Seven reasons agents stop reading your first chapter.

Every writing class I’ve taken has emphasized the importance of “the hook” in your first chapter. The instructors always say that the first chapter is the most important one. Next, it’s the first 25-50 pages that need to be polished.

Why?

Because agents stop reading after about 10 seconds of glancing at your work. I can’t blame them. They get so many manuscripts each day. It’s like an employer looking at a resume. The first few seconds are crucial if you want the job.

You can flower up your writing, you can send a beautiful query letter … but if the first chapter isn’t as polished and as professional looking as you can make it, it won’t cut in this fast-paced publishing world.

I found this article about the top 7 reasons agents stop reading your first chapter and thought I’d share it here on my blog. I’m happy to report that my books are not falling into these traps.

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/7-reasons-agents-stop-reading-your-first-chapter