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Writing coach April Davila reveals the non-negotiable elements that make first pages irresistible to readers and agents.

Learn why most manuscripts fail in the opening paragraph, discover the strategic approach to character revelation that transforms boring descriptions into magnetic hooks.

Then find out which common opening mistakes instantly kill reader interest.

Plus, April shares her surprising advice about when to actually write your first page (hint: it's not when you think).

What You'll Learn:

• The essential elements every first page needs
• Why dream sequences and flashbacks kill reader interest
• Strategic character reveals through environmental details

Click here to learn more about April Davila.

Guest Bio: April Davila is an award-winning author, speaker, and writing coach. Publisher's Weekly called her debut novel, 142 Ostriches, a "vivid, uplifting debut" and the book went on to win the WILLA Award for Women Writing the West. Writer's Digest listed her blog (at aprildavila.com) as one of the Best 101 Websites for Writers and she is the creator of the Sit Write Here writing coaching program, which integrates mindfulness meditation techniques to help writers quiet their inner critics, overcome writer's block, and edit more effectively. Her second novel is forthcoming.

Episodes I think you'll love…

1. Literary Agent Amy Nielsen on How to Fix Your Opening Pages (Part 2)
2. How to Write an Opening Chapter that Keeps Readers Reading with Author David McCloskey
3. 3 Keys to Nailing the Opening of Your Novel
4. Agent Carleen Geisler Reads a Submission & Shares How Agents Evaluate Opening Pages
5. Writing Your Opening Scene with Thomas Mullen

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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Storyteller's Society Sneak Peek: This Creative Silos method can make you way more efficient in your writing practice.

Creativity coach Cindy Cisneros reveals why traditional productivity advice fails creative writers, her game-changing "Silos" method that stops the destructive cycle of switching between writing and querying, and the "cross-modality" technique that breaks through even the most stubborn creative blocks.

What You'll Learn:

• The "Creative Silos" strategy that lets you batch writing and other tasks for maximum flow
• Why waiting for natural motivation beats forcing daily word counts every time
• The real reason creative people need "incubation time" and how to use it strategically

Click here to learn more about Cindy

Episodes I think you'll love...

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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Your opening page has 30 seconds to hook an agent or it's as good as a rejection.

Literary agent Amy Nielsen reveals the cliché openings that kill manuscripts, the scene structure 90% of authors get wrong, and her "General-Specific-Personal" formula that eliminates info-dumping while building irresistible voice.

What You'll Learn:

- How to avoid cliché openings that scream "amateur"

- A literary agent's simple test to tell if your opening is actually a scene

- The inciting incident strategy that finds your perfect entry point

Episodes to Check Out Next

- 2 Literary Agents & an Author Weigh in on How to Write Your Opening Pages

- Agent C.L. Geisler Reads a Submission & Shares How Agents Evaluate Opening Pages

- Literary Agent Amy Nielsen on How to Write a Query Letter that Gets Attention

- 90% of Writers Make THESE Writing Mistakes Interview with Ex-Literary Agent Karyn Fischer

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now