Your Manuscript's First Page
First Pages Evaluation~
My unique, first ten-page evaluation will help you gain insight into how industry professionals will evaluate your work. Evaluations focus on
Use this information to check your entire manuscript. Why? Because, if issues arise in the first ten pages, most likely they occur throughout your entire manuscript. My goal is to help you improve your work so it becomes more worthy of publication in the eyes of agents, editors, and publishers. PLUS, your evaluation (maximum of 2,250 words) also includes . . . drum roll . . . a 30-minute telephone consultation with me to discuss your project. WOOZER! Is this a good deal or what? Written evaluation of your first nine pages, capped off with a 30-minute phone consultation to answer any questions you may have. Fee: $125 |
Your manuscript's first page has one purpose: to entice the agent. editor, or publisher to keep reading.
Then, once your book is under contract and into production, a gang of book designers, editors, advertising people etc. will revise your first page so it becomes a sales page to motivate a potential buyer to purchase your book. However, at this point in your writing career, you need to focus on the fact that your first page is your only opportunity to make a positive first impression. How you craft your first page (170 words or less) will move you closer to achieving your goal of becoming published. Or, not. You may be thinking it’s not fair that one single page has the power to affect your writing success. Fair has nothing to do with it. Publishing is a for-profit business. Agents/editors/publisher receive thousands of submissions every year. They lack the time or energy to read through manuscripts with first pages that don’t grab their attention, are poorly crafted, or jam packed with writing mechanic errors (the top of my current book). Therefore, since your first page is a make-or-break situation. Write it like a ticking time bomb. Something has happened. Something vital is at stake. For example: The bunny is tied to the railroad tracks. Here comes the train. The protagonist must stop the train, or . . . bye-bye bunny! Your first page becomes a compelling read when you:
Beware of the “Red Flag Rascals.” Here are just a few of the words you want to eliminate from your first pages. Was -- get -- let -- has -- had -- even -- then -- that -- the--and all weak verbs that end with “ing.” You'll enjoy reading winning entries in a "first page" contest. CLICK HERE. |
