Your first line/paragraph/page is your book’s entryway, the point where readers decide to either slip off their shoes and explore the story, or duck out and make a quick exit. The opening of your book sets the tone for the story to come.

Take a look at your first page. What’s the mood? Is it warm and friendly? Is it creepy? Is it bitingly sarcastic? Is it shy? Is it funny? Is it weepy? Is it angry? Does everything seem just a little bit … off? Whatever tone you’ve set, be intentional about it; use it to power the voice of your novel. When done well, that page 1 mood can drive word choices, comparison points for metaphors and analogies, sentence structure, pace and more for the entire book.

What kind of welcome will you use to entice readers and keep them in your story?

© 2019 Rachel Martin. All Rights Reserved.