The First Ten Pages of Your Novel Matter More Than The Ending

As soon as your book is in your reader's hand you have 10 pages to win them over or lose them forever. 

This may be a bit dramatic, but it's true. 

Not only readers but agents and publishers as well if you are seeking traditional publishing. 

The first thing I do after picking up a book and reading the back cover is to turn to the first page. If I'm bored with that first paragraph I'll place it right back on the shelf and move on to the next pretty cover to catch my eye and many readers are the same. 

There are no second chances or maybe it'll get better further in - if the first page is bad they are not going to take a chance on the rest of your book. 

The first few pages of your novel MUST accomplish a few key things 

Introduce your character 

It should be clear from that very first page of your novel whose story your reader is coming to the page for. They should be meeting them front and center in some way, shape, or form that immediately lets your reader know that this is their world. 

The Hook and The Premise 

By the end of the tenth page, your character should already be up to their ears in whatever situation they are going to be dealing with for the next 300 or so pages. While you don't have to give away everything, it's a good idea to let your reader into the real story. 

Is your character being transported to a magical world? Are they avenging a murder? Whatever it is that gets the ball rolling for your characters should already be well underway.

Your reader should be invested by the end of these ten pages (though hopefully, you were able to hook them from that very first one.) They should know who your character is and be invested in the outcome of whatever it is you are throwing at them. 

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Having the fate of your novel resting on only the first ten pages can sound like a daunting task, and I'm sorry to say that it is.

However, daunting does not mean that it is impossible. 

Go through your shelves, pick up a handful of your favorite novels, and then cozy up to read the first ten pages of each. 

What was it about them that drew you in? What lessons can you learn from them to apply to your work?

Getting those first few pages to where you want them may take a bit of time and practice but you'll get the hang of it. 

Best of luck!

With love, 

B. K. xo xo

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This story was originally posted on Medium.

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