THE HAPPY HOOKER’S GUIDE TO THE ART AND CRAFT OF WRITING A PAGE TURNER
by Ruth Harris
“First you do it for love, then you do it for your friends, then you do it for money.”
Ralph Ellison said it. Or was that Virginia Woolf? Depends on who you ask, but no matter where you are on the spectrum from Doing It For Love or Doing It For Money, the bottom line is that you want to hook your readers and make them read—and keep on reading.
Like Anne, I’d come to publishing out of college with Proust and Shakespeare, Camus and Joyce fresh in my mind. At publishers like Bantam and Dell, I was introduced to the world of popular fiction, bestsellers and genre paperbacks. I found myself working with experienced editors and successful professional writers and it was from those savvy pros that I first learned the tricks of the trade—the down-and-dirty nuts and bolts of how to create grabby, page-turning fiction.
Knowledge that once could be obtained only from pros working in the offices of NY publishers is now available on the internet. The pearl-clutchers can interpret this as fair warning to leave the room because we’re going to get into the finer points of how to hook a reader—and keep him or her coming back for more.
Step #1: The first sentence.
Whether browsing in a book store or checking out the “Look Inside” feature online, the first sentence is the first thing your prospective reader will see. The first sentence can and very often will make the difference between an intrigued reader who keeps reading and one who shrugs and moves on to the next book.
The first sentence represents the reader’s first impression and it must rouse curiosity, lust, anticipation, anxiety, recognition. The first sentence can also shock, surprise, evoke an atmosphere, set a tone, establish a voice.
The great first sentence will go down in history. For example—
“Call me Ishmael.” – Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)
“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it.” J.D. Salinger, Catcher In The Rye (1951)
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” – Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)
“Last night I dreamt I was in Manderley again.”—Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca (1938)
“Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.” – Gabriel García Márquez, (1967; trans. Gregory Rabassa)
“Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins.” – Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita (1955)
“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” – Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (1877; trans. Constance Garnett)
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” – George Orwell, 1984 (1949)
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” – Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
Short or long, character-driven or not, these examples make it obvious there is no single approach governing the creation of a great first sentence. All approaches welcome, the decision is up the writer.
Even so, here are some guidelines to help get you started when you contemplate writing your own memorable, sensational, absolutely awesome first sentence—
- Brian A. Klems, author and online editor of Writer’s Digest, offers seven guidelines to writing a killer first sentence.
- Author Joe Bunting, dishes up seven keys to creating a great first sentence.
- Citing examples from Stephen King, Hunter Thompson and Albert Camus, editor and author Christopher Jackson suggests still more ways to approach crafting that first sentence.
- Virginia Van de Wall serves up 5 tips plus examples for grappling with your first sentence.
- Editor and word nerd, Naomi Tepper, lays out the steps to crafting the good hook sentences that say, “Drop everything you’re doing and read me right now.”
- Author Bridget McNulty of the NowNovel group points out that the great first sentence must be followed by a great first paragraph.
Step #2: The first chapter.
A conflict? An inciting incident? The main character? The theme? The tone? The setting? Your first great sentence needs to be followed by a great first chapter.
Anne runs down an on-target 10-point check list (with examples) for editing your first chapter.
How, strategically speaking, should you begin your novel? Here’s an easy-to-follow analysis from Writer’s Digest of 4 classic ways to begin a novel (with helpful examples).
Editor and author, Suzannah Windsor Freeman, analyzes the essential ingredients that make a first chapter irresistible.
Want to grab readers by the cojones? “Eschew Exposition, Bypass Backstory.” Chuck Wendig offers 25 tips. (Warning: colorful language.)
Bestselling mystery author and writing authority, Elizabeth Sims, suggests 8 ways to write a 5-star Chapter One.
Freelance editor, Tessa Shapcott, focuses on the Golden Rules of writing the first chapter of a romance.
Jennifer Neff’s Pinterest board presents a menu of do’s and don’ts + a checklist for nailing that first chapter.
Step #3: The Cliffhanger.
Readers say they hate cliffhangers. OTOH, readers can’t resist them.
