The Dutton Writers' Room

At many writers’ conferences it has become common practice to hold a “first pages session,” in which a panel of editors is asked to read the opening page of several manuscripts cold and share spontaneous comments with the audience. Such an exercise demonstrates how editors react to submissions--what catches their eyes, what turns them off, and how first impressions affect acquisition decisions. Writers are often amazed at—and perhaps a little disturbed by—the merit of their work being judged on the basis of such a limited sample. Can one page really reveal that much?

Here are some essentials an editor wants to find on a novel’s first page:

1. An opening that grabs the reader’s attention

You’ve heard this before, but it’s absolutely true that your first line is the bait that will snag your reader on the hook. Your opening should be so intriguing that the reader can’t resist plowing on. Don’t waste time by setting the scene with a tired line like, “It was the summer of 1939, and I was staying on my grandparents’ farm.” Why should young readers care about 1939 or “your” grandparents’ farm? Who is “I”? Try to come up with a first line that will reveal your character’s point of view, mood, or circumstance.

2. A voice that is distinct and authentic

Along the same lines, the best novels have a unique “sound” to them, an unforgettable personality telling the story. Readers have to find this narrator engaging and believable. It is crucial that the protagonist speak and act in ways that are true to the age group.

3. A tone that is perfectly pitched to the audience

Writers who are new to children’s books can sometimes be too cutesy or patronizing. Unless it is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, we shy away from flowery or arch writing. A memoir-like tone can be too distancing. Successful writers show respect for young adult readers by striving for immediacy.

4. A strong sense of place

Though we prefer character-revealing details over setting details on the first page, some writers manage to include both, which helps the reader disappear into another time and place.

5. Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Believe it or not, errors like typos, incorrect tenses, too few commas and too many exclamation points can discourage us from continuing past page one. If you don’t care enough to present your work in its best light, why should we care to invest time in it?

Keep these elements in mind when you feel ready to show your manuscript to others. Perhaps it would help to hold a “first pages session” in your writers’ group to see what kind of first impression yours would make. Think of it like a two-minute video for an on-line dating service (or not!).

Tag it:

?