HOOKED FROM THE START:
CRAFTING A CAPTIVATING FIRST PAGE
Free Online Workshop | November 6, 2024 | 1-2pm PT
Unlock the secrets to crafting an irresistible first page that captivates readers from the start. In this engaging and insightful course, we'll explore:
- The essential elements your first page must include to grab and hold a reader's attention.
- Common pitfalls to avoid that can turn readers away.
- Techniques to introduce your narrator, establish time and place, set the tone, and hint at the story to come.
- How to demonstrate your writing prowess in the crucial opening lines.
Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting, this workshop will empower you to write a compelling first page that grabs your reader's attention.
FIRST PAGE CHALLENGE
In the second part of the workshop, we'll dive into a fun and interactive exercise called the First Page Challenge. I will read the first page of several anonymous manuscripts—some from published books, others from unpublished works. Together, we'll analyze these openings to identify what grabs our attention and what doesn't. This exercise is designed to:
- Spark insightful discussions about what makes a first page effective or ineffective.
- Sharpen your critical eye for evaluating your own work.
- Provide practical examples of both successful and less successful techniques.
Plus, it's fun.
After you register, you will receive an email with instructions on how to submit your first page.
WANT TO INCREASE THE ODDS THAT YOUR FIRST PAGE GETS CHOSEN?
The first time we ran this workshop, we had over fifty people send in pages and we only had time in the workshop to read 7 or 8 of them. As we're expecting even more people this time, we've decided to choose the pages by lottery. Every writer automatically gets one ticket in the lottery by registering, but you ALSO get a ticket in the lottery every time someone registers for the event and lists your name in the blank for "How did you hear about the workshop?"
The more people tell us you sent them, the more times your name is entered in the lottery. It's that simple. Click below to share this page with your writer friends.