You’re going for a job interview. How do you dress? If you’re applying for a managerial position, don’t dress like a surfer. If you’re going for a position as a plumber, a suit and tie might not be appropriate. Your appearance, interaction, and attitude must convince the manager that you are the person for the job. First impressions are usually long-lasting, and can make the difference whether you get the job.
In a similar manner, when someone picks up your book, he or she must be quickly convinced that the book is worth reading. Your first sentence, or at least your first paragraph, must arrest the reader’s attention. For example …
In the book, APRIL 1865 (Jay Winik, HarperCollins, 2001), Mr. Winik opens his introduction with: “Atlanta had been overwhelmed. Columbia had been surrendered – and burned. Charleston had been abandoned. The peace conference at Hampton Roads had been fruitless. And the British and the French had refused to intervene.”
That opening salvo got my attention! I continued reading.
Like Jay Winik did, we must make that very important first impression in the opening lines of our book. We don’t want readers to put our book down until they devour the whole story.
And remember, the last lines of each page must prompt the reader to turn the page. The last page of the chapter should present a hook to pull the reader to the next chapter. And the first paragraph of each chapter should be a lure to entice the reader to keep reading. Yes, the book must be interesting!
All that is wrapped up in two words:
Write Creatively
P & L Publishing 