How to Get Published

by John Bowers

Writers hear a lot of talk about grabbing the reader’s attention on page 1. Editors, agents, and publishers aren’t likely to look at your manuscript if you don’t grab their attention right away, and if they don’t look at it, they won’t publish it - and if they don’t publish it, no one else will ever have a chance to put it down because it just didn’t grab them.

So it’s a no-brainer that you need to get that reader’s attention right away. And the only way to do that is to hook them immediately - which is why this part of your novel is usually called the “hook”.

Some hooks, of course, are better than others. It is generally agreed that you have until the end of the first paragraph to sink that hook, but that in itself can be a problem. If the first paragraph is too long, or poorly constructed, the reader might not even last that long. So I say, Bait the hook. (more…)

by Al Kalar

A new writer needs a first chapter hook to sell the book.

Well established writers can slog through the chronological background and then on to the “good stuff” only because they have developed a following that trusts them to deliver a good yarn — eventually. Disaster movies get away with slow starts because the studio spends millions on advertising trailers showing the explosions that come later in the film. (more…)

by Marti Talbott

A good summary is targeted directly at the reader and it is important to remember that the reader wants to know only one thing - what is the book about. Not paying attention to this most important element can spell disaster. Here is an example of a summary that is sure to fail:

“I spent a year writing this book and I know you will love it. It’s exciting, filled with action and well written. It’s the story of a girl and boy who fall in love under dire circumstances. First they have a hard time meeting, then they hate each other, and then they fall in love. I know you will enjoy reading my book.”

Here’s why this summary is doomed to fail. (more…)