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Hook a Publisher in the First 30 Pages - Part 2

Writer's picture: Crystal LeonardiCrystal Leonardi

Thanks for returning to my blog for Part 2!


To re-cap: When it comes to writing, there are no hard and fast rules—every ‘rule’ proposed by writers has been broken at some point. However, there are timeless principles that can serve as valuable guides to crafting compelling stories. For me, the most essential principle in writing is this: captivate immediately.

If you aim to hook a publisher (or any reader) in the first 30 pages, you must grab their attention and keep it. The key lies in following three essential steps that ensure your opening pages are irresistible.


Recently, I completed a course hosted by Barbara Kyle on this very topic. I wanted to share my top 3 takeaways. Credit to Barbara for sharing her knowledge and expertise. You can check out her website here: https://www.barbarakyle.com


Make the Reader Care

The second step is crafting a protagonist who evokes an emotional response in the reader. The goal is to create empathy, which doesn’t necessarily mean sympathy. Empathy allows readers to feel and remember, helping them connect with the character more deeply.


Empathy, Not Sympathy: When readers empathise with a character, they see the world through the character’s eyes and understand their struggles—even if they don’t necessarily approve of their actions. This identification will help the reader engage and remember the story beyond the pages.

 


Example: Don Corleone in ‘The Godfather’ by Mario Puzo

Don Corleone is not a ‘nice’ character. He’s a mafia boss who bribes, murders, and cheats. Yet readers empathise with him because he’s also a devoted and loving father, and a family man whose values are admirable. Additionally, he only resorts to violence when forced or provoked, a motive readers can understand. Finally, while the story includes the dirty work of the mafia, Don often delegates these actions to others, distancing him from the violence in the reader’s mind. These traits make him a compelling character we can empathise with, even if we don’t condone his actions.



Example: Scarlett O’Hara in ‘Gone with the Wind’ by Margaret Mitchell

Scarlett O’Hara is another character who evokes empathy without necessarily earning sympathy. She is vain, selfish, and scheming. However, her passion, forcefulness, and determination make her likable. Her parents and the other characters’ love for her reflect these qualities, and readers admire her willpower. Scarlett’s flaws make her relatable, while her strengths make her admirable—a perfect balance for a character readers can empathise with.

 

How to Create Instant Empathy

If you want to quickly establish an emotional connection between your protagonist and your audience, consider adding these qualities:

  1. Good at their job: Show the character excelling at something, making them admirable or aspirational.

  2. Sense of humour: A witty or self-deprecating character often feels more relatable and human.

  3. Victim of undeserved misfortune: Characters who face challenges like being orphaned, ostracised, or underestimated often earn immediate empathy.

  4. Everyday flaws: Humanising traits like clumsiness, self-doubt, or imperfection make characters more relatable.

  5. Help someone else: Demonstrating kindness or selflessness instantly makes a character more likable.


By focusing on empathy over sympathy and weaving in these relatable traits, you can create a protagonist who truly resonates with readers.


Stay tuned for the next two steps in crafting irresistible opening pages; Part 3 will be released next week!

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