How to Ensure the First Three Pages of Your Novel Captivate the Reader
Secret: seize the Heart First
Romance Writers of America used to mail its members a magazine full of helpful articles and industry news called the Romance Writer’s Report. For a while, they had a column called “First Three Pages” where a brave writer submitted the first three pages of their manuscript to be reviewed and critiqued by an editor.
I used to find it interesting to read what editors liked and disliked about the beginning of a novel. The comments the editors made were not surprising. They liked it when a story captivated them immediately with a good hook. They liked it when their curiosity was piqued. Humor, tension, or any emotion at the start was a plus.
The editors usually mentioned the overall strengths and weaknesses of the opening. They also offered some advice and stated whether they would request to read more or not if it came across their desk.
I liked the column because it was realistic, and the reader got a peek behind the scenes of what happened to a manuscript when an editor read it.
Be the editor
This column also opened my eyes to how important those first three pages were. The editor made many assumptions about the entire novel based solely on…
