Hi Reader,
I hope you’ve been seeing and enjoying some lovely spring weather. Hopefully it’s making you feel inspired to write, to create, to dream up that next big, brilliant project. Or at least I hope you’ve been muddling through allergy season without too much discomfort.
For the last few weeks I’ve been talking (and thinking!) a lot about your book’s opening. And for good reason. I know now, more than ever as I’ve been in the query trenches for eight weeks, how vital these opening pages are.
But even if you aren’t looking to impress an agent with your first ten pages or opening chapter, chances are you are hoping that a reader will one day pick up your book and be hooked in from the get-go. Otherwise, all your hard work—all the heart and frustration and time you took to craft something wonderful—will be for very little.
That’s why I’m hosting a free training tomorrow, May 6th at 9:30am PT/12:30pm ET on Zoom, that covers openings and how to make them snap, crackle, and pop.
If you’re not sure whether you want to join, I thought I’d give you a little peak inside what I’m going to cover. Here’s my agenda:
· Tips and tricks on starting your book in the right place
· Elements of a successful opening
· Examples: We will look at the opening chapters of The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón and The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood (follow the links to pre-read each chapter)
· How to craft a killer first line
· Making your first page work harder
· Common opening mistakes to watch out for (and that can get you automatically rejected)
· An exercise to get you thinking about your own opening
If you can’t make it live, don’t worry! I’ll be recording and will send out the replay link and workbook to everyone who signs up. I’m also giving away ten free first-page critiques to randomly-selected participants. So come and learn and engage with other writers looking to expand their craft knowledge.
Finally, I wanted to remind you that I do offer quick instant-clarity first chapter evaluations for $47. How it works is: I read your chapter, then we hop on a 30-minute phone call and I provide feedback with actionable steps for improvement. If you’re interested in booking, click here. I’d love to chat about your specific story!
I hope to see you tomorrow! (Sign up following the link below.)
Happy writing!
Karyn
P.S. Loving these emails? Buy me a cup of tea to say thanks. Or you can book a free 30-min story strategy chat here if you're interested in getting specific help with your book.
Granite Bay, CA
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