The first page of the book is perhaps the most important. It is here that potential readers sometimes look to see if they're immediately hooked by your story, or if they like your writing style and voice.
For awhile now, I've thought about the beginning of my book and how it just doesn't have that zing.
But to tell you the truth, I've put off changing it because I'm just plain sick of looking at it. I've polished it for contests, polished it for agents, polished it until if I look at it one more time I'll throw it into a blazing fire. (After saving a copy to the hard-drive, of course.)
After I came home from my chapter meeting last night, I sat in the living room, eating a bowl of cereal (Oatmeal squares, not yummy Captain Crunch, but oh well), and the solution to my problem suddenly hit me. And I wanted to get on the computer and write.
Unfortunately, I was exhausted and in no mood to stay up past 10 p.m. And to tell you the truth, when I collapsed into bed, I completely forgot about my idea.
Until this morning at work. Then I remembered. And got this silly grin on my face.
Maybe, just maybe, I'll get a chance to write it today since work is pretty darn slow. :-)
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All right. Enough with the down-in-the dumps posts. I realized that I had way too many of them in the past few weeks and I am bumming myself...
I came to this same startling observation this week too. My first page is not grabby enough. Duh. And I'm a real read the first page kind of reader when I'm buying books too. *Banging Head*
ReplyDeleteBut, unfortunately the new first page hasn't come to me yet.
Oh man, I thought you were gonna say you lost it! I'm so glad you remembered. Isn't it a great feeling, that AHA moment?
ReplyDeleteYou have lunch right? Pen, paper? Jot the idea down and don't forget it!!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I'm one who judges books by the first page. Sometimes. Hope yours works out perfectly.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, Melissa! When we're trying to hook an agent, or an editor, or a reader, the first sentence is critical. If you pass that test, then the first paragraph is critical. If you pass that test, then the first 1 - 5 pages are critical. We really can't obsess about them too much. Everything rides on them.
ReplyDeleteIf I get past the back of the book blurb and then the inside of the book blurb, then the first page will hook me. I've been known to start a book, become bored and then skip to the back and read the ending. If I have time later I'll go back and read everything in between. Or just the sex scenes - whichever. That first page is crucial.
ReplyDeleteHey, did you forget I moved, or did you just want to go over to bravenet and be alone for a while? :p
Eve - Yeah, I saw that you moved - I just need to change it on my blog! No worries! ;-)
ReplyDeleteGo write that page, Melissa!!
ReplyDeleteI just recently went through a similar dilemma. Now, I am rewriting the entire book! (the one that sold)First impressions, be they page or entire text, are most important, SO, I sit to rewrite with you, Melissa!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't worried - I thought it was funny ...
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing when inspiration strikes?! Good thing you were somewhere you could take it down quickly. Usually happens to me when I don't have a notebook and pen or am doing something so I can't write (like driving or running on the treadmill :-/)
ReplyDeleteHope that first page gets you going!!
Quick scribble it down before you forget!!
ReplyDeleteI love writing the first page, although I have never once ever opened a book to read if I like the author's voice. I don't know why. I just realized when you said that that I don't do it. I read the back blurb and if I like the storyline I pick it up.