Cliffhangers at the end of a book rouse hostility and hatred. Cliffhangers at the end of a chapter are the engine that keeps the pages turning. The chapter ending cliffhanger forces the reader to wonder about what’s going to happen next.
The chapter ending cliffhanger is where the author must find his/her inner sadist and show no mercy. You will be shameless. You will not give the reader a choice. The right last sentence of a chapter will force the reader to turn the page and read on.
The end of the chapter is where the writer does something—anything—to make the reader turn the page: end on a note of irresolution, ask a question, heighten the suspense, turn the screws.
Cliffhangers are about conflict, internal or external, and leave the reader with no choice except to turn the page.
Scientist and author Cheryl Reif explains the someone and something of writing a cliffhanger.
S.M. Worth, author of speculative fiction, analyzes the power of the cliffhanger and offers some how-tos.
Examples of the cliffhanger from Shakespeare to JK Rowling.
20 great cliffhangers in TV.
Step #4: The Overview.
Russell Blake on how to write a page turner: it’s all about structure!
Chuck Wendig relies on pacing, danger and escalation.
Author of mystery and psychological suspense, Hallie Ephron, lists 20 tips to writing a page turner.
An editor’s advice about the how-tos of writing a page turner.
Author of historicals and regencies, contemporary suspense and paranormals, Nancy Gideon’s 8 rules for writing a page turner.
How to write a page turner using movie trailer tips.
The need for speed: Don’t slow your reader down so lose the baggage and cut the fluff.
YA author, Julie Musil, talks about the necessity of a good ask/answer cycle
Step #5: The Big O: How To Write A Killer Ending (That Will Have Them Breaking Down Your Doors For More).
Writer’s Digest reveals the 3 guidelines for writing a great ending + the real magic of Part Four.
Joanna Penn talks do’s and don’ts about how to surprise—and satisfy—the reader.
Author Nancy Kress talks about the surprise ending, the barely-there ending, and the classic denouement ending and tells which different kinds of endings work for different kinds of books.
Wisconsin author Christi Craig takes a different view and discusses three ways to approach writing your ending.
From the Atlantic, an article about the matter of writing a believable happy ending.
Step #6:
Sorry, but you’re going to have to turn the page. 😉
by Ruth Harris (@RuthHarrisBooks) January 31, 2016
Ruth Harris is a NYT-million-book-selling author and former Big 5 editor. She posts here on the last Sunday of every month.
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CAMILLA FANS: This week Anne is over at The Camilla Randall Mysteries blog where you can see what actors she’d choose to play Camilla’s bad boyfriends. Come on over and vote for the unsuitable suitors you’d like to see more of!
BOOK OF THE WEEK
HUSBAND TRAINING SCHOOL
Available at all Amazon Stores
“Thoroughly delightful! Laugh out loud funny. A great book to read any time or place when you need an extra smile. Enjoy.” Dianne Day
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OPPORTUNITY ALERTS
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FREE Dear Lucky Agent Contest for Women’s Fiction. Sponsored by Writer’s Digest. Enter the first page (150-250 words) of your completed women’s fiction novel. Judged by Agent Elizabeth Winick Rubenstein of McIntosh & Otis. Deadline February 9th.
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Hah! Fabulous Ruth, and I was struck with what MIGHT be a coincidence here. I love the opening hook particularly, and get to present about that to local audiences. I’m guessing you knew all the ones you used from your own past (maybe had them memorized). I grabbed some examples from a “Top 100” list I found online, and three of them were the same! It’s an area where I think folks can achieve widespread disagreement.
Chapter-ending cliffhangers, I must admit, I’m much weaker at: maybe I have teasers, but my biggest ‘hangers tend to come at the end of a novella or novel when the sequel is coming up. And yeah, I’m asking for trouble there. Thanks for a great and complete list.
Will—Have lots of fun using the opening hook. Should get your presentation off to a rollicking start!
Your chapter-ending cliffies will improve. Like everything else about writing, learning how to deliver that final punch takes practice and experience.
So many cool links today!
Chapter cliffhangers – I’m probably not as good at those as I should be. Dividing a manuscript into chapters is the very last thing I do and I tend to divide neatly, not with cliffhanger in mind.
