How To Lose A Reader In 10 Pages

Let’s not lose them before we hook’em

Before I decided to self-publish, like any other writer-wanna-be I researched literary agents. On average, most preferred an outstanding query letter and the first 5 to 10 pages of your polished, glowing like the last lightning bug, manuscript. Those pages better cause the agent to miss their stop on the subway and compel them to contact at least five publishing houses because they are reading the next big thing. This may be a tab bit of an exaggeration but it sure seemed that way years ago when I was dating around the agent scene (I wasn’t into it much, only contacted two agents). The point is, that I kept running across this 5-10 pages requirement. Based only on a few pages–not even a full chapter, agents decided if a project was right for them.

For a new author this pressure is intimidating as all get-out—harder than trying out for American Idol. Most of the time they let the contestant finish their song. Writers do not get that luxury, many agents stop reading in the first paragraph if they spot problems.

I attended a writers’ conference that held a Gong Show for manuscripts. The host would read a manuscript and agents gonged when they lost interest. Out of 40 manuscripts only 1 made it through an entire page. I understand why they take this approach because the average reader wants to fall for a story immediately.

I get it, reading a novel takes commitment, time–it’s like starting a relationship. I jotted down feedback from this conference on what not to do, because in many ways agents represent the reader. And in real relationship fashion I’m going to share writing tips that also apply to dating.

Kate says it all

1. Explicit Intro: On average, talking about sex when first meeting someone isn’t a good idea—definitely off-putting. Opening a novel with an explicit sex scene is a big no-no as well. Now, with Erotica, the rules may be different but I image the reader isn’t thrown into a steamy bedroom scene in the first line.
2. Showing Off: Ok, raise your hands if you like dating a show-off? Huh, I don’t see any hands. Unless you’re writing for writers or masters of the English language, the reader just wants a good story. To be entertained. Why use a twenty-dollar word when a five-dollar one will work?
3. TMI (too much information):  Sharing all your business on the first date is an easy way to lose the interest of a potential partner. Where’s the mystery? What’s there to wonder about? It’s nice having to work a little when getting to know someone. Same applies to writing. Information dumping in the beginning doesn’t create that I-can’t-wait-to-see-what-happens response. Actually, it does the opposite–a real snooze-fest!
4. Lack of Authenticity: No one can be you better than you. It’s really awkward being on a date when the person isn’t being themselves. Be true to the character and story by writing realistically. And it’s totally fine to do it your own way.
5. Pacing: There’s a natural flow to good conversation just like there’s a natural flow to good storytelling. A good balance between summary and scene makes for enjoyable reading!  
6. Hot-Mess: Showing up for a first date dirty and looking a hot-mess, will not go over well–unless it’s a rock climbing date. Being prepared and put together helps people to take you seriously. With a novel, having a ton of grammatical or spelling mishaps in the first few pages is unacceptable. 

As a writer it’s important to know what makes readers lose interest in the first 10 pages, and not do them. And there’s many more but six is plenty. To be honest, readers can lose interest with a perfect manuscript just because they have options.

America, at least, is full of the OEEB (Overly Entertained and Easily Bored). Scrolling through Netflix, trying to find the best, most suitable entertainment for my mood, can take more time than just watching a Walking Dead episode. My Kindle is a small library—and that’s the norm for young adults. But I still think it’s important to watch and read new stuff, even stuff I don’t think I’ll like.

I can’t tell you how many books, televisions shows, movies, that in the beginning turned me off. I had good reasons too: slow-paced books, cheesy movies, irritating characters. Then, after a while, I got hooked. At some point, I forgave the flaws and felt captivated by the story, the characters changing, or the moral dilemma.

Growing up I wouldn’t touch a fantasy novel, they just seemed weird to me. Because of a neighbor who shoved a fantasy novel in my hand I began to read my first fantasy/sci-fi series. The first chapter—I wasn’t feeling it. After the third chapter or so, I couldn’t put the book down.

These are just a few books/shows/movies that won me over.

• Harry Potter series
• Supernatural
• Memoirs of a Geisha
• Walking Dead
• Friday Night Lights
• Les Miserable
• Inception

So, this is my plea to the Reader. Novels aren’t perfect because imperfect people write them.  So, if the pacing seems off or it has fancy words or it’s a genre not of your liking, basically if it doesn’t’t hook you in the first 10 pages, keep reading. Most people are not a fan of insta-love, it’s always better when the characters grow and fall in love over time.

I take the same approach reading now. I don’t have to love a novel right away. I give it time to grow on me because I might just fall in love during the process. And finding things I love is always worth the journey it took to find it.

Finding a book I  love–True Fandom!

Photo/Gif Credit: www.huffingtonpost.com, bysandradi.wordpress.com, giphy.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!

