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Author: Hazel Rodel
In an age where almost instantaneous blogging, online reviews and tweeting is the norm, being an ‘author' in some form or another is no longer for a select minority. It's fair to say that authorship in both new and traditional forms of media is growing, and it certainly doesn't look like stopping anytime soon. In what is arguably the first study of its kind, it seems that we are in the midst of a writing revolution, as the study found that more people are writing now than ever before. This new found literary movement is said to include anyone and everyone from part time bloggers to serious writers with publishing ambitions. Undoubtedly the biggest challenge facing would be a writer is gaining the attention of their readers.
Hooking the reader in from the start
From people who write short stories for fun to those whose goal it is to one day see their work published, they will be all too aware of how important it is that their audience not only reads their material, but to keeps on reading it. This doesn't just apply to audiences either. In the early days of heading out onto the long and rocky road of becoming a published author, it is the editors, literary agents and publishing executives that will also need to be absorbed in the opening pages of a story if the writer has any chance of landing those first few book deals. With that in mind, it is really important that when submitting a short story, book or even an essay that the audience wants to read more. A writer should have clear ideas from the outset on the direction in which their story will go. For many people, it is the first few pages that could make or break a piece of writing.
An intriguing, worthwhile character
Any character that is introduced in the opening pages of an essay, short story, manuscript or book really needs to be intriguing and should contribute to showing the reader why they would be interested in getting to know the character. If a particular character is creative or altruistic then readers will no doubt enjoy finding out more about a character which they can admire. For a character that is dangerous, deceitful, dark and unpredictable, readers will almost certainly want to find out more about a villain or a multidimensional anti-hero. With this in mind, establishing a desire or goal for a character relatively quickly, and opening the story or manuscript by highlighting this motivation will help to spark interest in the character. However, writers should make sure that they do not give away too much of the mystery surrounding the character in those early introductions with the reader. Offer whoever is reading just enough information so that they remain interested, but not too much so that they feel the character has nothing left to offer.
Gaining the reader's attention
In order to absorb the reader's attention in those first few pages, writers should focus on an important, intense moment that will leave the reader wanting to know more. This opening action doesn't necessarily have to be gung-ho, flashy or shocking, unless it is genuinely appropriate. A school girl nervously approaching a darkened alley can be enough get the reader interested in both the character and the outcome of the scene. The important thing is to add gravitas. Regardless of how the opening pages evolve, something needs to happen, so that there is a need or undeniable driving force for the reader to want to continue moving through one page to the next.
The opening setting is important too
Budding writers should also choose an unexpected, intriguing and unique setting that will automatically provide the reader with an interest factor from the opening pages of the story or manuscript. A well thought out, opening setting further helps to pull readers in from the start, but that's not to say that a familiar setting will be of no interest to the reader. As long as a boring setting doesn't result in boring writing then writers should have nothing to worry about. A dark alley can still be described in such detail that the reader feels as if they are there in the scene with the character. For those who want to offer something different from an opening setting, it is worth thinking about presenting the scene or setting from the characters viewpoint so that they can offer an exclusive insight into something that might otherwise have been missed.
In an age where almost instantaneous blogging, online reviews and tweeting is the norm, being an ‘author' in some form or another is no longer for a select minority. It's fair to say that authorship in both new and traditional forms of media is growing, and it certainly doesn't look like stopping anytime soon. In what is arguably the first study of its kind, it seems that we are in the midst of a writing revolution, as the study found that more people are writing now than ever before. This new found literary movement is said to include anyone and everyone from part time bloggers to serious writers with publishing ambitions. Undoubtedly the biggest challenge facing would be a writer is gaining the attention of their readers.
Hooking the reader in from the start
From people who write short stories for fun to those whose goal it is to one day see their work published, they will be all too aware of how important it is that their audience not only reads their material, but to keeps on reading it. This doesn't just apply to audiences either. In the early days of heading out onto the long and rocky road of becoming a published author, it is the editors, literary agents and publishing executives that will also need to be absorbed in the opening pages of a story if the writer has any chance of landing those first few book deals. With that in mind, it is really important that when submitting a short story, book or even an essay that the audience wants to read more. A writer should have clear ideas from the outset on the direction in which their story will go. For many people, it is the first few pages that could make or break a piece of writing.
An intriguing, worthwhile character
Any character that is introduced in the opening pages of an essay, short story, manuscript or book really needs to be intriguing and should contribute to showing the reader why they would be interested in getting to know the character. If a particular character is creative or altruistic then readers will no doubt enjoy finding out more about a character which they can admire. For a character that is dangerous, deceitful, dark and unpredictable, readers will almost certainly want to find out more about a villain or a multidimensional anti-hero. With this in mind, establishing a desire or goal for a character relatively quickly, and opening the story or manuscript by highlighting this motivation will help to spark interest in the character. However, writers should make sure that they do not give away too much of the mystery surrounding the character in those early introductions with the reader. Offer whoever is reading just enough information so that they remain interested, but not too much so that they feel the character has nothing left to offer.
Gaining the reader's attention
In order to absorb the reader's attention in those first few pages, writers should focus on an important, intense moment that will leave the reader wanting to know more. This opening action doesn't necessarily have to be gung-ho, flashy or shocking, unless it is genuinely appropriate. A school girl nervously approaching a darkened alley can be enough get the reader interested in both the character and the outcome of the scene. The important thing is to add gravitas. Regardless of how the opening pages evolve, something needs to happen, so that there is a need or undeniable driving force for the reader to want to continue moving through one page to the next.
The opening setting is important too
Budding writers should also choose an unexpected, intriguing and unique setting that will automatically provide the reader with an interest factor from the opening pages of the story or manuscript. A well thought out, opening setting further helps to pull readers in from the start, but that's not to say that a familiar setting will be of no interest to the reader. As long as a boring setting doesn't result in boring writing then writers should have nothing to worry about. A dark alley can still be described in such detail that the reader feels as if they are there in the scene with the character. For those who want to offer something different from an opening setting, it is worth thinking about presenting the scene or setting from the characters viewpoint so that they can offer an exclusive insight into something that might otherwise have been missed.
Posted in: Self Publishing
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