Alex, I agree, the end of the chapter so often seems dictated by something to do with pace, or even (gasp) theme. Mine vary in length, and generally I’m moved by changes in PoV (typical these days for epic fantasy, hopping to another character). But Ruth gives a goal for us to shoot at I guess.
Hi Will, I answered Alex before I saw your reply. You’re right on track with varying chapter length.
Alex, Here’s a perfect example of where neatness doesn’t count. Getting the reader to turn the page does! I will also add that varying the length of chapters is important because it will give your book energy and pace.
As usual, you two have offered up the writing community a steaming heap of brilliant links. Your good research gives the rest of us a bit more time to write.
CS—Thank you. Your kind words much appreciated!
Those are excellent tips, Ruth. I have a theory – unacknowledged by academia – that a story or novel is a metaphor for a human life. Our first experience at birth is a hard slap on the bottom. That’s why an engaging story should start with an Ow! experience. (Okay, it doesn’t work with Dickens but he does it insidiously, by being so darn clever we cry Ow!) The story should then grow around a labyrinthine structure that makes no sense at first – just like life – but, in retrospect, is luminous with logic. Its closure must convey meaning It doesn’t matter if that meaning has no meaning. ‘And great shaggy flakes of snow began to fall.’ What does that mean? Nothing. But it signifies closure.
A great story tells us that our lives have meaning. The chaos that happens in between is irrelevant…
Love your theory, John, and couldn’t agree more. I do think, tho, that “the chaos that happens in between is irrelevant” could also be revised to read that the chaos is bearable, can be resolved, will make us a better person, will lead to improved knowledge or understanding, offer the opportunity for a second start etc. etc.
So many times, when reviewing student work in my Crafting a Novel class, I end up telling people: “Your story starts in Chapter 3. Kick out the first two chapters.”
All your points are spot on, Ruth! And thanks for all those links – will check them out.
Thanks, Melodie. Very good advice to your students!
This blog is immensely helpful. Many many thanks. Now to make a few quick changes to my second novel!
Barbara—I’m so glad to hear that the post was helpful. Sometimes the kind of changes that I’m talking about can be very quick to make and will pay off in big dividends. Not always the way writing works!
Hahahaha! You got me. There’s so much to love about this post, Ruth. I’m especially eager to dig into the tips about a killer ending. In my new thriller there’s something off about the ending. My editor doesn’t think so, but something doesn’t sit right with me, and it’s driving me crazy. Maybe I’ll find my answer in the links you provided.
Sue—thanks soooo much for the kind words! Hope you find your answer in the links. I know that awful feeling & it does drive you crazy. Sometimes I find that “the answer” comes to me after I’ve fretted, gone nuts, revised, rewritten etc and then, when I’m thinking of something else or doing something else, voilà! Hope the same happens for you.
I am pleased to have found you
where you were not lost,
If Id missed your blog it would be at a cost
to writers, procrastinators, and blocked persons.
Meanwhile I shall relish this place
fill my boots with style and grace
And visit often to purloin what’s here
You’ll get used to me have no fear. ??????
Ellen—Thank you for finding us. And for the witty poetry! We appreciate you and look forward to seeing you again. And again.
Hi, Ruth, this post is loaded with so many great links and ideas for hooking readers. I’ll be 72–now 71–by the time I read all of these rich and wonderful resources. 🙂 Here’s one of my favorite first lines from Shirley Jackson’s magnificent, “The Haunting of Hill House”. How can you possibly not read on?
“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under absolute reality.” Yikes! Love it and just about everything else she ever wrote. Thanks again for a truly great and informative post. Hugs, Paul
P.S. Did you ever meet her? Just curious.
Ooooh, Paul. Great Shirley Jackson line! Killer stuff for sure. Thanks for adding it. Nope, never met her. Don’t think I knew anyone who knew her, either.
Great reminders and handy links! Perfect timing too, since I’ve just started a new novel and it’s good to run it through this sieve of info. Thanks!