A Story to Tell

I’ve busy lately, and trying not drown in the mid-semester burnout ocean. I know,  I’m not even taking classes. However, I have two little boys so that counts as 24 credit hours at least.  And I work with students and there’s a ton going on with campus life this month and next.

The campus years are such a special time for students. As I’ve mentioned before major life decisions happen in college. During this time, one of the biggest things that students need is validation, knowing that their contributions matter and more importantly that they matter.  Without constant support it’s easy for them to indulge in self-deprecating thoughts.  And who can blame them?  Every day we are all faced with, and fighting the feelings of being less than—not enough.  I enjoy reminding young adults that they are enough, that they matter, and that their contributions are valuable.

One of the ways that has helped students see their value, (or at least the ones I’ve worked with) is by creative writing. A literary agent twitted, “Everyone has a story to tell but not everyone has the innate ability to write it.” Well, I think everyone has a story to tell and has the ability to write it the right way.

With all my business, I was able to catch a movie, Saving Mr. Banks, with a friend.  It’s the story behind the well-loved Disney classic, Mary Poppins. It’s an incredible, must see movie, for sure. Personally, I was surprised that each character in Mary Poppins represented someone in the authors’ family or something from her past. And let me say, these connections were very deep and at times sad, but beautiful. It confirmed the power of stories and how our lives and experiences tend to shape a story.  At one point in the film, Walt Disney says, “We all have our sad story. Imagine the past–how it should have been, and write it.” (not the exact quote, hopefully I didn’t butcher it too much) Because of this, I’m convinced that we all need to write more! Even the I’m-too-overwhelmed-by-classes college student should write. There’s nothing like writing what’s in our heart and seeing the proof that we are valuable as the words spill out. Because our experiences, thoughts, feelings, and beliefs matter.

photo credit : http://allthecoloursofmylife.tumblr.com/

Five Things Writers can learn from Rocky

I met this guy named Rocky when I was in college. At Virginia Beach, actually, carrying around his guitar singing to whoever would listen. A free soul being himself, something that most people have a hard time doing. I knew I’d never forget him—he was so, so different—in a good way. So last year when I learned about Blood Brother, this year’s first place for the Sundance Festival, I wasn’t surprised that Rocky was the main character. I knew he’d make an impact one day. Honestly I thought he’d be in the music industry…but film is just as cool.

Real quick: Blood Brother is a documentary. In it, Rocky leaves everything to help children infected with HIV living in an orphanage in India. The film is incredible. I mean, incredible. At first, I was scared to watch the film because I didn’t want to feel saddened by children suffering and dying of AIDS. But I know so many of the special people who put this big story together. I know the directors wife really well along with her family. My husband lived with them for a while. So I had to support them— I had to, they all worked extremely hard on this project.

Being a writer, I’m always looking at everything through that lens. What can I learn? How will this make me a better writer? Naturally, I asked myself these questions after watching the movie. At one point in the film Rocky says, “I think some people think I’m crazy.” I don’t. Rocky taught me a lot through this documentary, and I can’t cover it all, but here are five things that I learned as a writer.

1. Heart- This is so important. Writers gotta have a lot of heart! Others may say passion is key. Passion alone can be a wrecking ball, so singularly focused on a goal and self-driven, and tragically running over anyone that gets in the way. And that’s not always a good thing. Heart, on the flip side, is a mix of passion and humility. Writers need to care about the readers and other writers. But it always troubles me seeing authors bash each other on reviews. I’m not discouraging honest reviews. However, if they remember an actual human being wrote the work they’re critiquing, it would probably help them filter mean, nasty comments.

2. Love- Need I say more? Well, just a little. Every story is about love. Even your story. Don’t forget what you love about writing. Even when it gets crazy-hard and you hate your work and think no one really cares. Remember why you fell in love with writing, and hold on to it when you get a negative review, have to start over, or when your book doesn’t sell.

3. Inspiration- Find this, and if you lose it, search for it until you find it again.  Inspiration is the magic; it’s powerful enough to separate the talented from the phenomenal.

4. Take Risks- It’s okay. Go for it—take the plunge! Be different, not for the sake of being different, but do what works best for your story. Even if it’s never been done. Ask any successful writer, ask any successful person for that matter, and they all take risks. Risks are how dreams become reality.

5. Ownership- In the movie Rocky does everything in the orphanage from cleaning gutters to cleaning and caring for children’s wounds. He “owned” his role in the orphanage. And whether you’re going traditional or self-publishing, take ownership of your work. No one cares about your characters like you do. Seriously, no one’s going to mull over that perfect word you used in a scene that took you days to decide on. You’ll also need to pay attention to all aspects of the business. From marketing to editing. Do whatever needs to be done because at the end of it all, it’s your name, your work, and your story that’s building a reputation.

What are you learning about being a writer?