Comments on: Five Micro-Edits to Hook Readers On Your First Page

By: Marissa Graff

Marissa Graff — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 11:58:23 +0000

In reply to Jan Sikes. Hi, Jan! Oh, you're so kind! Thanks for the feedback, and I am so happy knowing the post gives you things to think about. The considerations for first pages are endless. But these smaller considerations can yield huge results. Wishing you the best!

By: Marissa Graff

Marissa Graff — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 11:56:47 +0000

In reply to V.M. Sang. Hi, V.M.! It's really wild how structure itself can evoke mood. One of the best studies for this are novels written in-verse. I'm thinking of THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander as one wonderful example of formatting reflecting movement and emotion. Incredible stuff! Thanks for joining the discussion!

By: Marissa Graff

Marissa Graff — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 11:54:04 +0000

In reply to Elias. Elias, isn't that suitcase analogy awesome? I've really puzzled through the ordinary world section of books lately because so many times, clients feel pressure to jump into the inciting incident without any grounding. The term "ordinary world" needs to be turned into something more fitting and less blah sounding :) Thanks for stopping by and for sharing the post!

By: Elias

Elias — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 18:42:29 +0000

WAY late to the party. Great tips and a great analogy. I can’t wait to share for WriterWednesday. Thanks for posting.

By: V.M. Sang

V.M. Sang — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 16:00:45 +0000

Thanks for the tips. The one about long sentences and paragraphs brings Jane Austin to mind. The last book of her’s I read was Persuasion. I counted sentences with well over 100 words, as well as a sentence that went something like, ‘The carriage was begun to be waited for.”
Yes, while space is important to lead the eye on to the next party.

By: Jan Sikes

Jan Sikes — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 02:34:40 +0000

Such an excellent post, Marissa. You’ve given me lots of food for thought!

By: Marissa Graff

Marissa Graff — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 16:47:51 +0000

Love that analogy, Michelle! What a great way to think of it. There really is a crucial balance in hooking a reader without overwhelming them. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful tip!

By: Michelle Barker

Michelle Barker — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 15:57:28 +0000

Love these tips! Very helpful. A teacher I had in the MFA program used to tell us that the first page is like packing a suitcase for the reader. You want to give them the most useful things and you don’t want the suitcase to be too heavy. Everything in there has to serve a purpose.

By: Marissa Graff

Marissa Graff — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 15:19:48 +0000

Hi Saraina,
Thank you for your thoughts. I’m so happy you found the tips helpful 🙂 Good luck in your writing journey!

By: Saraina Whitney

Saraina Whitney — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 13:54:14 +0000

So helpful!! Thank you for sharing this, Marissa! 😀

By: Marissa Graff

Marissa Graff — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 12:34:04 +0000

In reply to MINDY ALYSE WEISS. Go get those words, Mindy! I love micro-edits because they make revision feel attainable one small step at a time :) Thank you for inviting me on today!

By: Marissa Graff

Marissa Graff — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 12:33:16 +0000

In reply to BECCA PUGLISI. Yes, Becca! I couldn't agree more. That pressure we feel to get the whole world set up and give the reader a bunch of information is real, but it's such a disservice to the reader. I listened to a lecture recently that coined readers as "co-creators" in our worlds, and I think that mindset helps to limit telling unless it's crucial and revealing. Thanks for chiming in and for having me!