I’ve been reading the first five pages of a number of manuscripts for critique at an upcoming conference. It’s been a great opportunity to be on the other end of the submission process, to see what editors and agents see when a manuscript crosses their desks. The manuscripts I’m reading are all very different, but I’ve noticed that the most successful ones, in terms of hooking me and making me want to read more, all share the following five traits:

1. They help me get to know the main character. 

The most successful opening pages tell me more about the main character than just his name and age. They give me some sense of the character’s physical appearance and outlook on life and at least provide clues to her quirks and interests, hopes and fears.

2. They make me care about the main character.

When I’ve finished reading a successful opening, not only do I have information about the main character, I care about him. I’ve found this sense of empathy and connection to the main character to be the number one thing that hooks me into a book. If I care about a character, a scene in which she’s packing a suitcase  can be more riveting than an opening where bombs explode and buildings burn.

3. They start where the story begins.

This may seem obvious, but it’s amazing how many manuscripts begin with a “throat-clearing” scene that takes place before the actual action of the story begins. Again, this doesn’t mean you need to start your book with gunshots or bombs exploding, but you do need to begin the moment just before everything changes for your main character.

4. They hint at a story problem or conflict.

Even if the main conflict of the story doesn’t start in their first five pages, successful openings at least hint that there is a problem or conflict to come. Make sure your first pages do more than set the scene and introduce your characters – toss in some tension!

5. They do all of the above, with confidence and style.

I always hated it when editors and agents at conferences talked about “voice,” because I had no idea what they really meant. Now I do. Highly successful first pages not only introduce and get you to care about the main character and the problem or conflict she’s about to face, they convince you that you’re in for a treat, because the narrator – and writer’s – style is consistent, confident, and unique.

Do you agree with me? Are there any other traits you think highly successful first pages share?

Tags: conferences, critique, first pages

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