Carol, I’m delighted to hear my timing is so excellent. Of course, I planned it that way. 😉
Hi Ruth
Just wanted to add my thanks for the advice and copious links, and give a shout out for my favourite first line by the late great Ian Banks in the Crow Road, which began. “It was the day my grandmother exploded”
Hi Antony, super great first line! Thank you for adding–and for the flattering words.
“Knowledge that once could be obtained only from pros working in the offices of NY publishers is now available on the internet” — I’m so grateful for this opportunity, for sites like yours. Thank you very much for generously sharing your knowledge.
And that first line from Anna Karenina never gets old, making my Russian heart happy 🙂
Thanks, Ruth.
Hi Sasha, a Russian heart is a wonderful, soulful heart! Thank you, too, for the very kind words. 🙂
First chapter is vital. Aways great to get a comprehensive check list. Thanks you,
Redd, glad to hear the checklist is a help! You’re sooo right about the first chapter. “Vital” is an appropriate word!
I do loath cliffhangers when I’m reading, but I suppose they are a necessary evil. Or an evil plot to get me to buy more book because my TBR pile refuses to shrink.
Patricia–Heh. Heh. Heh. That’s the sound of a writer cooking up an evil plot. 😉
I loved the sixth point. It’s absolutely true. I remember reading the Goosebumps series when I was a lot younger and every chapter ended on a cliffhanger. It made finding a stopping point difficult. Thank you for the great tips!
Thanks, AJ. so you see? A simple but very effective technique, crucial to creating page-turning fiction.
As usual, late to the party, but yowser! what great copious links!!!! Thank you both for a great lesson and I will be very busy applying all these links to my WIP! Thank you Anne and thank you, Ruth.
Hi Laura—Thanks for the much appreciated kind words! Hope the links will help. Best of luck with your WIP!
Thanks for so many great links, Ruth. One of my favourite first lines is from Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth : The young boys came early to the hanging. Phew – it appealed to every emotion in one line — from repulsion to voyeurism. And cliffhangers can be tricky. I’ve just read a new work of crime fiction which is getting a lot of notice, but all through the author withheld information from the reader, that the characters were getting — eg the police would look at the computer screen and see some crucial information but the reader didn’t find out what it was for three chapters. That felt contrived to me and I was irritated rather than intrigued. I look forward to diving into the links 🙂
Virginia—That *is* a great Ken Follett line! Killer stuff that will force the reader to continue. Thanks so much for bringing it to our attention. 🙂 The point of withholding info is to create suspense, NOT to annoy the reader. The author must recognize the difference and shape his/her narrative accordingly.
Thanks for the links. I’m working on revising my NaNoWriMo novel and I’m sure these will help.
Tina—I hope the post and the links will help as you revise. Best of luck with your NaNoWriMo novel!
Wow. This is an amazing post. I think it will take me awhile to get to everything you’ve linked here. I will be linking to it on my blog. Thanks for such a rich post.
Rosi—Thank you for the kind words—and for the link. Much appreciated!
This is great Ruth. I just had to read Chuck Wending’s article. Very colorful language and funny too. I’m bookmarking this page because I just started a new book and I’m having so much trouble with the first chapter. All backstory, so boring. Thanks for another great post.
Hi Anne, Thanks! ChuckW is great, a pro who “tells it like it is.” As to your first chapter, usually the first chapter is the last thing I write/rewrite/revise. Maybe just continue on until you have a better sense of the book & characters?
Haha! ? Love #6. These are all fabulous tips (and great links – thanks) but you had me at ‘first lines’. I’m a ‘first lines’ freak. Love them!
Hi Sarah, Me, too! Ditto on the first line love! Also love the first lines other commenters have added. Win-win. 🙂
Hi, Ruth….
This is awesome. Funny, most of us know this, BUT to have it put together in such a concise and easy way to re-familiarize the key points is really helpful!
THANKS!!!
Michael, Thank *you*! Happy to hear you find the post helpful. These round-ups make the key points easy to read but not so easy to follow through on!
The last entry on step four maybe should be: http://juliemusil.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-to-write-page-turner.html ?
Katharine–Thanks! That was the wrong Julie Musil link.I’ve corrected it now. Much appreciated.
Katharine—Also sending my thanks for your eagle eye. Much appreciated!