Robin Gainey did a great webinar for my writing conference about “First Page Perfect.” Here are some of her suggestions:
In the perfect first page, the main character must be sympathetic and introduced in a setting:
- where action, description, and dialogue (if any) are happening now
- which moves the story forward
- which has consequences for that main character if their desires are not met
- so the main character must do something (action or decision)
- this poses a story question in the last line: what happens next?
- all written in the same tone as your genre (mystery, sci-fi, etc).
Here are some things she recommends you not do:
- offer a set-up: start with action or description/dialogue that moves the story right along into the inciting event
- explain backstory: this is going backwards, not forwards. Work your backstory gradually into the main story a little bit at a time and only what is absolutely necessary to understand the story
- ignore the final rule above: raise a question at the end of the first page!
Robin says you should read and question. Read your story aloud (yes, really) and ask yourself the following questions:
- Is it compelling
- Are you showing the action or telling with exposition?
- What imagery comes to your mind as you read?
- How does the last line make you feel?
- Are you hooked by the end of the first page?
If you polish your first page until it’s as perfect as you can get, you’re practically guaranteed to hook an agent or editor.
