do right by their story in hooking readers. Thanks for stopping by!
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Writing is tough work. I often find myself listening to audio books while doing landscaping in Brigham City. At times, I tell myself I want to start writing. It’s incredible how that decision changes the way I feel and what I think as I listen to books.
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Stories are always a powerful source of inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!
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