Hey, traditional publishing hopefuls! Still holding off on submitting your queries to literary agents? You’ve got your pitch down, your query letter is sparkling, but those opening pages… maybe not quite where you want them to be? Well, fear not!
Here’s 5 strategies to hook an agent in 10 pages or less:
1. A compelling character
Your opening pages need to introduce a character readers will want to spend 300+ pages with—and, more importantly, a character your literary agent will want to champion for years. But how do you do that? Well, first, make sure your character is someone—not just a placeholder for your plot. Dive deep into their motivations, quirks, and goals (even if we only see the surface of them in the first few pages). It’s crucial to show they’re fully realized and interesting right from the start. If you don’t know who they are before you start drafting, it’s going to show.
2. A whimsical world
Whether your story takes place in a fantastical realm or a contemporary city, the world your character inhabits needs to be compelling. You don’t need to spend the first few pages describing every detail, but you do need to give the reader enough to feel the world. Tease them with sensory details, hints of the environment, and an atmosphere that keeps them turning pages. And don’t forget about the people in your character’s world—how they interact with others can reveal so much about the setting. Whether it’s the buzzing streets of a city or a tight-knit community in a small town, the other characters help breathe life into the world around your protagonist. If the world feels flat or isolated, so will your story. Agents want to see that you’ve built a world worth exploring, even if it’s just a taste in those first 10 pages.
3. A riveting reason
What’s your character doing, and why? This is where your opening pages can truly shine. Readers (and agents) don’t want to see a character just moping around thinking about their problems. They want to see someone with a reason for their actions, a character who’s active, with clear motivation. Hints of their goals should be evident, even if those goals aren’t fully explained yet. Show your character doing something—whether it’s chasing a goal, making a choice, or simply trying to survive. Make sure your future agent feels the pull of that character’s motivations right away.
4. A ticking timebomb
Urgency is key in those first 10 pages. If your character is sitting around, having casual conversations about the weather, you’re in trouble. Something needs to be happening—something that makes readers feel like they have to keep reading. A deadline, a threat, a mystery—whatever it is, your character needs a goal that’s pushing them forward, something with stakes that are felt immediately. The longer you leave the agent wondering what’s going to happen, the more likely they’ll put your manuscript down. Nail your opening with a ticking timebomb, and the agent will keep reading.
5. A vivid voice
Whether you’re writing in 1st person or 3rd person, you need a narrator who’s compelling enough to make the agent want to hear their story from start to finish. The voice should give the agent a taste of the story’s tone—whether it’s sharp, sarcastic, introspective, or full of wit. Make sure that your voice shines through in the first few pages so the agent is invested in what this character has to say. If the voice falls flat, the agent might look elsewhere.
Conclusion
Your opening pages can make or break your query attempts. Show literary agents you’ve got what it takes to deliver a compelling narrative and hook a reader in 10 pages or less and you’ll be signing up for your publishing future in no time!